Readers take issue with entertainment section

To the editors:

I am writing in response to the incessant garbage printed in the entertainment section every week. Who are these movie reviewers, and who keeps letting them write for The Villanovan? My most recent example is last week’s movie reviews, in which your staff reporter, Ted Pigeon, rated four movies, including “Red Dragon,” which he rated as a sub-par film. He stated, “‘Red Dragon’ was only made so that Anthony Hopkins could reprise his role as Hannibal.” May I ask where the information came from?

Director Brett Ratner (who of course was not once mentioned in the review, which again speaks volumes on your writer), executives for Universal Pictures and Thomas Harris, writer of the book, all said that the film was made simply because “Manhunter” (1986, directed by Michael Mann) was not at all true to the literary work. Did Mr. Pigeon not read this? Ted went on to proclaim “Manhunter” as a far superior film. It should be noted that he is the only critic in America to think so.

This is only one example of the multitude of horrible film reviews I have read since I started here at Villanova. In recent memory, “Unbreakable” was trashed even though it has received more critical acclaim than “Sixth Sense” or “Signs.” Meanwhile, trash like “A Walk to Remember,” “Coyote Ugly” and “The Rules of Attraction” garner praise. I have a simple piece of advice: find better reviewers. If you can’t find good ones, then just print something from the Associated Press. I would respect you more for that than original garbage.

Brian Kotowski Class of 2003

To the editors:

To say the least, Matt Trapani’s article on the “Resident Evil” soundtrack disturbed me, not that his perspective surprised me since I know so many others like him. In fact, only recently have I begun refining my own taste in music and become increasingly aware of the decaying value of music in our culture. Thus, I could not help but notice the deterioration that Trapani’s article represents.

The type of music he so highly praises hardly seems worthy of the honor of being called “music.” Anyone who truly appreciates art will agree that this soundtrack does not contain a trace of artistic talent. However, unfortunately, I do hear most car stereos blasting this type of noise. I have not seen the movie, but I have heard enough of the soundtrack to be completely disgusted with it. No wonder “most people grow tired of listening to the same band by the end of an album!” I am surprised they do not grow tired of listening to “music” altogether.

I also intensely oppose the statement that “one of the greatest aspects of movie soundtracks is the various bands that they contain.” The most masterful soundtracks contain no such “various” bands. Truly wonderful music requires much more effort and subtlety and should never have to rely on words to get its meaning across. In fact, to the attentive listener the best music reveals much more than words ever could. If “Resident Evil: The Soundtrack” improved the movie, than the movie must have been horrible.

Catherine Campion Class of 2005