h4|
NTERTAINMENT
HE BATTALION
7A
Thursday, March 4, 2004
ymi IXXjy
L C
R I T I Q UE
tions that only serve to keep the complacent audi
ence staring at the “purty pictures” on the screen.
The sappiness of some scenes is often over
whelming, but what can one expect from a movie
that came from “The House of the Mouse.”
The movie is not a terrible one, but at the same
time film-goers looking for a movie that will not
only entertain but will offer some mental exercise
will be well-advised to stay away. “Hidalgo”
shouldn’t offend anybody but the thinking man.
Every one else is sure to get a kick from this stan
dard Hollywood piece of driftwood floating in a
sea of queso.
Hot and Ready
Large
Pepperoni
Pizza
$ 5 +tax little Caesars
EVERYDAY 696-0191
carry out only 2501 Texas Ave. S
OVER
30,000
won weekly
1805 Briarcrest, Bryan
979-776-0999
OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY
Ag Appreciation
Nights
on Wed & Thurs Nights: 6:00 & 8:00
* New times for 2004
• Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 6 & 8
* 1/2 price paper
* M0 1/2 price Bingo Magic
Machines
• BYOB
• '2500 package prize each session
LARGE NON-SMOKING ROOM
Great Food • Security • Pull Tables
St. Joseph Brazos Valley Stjoseph
Catholic gll <s #859 BVCASA Catholic
Church School
;dy Cress I
ou might
, possible.'
engineer
id he eiijo;
id of Cra
ray fromii
nd," Rodgc
in sound”
mtinueloti
11 be drivi
laying ffl«
i van,
<i
—
n
ill
vhat
iter by
lives,
:ms.
itut
■edits.
Photo Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures
Mortensen (right) plays Frank T. Hopkins, a
! racer fallen from glory, who is invited to com-
jeteina 3,000 mile race across the Arabian Desert
ySheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif, left).
“Hidalgo”
Touchstone Pictures
Starring Viggo Mortensen
‘Hidalgo” is a movie that was made for a spe-
Ic audience. It just so happens to be the same
idience that enjoys “America’s Funniest Home
'ideos” and CBS sitcoms. Amusing at times,
illy entertaining at others, “Hidalgo” is grade-
(Hollywood cut.
Prepared from a recipe of box-office success,
Disney film is as predictable and cliched as it
but at the same time, it doesn’t inflict too
hharm on a viewer's brain cells.
Hidalgo” is the story of Frank T. Hopkins, a
American Indian who has fallen a long way
glory, and his horse Hidalgo, who compete
long-distance race through the Arabian
sen. Along the way, the pair of misfits
ountersand stonns, swarms of locus, scheming
racers and bandits.
Viggo Mortensen plays Frank T. Hopkins much
le Indiana Jones on downers, quick with a sar
castic quip or fisticuffs when he’s not brooding
nilhhis horse. Hopkins has an unnaturally close
relationship with his horse, and the two enjoy all
salts of activities together, from saving damsels in
fistress to eating insects.
The horse seems to be the smarter and more
responsible of the pair. Casting director Nancy
Foydid an excellent job in choosing the horse that
played Hidalgo. The eyes of the beasts give off an
uncanny intelligence and charm. After watching
ihe first half of the movie, audiences won’t be able
tohelpbut fall in love with Hidalgo and care about
his plight. This is exactly what director Joe
Johnston (“The Rocketeer,” “October Sky”) is
hanking on - that audiences will be too distracted
| curing shout the horse to notice the shallowness of
the script.
“Thtfilm features a lack of likeable characters,
/foplinsis too busy feeling sorry for himself to
give the audience a chance to. The other characters
are either villains or stereotypical foreigners with
grasp of the English language and the
nuances of its humor. Besides the amusing scenes
the horses are actually racing for their
ray survival, the movie focuses on a hastily
thrown together plot that focuses on stealing a
prize horse. Along the way, the love interest is kid
napped and - of course - Hopkins and Hidalgo go
and save the day. On the way, they get themselves
ilothe villain’s complex, which is amusing, but
Aegunfight that ensues has been seen dozens of
lined before in better crafted visual styles.
