The Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble revives the musical legacies of Genghis Khan's nomadic culture
By Ho Yi
When Genghis Khan's army ravaged Eurasia eight centuries ago, the formidable Mongolian worriers brought along not only swords and spears, but also chants and musical instruments. The morin khuur, a Mongolian horse-headed fiddle, has been one of the country's most adored folk-music instruments, playing out the sounds of the steppe even before the time of Khan. Now, this culturally significant instrument has been revived by the Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble (蒙古國家馬頭琴大樂團), which will stage three performances in Taipei and Kaohsiung starting Thursday.

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By Diane Baker
Fairytales have an image of lightness and goodness. Many have their dark sides, however, and, as it turns out, so do their creators.

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By Noah Buchan
Two young women sit on a platform in the middle of the stage. As one performer drapes her hands longingly over the other woman's body, the second performer produces a long condom-like balloon that she thrusts between the first woman's legs and wraps around her body. A second balloon is produced and when combined with the first creates a heart.

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By Ron Brownlow
On Monday, Sept. 24, reggae bands from Taiwan, Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines will gather on a Taitung County beach for what organizers say is the world's first international but exclusively Asian reggae concert.

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By Diane Baker
The Kaohsiung City Ballet (KCB, 高雄城市芭蕾舞團) has gone back to the classics for this year's tour. Not the Western ballet canon, but a classic of Chinese literature: The Peony Pavilion, Mudanting (牡丹亭).

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By Ho Yi
Zhang Ziyi (章子怡) was among the first to congratulate Ang Lee (李安) on his recent record-breaking achievement after winning his second Golden Lion trophy in three years. And, according to the Chinese-language media, the Asian megastar expressed keen interest in working with Lee again.

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By Noah Buchan
The world lost one of the great popularizers of opera Sept. 6 with the death of Luciano Pavarotti. Like the full-bodied tenor, the Klazz Brothers have marketed classical music to a broad audience.

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'I Saw a Beast' is a sermon on homosexuality that is keen to point sinners on the right path to redemption
By Ho Yi
Rife with controversy, I Saw a Beast (我看見獸) is expected to generate bitterness and anger. Based on a true story and directed by Christian television director Liu I-hung (劉議鴻), it hits a raw nerve in both the homosexual and Christian communities.

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By STEPHEN HOLDEN
End of the Spear, a fact-based story of conflict and resolution between a primitive warrior tribe in Ecuador and peace-seeking Christian missionaries (of unidentified denomination) from North America, is inspiring enough to make you wish that the filmmakers had reined in their sentimental excesses.

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'The Brave One' aims to raise awareness of post-Sept. 11 anxieties, but tanks with implausible twists and a cheesy ending
By CHRISTOPHER KELLY
Neil Jordan's new film, The Brave One, displays all the ambition of a Dostoyevsky novel and all the logic of a Froot Loops commercial.

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By Queen Bee
DJ Dark, one of the more notable names on Taiwan's dance-music scene, has been involved with or participated in countless parties since way back in the day. [ FULL STORY ]

A quirky teen-pregnancy yarn and a love story involving a life-sized sex doll have won over critics at the Toronto International Film Festival.

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Ill-matched actresses, a stuffy script and lackluster memories ruin this screen-adaptation of Susan Minot's 'Evening'
By MANOHLA DARGISNY
At first, second and final glance, Susan Minot's Evening, a claustrophobic 1998 novel about a woman in her 60s remembering the days and few torrid nights of her life while slowly, very slowly dying, doesn't seem as if it would translate easily to the big screen. It hasn't. Stuffed with actors of variable talent, burdened with false, labored dialogue and distinguished by a florid visual style better suited to fairy tales and greeting cards, this miscalculation underlines what can happen when certain literary works meet the bottom line of the movies. It also proves that not every book deserves its own film.

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By Queen Bee
DJ Dark, one of the more notable names on Taiwan's dance-music scene, has been involved with or participated in countless parties since way back in the day. [ FULL STORY ]

By Ron Brownlow
Even frequent visitors to Yangmingshan National Park could be forgiven for never stopping by Yulonggu (玉瀧谷) because it's not easy to find.

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By Ho Yi
Joining the ranks of restaurants that have successfully updated tradition with distinctive design and fresh ingredients to appeal to urban hipsters, Tien Chuan, an oden-cum-sake bar situated at the heart of Taipei's East District (東區), has become a popular spot attracting diners with its quality food, wide selection of sake, service with a smile and a cozy atmosphere.

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Compiled by Martin Williams
Butterfly on a Wheel

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TOP FIVE MANDARIN ALBUMS

Brown Sugar Macchiato Original TV Soundtrack (電視原聲帶黑糖瑪奇朵) with 16.11 percent of sales

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EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Theater

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Taipei's Top Five

Source: Group Power Entertainment Corp
Taipei's Top Five

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