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This Week in USC History Nov., 21, 1988 - Three men were charges with burglary and grand larceny in .connection with the theft of $670 in glasses from the Contact Lens Clinic in the Carolina Mall. Myles Aronowitz Special to The Gamecock Adam Sandler, alongside Beefy, stars in “Little Nicky” as a son of Satan who fights his older brothers for control of hell. Sandler still searching for next direction in life by Brock Vergakis The Gamecock Atlanta - Don’t worry if you’re a little confused about what you want to do with your life. Just tell your parents you want to be like Adam Sandler. He still doesn’t know what he wants to do, either. Sandler finds himself at a crossroads after grad uating from the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” do ing stand-up comedy and releasing a slew of suc cessful comedy movies that are favorites among college students nationwide. Perhaps that success is because Sandler remem bers what it was like to be in college at NYU and re ■ lentlessly tour the college circuit with his stand-up act. V “I have fun when I’m at the colleges. That’s a huge part of who comes to our movies,” Sandler said. “I did stand-up all the time in college, and I studied acting in school. I wasn’t very good at it. I got a letter in the mail from a teacher saying I should find another profession and I was wasting my time.... I haven’t seen that guy in a while,” Sandler said. “I like to play the guy (in movies) who gets screwed with a lot. In real life, I’ve been the un derdog and I’ve been a real jerk. I’m right down the middle,” Sandler said. In Sandler’s past movies, such as “Happy Gilmore,” “Billy Madison” and “The Waterboy,” his character was the underdog who succeeds. The same is true for his latest release, “Little Nicky,” where he plays a son of Satan battling for control of hell against his two older, bigger, stronger and smarter brothers. From the beginning, the outcome of the movie is never in question. Sandler doesn’t want the audi ence to think too hard or take things too seriously. He just wants them to laugh along the way. “We just wanted to make a funny movie and keep it real generic,” Sandler said. “We didn’t want any body upset,jumping up and down.” It wasn’t long ago that another film created a controversy among religious groups when it made a comedy based on religion. When “Dogma” was re leased last year, thousands of Catholics protested the movie because of its humorous look at the Catholic Church. With a talking dog as one of the main characters, nobody seems to be taking this movie quite as seri ously as “Dogma” was, and that’s perfectly fine with Sandler. He just wants people to laugh. “We think about you guys (college students). We want to make sure you have a good time. I don’t take anything in the movie that serious,” Sandler said. Like many college students, Sandler’s ideas of ten come to him at late hours when watching tele vision. “(I got the idea for Little Nicky) watching ‘Angel Heart.’ I thought that’d it be good if I played the son of the devil. I usually just stumble upon ideas, and, luckily, I stumbled upon ‘Angel Heart.’” Sandler is waiting to stumble upon his next great venture. He says he would like to host “Saturday Night Live” someday, but isn’t quite ready to do stand-up again. “I want to someday host it, but not now when I’m running around the country.... I want to do stand-up again, but... I want to make sure I do new stuff. I need to take time to do that.” Before then, Sandler says he will keep coming up with new movie ideas and trying to make people laugh. “Eventually I’ll do different type of stuff. I’m not worried about being labeled. I’m worried about making movies.... It’s the coolest thing when some one comes up to you. The tiling I get the most ex cited about is meeting people and talking to them about (my movies). It’s all for you guys.” Maybe one day he’ll start doing it all for him self, but like college students he’s got one prob lem. “I don’t know what the hell I want to do with my life.” The spotlight desk can be reached at gamecockspotlight@hotmaiLcoin. I—---1 ‘Sixth Sense’ writer, director looking "to continue success with ‘Unbreakable’ * by Adam McAllister The Gamecock ft ft ft OUT OF ☆ ft ft ft With the film “Unbreakable,” writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has set himself up to fail. This can hap pen in any medium and takes place when someone transcends expectations *1 far that there is no way to live up to it in future projects. “The Sixth Sense” shot Shyamalan much farther into the public eye than anyone could have expected and fore told the likely outcome of his next pro ject. No matter how good “Unbreak able” ended up being, it would still pale in comparison for the general public. With this in mind, Shyamalan still delivers a fresh, unique script in “Unbreakable.” He has shown his writ ing ability twice now, and it far sur passes his skills behind the camera. His repetitive directing and overly styl ish shots end up being the biggest faults in the film. However, in front of the camera, the actors shine. 0 Bruce Willis has turned in anoth er fine performance without the use of explosions or car bombs apd Samuel L. Jackson, as usual, showcases his oc casionally underused skills. Any review of this film will be am biguous. The movie involves a steady balance of plot and criticism, combined to enhance a viewer’s understanding of it. However, just as with Shyamalan’s past movies, the less said about the plot, the better. Movie goers might recall Shya malan’s previous effort, “The Sixth Sense.” It revived a dying thriller genre and, for better or for worse, spawned the annoying pop culture catchphrase, “I see dead people.” There is one huge similarity be tween “The Sixth Sense” and “Un breakable.” Going into the film, the audience doesn’t know what to expect. The twists and turns, including the req uisite surprise ending, are thrust at viewers with little time given for them to catch up. The theme of “Unbreakable” is best described in the beginning of the film. There the audience is introduced to middle-aged David Dunne (Willis) as he sits alone on a hospital gurney. The audience hears the nature of his ailment and learn he is alive and unscathed despite being caught in a grizzly train wreck. Dunne is the lone survivor. Thus begins his tale of being unbreakable. His character is offset by Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a man on the opposite end of the spectrum. Price lives his life in fear of breaking, as he has done many times since he was young due to a bone-calcium disease. He has also lived his life searching for his counterpart, attempting to un derstand why he was left in the state he is in. However, once he finds Dunne, his process has only just begun. The spotlight desk can be reached at gamecockspotlight®hotmaiLcom. Frank Masi Special to The Gamecock In “Unbreakable,” Bruce Willis (center) stars as David Dunne, the sole survivor of a catastrophic train wreck. Finding himself miracu lously unharmed, he begins an emotional journey to understand his true purpose in life. Office sponsoring stocking drive by Kelly Hamilton The Gamecock The Office of Community Service is working with the Salvation Army to sponsor a Christmas Stocking Drive in preparation for the holidays. Laura Kelly, the Holiday Events Coordinator on the Community Service Leadership Team, is heading the project. Kelly said the goal this year is to fill 600 stockings. “We want to get as many people as possible involved in this, including stu dents, faculty and staff. People are getting really excited about helping out,” Kelly said. Kelly is encouraging anyone interested in helping to come to the Office of Community Service to fill out a form arid pick up an empty stocking and a list of suggested items to buy. The filled stockings will be brought to the Forty-sixth Annual Tree Light ing Ceremony at the Horseshoe on November 29. The Salvation Army plans to deliver the stockings to children of needy families in the Columbia area. Kelly said USC groups, as well as individuals, are participating in the dri ve. oorormes, iraiernnies aim oilier oigamzauons win oe neipmg 10 uu mese stockings. Last year, there were 500 stockings, but this year we want to have 600 