Fruits of Mel's passion
Name
Stars James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Rosalinda Celentano, Sergio Rubini, Maia Morgenstern. Rated MA
Reviewer :: Lt Simone Heyer

You've probably heard about the controversy surrounding The Passion of the Christ - the Jewish community have given it the thumbs down and Christians are encouraging its viewing.
It has been labelled sickening in its bloody portrayal of Jesus' last 12 hours. All these points gave me more reason to catch this film as soon as it was released.

Eruption of good reading
Pompeii
By Robert Harris. Hutchinson.
342 pp. $32.95
Reviewer :: Pte John Wellfare

After a few weeks of structured non-fiction and a few decidedly average novels, reading a well-written, engaging story such as this is refreshing.

Blackfoot is Missing
By William F. Owen.
Random House Australia. 296pp, $29.95
Reviewer :: Cpl Troy Hutchinson

CCC Kontum, a US Special Forces unit, runs top-secret cross border reconnaissance missions into Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

Music from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

Various artists
EMI music
Reviewer: Lt Simone Heyer

You love the show, you'll love the soundtrack. Its sound is reflective of the Fab 5 from beginning to end. There are some great tunes, and some you'll just hear at the gym. A special one is Ingrid's You Promised Me, translated from French. A great, fun CD.

Head Bangers Ball

Various artists
Roadrunner Records
Reviewer: Gaelian Ditchburn

A compilation from MTV2 and Roadrunner Records, Head Bangers Ball consists of two CDs and 40 tracks. Heard on the album are many fine modern metal acts such as Ill Nino, Spineshank, Sevendust and Mudvayne. But they haven't forgotten about the old-school classics with the likes of Slayer and Rob Zombie also finding a place on this widely appealing compilation. With Head Bangers Ball intended to be sold for the price of a single CD, I don't think the average metal fan can go too far wrong with this one. If you're looking for a wide range of metal acts around today, all in one convenient place, this is the album for you.

Blood Oath

Frankenbok
Roadrunner Records
Reviewer: Gaelian Ditchburn

After listening to Blood Oath I was struck by the feeling that Frankenbok are a band a little after their time. Images of unwashed long hair and super-tight black jeans are conjured in my mind when I listen to them for any length of time. They sound to me like they would be more at home in an earlier era of metal. I might add that this is not always a bad thing and several songs on Blood Oath retain a feeling of old-school integrity while still managing to bring in a heavy groove that mark Frankenbok as existing after the late 1970s. Those that were around a little before new metal was christened will be well pleased by the latest offering from Frankenbok.