Video rentals lack quality
By Gerry Beltz
Film Critic
One might think two weeks worth of new
releases would have more than one worthwhile
Film to offer. Sadly, such is not the case for this
set. As usual, the pick of the week is of the
highest quality.
“Waterworld” (PG-13) — The megabudget
summer film comes home to video, which is too
bad for the neat-o special effects and scenery.
Kevin Costner plays the
balding, half-fish Mariner
who gets caught up in a wild
chase for Dryland, suppos
edly the only non-aquatic
place left on Earth after it has
been covered with water.
Except for Dennis Hop
per as the over-the-top
baddie, fish sticks show bet
acting abilities than
Costner and the others. Pass
on this one.
“Jade” — Wow! Kinky sex and a murder
mystery! Gosh, no one has ever thought of that
before!
David Caruso (“Kiss of De^th”) plays a
homicide detective with the emotional range of
a meatball sub. He’s searching for a vicious
killer.
Linda Fiorentino (“The Last Seduction”)
plays his ex-wife, a woman who just might be a
mysterious, high-class hooker named Jade. She
makes Madonna look like a nun.
This movie sucks, plain and simple. Plot,
acting, script, you name it. Next!
“Desperado” (R) — The sequel to the suc
cessful “El Mariachi” again delivers, this time
with heartthrob Antonio Banderas in the lead.
The man with a guitar case full of guns ‘n’
ammo comes around to kill the drug dealer
responsible for the death of the woman he
loved.
Full of outrageous stunts, bloodshed and
gunfights — not to mention a great soundtrack
—“Desperado” is the only cream in this week’s
crop.
“Something To Talk About”—Oh goody. A
romantic comedy with the same title as a hit
song. Oh happy day.
It is the Attack of the Killer Smiles when
Grace (Julia Roberts) Finds out her handsome
hubby Eddie (Dennis Quaid) is getting some
nookie on the side, and each must come to terms
with it.
The best part of this Film is Kyra Sedgwick as
Emma Rae, Grace’s sister who puts the cheatin’
man in his place. It’s an OK rental, but there’s
better stuff out there.
PICK OF THE WEEK — “Jaws” scared
more than one person out of the water, and it is
still one of the scariest Films of all time.
Now, by popular demand, the Film has been
released in letterbox format so you don’t miss
one iota of action, plus there is lots of bonus
stuff with it!
Even if you can’t Find the letterbox edition,
the Film itself is incredible. Superb direction
from Steven Spielberg, an incredible soundtrack
from John Williams, and great performances
from Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard
Dreyfuss all make for one sharp flick. Check it
out.
‘Turandot’ opens tonight
By Gerry Beltz
Senior Reporter
In a story of love, riddles and death, Opera
Omaha ’96 opens tonight with Giacomo
Puccini’s “Turandot” at 7:30 at Omaha’s
Orpheum Theatre.
“Turandot” — performed in Italian with
English supertitles — is the tale of a beautiful,
coldhearted princess with an open challenge to
all men of royalty. If any man can answer her
three riddles, he wins her hand. If he fails, he is
beheaded.
Many heads roll, but when Prince Calaf
comes to town, he not only answers her riddles,
but poses one of his own, with his head hanging
in the balance.
Kate Broekemeier, marketing coordinator at
Opera Omaha, said that although the tale of
Turandot was a traditional one, the behind-the
scenes work was somewhat different.
“This is a very high-tech production,” she
said. “This show is using some very elaborate
screen projections which make up a lot of the
scenery.
“It is visually spectacular.”
The show finally has come together without
too many hitches or problems, she said.
“We had to do some scrambling for some
stuff from other companies around the coun
try,” she said. “It’s just been a little bit hectic
getting everything done.”
Advance ticket sales have been good, but the
premiere performance will be the real sales
booster, she said. ;.
“Word of mouth will drive ticket sales for the
weekend,” she said.
“Once it opens, it is going to blow everybody
away.”
“Turandot” will have additional perfor
mances Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
For further information, contact the Opera
Omaha office at (402) 346-4398.
Races
Continued from Page 9
future.
“Some people think RC race car driving will
be one of the most popular sports in the world by
the year 2000,” Pfenning said. “It’s politically
correct, and anyone can do it. We’re talking
about power to the people.”
In Lincoln, Tom Zwiebel is known as a top
RC competitor. He’s raced cars since 1981, and
has ranked highly in national competitions like
the “Heart of America” contest.
