Page 4 • The Battalion
Thursday • July 6,19
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VIP Research is seeking
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$100 will be paid to qualified
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complete this study.
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These times good starting Friday July 7.
APOLLO 13 (PG) On TWo Screens
10:25 1:25 4:25 7:25 10:30
10:55 1:55 4:55 7:55 10:55
• POCAHONTAS (G) On TWO Screens
10:45 1:05 3:25 6:30 8:40 11:00
11:25 1:35 3:45 6:00 8:20 10:30
BATMAN FOREVER (PG-13) On Two Screens
10:45 1:45 4:35 7:40 10:20
10:10 1:25 4:10 7:15 10:00 12:45 <■
FIRST KNIGHT (PG-13) On Two Screens
12:00 3:00 6:00 9:25 12:30
10:00 1:00 4:00 7:30 10:40
SPECIES (R) On Two Screens
10:15 1:05 4:05 6:30 9:10 11:50
11:00 1:45 4:10 7:05 9:45 12:16
■ftIDOIS OF MADISON COUNTY (PO-13)
11:00 2:00 5:00 5:00 11:15
ONCE WERE WARRIORS (R)
10:30 1:00 3:25 7:00 0:35 12:0
DIE HARD WITH A VENGANCE(R)
11:10 1:45 4:30 7:20 10:10
FORGET PARIS (PG-13)
2:20 4:50 7:55
BAD BOYS (R)
11:25 10:30
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (PG)
11:15 1:40 4:00 12:10
CONGO (PG-13)
11:05 1:30 4:00 6:45 9:20
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Grants for Grad Student s
and Graduating Seniors
Research abroad is only a few
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receive a Fulbright grant.
ATTENTION: JUNIORS & SENIORS
If you are not currently eligible to order the Aggie ring, but will be eligible
after the 1995 Summer Session I grades are posted in July, please do the
following:
1. Visit the Ring Office to complete an application for eligibility veri
fication and receive a price list as soon as possible, but no later than
July 31, 1995.
2. Upon completing the application, you may request a mail order form
if you will not be in the Bryan-College Station area to place your
order in person between July 14-31, 1995.
ATTENTION: GRADUATE STUDENTS
If you are an August 1995 degree candidate and do not have an Aggie ring
from a prior degree, you may place an order for a ‘95 ring after you meet
the following requirements:
1. Your degree is conferred and posted on the Texas A&M University
Student Information Management System; and
2. You are in good standing with the University, including no registra
tion or transcript blocks for past due fees, loans parking tickets,
returned checks, etc.
If you will complete all of your degree requirements by July 28, 1995, you
may request a “Letter of Completion” from the Office of Graduate Studies
(please allow 5 working days for receipt). The Ring Office will accept your
ring order before your degree is posted only if you present the original
“Letter of Completion” with the seal and you are in good standing with the
University.
Please visit the Ring Office prior to receiving your “Letter of Completion”
to complete the application and receive a mail order form if you are leav
ing town prior to July 31, 1995.
Nothing sells like superheroes
Amy
Uptmor
Columnist
F ilmmakers and psy
chologists alike should
direct their eyes to
Batman, for he is not just a
stud in spandex anymore.
Over the last six years, he’s
proven not only to be a
mere money-maker, but he
is also a metaphor for mod
ern-day zen.
If people don’t believe the holy hype sur
rounding this superhero, they should just look
at the facts. The three Batman movies have
made a combined $143.1 million from their
opening weekends, which gives them three of
the four most successful opening weekends in
movie history.
The most recent Batman movie had the
most successful opening weekend ever, oust
ing Jurassic Park from the throne.
Batman Forever’s formula would seem to
have all the key ingredients for a blockbuster;
an acclaimed director, beloved actors and ac
tresses, killer special effects and an enormous
budget. But there’s more.
People love movies like Batman and Juras
sic Park because they are the perfect mix of
reality and the ultimate fantasy.
What person wouldn’t love to live the life of
Batman for a day? It’s everything
that childhood dreams are made
of — a seemingly average Joe who
works a somewhat normal job
and lives in a “normal” world.
But at night, the average Joe
flies without planes, drives up the
sides of buildings, beats the bad
guys, becomes everyone’s hero
and captures the heart of the
most beautiful girl in town.
Could anyone ask for more?
Watching Batman Forever is the ulti
mate act of catharsis. Shakespeare would
have been proud. In less than two hours,
viewers can live a fantastic, yet impossible
playboy life in a world that will never ex
ist. It’s an escape, and it makes us all feel
better when we leave the theater.
People who want to experience heroics
again this summer should go see Apollo 13,—
starring none other than Tom Hanks, the man
who everyone wanted to believe was a super
hero in Forrest Gump. Sure, it’s a true story,
but how many people will ever be astronauts?
It’s about as likely as becoming Batman. As
tronauts are our real-life superheroes.
Audiences can take picks on a superhero
movie this summer, for there’s a plethora —
Judge Dredd and Mighty
Morphine Power Rangers
are two more to add to
the list.
