Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 3

Rocker Cook outduels Archuleta for Idol crown Farm bill LOS ANGELES (AP) The grown-up rocker triumphed over the smooth-voiced kid as David Cook claimed the "American Idol" title Wednesday, and it wasn't as much of a surprise as it seemed. While 17-year-old David Archuleta was heaped with praise by the judges the night before, the voters decided otherwise and did they ever. Host Ryan Seacrest said before the results that 12 million votes was the difference, and it turns out they broke in the favor of the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo. Cook was overcome by emotion, bending toward the stage after his name was announced. "This is amazing," he said.

"This is all your fault," he added, addressing the brother who Cook had accompanied to the "Idol" audition that started it all. Cook immediately took the microphone and began to sing "Time of my Life," which won the annual "Idol songwriting competition, to close out season seven. Cook refused to bow to the Movie The new American Idol David Cook, right, and runner-up David Archuleta perform together on the 2008 finale Wednesday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo) amid public concern about the weak economy and high gas and grocery prices. Supporters praised the spending on food stamps and emergency food aid.

Before the problem with the bill was discovered, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the legislation could make the situation worse for struggling families. "Members are going to have to think about how they will explain these votes back in their districts at a time when prices are on the rise," she said. "People are not going to want to see their taxes increase." Bush said the legislation needlessly would expand government. He cited one new program in the bill that would pay more to corn growers and others if agriculture revenue were to drop significantly in the next five years. This program, he said, could add billions of dollars to the cost of the bill.

He added that minor cutbacks to subsidies for wealthy farmers were not sufficient. "At a time when net farm income is projected to increase by more than $28 billion in 1 year, the American taxpayer should not be forced to subsidize that group of farmers who have adjusted gross incomes of up to $1.5 million," the president said in his veto message. Wednesday's snag stemmed from an error made while printing the legislation on parchment before sending it to Bush. Democratic Rep. Steny H.

Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, said the section in question which deals with trade and international food aid programs was never printed. Indeed, the final, 628-page version of the bill jumps straight from "Title II" on conservation programs to 'Title IV" on nutrition programs. lot of people know that I could get behind, or the opposite, I'll choose the lesser-known every time," Cook told The Associated Press backstage Tuesday. Judge Simon Cowell said at the time that the song choices sunk him, and told Archuleta that he'd scored a "knockout" performance in the boxing-themed performance finale. Cook was unshaken, and conventional during his three-song set Tuesday, with Collective Soul's "The World I Know" as his pick for a closing performance.

He also sang U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and the power ballad "Dream Big," his choice from the songwriting competition's finalists. "If I had to choose between playing a song that not a whole prices on the rise (' 'f M1 mmmKmmmwmK i jiimiii Am i -I, 'if fr --n immifrti from page A 1 "We are trying to understand the ramifications of this congressional farm bill foul-up. We haven't found a precedent for a congressional blunder of this magnitude," said Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman. "It looks like it may be back to square one for them." "In all likelihood, you have to redo this process," said Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the No.

2 Republican and one of the 100 GOP lawmakers who broke with Bush in voting to override the veto. "I'd like to see a farm bill passed that no judge can say is not the farm bill." The legislation includes election-year subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor -spending that lawmakers could promote when they are back in their districts over the Memorial Day weekend. The veto was the 10th of Bush's presidency. Congress so far has overridden him once, on a water projects bill. With Bush at record lows in the polls in the waning months of his term, it was fellow Republicans who joined with majority Democrats in rejecting the veto.

GOP lawmakers are anxious about their own prospects less than six months from the Election Day. About two-thirds of the bill would pay for nutrition programs such as food stamps; about $40. billion is for farm subsidies; and additional $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programs. Congressional Republicans overwhelmingly abandoned Bush in voting to pass the bill last week, overlooking its cost Review from page Al In no time at all, a Brando wannabe (Shia LaBeouf) roars up on a motorcycle and provides key information. The kid named Mutt Williams comes along for the ride, giving "Crystal Skull" the street cred it may need.

"Indiana Jones," after all, was an action series for an other generation not today s. LaBeouf serves as the post-X generation's ticket in. He wields a mean knife, has his own fears and reintroduces Indy to a woman from his past. Director Steven Spielberg doesn't scrimp on any of the action. He sends his stars over waterfalls, into sand pits and on the run from a particularly scary army of giant ants.

Sometimes, it seems like filler but with Indiana Jones, is there ever such a thing as "too Ford gets plenty to do (or at least his stunt man does) and a new attitude that proves he doesn't always have to Bogart the role. He looks great. He sounds even better. When he and Mutt are cornered by Russians, he politely reminds the kid, "You just brought a knife to a gun light." Not to be outdone, Mutt references Indy's age repeatedly. "What are you, like 80?" he barks.

