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New twist can't save Movie By BRIAN SHELTON Staff Writer In 1984, a low-budget horror film called Nightmare on Elm Street was released, and it became an instant classic. Unlike other horror movies of the time, which basically just had mask-wearing psychopaths mowing down procreating teens, Nightmare on Elm Street offered an intriguing plot about the power of dreams and showcased a villain named Freddy Krueger who was not only frightening but charismatic as well. The film demanded further installments, and, sure enough, a sequel was released a year later. Not only did the second film make more money than the original,it also turned Freddy Krueger into a genuine media superstar and virtually guaranteed that the sequels wouldn't stop at just one. In fact, for a while there, New Line Cinema churned them out once a year, each one taking the series in a slightly different direction. The direction was a positive one in 1987's Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors, but, after a while, the series began to overstep its boundaries. The later films (especially Part 5) lacked the creativity that was prevalent in the first few movies, and the once invincible Freddy Krueger began to look washed up. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, the sixth and presumably last of the series continues this disintegration and is easily the worst of the lot It does not bode well for a film when it loses all of its credibility in its first 15 seconds but Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare accomplishes just that. Right before the action begins, a message is flashed on the screen that says every teen resident of a town called Springwood has been slaughtered by Freddy Krueger except for one survivor who is fleeing for his life. Let's back up for a minute and ponder how it is possible a town could let every one of its pubescent citizens croak. Wouldn t you think maybe alter the body count reached 1000 or so the town leaders would get together and call the National Guard or something? Wouldn't you, if you happened to be a teen and all your friends were dropping like flies, maybe put a little pressure on the old parental units to pack up the U-Haul and get the hell out of there? And hey, where's 60 Minutes (or at the very least, Hard Copy) during all this? The only apparent reason for the removal of Springwood's teenagers is to set the plot in motion. Freddy decides , instead of resting on his laurels or taking up a 'S'hJ g|j| Protect your unbc prenatal care. Caj for a free booklet; Baby Before It Is ,1 in sequel villain, filn Review a hobby like basket-weaving, he wants to continue 1 trade of killing teens in their dreams. The only way can do this is by branching out into another town, he packs up his glove and his green and red sweal and proclaims,"Every town has an Elm Street." Lea ing isn't as simple as it seems, though, and Fredi soon realizes the only way out is to find the child fathered when he was still in human form, i Freddy a daddy? Doesn't it seem a little late in t series to add a detail like this? Actually it is, and t Knf inner rtf Kim noin rr k?n a r% a/vma a/%?^ vuvjiv uuouii/oj ui Him ujiug ma v,iuiu aa auuic aun portal really doesn't make a lot of sense either. T only reason I can really see for dropping a bombsto like this is to tick-off the audience by making them I to guess which of the characters is the chip c Freddy's block. Is it that last surviving teen of Springwood wl somehow ends up in a mental hospital in anoth town? Is it one of the three kids the teen meets at tl hospital? Is it Maggie, the psychologist who kee having demented dreams about a water tower ai looks vaguely like Madonna on a bad day? They i end up back in Springwood, and, basically, the 01 who doesn't die in a weird, bizarre dream sequence the one who used to call Freddy "pops". The dream sequences, usually a highlight of tl films, are, for the most part, weak, boring and ove long. The most horrific thing they could come up wi is Frp/IHv spfflfphina a rhallrlwarH u/i?h hie m^toil y uv>ui.vi*t*i^ M V?IW*1VI/UU1 U TT1U1 lltb) II1VUIU nails, and, disturbingly, the dreams make light of sei ous subjects (drugs, hearing disability) for no appare reason. After most of the characters are dispatched throuj; their nightmares, the predictable confrontation occu between Freddy and his offspring. You would thir this battle, filmed in a