Thursday, April 9, 1992 Stephen King does it again Lawnmower Man is full of special effects but lacks substance Susan Kass The Collegian I was excited to see Lawnmower Man. Based on a Stephen King short story, starring Pierce Brosnan and containing awesome animation, I anticipated two hours of excitement. Unfortunately, my excitement was wasted. The story isn't scary, but it is Stephen King. The movie revolves around something called virtual reality. It is the fictional computer system in which people touch, move, etc. without leaving a harnessed contraption because it consists of visualized The animation is good and it's used quite often in unusual ways not seen in other films. Perhaps the most imaginative, creative part is the love scene between a couple using virtual reality. brain waves. Yes, safe sex that is really safe. The scientist (Pierce Brosnan) who is perfecting virtual reality to increase general intelligence is frustrated by a lack of support from the conglomerate he's working for. The dark and dreary lab also seerirs to be* linked to : some kind of military intelligence. Taking matters into his own hands, the obsessed scientist gets the Lawnmower Man, Jobe (Jeff Fahey), to begin working with his virtual reality programs at home and to take drugs which are painfully injected into his neck. Part-Time Work $8.25 starting pay, flexible schedule to fit classes. Full training provided. May continue full-time over breaks. All majors should apply. Call NOW 838-0752 Eventually Jobe gets smarter and talks back to the people who have picked on him; thus, the scientist gets approval to expand the treatments at the lab. Things turn bad when the supervisor adds some sort of violent hormone into Jobe's medication. Soon his headaches increase and the lawnmower man becomes psychic moving things with his mind and increasing his intelligence to the point where he believes he is the messiah. But, in reality, he begins to act more like Satan. Brosnan is not likable in this role. He does not fit the role of the mad scientist although he appears dirty and grimy. His character's devotion to work is displayed in one scene where his girlfriend leaves complaining of neglect. But we don't know whether to like him or hate him when he risks Jobe's life to see if a human Subject's'intelligence' will increase. It seertts rtibst of the movie he's nursing the same glass of bourbon. Basically, his character is underwritten and Brosnan didn't try to develop his character in any way. Fahey has the difficult job of playing the dumb but sweet Lawnmower Man, then changing HAURY RENTALS OFF - CAMPUS APARTMENTS FURNISHED PAID UTILITIES COIN LA UNDR T CABLE READ 7 PARKING ONBUSLINE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE 899-9784 The Collegian to a smart, masculine lover and finally becoming almost satanic. This is a broad range, but he handles it well. The animation is good and it's used quite often in unusual ways not seen in other films. Perhaps the mest imaginative, creative part is the love scene between a couple using virtual reality. Director Leonard and the virtual effects designers use an "abstracted, stylized expression of lovemaking" in a scene between Mamie (Jenny Wright) and Jobe which is not graphic, but expresses a "total unity." Also, as the movie progresses, Jobe gets rid of a few enemies by turning them into hundreds of balls ,of flying mass circling in and out of human shapes. These animated escapades are difficult to describe unless you're Stephen King, but they are the best parts of the movie. The movie is left open at the end as mt&t King"’stories are, so New Line Cinema is already talking about a sequel. But judging from the lack of box office returns, it is not likely. Except for the effects, this movie is simplistic and predictable, otherwise known as a small, soon to be forgotten movie. 1 . Lite s Little instruction Boo*. : . - . jc*son Arc Ruteoce .55 95 Aovxr.e y aramnc .1 -j,i ’e 2. The Firm, cv -orn Grsnar s*anc De» 55 99 1 ">joa awver confronts tre -'■ooer *omnGS of n is firm 3. Fheo Green Tomatoes at the WNsoe Stoo Cate, cv Fiaqg. 56 95 • A *omar s -emenoerance o» fe >n ineoeeo South 4. The Prince of Tides, ov Pit Coocv 3antam $5 991 Souther — an cor fronts r s 'am-'V s oast m Fiew y orx Ctv 5. You Just Don t Understand. c% J«?oofan T.irnen Sajianone. 51C OO '"'w '"en ana :ar -noerstanc eacn other Defter 6. 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