1983_02 The Daily Collegian February 1983

              Two critic^' choices
Top-20 blockbusters of 1982's big screen
The gripping, true story of India's great emancipator, Mahatma Gandhi.
Director Richard Attenborough and star Ben Kingsley are masters of their
crafts. Everyone should see this, the best film of 1982  (And very likely the
| Certainly the co
on sex roles and
bizarre character
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adic gem of the year. Not only that, but a clever statement
lemployment   Dustin Hoffman is fabulous in his most
date. Bill Murray and Jessica Lange aren't bad either.
"E.T., The Extraterrestrial"
, Who didn't likeTSteven Spielberg's close encounter of the FOURTH kmd?
The benevolent little space wanderer not only captured the hearts of critic and
public alike, but just recently topped "Star Wars" as the all-time box office
"GaJUpolf
1 . Mel Gibson and Mark Lee star in director Peter Weir's magnificent film
about two Australian runners during the first world war. The film's tragic finale
really strikes a nerve and bites at the soul of anyone who cherishes the idea of
peace A monumental and intelligent work.
!      "The Verdict"
P A suspenseful courtroom drama about a down-and-out lawyer and his last
chance to make the grade. Paul Newman does something right for a change, in
his best role since "Cool Hand Luke." Great film. v
t       "An Officer and a Gentleman''
| The romantic hit of '82. Louis Gossett Jr. and Deborah Winger have
something to brag about with this film. It is also Richard Gere's best effort by
far
f Road Warrior"
It's Mel Gibson again, this time as an emotionally torn and battle-weary
police officer in a post World War III civilization where law no longer
exists and precious drops of gasoline are worth killing and dying for. The
pulse-pounding action in this futuristic adventure chase even rivals "Raiders of
the Lost Ark." For the record, this film is the sequel to "Mad Max."
"My Favorite Year"
An alcoholic, has-been matinee idol attempts a comeback on a television
comedy/variety show, and is placed in the hands of one of the
show's young comedy writers, who's responsibility it is to bring him back
sober before the cameras roll This movie is a semibiographical look at the
early career of comic movie producer Mel Brooks when he wrote for "Your
Show of Shows." It is one of those rare comedies that actually makes you
"48 Hour.
Nick Nolte and "Saturday Night Lives" Eddie Murphy star in this fast-
paced, tongue-in-cheek police thriller about a tough plainclothesman and a
young convict who ioin lories to recapture an escaped psychopath, recover
Stolen loot. and rescue the kidnapped girlfriend of a police stoolie Never a dull
"Tex"
Matt Dillon, who gave such a
bully in "My Bodyguard," come
man facing the turmoils ol growing up v
older brother. A beautiful film
"The Secret of NIMH"
Disney would have been proud ol this animated fantasy, even though it did
not come from his studio. The film radiated with top notch talent on every
level. Outstanding. By the way, the word "NIMH" in case you didn't know, is
an acronym standing for National Institute of Mental Health The two mice
who star in this movie escape from there
"Tree"
This one DID come horn the Disney studios A masterpiece of visual
imagination, its innovative computer ammation clinched it a berth in my
Twenty Best List.
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n admirable p
e as the high school
s film about a young
?ntal guidance of his
"Cai
eryli
Author John Steinbeck's story of the canning district and its people during
the big band years. Superb. Nick Nolte of "48 Hours" and "An Officer and a
Gentleman's" Deborah Winger are the stars.
"The Mm Froaa Saowy River"
A flashback to the grande western of old, staring Kirk Douglas, back in the
saddle where he belongs. High excitement, beautiful scenery, splendid
'Die*r"
A story of young people and their favorite night spot. This movie
accomplished what "PorkyV <ned to do, only without offending the audience.
Tempest''
Shakespeare's storm gatherer brought to life against a contemporary backdrop. Definitely
not a film for! the simple-minded. The use of flashbacks is a Tittle confusing. Nonetheless a
dazzling work. Artistically wonderful. The film also'has a great scene worth noting, as John
Casaveteslooksout his apartment window high above the city; at the gathering thunder clouds
and whispers, "Show me the magic." The clouds oblige him.
"First Blood .
Sylvester Stallone steps out of the boxing ring and into a commendable movie performance.
- The firm is timely and terrifying.
"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
The sequel to "Star Trek: The Morion Picture" more accurately captured the spirit of the TV
series. Ricardo MontaJban was Karloff-like as Khan. -
Comic-book- type horror, too outlandish and exaggerated to be offensive. The movie des¬
cribes itself as "the most fun you'll ever have — being scared." No argument here.
HONORABLE MENTION: s
"Quest For Fire"
Not another "2001," but an odyssey into a strange and intriguing look at man's past.
