The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 07, 1998, Page Page 4, Image 4
:
LIGHTS!
REACTION!
URBAN LEGEND
(out of five stars)
Urban legends have no traceable
source, there's no proof they .
really happened, they can't really
be proven false and everybody's
heard that they happened
to someone in his or her hometown.
Some are silly, some are
sick, but they all start coming
true for the students of Pendle
ton University in Urban Legends."
Starring Jared Leto, Alicia
Witt, and Robert Englund. Directed
by Jamie Blanks. Written
by Silvio Horta.
gamecock critic SARA LADENHEM
if it
Freddy's back, this time in
the role of a college professor who
teaches the most popular American
folklore class at the fictional
Pendleton College. If you think
this film features him in clasScofflawj
SOUND
staff writer ZACH BRAUN
RECORD OF CONVICTIONS The
Scofflaws
(out of five stars)
Ska veterans The Scofflaws b
their frantic, upbeat form of ska
its first decade of existence on their
third album Record of Conviction;
The Jamaican-based ska sounc
seen a major resurgence in the las!
years on the backs of bands like !
lime, Save Ferris, Reel Big Fish
the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones. Ad
o 1 arrra am mint nf nnnlr anarcrv ir
U JUigV LUU V Ull V VI Ulia VllVl vv
choppy rhymes of the genre has 1
their way to success, usually saci
ing good songwriting in the pro<
Ifs heartening to see the 6-p
Scofflaws, led by trombone player
ford CSullivan and saxophonist ?
my Brooks, stay true to the roots of
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,
sic red-and-black striped sweater,
think again.
Alicia Witt as the targeted
heroine and Jared Leto as the
student journalist both want to
solve the myth behind the
mysterious murders on campus,
which incidentally was just determined
the safest in the United
States.
The supporting cast features
the Noxema commercial star,
Rebecca Gayheart, as the token
girl with a crush; Tara Reid as
the host of a collegiate sex advice
show (think "Loveline" ?
really creative, let me tell you);
and Michael Rosenbaum as her
frat boy boyfriend with, guess
what, sex on the brain.
The best time to see this flick
is for the matinee price of
$4.75 with a student ID. Go during
the day with your friends
ajid save the date movie money
for something that is actually
worth paying for. It is worth
the matinee, since it is lighthearted
and will give a bit of the
afternoon gross-out that everyone
needs once in a while.
; release
The opening instrum*
Band Anthem," contain:
ments that make the fora
tight horn arrangements,
gan and that insistent, im
The Scofflaws were
CSullivan and original gi
intn Drance in 1987, and hav<
new stays of the New York sk
' since, playing well-renown
,(documented on last yea
t two ^ve V?lume aRd rel
g ^ sporadic studio albums.
anj Students will be happy
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Deen ^ring a smile to the
fi one overwhelmed by the h
C of beer available. O'Sulli
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, before reeling off an impre
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gamecock critic RUTH NETTLES
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When a horror movie comes
close to home (say, college students
being murdered on campus
according to the legends
they've tojd each other around
pizza boxes), then I become even
more horror movie phobic than
usual. "Urban Legends" wins
high points for scaring out of my
head all thoughts of leaving the
dorm after dark.
I have enjoyed Alicia Witf s
sarcasm on "Cybill" for several
seasons now, and seeing that
same spunk softened by her fear
when all her friends are being
killed makes her even more deserving
of respect as an up-andcoming
star. Her character plays
well with the other varied characters
? the stereotypical frat
boy, the goofy practical joker, the
pretty co-ed.
Rather than a few great characters,
"Urban Legends" has a
few fun (and not very well-developed)
characters. Anyone who
sees the movie will want to hear
more of Sasha's (Tara Reid)
sex advice show on campus raska
st"vie
rntal, "Show "College Studer
3 all the ele- themes of life on a
1 so exciting: onist sits in his rooi
pulsating or- out, disgusted with
:sistible beat, struggling with life
founded by change anything,
litarist Mike "Lost to the TV
3 been main- dictment of slackei
a scene ever criticizing a friend "1
ed live shows the real world," whi
r's excellent with a defense of the
easing three One of the most
of all the Scofflaw
to know that choice of covers. Th
interests at but effort from 19S
n't Decide," ful version of Henr
face of any- in the Dark" and a 1
uge selection of the theme from'
ivan shouts, venture."
my mission, The follow-up, 1
indecision, featured Hugh Mas
sssive motor- hit "Grazing in the
Ellington's jazz st;
Record of Convi
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dio. Loretta Devine plays Reese,
an enthusiastic campus policetype
guard who has never had
quite the police experience she
wants.
What separates "Urban Legends"
from similar horror movies
of recent memory ? "Scream"
and its sequel, "I Know What
You Did Last Summer" and its
upcoming sequel ? is that
"Urban Legends" makes the
frightening thoughts that we've
all considered come true. It goes
beyond the murderer getting his
vengeance or making his bizarre
dreams a reality.