The cinematography is one aspect of the film
lat never fails to please. The sepia tone that cine
matographer Shelly Johnson uses to capture the
desert locals helps add to the destitution of the
of a race through the. heat and sand.
During one overly sentimental scene, a well-craft
ed use of camera techniques and special effects
helps bring together a well-composed hallucina-
n sequence.
The movie often takes the road of fantasy in
highly unbelievable scenarios and situa-
- Robert Saucedo
“The Lost Skeleton of Cadava”
Columbia-Tristar
Starring Larry Blamire
A tongue-in-cheek sendup of a 1950s science
fiction film, “The Lost Skeleton of Cadava” is
hilarious in its awfulness. Seemingly built for late-
night movie watching parties, the movie is laugh-
out-loud funny as it celebrates and builds upon the
cliches that helped earn legendary director Ed
Wood his infamous legacy.
When a serious scientist (Larry Blamire) and
his bubbly wife embark on a trip to the woods to
locate a meteor that contains atmospheria, an elu
sive element that potentially holds the key to
mankind’s salvation, they become entangled in a
web of mock-horror. A mad scientist with dreams
of conquering the world, Dr. Roger Fleming, is
also in search of atmospheria to resurrect the evil
skeleton that resides in the cave of Cadava.
Also in search of atmospheria are two well-
meaning aliens who need to repair their ship that
crashed and unfortunately let loose a bloodthirsty
mutant, which is not much more than a man inside
of a costume that looks as if it was built for a play
at a school that lost all of its theater funding for
the year.
Much like the movies it mocks, the film’s plot is
just gift wrapping for the collection of genre stan
dards. Eclectic objects find a home in this bizarre
movie, with everything from bizarre weapons made
from household appliances to the mysterious half
animal, half-woman temptress Animala.
Writer/director/actor Blamire cleverly inserts
satire among the slapstick humor that helps sell
this retro comedy. The script cleverly parodies the
schlock-tastic dialogue of 1950s science fiction
movies to a T. Audiences won’t help but find
themselves quoting the movie’s spot-on dialogue.
Just thinking back to Animala’s rock dance will
leave fans softly giggling at the memory.
The movie is filmed in black and white and fea
tures a standard science-fiction score that helps
add to the legitimacy of the movie. Part of the
movie’s charm is the way it takes itself seriously
throughout the hour-and-a-half screen time. The
movie lends itself to repeat mocking and is ideal
for a night of movie watching with friends.
Unfortunately, like most one-joke ideas, the
movie often contains slow parts and lolls in the
humor, but audiences will be too busy resting their
smile muscles to care. More hilarious jokes are
just around the corner.
The actors are exceptional at bad acting.
Never letting in on the joke, the actors all help to
carry the sight gags and inane dialogue with flair
so believable, one begins to wonder if some of
today’s notoriously bad actors may be faking
bad as well.
While most modern spoofs seem to find the
need to hide behind gross-out humor and sex
jokes, the movie, at a rating of PG, is so clever
ly crafted it never strays from the wide-eyed
innocent roots of the movies it spoofs.
a
- Robert Saucedo
4980 Dilty Shaw Tap Rd. Bryan TX, 77808 979 - 778 - 0173
From computer parts to
complete systems...
We’ve got you covered.
Realty ^
Realty & Investment Company
FREE LOCATOR
260-1200
PRELEASING NOW for May & August 2004!
Across from campus, next to Taco Bell.
www.united-rico.com
um d sT*rmzmm«w4*m
Backpacks? Hostels?
3 Cities in 4 Days?
This ain’t your parents’ travel agency... it’s yours.
London $278
Paris $279
Amsterdam $354
Brussels $335 ^ ^
Vega/ Prom $420
» 3 nights at Luxor Hotel
Pori/ Prom $531
» 7 nights
Faro is round trip from Houston and prices are per person.
