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WEDNESDAY JULY 20th - TURKISH STAR WARS & STAR CRASH
MITCHELL HALL - RM B91 - 7:30 PM
Slap on your space helmets because the next Summer Camp is shooting for the stars. Well, I wouldn't actually call them "stars". David Hasselhoff may be big in Germany and I'm not quite sure just who's famous in Turkey, but both TURKISH STAR WARS and STAR CRASH are stellar examples of space adventures you can make for under $5 (American).
TURKISH STAR WARS - Officially called Dunyayi Kurtaran Adam (The Man Who Saved The World) this Turkish action space odyssey proves that you don't need big budget special effect to compete with George Lucas. Instead, just steal footage from Star Wars and splice it into your own movie! Mix in some dime store special effects and you have a found-footage, experiment in action and stupidity. Note: This is the first Summer Camp film to feature subtitles. Slow readers need not be shy, it's probably better if you don't know what the hell anyone in this film is talking about. Plot only gets in the way.
STAR CRASH - An Italian production looking to capitalize on the space opera craze of the late 70's STAR CRASH stars Caroline Munro as STELLA STAR (a sexier, more combative Princess Leia figure). Unable to do the job alone - really what woman could save the universe without the help of some men, right? Stella enlists the help of David Hasselhoff (in a Han Solo like role) and one time child preacher Marjoe Gortner (in the Luke Skywalker role) to help here defeat a power crazed Count (Joe Spinell in a Darth Vader role). Rounding out the action we've got a clunky robot with a southern drawl and Christopher Plummer slumming it up as the good leader. He also delivers one of the greatest speeches you'll ever hear. In fact the whole film is full of great dialog that outshines the 99 cent strand of multi-color Christmas lights that make up the STAR CRASH cosmos.
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TUESDAY JULY 26th - SKINHEADS: THE SECOND COMING OF HATE & BAD BUNCH
MITCHELL HALL - RM B91 - 7:30 PM
We've got to move the screening to Tuesday, but to make up for the change here are two horribly misguided films that illustrate why filmmakers should not use celluloid as soapboxes. Made by a little known actor and even lesser known director by the name of Greydon Clarke, these two films look to explore issues of race in a less than helpful fashion. Clarke's made just about every type of film under the sun from teen sex romps, to horror, to LAMBADA: THE FORBIDDNE DANCE. But what the man shines at is tackling the "race card". While this young white male may have his heart in the right place he's got his brain and his camera somewhere else. These two films show Clarke playing both sides of that race card.
First, there is SKINHEADS: THE SECOND COMING OF HATE. Geraldo knew it. Springer knows it, and so did Clark. Skinheads make for an exciting program. And just like every good bottom feeder, Clark attempts to exploit and explore the hatred that fuels these shaved headed hooligans. Of course, skinheads need someone to terrorize. Now, I know you're thinking what black actor would you get to play a terrorized old man. If you guessed Chuck Conners (SUMMER CAMP NIGHTMARE) you'd be right. Of course Chuck ain't black, but nether the less he's getting his ass chased through the woods by Skinheads. So here you have it The Rifleman vs. Skinheads. Ain't film magical?
Then, there is BAD BUNCH. Not only is it Clark's first film but he's flexing his own ego in the lead role. In essence, it's the Citizen Kane of Blaxploitation (directed by exploitative white dudes). After returning from 'Nam, Clark's character transplants himself in the heart of Watts. Somehow a shared walnut in Vietnam - yes, I said walnut in 'Nam - has sparked a personal crusade for Clark to bring some love and understanding between the brothers and the honkeys. At least that's what I think his character is trying to do. Or maybe that's the director's personal goal. Or maybe he's just trying to get laid. Its hard to tell and it doesn't matter. What matters is that you understand that there is a problem between the races and the only thing that can bring them together is some Greydon Clark, that or a hedonistic pool party that boggles the mind. Again it's tough to tell what the man is going for. He even had a hard time deciding on the title as you'll find out during the opening credits and a groovy song that mentions the film's original title. I'll give you a hint - it rhymes with "Chigger Mother". And the ending....well, I can't give away the ending. It's just one of those things you have to see to believe and there's no way in hell you could guess what's coming next.
If you see one double bill this summer. This is the one!
(by Ryan Szarnowski)
