Ledger

Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Husky Happenings

It's easy to keep up with new movie releases. Production companies advertise films so thoroughly that nobody has even the faintest opportunity to forget about this romantic comedy or that action blockbuster. Gone are the days when a walk through your local video store's "new release" section would elicit comments like, "Wow, I remember that one!" and "Gosh, has it been a year already?"

These days, film companies release their wares on DVD just weeks after they leave theaters, if not sooner. There's no need to keep a running list for months while you wait to rent that dramatic thriller you missed on the big screen. Netflix or Blockbuster will have it in your mailbox before you can say "There's no place like home."

With a market so saturated with new films, many movie-goers might forget about the decades of film already out there collecting dust. I encourage film lovers everywhere to take a few moments to contemplate the past, and dig out a few almost-unheard-of classics to enjoy the next time you find yourself wondering how to make your film experience a little different.

"Big Trouble in Little China"

If you liked "Pirates of the Caribbean" (2003), you know, that one pirate epic that even your grandpa saw, then you'll probably like...

"Big Trouble in Little China" (1986). Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a trucker who gets wrapped up in a battle with a 2,000-year-old magician. That's right, a magician. Kung fu warriors and other worldly spirits interfere as Jack attempts to rescue his friend's fiancee, who was kidnapped to rid a curse of immortality. "Big Trouble" for Jack means big laughs for movie-viewers, and the film is laced with witty banter and slapstick style scenarios. Director John Carpenter (of "Vampires" fame) crafted this dark supernatural gem, and it's waiting at your local rental store now.

"Raising Arizona"

If you liked "Knocked Up" (2007), the unexpected romantic comedy about a slacker, a one-night stand, and an unplanned pregnancy, then you'll probably like...

"Raising Arizona" (1987). Holly Hunter and Nicolas Cage star in this screwball comedy about an unlikely couple -- she's an ex-cop, he's an ex-con -- who want so desperately to be parents that they plot to "borrow" a baby from a couple who has too many. The comedy is blatant, the storyline is flawed, and Roger Ebert may not have been far off when he said the film was "shot down by its own forced and mannered style." But the film has many redeeming qualities that you just have to see to believe. If you're still not sure, keep in mind that this was an early offering from Joel and Ethan Coen ("the Coen brothers," to you film buffs), who later produced "The Big Lebowski."

"Event Horizon"

If you liked "Sunshine" (2007), the sci-fi thriller in which a crew of astronauts is charged with reigniting the sun, then you'll probably like...

"Event Horizon" (1997). An explorer vessel goes missing in outer space -- way, way outer space. Seven years later, crews on Earth receive what they think is a cry for help from the vessel, and a second crew is sent on a rescue mission. When they arrive, they encounter all sorts of things they never expected. Laurence Fishburne carries the film as the crew's captain, and the rest of the cast is hardly worth mentioning. However, the special effects are noteworthy. If you're the type of sci-fi fan who can lose yourself in technological wonders (and your volume knob goes to 11), this film will keep you on the edge of your seat.

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