I A biographical masterpiece about the Indian guru whose active, non-violent
existence shines like a beacon m man's history. One has to wonder why
students aren't, taught more about Gandhi in school. Oscar should Cast an
appreciative.light on director Richard Attenborough at Academy Awards
time, -     •   .      ' •
I The World According to Garp"
i Robin. Williams gives a solid, dramatic performance in a splendid adaptation
of John Irving's novel. Through T.S. Garp's life, the audience learns what's
truly important — family, friends, love, work and memories.
I"E.T., the Extraterrestrial"
Steven Spielberg's gift to humanity. The box-office champion aboutalostand
lonely visitor from space, befriended by ayoungboy, captures the im   '
in all of us.
Just a fun little movie, that's all. Roger Ebert described it as "brilliant trash.;'
f     A disenchanting film about two Australian runners happed in a bloody •
World War I battle. Aussie director Peter Weir examines the waste of human
| R     A masterful film about a manobsessed with a dream, by a director obsessed
BV with a dream. The incredible sight of thehuge steamer gojngo
... and the bombs
By Lab N. Hoizer end
Robert Foster
Staff Writers
- from least to most offensive.
tised as a rollicking comedy, it
A terrible waste of Richard
and. Jackie Gleason's comic
literally. It was a boring self-parody that
suffered without original scriptwriters the
Zucker brothers,, who chose not to top
themselves.
12. "The Tains-
Men stationed at an Arctic camp match
wits with a malevolent creature from
outserspace who can take any form. The   .
result is a deadly game of "What's My
Line?" John Campbell, the author of the
novel, and Howard Hawkes, the original
film producer, are fuming in their graves
11    'Six Week.'
Nothing's less sentimental than forced
sentimentality, This one starring Dudley
Moore and Mary Tyler Moore is loaded
10. "Night Shift"' ;
Let's go party down at the Funeral
home with Henry Winkler and a bunch of
prostitutes. No thanks. ;v
9. "Summer Lovers"
Two girls share therfa'me guy. Beautiful
scenery and lots of skin, not muchelse. A
disgusting movie. Somebody please pass  '
theoKveoa. _
8. "Araityvflle IT, The Poaessioa" .
. Toddlers take shotgun blasts in the .
face and priests barf in bathroom sinks.
An awful'attempt'that'wasn't really a
sequel — it was a prequel to "Amityville."
18. "Hanky Panky"
Gene Wilder and Gllda Radner were
unfortunately trapped in this poorly
scripted, boring spy drama.
17."Trial of the Pink Panther"
After dedicating this film to the memory
of Peter Sellers, the audience is informed
in the end credits that the series will
continue without Sellers. We've seen
enough; "Trial" was one Panther film too
many. We don't need another.
16. "Young Doctor* ia Love"
This spoof on TV soap operas was •
about as funny as gallstones. Garry
Marshall does a better job of creating TV
sitcoms.
15."Zapped"
.We see enough of Scott Baio on
"Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves
Chachi." We don't need his teenie-
bopper a n tics on the big screen.
14.  ' Aathor, Aathor''
Al Pacino stars as a playwright whose
hobbyris raising abandoned children.
Sounds cute - it isn't. This film is basically
Kramer vs. Kramer, Gonzales, Jones,
Phillips, Murphy, and Ota.
13. "AirptaaeH, The Seeae!"
This film was no laughing matter —
This film features blood in a variety of -
colors; orange, purple, black, even green
— everything but red. An anemic firm.
6.   The Baa.t Withia '
A beautiful newlywed doesn't get axed to
death by the monster in this picture,
instead she has sex with the beast. Yuck!
5. "Vice Saaad"
A bad trick on all the trick-ortreaters. A
every cliche in the book. Memorable lines
include: "Freeze, turkey or 111 rearange
your face," and this one stolen from a
Humphrey Bogart movie: "Warrants? We
don't need no stinkin' warrants."
4. "Halloween HI, Season of the
Witch"
A bad trick on all the trick-or-traters. A
toymaker has armed his masks with a
laser Which, when triggered, will kill the
child wearing the mask. Just what we
needed on top of the Tylenol scare.
3.   The Pirate Movie"
The title says it all; the idea for The
Pirate Movie" comes directly from Gilbert
and Sullivan's "Pirates, of .Penzance"
stage musical. This rip-off starred Kristy
McNichol and was a shoddy musical
comedy.
2."P«rhye"
' Humor taken directly from a.high
school bathroom wall. The movie de¬
grades females and racial groups. We can •
hardiv wait for the sequel.
1.  "NatteaaJ
Keaaiea" — The i
ttbaof IM2.