“Motors, gears, batteries and driving skill,
those are the four components of RC racing,”
Zwiebel said. “You’ve got to have eye-hand
coordination and the dollars to be able to do
this.”
But RC racing is less popular in Lincoln now
than it was a few years ago, Zwiebel said.
“All those young kids came out here, but
other things started to take over their lives —
girls, jobs,” he said.
Many of the people who stick with RC racing
do so because of their love for full-size race
cars, Filbert said.
Music Reviews; -1
Tori Amos
“Boys For Pele”
Atlantic Records
Grade: C
Letting Tori Amos produce her own al
bum may have been nothing short of musical
suicide.
“Boys For Pele” is Tori Amos’ third al
bum and falls in the same place for quality.
After “Little Earthquakes” and “Under the
Pink,” fans certainly were not expecting this.
What hurts “Boys For Pele” the most is
that Amos’ lyrics come across as bad stream
of-consciousness poetry.
For example, from “Muhammad My
Friend”: “And if I lose my Cracker Jacks at
the/Tidal wave I got a place/in the Pope’s
rubber robe.”
What?
Or, from “Talula”: “Mary M weaving on
said/What you want is in the blood Senators/
I got Big Bird on the fishing line/With a bit
of a shout a bit of a shout/A bit of an angry
snout/He’s my favorite hooker of the whole
bunch/And I know about his only Bride/And
how the Russians die on the ice/I got my rape
hat on/Honey but I always could accessorize.”
Even Lewis Carrol would have a tough
time finding his way through Tori’s Won
derland.
Musically, though, the album sounds
pretty good. Amos, in addition to her famil
iar piano, plays a harpsichord with some
impressive results.
Still, her inability to focus her wordshurts
“Boys For Pele” immensely.
With songs like “Tear In Your Hand,” the
listeners could find a personal sense of emo
tion conveyed to them. With songs like “Past
The Mission,” a narrative mixed with emo
tion hits the listener.
But “Boys For Pele” is none of these
things. Filled with chaotic words, obscure
references and nonsensical gibberish,
oftentimes songs would have been better if
Amos hadn’t been singing at all.
The album does merit a couple of focused
songs with catchy tunes like “Blood Roses”
and “Putting The Damage On,” but the ma
jority of “Boys For Pele” is nothing more
than thrown-together words laid over pleas
ant melodies.
— Cliff Hicks
Various Artists
“Kids — Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack”
Grade: C+
NY LLC
Forget the hype surrounding “Natural
One;” the best stuff on this soundtrack is not
Folk Implosion.
I don’t care what Warner Bros, is pitching
to Lou Barlow right now; the truth of the
matter is, compared to their previous efforts,
he and John Davis are sorely lacking in the
creativity that populated the Chocolate Monk
tapes, “Take a Look Inside ...” and “Walk
Thru This World With ...”
It’s terribly depressing to see this Sebadoh
side project, one of his most interesting yet,
sink into a pathetic hole of drum tracks, lame
effects, and stupid samples.
The organic, indie grooves of “Slap Me”
and “Better Than Allright” are gone, along
with FI’s quirky, Beatle-esque pokes and
terse, swervy song-stylings.
The instrumentals are the exception.
“Jenny’s Theme” is pretty cohesive to their
former sound, and though they deviate from
past work, “Crash” and “Raise the Bells” are
still nice offerings as well.
Plus, with the addition of Bob Fay, the
Deluxx Folk Implosion seems to straighten
things out a bit with a delightfully angry little
punch in the nose, “Daddy Never Under
stood.” , . ,
The rest of the album is generally worth
while, especially the dope beats served up by
Mad Fright Night in “Lo-Down.”
The new Daniel Johnston track isn’t bad,
though a little overproduced. He returns to
his lo-fi lineage, however, with “Casper the
Friendly Ghost” from one of his previous
albums.
Slint’s “Good Morning Captain,” much
like the rest of their stuff, has some value if
you can stomach the eight minutes of Rodan
like wandering.
In light of his partial fall from intense
coolness, Barlow’s last contribution,
“Spoiled,” from Sebadoh’s best album, “HI,”
is a little depressing in its genius. Simple,
rough and honest, this acoustic little ditty
makes you want to weep.
