Reel Critics

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written

by community members serving on our panel.

See ‘Center Stage’ again and again

Wow! “Center Stage” is an amazing movie. It has all the characteristics

of a modern-day movie and yet it has a lot of classical ballet mixed into

it.

It’s an outstanding movie for ballet lovers and for teens in general. The

story of “Center Stage” is about a teenager named Jody who auditions for

a chance to become a member of the American Ballet Academy.

She competes against great dancers who have had many years of experience.

But even so, she has the talent to become a student and train for a year

to officially become a member. Though she appears to have the talent, she

has trouble in classes that affect her and her dancing. Her “turnout” is

off and her body is “misshapen.”

Jonathan, the director of the Academy, warns her of these problems and

has asked her to consider that she might not have the chance to become a

member. She doesn’t care. She works extra hard with her friend, Eva, who

has a “behavior” problem.

Her roommate, Maureen, is the best dancer at the school, but she doesn’t

like to dance. Her mom could never be a ballerina, so she pushed Maureen

to fulfill her dream.

Later in the year, the school holds a student workshop that gives the

students a chance to show what they can do. There are two choreographers

there: Cooper, a professional ballet dancer, and Jonathan. Jody is cast

in Cooper’s ballet.

The theme song for “Center Stage” is Mandy Moore’s smash hit “I Wanna Be

With You.” It expresses the emotion that flows throughout the story and

gives you a feeling of

love.

The dances in the movie are incredible. The ballerinas do amazing jumps

and fancy footwork. They dance to a variety of music, from classical to

salsa to hip-hop. There was never a dull moment.

“Center Stage” is an exciting, rhythmic, colorful film made especially

for people who love dance. You’ll want to see it over and over.

SARA SALAM, 12, is a sixth-grader at Eastbluff Elementary Newport Beach.

She likes soccer, ballet and writing.

‘Earth’ is the ‘Frankenstein’ of sci-fi

There’s no question that “Battlefield Earth” aspires to be a major motion

picture. Set 1,000 years in the future, it has state-of-the-art special

effects courtesy of the “Star Wars” team. It has the grim future look of

“Bladerunner” and “Aliens.” It has enslaved humans hunted by their new

masters, just like “Planet of the Apes.”

To save the world, the human hero expands his brain power by gaining

access to the learning machine of the master race. This plot development

was first featured in the 1955 classic “Forbidden Planet.” The slow

motion explosions in the climactic battle scenes echo “The Matrix” and

“Independence Day.”

With an $80-million budget, producer and star John Travolta certainly

must believe that this picture should be a box office heavyweight. But

the diverse parts of the plot are carved out and patched together from so

many previous films that “Battlefield Earth” becomes the “Frankenstein”

of science fiction movies.

Every one of these stolen ideas have all been done before -- and done

much better.

As in “Predator,” the alien masters in the movie are supposed to be 8- to

9-feet-tall. To appear like titans, Travolta and his evil Psychlo pals

wear giant platform boots, leather clothes and wild hair reminiscent of

the ridiculous outfits worn by a 1970s rock band. This might work in

“Saturday Night Fever,” but come on, how seriously can anybody take evil

space villains who look like members of Kiss?

All this and the pounding music may have some appeal to teenage head

bangers in love with computer combat games. But it’s much too loud, too

long and too silly to be taken seriously by anyone else.

JOHN DEPKO, 51, is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for

the Orange County Public Defender’s Office.

o7 For another take on “Battlefield Earth” see Uncle Don’s Views of

Nil Repute, page ??

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