THURSDAY.NOV.15.2001
ENTERTAINMENT
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
'K-PAX' examines earthly issues
Aliens may be living among us. No, I'm not talking about that short guy with green hair who's always at Wescoe Terrace. Aliens might be here. Or they might not be. Nobody knows for sure.
Commentary
It doesn't really matter, anyway. People have this habit of only accepting things that coincide with pre-existing beliefs. Even if an alien did appear in the Kansas Union, no one would believe it.
Brandon Stinnett Movie Reviewer jayplaykansan.com
It's that sort of thing that happens to Prot (Kevin Spacey), a self-proclaimed alien in the new movie K-PAX, who, on a routine visit to Earth, is committed to the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan. It seems that an alien named Prot who looks curiously like Spacey flies against society's norms.
Prot is condemned as delusional after extensive sessions with Dr. Mark Powell (Jeff Eridge) and is committed for further care. It turns out, however, that Prot's delusions are a bit too convincing and some people start believing him.
Even Dr. Powell, whose roots in sound logic prohibit beliefs in the impossible, wonders if Prot
might be telling the truth.
Great movie of the week: American Beauty. Kevin Spacey, in an Oscar-winning performance, teaches us the joys of living life to the fullest even if it kills him. At least Spacey's Lester Burnham dies happy after quitting his boring desk job, buying a sports car and smoking lots of reefer. American Beauty is a wondrous film about overcoming the pitfalls of life in suburbia and Spacey truly does rule in an inspired performance.
Bad movie of the week: Proof of Life. It's not really that bad, but with stars like Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe, it should have been so much better. With America's sweetheart and current male heartthrob falling for each other both on and off the screen, the passion in Proof of Life should have ignited in grand fashion. Instead, we get two overpaid stars stuck in a movie that's neither thrilling nor romantic.
To the film's credit, evidence supporting both Protas as an alien and as a mentally disturbed human are presented, and it's never entirely clear what we're supposed to believe.
K-PAX ★★★ 1/2
Although Prot is the central character, K-PA X is not completely centered around him. Ample screen time is devoted to Dr. Powell's devotion to his family and his job.
Director Iain Softley intentionally leaves ambiguous elements to Prot's character, which adds a level of intrigue that makes K-PAX a more compelling movie.
On planet K-PAX, as Prots tells the doctor in one of their sessions, there are no families, no concept of fathers and mothers or children. K-PAXians simply coexist.
Ironically, Dr. Powell lives the same sort of life on Earth, burying himself in work that he has no passion for and alienating himself from his wife and children.
As Dr. Powell struggles to discover the causes of Prot's supposed mental illness, he manages to learn something about himself.
But Dr. Powell's personal struggles are secondary to Prot, who may or may not be an alien. All the patients in the hospital believe him, and Prot promises to take one of them with him back to K-PAX when he returns.
ever, remain skeptical of anything not listed in a psychiatric journal and maintain that Prot is mentally ill.
**PAX** is a fascinating movie that is about much more than Prot's true identity. It explores the human propensity to believe things beyond reason and proof. It reminds us of the true wonders in life we often take for granted.
Whether Prot is a troubled New Yorker or an extra-terrestrial from outer space, K-PAX gives us plenty to think about.
Contact Stinnett at 864-8410
By Mandalee Meisner Jayplay writer
Tour to showcase stupid human tricks
Stunts range from light bulb eating, balancing 6-foot ladders on faces and professional skateboarding to "razor scootering" and stapling money to bodies.
He said the show combines humor, stuntwork and "downright stupidity."
The tour arrives at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lied Center. Tickets are available at the Student Union Activities office, fourth floor of the Kansas
"The tour's like a modern comedy circus," Nick Dunlap, tour manager, said in a phone call from Cleveland, Ohio.
The "circus" is coming to the Lied Center.
Willey said ticket sales were steady and that the show had done very well at similar venues.
"We've talked to a couple of colleges and the show's sold out there." Willey said. "The show's done very well, and there's been no harm done to anyone."
The extreme aspect of the tour has raised some questions about safety.
The "Don't Try This At Home Tour 2001" features performers such as Steve-O and Wee Man doing the crazy—and sometimes disturbing—stunts that made them icons of the stupid human tricks on MTV's Jackass.
Willey said with certain precautions taken—including replacing some acts that involve audience participation with others—the should be no risk of harm for the audience.
Union, and are $5 for students with a KUID and $ without an ID.
"It itseems like something the whole campus enjoys watching," Danielle Wille, Junction City junior, said. Wille is special events coordinator for SUA and organizer of the event. "It appeals to a wide range of people."
Dunlap said most people should know what to expect from the show.
Johnny Knoxville, star of MTV's Jackass, is not participating in the tour.
Doors to the Lied Center lobby will open at 7 p.m., and the auditorium opens at 7:30 p.m.
Dunlap said an autograph session would immediately follow the show.
"If there's anything where they ask the audience to come up or anything that can cause a great deal of harm like fire, we will pull that out." Willey said. "We just don't want to mess with the risk of anyone getting hurt."
"If they're familiar with the television show *jackass* and they like it, they'll love the show," Dunlap said. "If they haven't seen the show, they're usually at a loss for words."
Dunlap said the performers of the tour—including Steve-O, Wee Man, Preston Lacy and Chris Pontius—are often regarded as celebrities, mostly because of their involvement with Jackass.
SUA security guards also will be on hand for crowd control.
One Stop Christmas Shopping
(Final) 25th Annual
Holiday Bazaar in Lawrence
Saturday Nov. 17th
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Lawrence Community Building
11th and Vermont
Artists, Craftsmen & Organizations
Shop til you drop for everyone on your list.
Free Admission
sponsors: Doreta & Monty Boyd
"They're party animals and they love their fans," Dunlap said.
Contact Meisner at 864-4810
Myers said he would be attending the show at the Lied Center because "it's not everyday you get to see people doing the stunts that they do."
"I don't think it really hurts anything, and I don't think it's a big problem," Myers said. "People overreact."
Charlie Myers, El Dorado junior, said many of his friends had performed Jackass-type acts after watching the television show. He said criticism of such "copycat" stunts was unwarranted.
Neither Dunlap nor Willey said they had encountered any negative responses about the tour. Critics of the television show Jackass have said the stunts performed could be dangerous if copied.
"The only people that are critics are just too old-fashioned," Dunlap said. "They need to lighten up and realize what we do is a form of comedy."
The University of Kansas School of Art
Department of Music & Dance presents
Commentary
Meghan Bainum
Sex Columnist
jaipayokansan.com
MEGHAN'S SEX COLUMN WILL RETURN THE THURSDAY
AFTER THANKSGIVING. SHE'S TAKING SOME TIME OFF TO STUFF THE TURKEY.
Roommates stuck to the couch?
Kansan Classifieds
· Find them a job. • Find new roommates. • Sell the couch.
Tons of Fun Tina Appearing Sat, Nov.17th & Sun, Nov. 18th
Female Amateur Night $200 Grand Prize immediately following the Male Revue
Male Revue!!
Mon, Nov.19
9pm-11pm
$2 Wells
$2 Beer
913 N. 2nd St. Lawrence, KS • 785-841-4122