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'Bent' at Ti By TOMMY JOYNER Assistant features editor Bent, by Martin Sherman, opened at Trustus Theatre I Friday with more than the usual controversy. Bent is a play about homosexuality in World War 11 Nazi Germany. Apparently, some people took offense at the volatile script and determined that the best way to express themselves carefully and concisely would be to festoon the warehouse theatre with swastikas during the night. While writing a letter to the editor of some widely read newspaper would have served the purpose much more directly, and undoubtedly our sweet vandals did consider this option; but maybe being short on time or perhaps out of stamps, they took the more underhanded route of spray paint. Their opinionated action simply draws more attention to exactly what they are attempting to. suppress ? a perfect example of the Last Temptation/Satanic Verses syndrome. Bring smelling salts 'The Fly IP adventure in By SCOTT PRUDEN Staff writer Come on, gang. You knew it was inevitable. A remake of a cheesy 1950s horror flick turns out to be one of the biggest things on celluloid for the late '80s, so why not make a sequel to rake in even more bucks with even less of a plot? Funny, but that's probably exactly what the studio guys were thinking when they rubber-stamped The Fly // and unleashed it on the unsuspecting public. Presented for your consideration is a portrait of a genetic mutant. The film opens with Seth Brundle's girlfriend from The Fly giving birth to the child they procreated during a fit of post-transportational lust. As you'll remember, that particular transportation involved a lil' bitty fly as well as Seth, and the befuddled computer tuucu up 5V.UIV,II idling mtii v^iu uiiiusuiiics lugcuici icunci than assembling them separately like it was supposed to. Seth's little wrigglers were thusly transformed into little buzzers, and the union of man and woman created maggot. Bartok Industries (the obligatory evil multinational corporation) begins observing Martin the Brundle baby as he . grows at a kudzu-like rate, reaching his twenties intellectually and physically after only five years. Martin is then introduced to his daddy's toys, the transporter pods, and is given the task of figuring out how the darn things work, since everything the company boys put through gets pureed. Enter Beth', the obligatory beautiful love interest, who eventually makes a man (in a purely sexual sense) out of the five-year-old Martin while also serving as his lab assistant. The two work together to try to discover the secret of the transporter pods and of Martin's rapidly developing fly-itis. And kids, that's about it for the plot department. Pretty sparse at best, but what's lacking in plot, director Chris Walas makes up for with spewipg innards. As make-up designer for David Cronenberg's The Fly, Walas knows how to sling the body fluid, and he doesn't have a bad eye for the camera, but the script is devoid of anything so frivilous as character development or emotion. Not that The Fly II is particularly bad, but it manages to completely prostitute the ideas and intentions behind its predecessor. In The Fly, Cronenberg was exploring the limits to which a person can love someone who is changing into something unpleasant. It just so happened that the certain someone was changing into a very big bug. Parallels could be drawn with victims of Alzheimer's disease, cancer or any other degenerative disease and Seth Brundle's decline into fly-ness, giving the film's script a bit of legitimacy. The Fly II presents a much more cynical picture, focus ing on revenge ana numan extortion ratner man emotional bonds and strained relationships. Even the dark ^^^westside^OMEN^TERV X OB/GYN CERTIFIED PHYSICIflr V BIRTH CONTROL Complete physic (0 f???????? Lab Tests (Blood \ BIRTH CONTROL SERVICES Blood Pressure C y Plus 0D6 pack of pills (before and after (f S40student rate (r?g. $T5)| . Pap Smear 2 PROBLEM PREGNANCY Counseling *Abor1 J "FREE PREGNANCY TESTING* / fiSK ABOUT THE NEW. T MORE COMFORTABLE. UP TO DATE METH< y Call 798-9299 or toll free 1-800-922-373 I Wed. Feb. 22 The Seven Simons, The Weeds & Th Thurs. Feb. 23 Waxing Poetics MCfi/Emergi I Recording firtist! I Fri. Feb. 24 & Sat. Feb. 25 Two Night I of Party Tunes With Tootie find The Jor Sun. Feb. 26 Free ficoustic Night Mon. Feb. 27 finti Seen & Teenage Love Taes. Feb. 28 Groovy Cools ustus: Vola _^Sho^Reviev\^| Trustus' Bent is a classic example of a weak-beginning / strong-ending play. The first act does have its strong moments, such as a light scene between Max and his Uncle Freddie, played by Jerry Jewler, but over all the second half is superior to the first. The play stars George Hughes as Max, a free-wheeling homosexual who becomes imprisoned at Dachau. Untold multitudes of homosexuals were persecuted in concentration camps during the rise and reign of Adolf Hitler. The curtain opens on the interior of Max's and his lover Rudy's apartment. Here the audience gets a glimpse first of Max's whimsical lifestyle and then of the brutality of the Gestapo, who bursts in mid-scene with guns and fast just another \ gross-outs [ Movie Review black humor of The Fly is missing save for one scene, ironically featuring the only character held over from the first film. Bitter and boozy, the former science magazine editor complains to Martin and Beth about Seth Brundle stealing his girl and melting his arm and leg with "fly vomit." For those who have seen The Fly, this scene provides a laugh and a welcome break from all the melodrama. Still another problem with The Fly II is the liberal (nay, excessive) use of spectacular and bloody shock effects. When it conies to gore effects, these folks play it to the hilt. Not only do appendages go squish, they insist on exploding or melting first. The make-up is admirable, but only those with the strongest of stomachs will be able to watch long enough to critique how realistic that exploding head was. The actors themselves do a fine job considering what they have to work with. Eric Stoltz emerges from Mask to don even more gruesome features for his performance as the niave