True to its roots, "Crystal Skull" tries to duplicate the films of its era. The new edition has Cinemascope action and cheesy sci-fi aliens. Spielberg even tips his fedora to "Close Encounters of the from page Al But airline executives aren't laughing, and other carriers re-fused to rule out similar fees to stow luggage in the cargo hold. American Airlines' plan is part of a larger effort by the in-, dustry to find new ways to improve revenue in the face of soaring fuel prices and a slumping economy. The airlines anticipated a multibil-lion-dollar loss this year, even before oil's latest spike above $130 a barrel Wednesday.

Still, the latest effort could be a tough sell with passengers. "It's ridiculous," said Louise Schum, a 23-year-old student from Steamboat, on a 10-hour layover at Miami International Airport. "Charging for luggage is the cutoff line." Fort Worth, Texas-based American announced the change at the same time it said it would slash capacity and retire at least 75 older, gas-guzzling planes. Airlines Blog about Read Bruce Miller's take on the American Idol finale and "V'L'. r.AA LJA comments on the winner.

See blog at sioux- cityjournal.comblogs now his choices are vindicated. While "Idol" ratings were down all season, the final contest provoked a frenzy with a record 97.5 million audience votes cast by phone and text. Last year's total vote count was 74 million. Early in the show, host Ryan Seacrest played it coy, announcing that the split between the two contestants was 56 percent for one David, 44 percent for the other. Of course he left in question who got the lion's share; that detail wouldn't come until the closing moments t)f the two-hour live broadcast.

Carter Vahle of Sioux City took his son Landon, 5, to a "Speed Racer" matinee Wednesday. "I usually go to matinees, because they aren't crowded. It isn't about the money," Vahle said. "I figure if they're under 10 bucks, it's pretty reasonable." There are still bargains to be had. Rhoads said for about two months Promenade has been offering A.M.

Cinema a few screens with movies at 1 1 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are priced at $5, two dollars less than the following matinees. The A.M. Cinema shows have been successful, he said, especially with family films. But they're generally not quite as full as the other matinee shows, Rhoads said.

There is a third option in Sioux City to the first-run Southern Hills and Promenade theaters the Riviera Theatres in downtown Sioux City. All shows are $3 there, and Riviera owner Eric Hilsabeck likes his niche for drawing in price-sen sitive moviegoers. "I always think it's good when they (competitor prices) go up, because we're not going to go up and it makes us a more viable option," Hilsabeck said. "More people start thinking of ways to save money, and that always going to help us." Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth and director, respectively) George Lucas or Steven Spielberg when I grow up." Hanstein said the Indiana Jones movies inspired him to pursue an interest in history. A 2007 Briar Cliff University graduate with a bachelor's de gree in history, Hanstein hopes to some day work in a mu seum.

Um just like Indiana "Yes, just like Indiana Jones," Hanstein said with a smile. Darin and Sara Anderson buy matinee tickets from Kyrie Harris at GMs: Wholesale costs, pressure the Promenade movie theater last weekend. (Staff photo by Jim Lee) from movie companies to blame Third Kind," which helped cement his reputation as king of the blockbusters. "Crystal Skull's" biggest treat, though, is Blanchett. She's such a deliciously evil villain you think she's channeling "Bullwinkle's" Natasha.

Using the kind of cinematography formerly lavished on Lana Turner, Spielberg gives Blanchett a quality that's both appealing and revolting. The photography is so vivid you can actually count her eyelashes. If "Crystal Skull" has a crack (and, yes, it does) it's in exposition. By the time Indy and company get to where they need to be, there's so much sci-fi mumbo jumbo to sort through you don't really care who's on the side of good. Still, this isn't a lame imitation like "The Mummy" or "National Treasure." It's a cinematic tradition that holds up almost as well as Indiana Jones' leather jacket.

If you're a film scholar, you'll understand what Spielberg is tackling here. This isn't just an homage to past successes. It's a tribute to all that moved him to get into the business. Grab the popcorn and indulge. When you stack it up against the CGI-crammed films of previous summers, you'll realize this is the real deal and why so many people love to spend hot summer nights in cold, dark theaters.

