Thursday, April 29, 1993
The Dark Half:
The sparrows
are flying again
George A. Romero's film of
Stephen King's novel finally
flys across the big screen
by Kristie L. Guldner
Collegian Staff
Have you ever wished you had
a twin? Someone who looks
just like you so you can blame
everything on him? Wouldn't it
be wonderful if you could bring
someone else into life who
could go to class for you, talk
to your parents, even work for
you? (Dream on, huh?)
For author Thad Beaumont,
however, his twin has been
brought to life - by his dreams;
his dark dreams.
Thad Beaumont (Timothy
Hutton) seems like your
average, everyday English
professor. Like some college
professors, he also mooLlights
as an author to make more
money.
Thad lives in Maine and has a
summer home in Castle Rock.
Knowing Stephen King, whose
novel • ID • this
George Romero productioncis
based on, Castle Rock might
not be the best place to own a
house. He has a wife, Liz, and
a set of twins, one boy and one
girl. Thad is the all-American
dream come true, until George
comes along that is.
Like many writers (Stephen
King among them), he writes
respectible books uder his own
name, but uses an pseudonym,
George Stark, while writing the
lurid, trashy novels that make
him money. These books
consist of stories of murder,
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gore, sex, and everything else a
person could want in a cheap
smut and guts novel. Thad is
your everyday, average nice guy
most of the time, but while
writing as George Stark, he
takes on a violent, seedy
persona.
George Stark is not the kind
of man you would care to meet
in a dark alley around midnight
with no one else around. He is
the embodiment of all that
modern society deems as evil.
It's a good thing he's only
imaginary.
Well, at least he was
imaginary until Thad had the
brilliant idea to kill him off.
The day Thad decides to write,
as himself is the day the
murders, accusations, and birds
begin to fly.
Since George is the creation
and exact copy of Thad, his
finger prints are all over every
murder scene. This is not good
when you and your wife know
you didn't do it, but the police
are not so inclined to believe
you.
Thad knows George wants his
life and it's only a matter of
time until he gets to killing
him. In order for George to
remain in this world, Thad has
to start writing him life again.
A showdown, inevitably in
Castle Rock, is sure to come.
I am definitely not a person
who loves the typical slasher,
blood and guts horror movie.
But, while The Dark Half does
have its share of blood and gore,
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it is exceedingly better than the
typical horror movie.
Also behind this movie is a
psychological thrill that keeps
us asking why and how all of
this could happen. This movie
takes the extremeness of being a
"number one fan" of Misery
fame to a new twisted level.
Director and scriptwriter
George A. Romero (of Night,
Dawn and Day of the Dead
fame) instills this flick with
great power. Since I have read
the book, I knew what was
going to happen. And although
a two hour movie cannot
encompass the entire 500 some
odd pages of the novel, he puts
the full force of the novel's plot
behind his movie.
This movie is a must see for
everyone who loves Stephen
King and horror movies. It
stays extremely faithful to the
novel and, while it does have its
share of gross-outs and shocks,
it keeps up a high level of
tension throughout.
Surprisingly, Timothy
Hutton is marvelous in the dual
role of Thad/George, and the
other leads (Amy Madigan and
Michael (Henry:Portrait of a
Serial Killer) Rocker) carry their
parts well.
The Dark Half is, however,
not for the weak of stomach or
anyone who hates sparrows. If
you want to know why
sparrows, see the movie. Just
remember "The sparrows are
coming."
Indian
Summer
leaves you
New Big Chill rip-off
can't hold interest
by Jennifer Toubakaris
Collegian Staff
Have you ever seen one of
those movies that tried to be
sentimental but left you feeling
like you had to puke because of
all the corny lines and mushy
love scenes? Indian Summer is
one of those movies.
It's packed with talented new
stars, has a decent soundtrack and
contains some beautiful
cinematography. Some of the
scenes are actually humorous and
touching, but the film lacks that
The movie has some
interesting subplots and
the acting is decent but it
still lacks something.
certain ingredient that pulls a
movie together.
Eight friends return to Camp
Tamawkawa in Ontario twenty
years after going their separate
ways. Obviously, many changes
have occurred in their lives since
then.
Diane Laine plays Bethy, a
young woman that has just lost
her husband. Camp Tamawkawa
is the place she and her late
husband met.
Elizabeth (Big) Perkins plays
Jennifer, a modern business
woman who returns to camp
Joorl
krepreasibiyaanizi% Benny and
Jean is one of those movies.
The -film's humor, even when
just exploring food reparation
skills, will refresh any viewer.
Even more rare, is the romantic
charm of Joon and Sam's
sincerely sweet relationship.
Perhaps the movie's most
astounding quality is low real it
is. The characters are all
emotional thunderstorm& They
get angry almost as often as they
get blissed out. The central tie
between all the characters is a
=Not' craziness and need.
I ins a bit nervous when I saw
cold
because she feels lonely. She
falls for her old sweetheart who is
now her best friend's husband.
Uncle Lou, Camp
Tamawkawa's owner, is played
by Alan Arkin. He fits the part
well as the tough, all-knowing
camp counselor who helps his
campers work out their problems.
There was some humor in the
movie, like when the male
campers put one of their buddy's
hands in warm water while
sleeping so they can listen to
him urinate, and when Perkins'
character gets so fed up with
Uncle Lou ringing a bell at 6
a.m. that she tapes a Kotex pad
to it.
The movie has some
interesting subplots and the
acting is decent but it still lacks
something. I sometimes found
myself bored at certain parts and
interested at others. This
rollercoaster effect leaves
something to be desired.
My advice is to stay away from
Indian Summer, save your money
and go to Cedar Point instead.
You expect the ups and downs on
the rides, and you'll leave them
feeling more fulfilled.
the critics liked Benny and Joon.
I don't trust them. When I saw
the movie, my doubts ceased.
Benny and Joon is fun. The
audience has a good time. It just
shows that there is still a place
for a movie without sex or
explosions.
The college crowd should love
this film. If nothing else, they
might see themselves. Life is a
strange thing. To be authentic is
to be bizarre.
Benny and Joon is about being
wierd. It's about laughing. It's
about finding out where you
belong. ft's about life.
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