Subject to change and availability. Vegas package based on
double occupancy. Paris package based on quad occupancy.
Tax not included. Restrictions and blackouts apply. Fares are
valid for students and youth under 26.
BOOK IT BEFORE ■
THE THRILL IS GONE. ISTA
721 Texas Ave. S
(979) 696.5077
lwww.statravel.com
onLine »> on the pnonG >> on enmpu/ >> on the /treet
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Maria Shriver takes
seatas federal juror
ANGELES (AP) -
ournalist-turned-California first
Maria Shriver has another
ewjob: juror.
wearing a pantsuit and
glasses, took notes
(ednesday in U.S. District Court,
tee she is on a jury hearing a
iroduct liability case.
There was no evidence of extra
icnrity for the wife of Gov.
irnold Schwarzenegger,
iveryone entering the federal
ourthouse must pass through a
retal detector and each court-
oomhas an armed bailiff.
Shriver, a former “Dateline
IBC" reporter, asked to be
of her duties at NBC
lews after her husband was
governor. She said it
ecame clear to her that as first
idy of California, her journalistic
would constantly be
crutinized.
Shriver had the seat nearest
ie witness stand. She is one of
tree women on the panel hear-
igthe case of a man who claims
e suffered nerve damage that
osthim the use of his right arm
hen he fell from an extension
idder while working for a heat-
'gand cooling company.
He is suing the ladder manu-
icturer, alleging the product was
"fective.
CALLAWAY
You've Never Lived
or Worked Like This!
HOUSE
The Callaway House, the premier housing choice for students, is looking for Community
Assistants for immediate and summer openings. As a Community Assistant, you will help
make the Callaway House a great place to live through outreach with students, resident
programming, leadership and customer service support.
Qualifications Include:
• Full time student of sophomore or higher standing
• Minimum of 2.5 GPA or higher
• Be in good academic and judicial standing
• Information session will be held on Sat, March 6th @ 3:00 pm
- Applications are now available at the Callaway House
reception desk
For more Information, please stop by or contact us at:
301 George Bush Drive West
College Station,Texas 77840
(979)260-7700
www.callawayhouse.com
American Campus Communities is an equal opportunity employer.
Mar. 7 th - Mar. 11 th
Acct 209
Billy's Video
Sun 9p; Mon 7p
Acct 209
Kratchman
Tue 6p; Wed 7p
Acct 209
Strawser
Tub 6p
Acct 230
Biol 113
Sun 9p; Tub 7p
Biol 113
Sun 9p; Tue 7p
Biol 114
Chem101
Keeney-Kennic
Sun 12a
Chem101
Magnuson
Tub 5p
Chem102
Sun 3p
Chem102
Sun 3p
Chem102
Conway
Thu 6p
Chem102
Peck
Mon 12a
Chem107
Chem 228
Hogg
Mon 9p
Chem 228
Sulikowski
Sun 9p
Chem 228
Tiner
Sun 5p
Econ 203
Nelson
Mon 4p
Boon 322
Sun 3p
Fine 309
Joyner
Sun 7p; Sun 7p; Mon 7p; Mon 7p
Fine 341
Joyner
Sun 7p; Sun 7p; Mon 7p; Mon 7p
Info 303
Darcey
Mon 3p, Tue lOp
Math 141
Sun 9p; Mon 9p; Tue 7p; Wed 7p
Math 141
Sun 9p; Mon 9p; Tue 7p; Wed 7p
Math 142
Sun 6p; Mon 6p
Math 142
Sun 6p; Mon 6p
Math 152
Wed 10p
Math 152
Wed lOp
Mgmt 309
Wesson
Tue 9p
Mktg 309
Tue lOp
Mktg 309
Tue lOp
Mktg 321
Tue lOp
Mktg 321
Tue 10p
Rhys 201
Rhys 218
Bryan
Thu 8p
Rhys ?18
Schuessler
Sun 12p
Tickets Go On Sale Sun. 5pm
Bookmark Us Online At:
www. 4. OandGo. com