stockings. This year, we want the project to be even bigger,” Kelly said. We want to help as many children as possible. This will mean so much to these kids; they deserve to have a nice holiday and gifts,” Kelly said. Ginna Clark, who assisted with the project, added, “We can go to Wal-Mart and spend $10 to fill a stocking. That’s not too much money to us, but it’s awful amazing to think that it could make a child’s Christmas more special. It will make them feel good, that someone cares.” Sophomore Jana Haggard said she would be picking up a stocking to fill this week. “I love everything about the Christmas season, from the shopping to dec orating and baking. When I was little, I used to get so excited that I’d be get ting toys on Christmas. I wanted everything I saw on TV commercials,” Hag gard said. “For poor kids, Christmas can be kind of a sad time because maybe their parents can’t afford to buy them presents. At least this is something I can do to help,” Haggard said. Participants will be provided with a list of appropriate stocking stuffers, divided into age groups. For babies, needed items include small toys, teething rings, rattles, canned juice, cereals and mobiles. Gifts for small children include puzzles, storybooks and coloring books. For older children, pencils, pens, markers, barrettes, watches, books, wallets, cameras and music cassettes are suggested. “The list was provided to help volunteers get started with filling the stock ings. However, you can use your imagination. Remember what you found in your stocking when you were young. Go to Toys-R-Us and have some fun with this,” Kelly said. Junior Michelle Holmes, a second-floor RA at McClintock, is encourag ing her residents to get involved with the project. “The girls were looking for ways to help out over the holidays. It makes you feel good that you can make a difference in someone’s life. These kids will have a better Christmas because of this. I think it will really brighten their hol iday,” Holmes said. The spotlight desk can be reached at gamecockspotlight@hofcmail.com. I-1 Movie Times Dutch Square 14 Broad River and Bush Riv er roads (803) 750-3576 102 Dalmations - (PG) 12:00,2:15, 4:30,7:10, 9:20 Bounce-(PG-13) 12:30,2:50, 5:10,7:30,9:50 Charlie’s Angels - (PG-13) 12:20, 2:40,5:10, 7:40, 10:00 How the Grinch Stole Christmas - (PG) 12:10, 1:30,2:30,4:00,5:00, 7:00,9:30, 10:10 The Legend of Bagger Vance - (PG 13) 1:10, 4:10,7:10, 10:00 Little Nicky - (R) 12:40,'2:50,4:50, 7:10, 9:20 Meet the Parents - (PG-13) 1:50, 4:30, 7:20, 9:50 Men of Honor - (R) 1:20, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40 Red Planet - (PG-13) 4:20, 9:50 Remember The Titans - (PG) 1:40, 7:25 Rugrats in Paris - (G) 12:00, 1:50, 3:4, 5:40, 7:35, 9:25 The Sixth Day - (PG-13) 1:00, 4:10,7:20, 10:05 Unbreakable - (PG-13) 12:00,1:00, 2:30,4:00,5:10,7:00,9:30, 10:10 Columbiana Grande (803) 407-9898 Bedazzled - (PG-13) 10:30, 1:05, 3:30,5:40,7:45, 10:10 Billy Elliot - (R) 11:45,2:10,5:00, 7:35, 9:50 Blair Witch 2 - (R) 10:45, 1:55, 4:20, 7:25, 9:30 How the Grinch Stole Christmas - (PG) 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 1:25, 3:00, 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:20 The Legend of Bagger Vance - (PG 13) 10:30,11:30,1:15,2:00,3:50, 4:30,6:50, 7:30, 9:25, 10:15 Little Nicky - (R) 1:10,3:15,5:25, 7:40, 9:50 Men of Honor - (R) 11:15, 1:50, 4:35, 7:20, 10:00 Pay it Forward - (PG-13) 12:40, 4:10,6:55,9:40 The Sixth Day - (PG-13) 11:05, 1:35,2:05,4:15,7:05,9:35,10:25 Unbreakable - (PG-13) 10:15, 12:30, 1:15,3:00,6:05,8:00,9:00, 10:20 Wynnsong 10 5320 Forest Drive (803) 782-8100 How the Grinch Stole Christmas - (PG) 1:30,4:00,7:00, 9:15 How the Grinch Stole Christmas - (PG 12:30, 2:45,5:00, 7:45 Pay it Forward - (PG-13) 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:15 Red Planet - (PG-13) 1:00, 4:15,7:00,9:15 Red Planet - (PG-13) 1:30, 4:00,7:30 Remember The Titans - (PG) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 The Sixth Day - (PG-13) 2:00,4:30,7:15,9:45 The Sixth Day-(PG-13) 1:00, 4:00,7:30,10:00 U n b r e a k a b 1 e - ( P G - 1 3 ) 1:30,3:45,6:00,8:15 Unbreakable - (PG-13) 12:30,3:00, 5:15, 7:30,9:45