Obviously, Batman
Forever director Joel Schu
macher and Apollo 13 direc
tor Ron Howard aren’t the
only two directors that have
bought into this winning
formula. These smart di
rectors prove that a movie
doesn’t have to answer
any of life’s questions or
solve any great social is
sues to make people feel
better. After all, in the
real world, the less we
are reminded of reality,
the happier we Eire.
Reality bites, and we
all know it. So why pay
$6 to be tortured by
lives worse than our
own when we could
live the life of an invin
cible person? Super
hero movies are like virtual reality,
only more accessible.
Merchant returns with solo succesi
By Amy Uptmor
The Battalion
Ever since Natalie Merchant announced
her plans to go solo, her “maniac” fans have
been eagerly awaiting her solo debut.
Merchant ended her career as lead singer
of 10,000 Maniacs after 10 years of produc
ing some of the most unique alternative folk
music of the ’80s. The band’s music featured
Merchant’s unusual mezzo-soprano voice
Natalie Merchant
and thoughtful lyrics.
In the eyes of many fans, Natalie Mer
chant was 10,000 Maniacs.
Tigerlily, Merchant’s debut solo release,
is in many ways a complete departure from
10,000 Maniacs. Musically, Merchant has
moved to a much looser, less intense sound,
with the instrumentation being almost en
tirely acoustic throughout the album. The
sound is simple, unlike the barrage of
horns, strings and accordions that could
customarily be found on almost any 10,000
Maniacs album.
But some things never change with Mer
chant. Themes of sadness, bitterness and
growing up dominate her lyrics as they al
ways have.
Merchant’s voice, coupled with some
weak lyrics, often lacks fierce passion and
conviction.
When Merchant’s voice is up to par, often
her band’s fluffy sound can not live up to
her power.
Merchant and the band sound flat and
lifeless on the album’s opening track, “San
Andreas Fault,” a song about the destruc
tion of California by earthquakes. Even
when the song’s most powerful lyrics are
delivered — “O promised land / O wicked
ground / Build a dream / Tear it down” —
both Merchant and her backing music
sound unmoved.
There are some shining moments on this
album where Merchant’s new, lighter sound
is successful. “Where I Go,” with guitar and
lyrics reminiscent of Nancy Griffith and
Sarah McLachlan, is a sweet song about go
ing to the river to escape from the troubles
of life.
The highlight of this album is "Cowbc;
Romance.” It is a charming song thattf
fies Merchant's songwriting style andc
cate voice.Complete with beautiful bad
violin and piano — played by Merchant-
this is a haunting tale of love between‘i
cowboy and a fool,” in which the fool asie
Album Review
Natalie Merchant
Tigerlily
Elektra Records
★★★ (out of five)
“Would you spare the innocent ones/Wo:
you take me with you? / Can you love ttf
land / And love me too?” Of course, then 5
boy rides away, leaving her alone.
This unusual theme probably stem
from Merchant’s fascination with the01:
West that manifested itself in her 10,0®
Maniacs songs “Gold Rush Brides” and
“Dust Bowl Days.”
Other notably good songs are ‘‘River,’:
song about the overexposure of the life i
death of River Phoenix, and “Camival/i
first release from the album, which com
pares the streets of New York to a series
circus side shows.
Tigerlily is by no means as good asM
chant’s work with 10,000 Maniacs, butii
a noble first effort. She does not showth
full range of her talent, but she will no
doubt satisfy her “maniac” fans with this
beautiful debut.
Don’t
Worry
when an accident or
sudden illness occurs
CarePlus is open when you
need them 7 days a week
with affordable medical
care.
CarePlus
Family Medical Center
2411 Texas Ave. and
Southwest Parkway
696-0683
10% A&M student discount
MSC Barber Shop
Serving All Aggies!
Cuts and Styles
Haircuts starting at $6.
Seven operators to serve you
Theresa - Marti - April
Jennifer - Mary
846-0629
Open Mon. - Fri. 8-5
Located in the basement of the Memorial Student Center
$
CONTACT LENSES
ONLY QUALITY NAME BRANDS
(Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Barnes-Hind-Hydrocurve)
Disposable Contact Lenses Available
118
00
TOTAL COST...includes
EYE EXAM, FREE ALCON O PIT-FREE CARE KIT, AND I'WO PAIR OF STANDARD
FLEXIBLE WEAR SOFT CONTACT LENSES.
$
149
00
TOTAL COST.. .INCLUDES
EYE EXAM, FREE ALCON OPTI-FREE CARE KIT, AND FOUR PAIR OF STANDARD
FLEXIBLE WEAR SOFT CONTACT LENSES.
SAME DAY DELIVERY ON MOST LENSES.
Call 846-0377 for Appointment
CHARLES C. SCHROEPPEL, O.D., PC.
DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY
505 University Dr. East,
Suite 101
College Station, TX 77840
4 Blocks East of Texas Ave. &
University Dr. Intersection
m
CHEAP AEROBICS!
voltes /tizis soevsiy
COD
GENERAL MEETING
WED. JULY 5TH
7:00 P.M.
READ 268
Aerobics class immediately following
You don’t have to come to the meeting to join!
Come by
Read 268
Mon. - Thurs. before 7:00 p.m.
to sign up and join the fun !!!
Questions: Call Jen at 693-7733
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