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Ninjas, zombies and higher education
Hellboy
There are four things that make a good movie: ninjas, zombies, robots and monsters. "Hellboy" has a monster fighting a ninja/zombie/robot. Need I say more? If you loved "X-2" this is a must see.
A lot of people laughed at my enthusiasm when I declared "Not even God could stop me from going to the theaters opening night of this movie." Of course God didn't stop me from going, but he did stop me from seeing "Hellboy." After a delicious dinner of chicken, vodka, tequila, whisky and beer I spent two hours watching the murky colors of toilet water instead of the vivid colors of the movie screen. So, the next day I bought a second ticket to "Hellboy" and it was worth it - a comic nerd's wet dream. With the successes of "X-2," "Spider-man," and "Daredevil" it looks like Hollywood is starting to figure out how to adapt comic books to film correctly.
If you aren't extremely aroused yet, let me explain the story. A large red demon goes around shooting up monsters when Rasputin the Mad Monk (Karel Roden) comes back from another dimension thanks to his blonde Nazi girlfriend, their faithful ninja/zombie/robot Nazi assassin (must be said quickly for affect) and some poor sap who gets killed after a few seconds. Then, they conjure up an octopus-dog just because they can. The rest of the time you watch Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his faithful band of FBI agents and freaks shooting and breaking everything in sight.
Thankfully, Guillermo del Toro had a passion for the comic before the film's development. The director of "Blade 2" wrote the screenplay for "Hellboy" and spent over a year trying to find funding for it. Move over Sam Raimi, del Toro has created a style of filmmaking that gives the feeling of watching a comic book. Not to mention Perlman's enthusiasm for the main character breathes life into the seven-foot demon. You begin buying the idea that there could be a large red creature fighting for the common good. Even though the actor is wearing pounds upon pounds of make-up, he is still able to kick some ass, casually smoke his cigar and make quick-witted comments with all the ease in the world. Parkwood. - Samuel Mueller
Dawn of the Dead
You may not need to scour the dusty racks of the horror section this weekend to find a zombie flick; there's one in the theatres. An unidentified source brings a zombie apocalypse to Milwaukee, Wis. Fleeing a suburban battleground for the more than creature comforts of a fortified shopping mall, a nurse (Sarah Polley) must band together with a group of survivors in order to face what could be the end of the world. No doubt fans of the 1978 original have already seen this remake so there's no point in preaching to the choir. However, don't hesitate to dust off the original a couple days after seeing this one. George A. Romero's original is a snail-paced film of real emotional power and poignant social criticism. It could be the best horror film ever made. Parkwood - John Behling
Busted
A different kind of "Just say no" is preached in "Busted," the instructional video from non-profit organization Flex Your Rights. Through three typical scenarios, the video demonstrates how civilians can invoke the protection offered by the Bill of Rights by refusing to consent to police searches. A traffic stop, an encounter on the street and a visit to a house party demonstrate common situations where people consent to searches when they are not legally obligated to. Narrated by retired American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) executive director Ira Glasser, the video tries to acclimate viewers to the high-stress police encounter and stresses being polite, and cooperative while remaining inside your rights. Whether or not you use illegal drugs - most of the scenarios center around marijuana use - this video takes away the mystery of the cop-citizen encounter. The paramount principle is: these are your rights, but you need to know about them in order to use them. Showing 8 p.m. Monday at the Miller Center Auditorium as part of SCSU NORML's Dope Film Fest. - John Behling
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