2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, AUG. 23, 2001
Critic defines good movies for summer season
By Brandon Stinnett Jayplay writer
A quick story: One day last year a friend and I were leaving a movie theater after watching Gone in 60 Sec.
and after watching onds. My friend asked, "How could you possibly not have liked that movie?"
Shocked by my friend's ineptness, I shook my head and smiled. "Here's the deal," I declared. "I only declare."
Stinnett
are good, and if you like a movie that I don't like, then you like a bad movie."
Greetings film fans. By way of introduction, my name is Brandon Stinnett and I am the new Kansan movie columnist. Here are some things you should know up front. The Godfather
is my favorite movie. Cameron Crowe is my favorite director. And Jerry Bruckheimer, the genius behind Gone in 60 Seconds, Coyote Ugly and Armageddon, is the Anti-Christ.
As for actors and actresses, Tom Cruise and Al Pacino are immortal. Renee Zellwegger and Reese Witherpoon are dynamite. And Kevin Costner is way underrated.
The past summer offered the usual array of crappy movies aimed at cashing in on the quick buck while serious film buffs were left scurrying to Blockbuster to rent "real movies" to keep from going mad.
As usual, I fell into Hollywood's demented trap and shelled out five bucks for an assortment of duds, such as Jurassic Park III and Pearl Harbor, which bored audiences with 30 minutes of — yawn — special effects and 2.1/2 hours of — vomit — Josh
Hartnett, Ben Affreck and Kate Beckinsale playing kissy-face.
There were a few gems scattered among the wealth of disease. The animated Shrek was a delightful change, and the surprisingly smart Legally Blonde showcased Reese Witherspoon's considerable acting chops.
But for the most part, summer movies were disgusting as usual. They've become so bad in recent years that I've started to fight back by not going to the movies. But my "Just Say No" campaign has seen only limited success - I've been at area multiplexes more often than I care to admit.
I do have standards, however, such as steering clear of movies with subtitles (too much work) and movies produced, directed or influenced in any way by Bruckheimer. But these are standards in theory only and I do occasionally shy away from them.
(I've seen every one of Bruckheimer's movies, and I'm not proud of it.)
Standards aside, mostly I just love movies. All types of movies. From sappy romantic comedies to blood filled action movies. My only criterion for a movie is that it's good, which is something most movies released today aren't.
what makes a movie good, you ask? Now, that's a difficult question. For me, a good movie evokes feelings and unlocks emotions. Good movies touch the heart and make you laugh or cry. Happy or mad.
Movies aren't good because they have good plot development, sharp dialogue or a rockin' soundtrack. Those things help, but they are not what really matter.
A movie is good because of how it affects each viewer.
And because I say so.
Stinnett's Top 10 Favorite Movies
Citizen Kane
Uziel Kahle
Die Hard
Donnie Brasco
Field of Freams
The Godfather
Jerry Maguire
The Naked Gun
Risky Business
Say Anything
Star Wars
Stinnett's Top 5 Least Favorite Movies
Fight Club
Gone in 60 Seconds
Patch Adams
Scary Movie
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Alumni-founded theater mixes comedy, variety
By Cal Creek
Jayplay writer
In the Ecumenical Christian Ministries parking lot, an eclectic group of people has circled to smoke and discuss the pros and cons of wearing pantyhose versus a lone ranger type mask for pulling a heist.
A former schoolteacher pauses after a long drag and says "I'll wear the pantyhose - oh, you mean on our head?" The group quickly laughs at the joke and then continues the conversation until it is finally settled.
They will wear the lone ranger masks, and with that the group disbands and heads inside. After all, they have only settled one small matter; they have an entire rehearsal left to work out.
The group is part of a larger company known as the Card Table Theatre. Named from a Kevin Costner movie called Fandango, the company formed three years ago and has been performing in the Lawrence area since.
One of its two yearly comedy-variety shows will be at 10 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at Liberty Hall
"If you're new to Lawrence and you
want to get an insider's view, this is the place to be. And if you've been around Lawrence, this is the place to be," cofounder and University of Kansas alumnus Jeremy Auman said.
Since then, the Card Table Theatre has put on five comedy-variety shows. Friday's show will be the sixth. They have also done several plays, including the award-winning play Bunnies.
Auman started the Card Table Theatre with KU alumnus Will Averill after both had graduated. They decided they wanted to stay in Lawrence and be involved in theater.
we do any kind of production," Auman said. "We're an all-inclusive theater. We fill the void between University theater and community theater."
Averill said there had always been a core group of five running the company, but through three years he had worked with between 30 to 50 people. This includes KU students, high school students and actors from community theater.
"We like to think of (the variety-comedy show) as *Saturday Night Live* meets Ed Sullivan with an R-rating." Auman said.
The creators promise plenty of Lawrence humor with each show. In the past they have had a bar scene puppet show and this year there will be a sketch mocking 23rd Street.
Other sketches include a string of shorts "too offensive for the stage," an opening musical number and a live interpretation of Scooby-Doo. There's even a little Fred Phelps bashing, as Auman points out that "No one is spared."
This show will be a "best of" show, meaning most of the sketches have been done in past shows. The fictitious Victor Continental, the emcee for every show, will host the event.
Tickets are available in advance for $8 at G. Willikers Deli & Bar, 733 Massachusetts St.; Wheatfields Bakery, 904 Vermont St.; the Round Corner Cheese & Salami Shoppe, 801 Massachusetts St. and Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St. Tickets are available at the door for $10.
Because the Card Table Theatre is a not-for-profit organization, the proceeds from the show will go back into the Theatre.
LAURIE SISK
Members of the Card Table Theatre rehearse for their upcoming production, which opens tomorrow night at Liberty Hall. The Tuesday night rehearsal showcased the group's playful side.