The Collegian
September 12, 1985
Page Eight
by T. McGee
Collegian Contributing Writer
As the unquestioned champion
of the cinematic box-office,
Steven Spielberg has thrilled
thousands with his fun adventure
filled extravaganzas.
In the past decade Speilberg has
been responsible for the most
popular and profitable films in
movie history, beginning with
1975’s Jaws. You know the list
from there, Close Encounters,
Raiders, E.T., etc.
Though he began as a director,
recently Speilberg has shifted to
the role of producer, choosing to
direct only occasionally, which is
not to say that any Spielberg pro
duction is without his indelible
stamp. It almost appears that he
has directed these films anyway.
This summer, two Speilberg pro
ductions have made their way into
local theaters and I must say, each
film made a completely different
impression on me.
First, the good news. Back To
The Future, directed by Robert
Zemeckis, is the fast paced story
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of Marty McFly, a high school
student who takes the ride of his
life when an offbeat scientist of
fers him a DeLorean that doubles
as a time machine.
The bad news is The Goonies,
directed by Richard Donner. This
is Seilberg’s noisy tale of a group
of children’s search for a buried
treasure. While both of these
films embody the whimsical spirit
Speilberg fans are accustomed to,
only Future suceeds as a positive
venture.
And succeed it does! With an
excellent cast led by television’s
Michael J. Fox and a script that
boasts hundreds of laughs and
edge-of-your-seat suspense, Back
To The Future is truly a gas. As
the time travelling teenager,
Fox’‘s laconic wit and self-assured
style help him to create a hero
whom the audience can feel true
concern. Though most of his ac
tivities are hilarious, tension runs
high during the moments of truth.
Add Fox’s performance to a zany
script that is not overshadowed by
outrageous special effects (a fre
quent Spielberg device), and
you’ve got a sure fire recipe for
enjoyment.
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Also to be commended is direc
tor Zemeckis, whose able com
mand moves the film along at a
brisk pace without blurring any of
the details. Additionally, actor
Christopher Floyd (Jim, from the
old Taxi series) is as brilliant as
the scientist who makes time
travel a reality. All in all, Back To
The Future is a rare find on movie
screens today. It forces you to
leave the theater feeling good.
On the other hand, and facing a
nearly polar direction, is The
Goonies. This, in my opinion, is
the worst film Spielberg has ever
been involved with. Forgetting the
fact that the story is a rehash of
old Speilberg plots, and that the.
special effects are nearly identical
to those used to his other films, I
still can’t say a good word about
it.
The story concerns a bunch of
outcast children—goonies, if you
will—who find a treasure map in
the attic of one of their homes.
These kids are so obnoxious and
loud that we can easily see why
they are outcasts. They scream
over each other’s lines as if trying
for some type of verbal intensity
award. Working on the set with
Tony Elliot takes over Studio Theatn
by Sue Nathans Technicolor Dream, Coat.
Collegian Staff Writer Responding to the subject of his
Tony Elliot, new director of latest acting performance Elliot
Theater Arts has replaced Paul Id- replied, “I act every day during
dings. Elliot has tough shoes to every one of my productions. A
fill but it looks as though he will director must be able to act a
do an outstanding job. character in order to direct that
Elliot attended the Indindia
Universityof Pennsylvania major
ing in Educational Communica
tions and went on to do his
graduate work at The Catholic
University of America in
Washington, D.C.
Elliot is not a new comer to
Penn State, he taught for the past
two years at the Penn State York
campus. While in York, Elliot
worked as Artistic Director and
Chief Administrator at the York
Little Theater. He produced six to
seven shows per year while
organizing fund raisers and public
relations projects.
Elliot received his Actors Equi
ty entrance into the actors union
in our nations capital with the
production Joseph’s Amazing
them must have been incredibly
nervewracking.
By the end of the film, we don’t
even care if the kids find the
treasure, we just wish the film
would stop being so hokey. (Per
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feat
character.” Elliot does some
forms of acting for his theater
classes everyday. His last profes
sional acting job was in 1982.
Elliot invites students to come
over and just look at the studio.
“It’s a neat little building. I would
like to see as many students as
possible auditioning as well as get
ting more and more people into
the theater to see the produc
tions.” He also expressed his con
cern that “Many students have
never seen any type of theater pro
duction, I would like them to
come down and just give it a try, I
think most students will find it en
joyable learning experience.”
Elliot is nine years out of
school, and a bachelor at age 31.
sonally, I hoped they would find
the treasure—gold plated muzzles
for each of them.)
Well there you have it Back To
The Future, 10, Goonies, 0. Go
see Michael J. Fox.
Your
lire