form of 3-D called "FreddyV sion," if done right, would perhaps make up for tl sorry 70 minutes before it. Alas, we'll never know b< cause the conclusion is just as disappointing as tl rest. The 3-D effects are worthless, and the final d< mise of Freddy seems way too simple to be convin< ing. If one wanted to, they could easily bring Fredd back to life. So don't be too surprised to see Freddy Dead: We Really Mean It This Time sometime in tl immediate future. The Nightmare on Elm Street series burst onto t the scene with a bang, but unfortunately, leaves with a whimper. The sixth film offers none of th creativity the early entries had and shows even goo ideas can only be taken so far. RIP Freddy, and, n offense, but this time I hope you stay dead. F. rn baby with good your local chapter -jjf* "Be Good To Your i] "I see, Mr. Barnes, that you were stopped doing 95 mph..." "Yes, sir." "In a school zone, Mr. Barnes?" ?.. . ? "Yes, sir." "After your car mauled three W/J I ; I I ft a r-? cnnaren, Mr. BarnesY "Because you were banging jj| "Punk rock, Mr. Barnes." WUSC-FM 90T51 ? ms &m. smtmamal '.->: & ?t VI8U F? ;*v *SM| ' ; IHV7 JEl^Kjl II BbLS^F ' * , JBUI W^B he Bj^WW ebbf ^ggfl^i HB^ he he of ^ Comedian Mike Wamke will be performing tomorrow * Comedian i s Christian e\ ill ne By SHANNON BAYNHAM a 1S Staff Writer sl ie What do you get when you cross an ex?satanist ^ ,r_ high priest, a cardio?pulmonary technician and a ^ comedian? One who does stand up while performing ? c open heart surgery by the light of the full moon? ^ Nope. You get Mike Warnke, a Christian Come- * nt dian Evangelist, who was at one time each of these r< occupations and will now be in concert Sept. 26, at Trinity Baptist Church. J.s Now don't let the words "Christian Comedian ir lIr Evangelist" fool you. They are not a contradiction in ^ ? terms nor are they a huge sign flashing "Warning ? ie Boring, Nonpertirient (yet predictable) Material Ahead." Warnke's past history as an ex?satanist ^ high priest, drug addict, pusher and Vietnam Marine ( Corps Medic provide an edge to his material that ^ I may blow any preconceived notions about the occult, jy not to mention your funny bone, away. ^ s Warnke's past practices in the occult delved deep, si Before the age of 20, Warnke was the Master O Counselor of a satanist group, which had been intra- A p duced to him through his drug addiction and selling, ni it In his book, The Satan Seller, Warnke describes in Q e detail his involvement in the occult, his conversion d to Christianity and the numerous events in between ro o that impacted his life. re Now Warnke's focus is on Warnke Ministries. It S( is an organization staffed to work with people who $2 JU CHECH y Free ATM card y Just for people 25 and under JustChecking is available only at SouthTn in the historic Palmetto Bldg. /376-2000. / ' ' / ' ' SouthTrust ?1991 SouthTrust Corporation i m i night at the Trinity Baptist Church. nAt K#A!AAI i iv/i lyj^iv^wii ^angelist re into drugs, the occult or in prison. Warnke Minitries also incorporates a Concert Production Staff lat handle's concert bookings and publicity. But don't think that if you're not involved in any f these three ? drugs, the occult or prison ? that /arnke's message has no relevance. One of the ma)r strengths behind Warnke's message is his radical ilevance. Wamke stands now a man of 44 with a family and linistry, but keep in mind that all of his actions and ivolvement in the occult were during college. He 'as seeking some form of truth, some type of llfillment. Sound familiar? These are topics and issues not >o foreign amidst college discussion. As Warnke reDunts in his books, cassettes and videos, his seeking asn't satisfied until his conversion when he sought hrist. Even if you just go for the laughs, an evening with like Warnke is not a wasted one. Wamke's televion appearances include "Larry King Live," "The prah Winfrey Show" and being an adviser for BC's News Magazine "20/20." He has spoken to lmerous audiences all over the u/nrlH inrlnrlincx the ueen of Denmark and the King of Sweden. But you don't have to provide any documents of yalty to hear Warnke. The option is open tomorw night at The Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce, 2. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and the cost is v For more information, call 791-0440. 1W r KINGy No per-check |^) charge ^ 994 a month ist: 1400Main Street at Washington : I ?% Bank S i Member FDIC