I was given a copy of Evanescence’s cd Fallen about two months ago from my dancing teacher and I didn’t really have an opportunity to listen to it until recently.

If your ever in that real angry and despressed state of mind, like when you look deep inside yourself and are just not happy with who you are this is the cd for you!

Evanescence is the most stunning Gothic Metal band I have ever heard--Amy Lee's angelic, pristine vocals soar over emotional, ethereal instrumentals ranging from the soft and sorrowful to the dark, heavy melees of aggression.  Elements of the Evanescence sound include Industrial inflections, seldom used shrieking growls (male), clean male vocals, orchestra instruments, keyboards, piano, and choirs.  The lyrics are poetic, sorrowful, and at times deeply spiritual.

Evanescence is not brutal, but is darkly heavy.  They could very easily be the breakthrough Goth/Alternative Metal band to shake this artistically stagnate age from its deathlike repose.  (And it's about time.)

Mean Girls introduces us to Cady Heron (Linday Lohan), a 16-year old girl who is going to high school for the first time. After being home schooled for most of her life by parents who traveled all around the world, Cady is finally getting a chance to enter a suburban Illinois hell of peer pressure and hormones. Her first day is a disaster - the only one to pay any attention to her is her math teacher, Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey). But, on day two, a couple of outsiders befriend her. One is a goth girl named Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and the other is an overweight gay guy named Damian (Daniel Franzese). They teach her the ways of the school jungle, which, as it turns out, isn't that different from the African jungle where Cady spent some of her life.

Then, unexpectedly, Cady is invited to sit at the table of the three "plastics" - the high school's queen and two princesses. Their leader, Regina (Rachel McAdams), isn't only the prettiest and most popular girl in school, she's also the biggest bitch on campus. She is served by her two handmaidens, shallow Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and dumb Karen (Amanda Seyfried). For reasons of their own, the plastics decide to induct Cady into their small group. She's not interested, but at the urging of Janis and Damian, she goes along with it so she can sew the seeds of dissention from within. Meanwhile, Cady falls for tall, dark, and handsome Aaron (Jonathan Bennett), one of Regina's exes. This, along with Cady's growing popularity around school, creates friction within the plastics and eventually pits Cady against Regina. The ensuing battle includes numerous dirty tricks.

Although it may not initially look like one, this is, at least to some degree, a Saturday Night Live movie. Mean Girls was written by (and co-stars) Tina Fey, who adapted the screenplay from Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman. SNL alum Anna Gasteyer has a part (as Cady's mom), and SNL creator Lorne Michaels owns a producer credit. The director is Mark S. Waters, who brought Lindsay Lohan with him from Freaky Friday. This role represents something more edgy than the teen idol is used to; it may prove to be the stepping-stone she is looking for to introduce her to more sophisticated parts. She's very good here, developing Cady into a likable individual without losing the character's edge. It helps that Rachel McAdams (The Hot Chick) is in full-on bitch mode as her adversary, Regina. Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried are also effective playing types. And, in a supporting part as the school's principal, Tim Meadows steals scenes with his perfect comic timing.

I would have liked Mean Girls more if it had followed the Heathers/Election mold and not gone into compromise mode during the final fifteen minutes. Somewhere in the closing half-hour, Mean Girls gives up on being a comedy and decides to morph into a traditional teen movie, complete with a moral about the value of true friendship and the need to be oneself. The limp climax doesn't undo the solid humor, wicked social commentary, and delicious satire that precedes it, but it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. In the end, Mean Girls isn't mean enough, but you walk out feeling like a total bimbo and are completely in the mood for shopping!