Martin. Stoltz doesn't do a bad job, but the script makes his character seem much too with-it at the age of five, even taking into account the fly baby's superior intelligence. Daphne Zuniga, who was great in The Sure Thing, merely serves as window dressing for The Fly II. Little attempts to actually give her character some depth don't work very well, and it's a shame to see such a good actress go to waste just standing around looking concerned. (The Fly II is no great cinematic achievement, and it's certainly not going to win any awards, but if you're looking for something to make the babe grab your arm in terror, this is the movie for you. Just remember, she might also retch on your shirt in disgust. But then again, you might too, so take the buddy barf bag and enjoy. SUMMER LONDON, 1 at :he<* T MIDDLESEX P( pill usage) ) _ J Earn Credit for Coursew lion Services w dial 777-6 J Visit Room 206 of 1 )D J ^ 0 - J _ "Immedia j $20 With T> # New donors or any donor ****?? in 30 days can earn $20.1 e Reign I appointment necessary, but pr Oh m 0 Columbia Pla: ?J I 1916 Tayh 254-6683 or lB "Automated Plasma Cent <>20' + tile, but go disappearing German accents. The two soldiers, who play a major, yet relatively silent part of the action, are equally mean and nasty and therefore fitting in their roles. Rudy, played by Bill Cooke, was whiney and basically very flat. His attempt to portray a warm, lovable, personable character left too much to the collective audience imagination. Hughes rolls over Cooke's flatness, however, and rides the first scenes out with his emotive expressions. Once on the way to Dachau, Max and the audience meet Horst, played by Firdous Bamji. The rapport Bamji and Hughes establish is the saving grace of Bent. Horst is a Pink Triangle, as opposed to the Jewish Yellow Star, which means he is earmarked by the S.S. as a homosexual. Not wanting to be identified as a homosexual, Max tells the authorities he is Jewish and thereby gains a yellow star. The two befriend each other, work together and, of course, become clandestine lovers. The problem with Bent is relevance. The atrocities com<a ':d; iBHVXHwt ^ nnnBnBP anB^jji - RHP 1 mm wKjO " . .-shv ' f ii'it4 " - Important handout Jenny Huguley gives tickets to sophomore English n major Karen Silverstein Tuesday for the USC basketba Antique mall c By KYM SMITH cluttered "antiqi Staff writer of-junk" store. Columbia has a new attraction for discouraged, for those of us who are consumed with and varied treasi an indescribable passion when the inside, word "antique" slips into our ears. I This mall is c< am referring to a new antique/art like booths displ mall which is soon to be in full opera- collections. Man tion at the corner of Blossom and intricate layers < Gladston. glass, furniture ar the articles are ? The Thieves' Market is a creative just interesting ar effort on the part of local antique, this earth, art and craft dealers to introduce to Columbia a mall that goes beyond Indeed, all whc the mundane repetitiveness of the the unusual wil "fashion" malls in the area. satisfied. There is This new adventure in antique tion of teacups frc hunting is located at 500 Gladston ed ones to daily si Avenue. At first glance, the barn-like In addition to tf structure appears to be just another tiques, there are b( sr.wnnT ^ If WVJ.XV/VU ^ ^ ENGLAND THL 3LYTECHNIC ork and/or Internships. pol 142 Or I I You must the Russell House / I. RUSi S 20 te Cash" lis Coupon. S s that haven't donated f 30 on first donation. No # ? ?usi ocessing is faster with one. ? iii. CAM J lv- LAW I / v- COLI afeji' S tma Center v' ME'" or Street m 254-6684 ? AR er - Faster and Safe'' # > *20 ",'YOIi mitted by the Third Reich are, though tragic and gross, behind us, with very little chance of returning. And though the play was more a love story than about World War II, a play's value lies in making the audience think. Bent is a diary-type account of Max's life. Staying home and reading The Diary of Anne Frank would have served the purpose just as completely, and the story line is better. Bent runs tonight through Feb. 24th and March 1-4. Call 254-9732 for reservations and information. t v ^X^IPI IIIE2 * JULIE BOUCHILLON/The Gamecock lajor Ellyn Schwartz and junior interdisciplinary studies ill game against The Citadel. tffers diversion ues-hidden-in-a-lot- new and creative works. You can also But do not be find help and advice for interior many a marvelous decorating, ire is to be found The most intriguing "newamposed of room- antique" booth was a Kimono colleclaying the dealers' tion. These Japanese robes are handy booths consist of made from old material. Each one is af china, pottery, different and a personal expression id jewlery. Some of of the designer, intiques, some are The Thieves' Market is still in the id some are not of completion stages. It is open daily for dealers to set up their displays, but all are welcome to browse. After Easter, ) enjoy a hunt for the mall will be open Wednesday 1 be more than through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 an amazing collec- P-m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 im delicately detail- p m- So after that last class, take a toneware. walk down Blossom and lose yourselt le collections of an- in an explosion of 19th and 20th cenaoths which exhibit tury antiques. JDENT GOVERNMENT RUN-OFF ELECTION IRSDAY, FEBRUARY 23,1989 ,LS WILL BE OPEN 10:00 am - 6:00 pin vote at the following locations according to your major. Please present your valid I.D. card. >ELL HOUSE - 2nd Floor Lobby Continuing Education Criminal Justice Education Health Interdisciplinary Studies Library and Information Science Pharmacy Science and Math Social Work NESS ADMINISTRATION - 1st Floor Lobby Business Administration nnn v \Iaaw Lntni Fill i)i\Ll>L - ntfli - aiive Honors College Baccalaureate Humanities and Social Sciences Nursing - Main Lobby Engineering School Law School SEHM - Blossom Street Lobby Applied Professional Sciences Journalism CAL SCHOOL - Business Offi?? Medical Students UN-OFF ELECTION WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 2JJL282HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL 777-2654