"Urban Legends" succeeds
brilliantly as a scare-you-out-ofyour-head
movie. It also succeeds
in concept and form. There could
have been a little more character
development and surprise,
but everyone already knows the
stories. That's half the fun. It's
still guaranteed enjoyment.
gamecock critic RETRICK SMITH
"Urban Legends" has a solid
cast, including Natasha Gregson
Wagner, Michael Rosenon
third
it" gets to the main tion. Here, 1
impus. The protag- garage-pop
11, his face breaking way the Win
his classmates and band ballad v
, but he's too lazy to boards, and t
ister vibe tot
m continues the in- hippie anthe:
rs, with O'Sullivan faithful, but si
liding his head from to "The Gooc
le Brooks fires back also captivat
i TV addicts lifestyle, ingly, a thei
interesting features poser Bela 1
rs' albums is their manian Ska,
e Scofflaws, the de- runs and a k
>0, included a soul- Seventee
t Mancini's "A Shot more exciting
unatic run-through production b
Tee Wee's Big Ad- out the absoli
arrangements
995's Ska in Hi-Fi, turns in ins]
ekela's 60s lite-rock mix of instru
s Grass" and Duke keeps things
andard "Caravan." nous, makinf
ictions is no excep- tial purchase
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Natalie (Alicia Witt) discusses
are true on campus with her ?
baum, Rebecca Gayheart and
Joshua Jackson. Robert Englund
adds to the horror film a familiarity
and believability of art imitating
life, a theme prevalent
throughout the movie. Director
Jamie Blanks' habit of flashing
scaiy figures into the frame every
few minutes is good for a scare
every now and then, although
filmgoers grow accustomed to
ii i i i <? it n
tne tecnnique Deiore ine mm is
over.
album c:
staff
they transform the '60s
of Frank Zappa's "Anyd
Blows" into a sweet ska
vith lush alto sax and keyhey
add a smoldering, sinheir
cover of The Zombies' >
m "Time of the Season." A
illy, reworking of the theme
1, the Bad, and the Ugly"
es the attention. Surpris- sorir
ne by 20th century com- V
Uartok is recast as "Ru- Patic
" rich with intricate horn is iw
iller sax solo. T
m tracks zoom by, each Thel
I than the last. The bright are t
y Dave ODonnell brings A
ite beauty of the tight hom taris
3, while the rest of the band ers.
sired performances. The P
mentals and vocal tracks 20-ir
from getting too monoto- mini
* this new disc an essen- E
i for any ska lover. talen
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SPECIAL TO THE GANttCOOK
her fear that urban legends
riend Paul Qared Leto).
This film does not stand
out in any way, however, and
adds little to the teen slasher
film formula. Combine its feeble
attempt to deliver a surprise villain
and underdeveloped characters,
and "Urban Legends" can
expect mediocre box office returns
followed by a healthy shelf
life. An interesting premise eventually
deteriorates into a typical
late-'90s horror film. We end
up with a beautiful, scary, forgettable
movie.
P sponsors (
writer APRIENNE THOMPSON
Wednesday
<> / nicrVit will hplnncr
n y o b
to amateur mu.///}
sicians, comedirL
?/-v ans and a host of
other performers.
Carolina Productions
is sponlg
an amateur night at 7 p.m.
Wednesday on the Russell House
). Admission is free, and everyone
rited.
'he Hollow Men, Super Beef,
tfufetangs and Beethoven's Lounge
he bands scheduled to play.
, comedian and an acoustic guit
are also on the list of entertainerformances
will be divided into
Linute sets with about four 10lte
open mic calls in between,
iveryone is invited to share their
ts during the open mic calls.
lo Carolina Prodii
J The Gamecock
up for Homecoi
which is just
awaj
Find the pig i
)T. WNOK prize.'
winning pigs
Anvone who fii
net or the gi
black pig shoul
ly to Carolina I
in the Russe
*t5ama:ock
Classes are s
Call today to res
lanning to attend law sc
NLY Kaplan class for the
tarts Saturday, October
chance! Only a few reri
available-call
<32
1-800-Kfl
www.kapl
'LSAT is a registered trademark ol ttv
George Gershwin's 100th birthday
celebration (USC Symphony and USC
Concert Choir), 7:30 p.m., Oct. 8,
Koger Center.
Taculty/Guest Artist Series" (featuring
Clavichordist Susan Alexander-Max),'7:30
p.m., Oct. 9, School of
Music. $7 adults, $5 students
"Late Great Ladies of Blues & Jazz,"
featuring Sandra Reaves, 8 p.m., Oct.
9, Koger Center.
Jump Little Children, Oct. 10, Caf s
Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC).
Hello Dave, 12:30 p.m., Oct. 15, Elbow
Room.
Teachers' Astronomy Workshops,
3 p.m., Oct. 7, South Carolina State
Museum. $35 per person. For more
information, call (803) 898-4949.
Gallery talk, featuring Dr. Charles
Mack (discussing pottery traditions
of Eastern Germany and the American
Southeast), 7 p.m., Oct. 8,
McKissick Museum. Free admission.
Fall Folklife Festival, 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., Oct. 10, McKissick Museum
"Gervais Street Extension," a mural
by Columbia artist Blue Sky, 1 to
5 p.m., Oct. 11, South Carolina State
Museum. For more information, call
(803)898-4921.
jpen mike
Student participation is the key element
to this amateur night.
"We're trying to give support to local
USC bands and illicit more active
participation by students, because in
programming, students are a passive
audience," said Kara Jones, CP
performing arts commissioner.
"With Amateur Night, they become
performers."
All performers will be awarded certificates
to be redeemed for prizes at
local vendors.
Jones said she wants to see the amateur
nights continue to grow and develop,
and that the next amateur night
might be more contest-oriented if there
is enough interest shown in this one.
Free Papa John's pizza and drinks
will be served at the event.
ictions and
are geared ^ ^
ming Week,
one week
fand
win a f
rwo prize- A fo J
are left.
ids the garirnet
and
d go direct'reductions
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II House. W
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tarting now!
erve your seat.
hool in 1999? The
> December exam
1*7 Tkie ie wrtnr Ino*
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riaining seats
today!
iP-TEST 2*.
lan.com
e Law School Admission Council.
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