A fibn that examines people with
problems, ne/tiely its producers. Hard to
believe this came from the same people
who brought us "Animal Houee,"
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life in war. If more people saw films like "GaUipoli," the planet would be more
peaceful. '        '
*       "Tooteie"
I    A dressed-up comedy starring Dustin Hoffman as an unemployed actor
forced to wear female clothes to land a job on a TV soap opera. Tootsie"
succeeds not only as a great comedy, but as a social commentary on
unemployment and traditional male/female relationships.
»       "My Favorite Year"
)   ' Peter OToole is featured as a drunken swashbuckler signed to guest star
on a weekly TV variety show in the 1950s. "My Favorite Year" follows the
challenges faced by TV scriptwriter Ben Stone a* he tries to get his intoxicated
childhood hero, OToole, to the studio on time and sober.
f       " Vicror^lct oria"
A great sexual misadventure by Blake Edwards. Starring Julie Andrews,
Robert Preston and James Gamer, "Victor/Victoria" involves an unlikely and
comical plot — will Andrews pass in a musical revue as a male transvestite?
ie answer is entertaining.
"Diacr"
This ingenious little film hungers for an appreciative audience. "Diner"
follows a tight-knit group of friends in a 1959 Baltimore. "Diner's" menu offers
igh variety that even the most picky film-goer will find something to enjoy.
A painful film about divorce, "Shoot the Moon" reaches for the stars and
hits its emotional target. Most notable is the fine performance of young Dana
Hill as the daughter torn apart by her parents' separation.
■4 f\  ,      "Aa Officer aad a Gcatieaua"
I U     Starring Richard Gere, Deborah Winger and Lou Gossett, "An Officer and
a Gentleman" works on two different levels: First, it succeeds as a story about
the challenges faced by a service cadet in training. Second, — and the reason
it was a box-office smash — it fvinctions as a traditional love story. /
a| a| "Tea" \ "
II A breakthrough for the Disney organization, "Tex" shows a growing
. commitment towards reality films. "Tex" examines the world through the
eyesofatyp^aaytroubledteenager.r^yedconv-incrriglybyMattDiilon.With
Tex," Disney has discarded its ortce, sugar-coated look at the world
4'flj-'   "4*Ho«re"      .  ..
| at* Eddie Murphy stars as a con and Nick Nolte, an undercover cop, in this
action-packed drama filmed in San Francisco. "48 Hours" is everything a good
- detective fibn should be — the film has stark visual images, blaring guns, street
savvy and an unequalled comic touch supplied by Murphy.
•4. *%        "Hoafcytoak Mas"
■ | O Director and star Clint Eastwood's depressioiv-era piece, "Honkytonk
Man" is his finest work. A very human film. Eastwood is featured as a dying
musician making a last attempt at stardom with the Grand Of Opry. The film
also features a fine performance by Clint's son, Kyle Eastwood, and the last
performance of Marty Robbtns.
IM "Potteraeset" .
*f      What's so amazing about "Poltergeist" is its spirit. Producer Steven
Spielberg and director Tobe Hooper have created a marvelous modem-day
.   ghost -tory that permeates even the more horrific scenes.
1mm    15. "Fast TiB»a at Ridseaaoat High"
*%      "Fast Times" was this reviewer's Indulgence of the year. Nothing really
■     special; it didn't offer any important milestone lor the cinematic community.
"Fast Times" is just an entertaining film with a great soundtrack. Greatmovie
for the college-aged audience. >
m% -ft "TheDarkCryetal" ■   ■_>   __
I ■}       Jim Henson and Frank Or'* creative masterpiece. With The Dark
Crystal " an - entire new world is fabricated to awe and delight audiences.
Move over muppets, these Henson creations far exceeayour amrteoounuyu.
emotional expression.
4>|        "Q-eat foe Fire" . ^._^
J   /      A stsange aid investing irx>ne about rteirrtp^
maix Trie irJea of seeing a tv^and-a-hatfrwurf^
of understandable dialogue scared too many people away from this unique
ciftermg,
"atochyUT
"Rocky BT is the best film in the Roekyjh*. Writer, (hector and star
SyrvesterStaiorie'sadveTiiureispu^^
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..._ this firm has lesbian overtones, as a story about ti» struggles of a
female athlete, "Personal Beit" » a rteenalan effort Directed by Robert
Tc*™,"P*not*Bmfiwtm*mM\1m*mm*u&mi* ""****
itheOlyropic*. ■
W-ntoiT.     '.
aiiitttt.
' ro«nd»v*<tr«top»aa^lWofll»haieiWW
races at a frantic pace. Gabaon it etjpft as *M