Spring Break
Take A Break With New Movies
Jessica Silber
Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Focus
Not everyone's plans for spring break include jetting to Cancun, soaking up rays of sunlight by day and engaging in various debaucheries by night. Most students are looking forward to far more domestic plans including, but not limited to, shopping, sleeping and watching movies. A trip to the movies may not be the same as a trip to San Juan, but there's always a chance of witnessing some cinematic history or at least killing an hour or two away from the family.
March 2 is the national release date for the first batch of contenders. Taking the role of the obligatory comedy is "Wild Hogs," an adventure/comedy film in which four men in the midst of a midlife crisis "embark on a journey they will never forget," according to the movie's Web site - think "Crossroads" for the middle-aged. John Travolta, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen decide to abandon their suburban existence for a cross-country biking adventure, encountering romance, off-color jokes and rival biker gangs along the way. Don't expect meaning-of-life epiphanies or profound revelations, but there is definite potential for an entertaining comedy.
Those looking for something with a little more depth may opt instead for the thriller "Zodiac" directed by David Fincher of "Fight Club" and "Se7en" fame. The film is based on the books by Robert Graysmith, surrounding the true events of the serial killer known as "Zodiac," who terrified San Francisco during the 1970s and taunted the police with puzzling messages. The delightfully nerdy Jake Gyllenhaal, playing an investigator with a convenient talent for puzzle-solving, stars alongside Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.
Also released on Friday is "Black Snake Moan," starring Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson. According to the Web site, Ricci plays Rae, an unruly young woman who strikes up a relationship with Lazarus (Jackson), a blues musician suffering rather appropriately from the blues. This Southern drama has been marketed mainly through provocative posters of Christina Ricci in chains, though one can only hope that many will be drawn to the film instead for its compelling storyline and great actors. Or, if not for those reasons, at least for the chance to see Justin Timberlake in the demanding role of Ronnie, a Tennessee redneck.
If none of the above sound appealing, there's always hope for March 9, which will be the release of the eagerly-awaited epic "300." The movie tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae, and is named for the number of Spartans who defended themselves against over 100,000 Persian troops in 480 BC. The film representation will probably be a little different from the battle described in history class, as it's based off of the graphic novel by Frank Miller, the man behind "Sin City." According to IMDB.com, "Changes from history were made by Miller so as to appeal to a wider audience and create a more exciting and visually stunning action movie."
Rather than moping inside the house, reading and ripping up the enthusiastic postcards from friends in Maui, students who are going home for break have a few options to consider when it comes to the movies. For under ten bucks, the inside of a Crown Marquis can be just as exciting as that sunny beach in Acapulco. Well … almost.
March 2 is the national release date for the first batch of contenders. Taking the role of the obligatory comedy is "Wild Hogs," an adventure/comedy film in which four men in the midst of a midlife crisis "embark on a journey they will never forget," according to the movie's Web site - think "Crossroads" for the middle-aged. John Travolta, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen decide to abandon their suburban existence for a cross-country biking adventure, encountering romance, off-color jokes and rival biker gangs along the way. Don't expect meaning-of-life epiphanies or profound revelations, but there is definite potential for an entertaining comedy.
Those looking for something with a little more depth may opt instead for the thriller "Zodiac" directed by David Fincher of "Fight Club" and "Se7en" fame. The film is based on the books by Robert Graysmith, surrounding the true events of the serial killer known as "Zodiac," who terrified San Francisco during the 1970s and taunted the police with puzzling messages. The delightfully nerdy Jake Gyllenhaal, playing an investigator with a convenient talent for puzzle-solving, stars alongside Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.
Also released on Friday is "Black Snake Moan," starring Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson. According to the Web site, Ricci plays Rae, an unruly young woman who strikes up a relationship with Lazarus (Jackson), a blues musician suffering rather appropriately from the blues. This Southern drama has been marketed mainly through provocative posters of Christina Ricci in chains, though one can only hope that many will be drawn to the film instead for its compelling storyline and great actors. Or, if not for those reasons, at least for the chance to see Justin Timberlake in the demanding role of Ronnie, a Tennessee redneck.
If none of the above sound appealing, there's always hope for March 9, which will be the release of the eagerly-awaited epic "300." The movie tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae, and is named for the number of Spartans who defended themselves against over 100,000 Persian troops in 480 BC. The film representation will probably be a little different from the battle described in history class, as it's based off of the graphic novel by Frank Miller, the man behind "Sin City." According to IMDB.com, "Changes from history were made by Miller so as to appeal to a wider audience and create a more exciting and visually stunning action movie."
Rather than moping inside the house, reading and ripping up the enthusiastic postcards from friends in Maui, students who are going home for break have a few options to consider when it comes to the movies. For under ten bucks, the inside of a Crown Marquis can be just as exciting as that sunny beach in Acapulco. Well … almost.
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