— Matt Kudlacz
BREAK
com*hl*t* c & z Might t#h>$
1~~ ' i
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i _ i
f..i
i-1
i • •_~t
' PER PERSON DEPENDING ON OESTRUM*/WEAK ORIEt/lMIM Of SUV.
f*800r$|fMCII*S*
TOLL FKC iNroMATIOM & RKSEffVATIONS
OR SOW ova TO OW WEI SITE JUT
$3.25 per day for 15 words on individual student
and student organization ads.
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00s For Sale
Used washer, dryer, refrigerator or range, delivered,
guaranteed and payments of only $25 for three months.
That’s a deal!” 466-6252.
Digital computer 486SX, VGA. 2 1/2 yrs old. 4MB RAM.
127MB HD deck PC, Dos 6, Windows 3.1, color monitor.
484-7175.
I~ ' 1
*DS 810 home loudspeakers. Over $1,000 new, perfect
with origonal boxes, etc. $600.483-5669.
/OR w/remote, $75 excellent condition. Also, COLOR
TV., $75.466-8520.
One Dave Matthews ticket for sale, will sell at cost. Great
Seat, Main Floor, second row, 436-7892.
Top of the line Kenwood stereo system, only 2 months old,
Best Offer! 464-8321/ask for Kerwyn.
200s Notices
COSTARICA (CALL
ADVENTURE: UODAYlV^OXl
LOWEST PRICES
402-438-2!
HUTOMHIfP TBAVtt a HttlTW
Spring Break ’96
Cancun1rofn$429, Florida from $109, Guaranteed lowest
prices! Organize a group of 15 and go free. Call 800-648
4849 for more'info. On Campus contact: Katie @ 436
7892 or Ty@ 467-4368.
3 & 2 Year
Army ROTC Scholarships
r
u
Alaska Jobs
Fishing Industry. Earn to $3,000-56,000+ /month plus
benefits. Male/ Female. No experience necessary. (206)
971-3510, ext. A57783.
ALPHA ZETA
INITIATION/BANQUET
Members, Alumni & Initiates Welcome! Fri. February 2nd,
ECU, 6:00 p.m. initiation. 7:00 Banquet, $15/person.
Are You Interested
in Sponsoring an
Election Debate?
Come to the information meeting to get details about
hosting a debate for the upcoming Student Government
elections.
Wednesday- Feb. 7
6:00 p,m.-Nebr. Union
Room to be oosted
Cruise Ships Hiring
Earn up to $2,000+ /month, world travel. Seasonal and
full-time positions. No experience necessary. For in
formatlon call 1-206-971-5550, ext. C57781.
DISC GO ROUND
Used CD’s, 55.99-57.99.
T-shirts, posters, imports, hacky sacks, music
books, song books and CD towers.
New CD’s $11.99-512.99
DISC GO ROUND
50th and 0,486-0047.
Environmental Resource Center is having an open
house, Wednesday, January 31,2pm-7pm at tne UNERC
office. 236 Nebraska Union. 472^8823.
Express Yourself!
We Want to Listen!
The Task Force on Conduct Standards and Behavioral
Expectations is holding Open Forums on these issues:
Violence on Campus, Theft & Property Damage and the
Student Cede of Conduct. Dates are; Thurs., Feb. 1,
12:30-2 p.m., City Union; Tues., Feb. 6. 5-6 p.m„ East
Jnion; 6 Wed., Feb. 7/1130-1 pjn.. City Union. EVery
weis wefcomei- - •"" •__
★
Filing forms are now available
at 115 Nebr. Union
for the
Student Government Election
March 6
FREE FINANCIAL AID!
Over $6 Billion In private sector grants & scholarships
Is now available. All students are eligible regardless of
grades, income, or parent's income. Let us help. Call
Student Financial Services: 1-800 -263-6495 ext.
FS7783.
Guitar Instruction/Rental
Zager Studio, 464-7771.
Interested in the Air Force, but not sure it's for you?
Become a part of the Silver Wing organization of
AFROTC. Gain leadership skills, help the local commu
nity, and meet new interesting people. First meeting set
fo' Feb. 4 at 9:00 PM in M & N 206. If you have any
questions contact Ann or Kathy at 467-6279.
Olan Mills
Is currently taking appointments for your portrait needs!
Since these are portraits they are guaranteed for a
lifetime. Don't be fooled by the computer generated
graphics imagery that will discolor, fade, and run off your
wall! Call 423-246A