Rated PG-13, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" features violence and intense action. On a scale of four stars, "Crystal Skull" gets: 3 12 stars LOTTERIES Powerball 7-16-21-33-42 Jackpot: $15 million Hot Lotto 13-17-19-29-33 Hot 5 Iowa Cash Game 5- 11-15-30-31 Iowa Early Pick 3 4-9-5 Iowa Early Pick 4 6- 0-5-4 Iowa Evening Pick 3 0- 8-1 Iowa Evening Pick 4 3-9-7-3 Nebraska 2x2 Fled: 6-8; White: 10-14 Nebraska Pick 3 1- 5-0 Nebraska Pick 5 12-15-19-29-38 Dakota Cash 18-24-25-29-34 By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer SIOUX CITY Inflation has Hit the box office. While Hollywood executives rjo doubt enjoy seeing movie revenues rising, theatergoers aren't so jazzed to fork out more to see the latest blockbuster. As the summer movie season arrives big and bold today with the arrival of the first Indiana Jones movie in 18 years, it will cost considerably tpore to see if Indy's fedora stays on even if you go to the matinee. i The spread between the cost to attend an evening movie and a matinee (beginning before 6 p.m.) is narrowing.

After the latest price increase at Southern Hills Cinema, the cost is now $8.50 at night for adults and $7 for. adults for matinees, although it's less ($6) for senior citizens and children By comparison, in January 2005 it cjost $4.50 for an adult matinee at the mall theaters, while the price was $5 at downtown Promenade 14 Cinema in November 2006. Back in late January, getting a large pop and large popcorn at Southern Hills cost a combined $10.50. Four months later, the two sell for $11.60, a 10 percent jump. It's seven dollars alone for the large popcorn, the same price as the matinee film ticket.

"I would not pay $7 for a pop- Sorn," said Linda Kempers, be-are entering a "What Happens in Vegas" matinee Wednesday. Kempers and fellow Sioux Fans from page Al "Don't call this a costume," he warned as he showed off his Indiana Jones-themed apparel's different components. "It's my gear. My jacket isn't just a leather jacket. It's an aviator jacket.

This isn't a purse Fm wearing. It's a satchel." "That's the same type of satchel British soldiers carried Rising city matinee prices Southern Hills 12 Cinema adult matinee prices: $4.50, November 2003 $4.50, January 2005 $6.50, January 2008 $7, May 2008 Promenade 14 Cinema adult matinee prices: $5, February 2006 $5, November 2006 $6.75 $7, January 2008 Cityans Marcy Bunkers and Kaye Wigton generally go to a film each week. Bunkers said she's noticed the rise in matinee prices, but doesn't want to give up taking in movies. But $7 gives her pause, she said. "That's a lot of money, especially when you can wait a few months and get it on DVD," Bunkers said.

"We're not New York," Kempers said of evening prices pushing $10. Promenade 14 Cinema manager Scott Rhoads acknowledged the price spread between evening and matinee films is narrowing. Southern Hills Cinema general manager Brent Monckton said the spread is "the closest I've seen it in the 20 years I've been in the business." The Southern Hills Cinema price increase to $7 came in April. Monckton said price is somewhat dictated by the Carmike chain, and he wants to stay near what competitor their gas masks in during World War II," Boe interjected. The only thing missing from Hanstein's ensemble is Indiana Jones' signature bullwhip.

"I have it back ordered," Hanstein said. "Hopefully, it's in the mail." The crowning part of attaining the Indiana Jones look is the distinctively tall-crowned, wide-brimmed fedora Harrison Ford wears in all of the movies. Hanstein said his hat was made by the same people Free morning movies Promenade Cinema 14 in downtown Sioux City is running a series of free movies this summer. On 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from June 3 to July 30, a nonfirst-run movie will be shown with free admission.

Promenade charges. He said movie companies want the highest grosses possible, so in deciding which theaters to have movies shown, they'll lean to those charging the most in a market. "They are gonna put the movie where the money is," Monckton said. Rhoads said ticket and concession prices are rising in 2008 for a host of reasons Iowa has had two increases in the minimum wage in the last year, concession wholesale prices are up and the cost of removing garbage from the theatre is rising. Monckton also blamed increasing costs on the increase in the minimum wage, up $2.10 per hour to $7.25.

"In order to make our business profitable, we need to adjust our own pricing structure," Rhoads said. Rhoads said he recognizes the inflationary economy is impacting people with rising gas and food prices. But he said people working with tight personal budgets will still go to movies, "because it's an escape." who constructed Ford's fedora. "The construction and the stitching is impeccable," he said as he doffed his hat. Wardrobe considerations aside, Boe and Hanstein both said Indiana Jones has left a lasting impression on their lives.

"I have an associate's degree in film making from Full Sail University in Orlando, said Boe, who currently works at KCAU-TV. "Yup, I want to be (Indiana Jones' producer.