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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1995)
Arts ©Entertainment Tuesday, October 24, 1995 Page 9 Brian Priesman Spaceghost a valuable encounter Everybody has a favorite relative. For some people it’s a cousin, or an aunt, or a grandfather. Me? Well now that you mention it, my favorite rela tive was a high flying, daredevil cos mic superhero known only to the world as Spaceghost. Now I’m sure you’re asking your self, “How can he be related to Spaceghost? After all, Spaceghost is just a cheesy cartoon from the late ’70s.” Well, yeah he is just a cartoon. To you. But I know better. His real name is Florence, and he was born in the Bronx. He knew from very early on that he had to be tough; after all, his name is Florence. Now for you doubters out there, I can offer more proof. His third cousin just happens to be a presumed dead rock star known as Elvis. He also has Jimmy Hoffa’s corpse in his freezer. For sentiment’s sake. Now I’m not blood-family with Spaceghost, or Ghosty as 1 call him. But I’m the next best thing. I First met Ghosty in the second grade, when he was already a cosmic adventurer. I was watching my favori te show—the USA Cartoon Express—and there he appeared. I sat spellbound as he took on villain after villain, never wavering in his devotion to truth and justice. Then one day in the spring, a strange thing occurred. In the middle of the night I woke up to a strange noise outside my window. I cautiously peered out, and what did I see? Spaceghost! I couldn’t believe it! He was actu ally real! He flew up to my room and sat down on my bed and told me the truth. He was a soldier in a galactic war. One day, when he had been play ing a video game, he was transported out of his trailer park and taken to a distant galaxy. There, he had been trained and renamed Spaceghost. In the years that followed, I be came a part of Spaceghost’s life. He nurtured me into the fine specimen that I am today. He taught me truth, honesty and how to pick up women. He became my father, my brother and my best friend. As time went by, we lost touch. Last I heard, he had retired and was living in a trailer park in Kalamazoo. Then one day last year, when I was back home (where we get Comedy Central and the Cartoon Network) watching TV, what did I see? My dear old friend Spaceghost! It seems tele vision guru Ted Turner had decided to give him his very own talk show! One of these days, all of my fellow students can watch “Spaceghost Coast to Coast” on their own televisions. They, too, can partake of his knowl edge and wisdom. After all, Spaceghost is a real American hero. Just like G.I. Joe, my uncle. Pries roan is a freshman news-editorial major and aDaily Nebraskan staff reporter. Send your “Deja Vu” to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448 or e mail dn@unlinfo.unl.edu. Submissions become the property of the Daily Ne braskan. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all submis sions. Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures T.S. (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee) play a “dating game” staged at the mall in the new Kevin Smith film “Mallrats.” ‘Mallrats’ a bizarre, humorous success By Brian Priesman Film Critic Once upon a time, in a far off land known as New Jersey, there lived a wise young sage. His name was Silent Bob. One day, Silent Bob and his food court jester ——---sidekick. Jay, take up the cause MOVie °f two of their heartsick com Rpuiomf patriots, T.S. and Brodie. ncvIcW Thus began the adventure epic known as “Mallrats.” Written and directed by Kevin Smith,“Mallrats” is the second in what Smith refers to as his “New Jersey Trilogy.” The first, last year’s highly successful black-and-white comedy “Clerks,” won criti cal acclaim as Kevin Smith’s obscure yet familiar sense of humor took on that familiar location, the Quick Stop. This time, Smith tackles another staple of 20th century life — the mall. The plot is simple. T.S. and Brodie get dumped, they go to the mal 1, they win back their true loves. On the way, they run into corrupt mall security guards, over-protective parents, a jealous boy friend, a mutant fortuneteller, game show hosts and a certain comic book legend — Stan “The - Man” Lee. Smith’s bizarre sense of humor, one of the best parts of “Clerks,” is still around. Only this time, it’s even bigger. Perhaps the fact that “Mallrats” had a real budget to work with is the reason, or maybe it’s the fact that “Mallrats” is in color, or maybe it’s because malls are strangely humorous to begin with. Whatever the reason, Smith and his ensemble cast have created a bizarre masterpiece. T.S., played by Jeremy London, and Brodie, played by Jason Lee, serve as 20th-century everymen. Their ex-girlfriends, Rene, played by Shannen Doherty, and Brandi, played by Claire Forlani, are the objects of their desire. Doherty, in her first major project since leav ing “Beverly Hills 90210” is perfectly sassy as the independent yet loving Rene. Forlani, who has been seen in “JFK — Reck less Youth,” “Garage Sale” and “Basquiat” is adorable as T.S.’ lost love. Fans of Smith’s “Clerks” will recognize a few Film: “Mallrats” Stars: Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee Director: Kevin Smith Rating: R (Nudity, Language) Grade: A Five Words: See it and be saved familiar faces. Kevin Smith reprises his role as the wordless wonder Silent Bob; Jason Mewes also returns as Silent Bob’s outspoken sidekick Jay. Also present is Brian O’Halloran, who made his feature film debut in “Clerks” as the dis gruntled Quick Stop clerk Dante. This time, how ever, he plays Gill, Dante’s brother. Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats” is an absolutely delightful comedy. Fast-paced, witty, fun, every thing a good comedy should be. Film relates Chicano history I Director Severo Perez stopped at the Univer sity of Nebraska-Lincoln Thursday through Sat urday as part of an international tour to promote his film “... and the earth did not swallow him.” The fdm tells the story of a migrant farm worker family in the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy, a study of Chicano history in America at that time. Film Critic Fred Poyner talked with Perez about his personal feelings on the fdm and its importance in society today. DN: What was the greatest challenge facing you in making this kind of film? SP: Besides money? Adapting Tomas Rivera’s book in a way that did it justice. The original novel is told in many voices, at different times, and with stories which overlap. In my film, Marcos provides a unified view for the audience to fol low. People who have read it have their own notions about what to expect, prior to seeing the film. DN: There is one scene where Marcos is attempting to call forth the Devil—El Diablo— at the stroke of midnight. Later, the scene is repeated, as part of another story involving a suicide. Is this repetition of events a characteris tic of the novel? SP: Everything works in threes, a magic num ber in many respects. Lousy directors will rein force a message or idea three times in an obvious way, whereas a good one uses subtlety to make Severo Perez the audience think about the commonalities be tween scenes. The part with Marcos inciting the See PEREZ on 10 Gig features Big Sandy’s retro country By Patrick Hambrecht Music Critic Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys are not half as cute as they must think. A dumb bar -band with risque lyrics and C0IIC6rt a tinny retro country-west Prouiauu ern style* they sound like a ricVIcW bad imitation of Hee-Haw. At least that s how they % sound on their latest CD, “Swingin’ West.” Irritating and insincere, this album is sure to annoy anyone with out a desperate need for kitsch. Dnl tKa Hrnnina But despite tne droning inferiority of “Swingin’ West,” there is a well oiled groove underlying it, hinting that this band might have a good live sound. Who knows? The western rockabilly group might just give a great show tonight, begin See SANDY on 10
