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FILM
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Dir: Richard A Colla
Universal, 1979 (DVD, 2003)
The big screen version of 70s TV classic, Battlestar
Galactica, takes place sometime in the far distant
future. The fate of mankind isn't looking too hot. Evil
robots called Cylons have destroyed all 12 colonies of
man. The few survivors are rescued by lumbering Battlestar
Galactica and its stoic leader Commander Adama, played
by phlegmatic Lorne Green. All set forth to find Earth
and salvation...
Or something like that. The confused plot is reminiscent
of almost every sci-fi flick you've already seen from
the era, but what makes this cult classic stand out is
its shamelessly juvenile plot, hammy acting, and especially
the bush league special effects. There's just something
so precious about being able to make out the acetate in
the background during space-fight scenes.
Admittedly, there are some pretty blatant 'tributes' to
George Lucas -- he actually sued Battlestar's producers
for ripping off Star Wars. But plagiarism aside,
nothing can diminish the pleasure of watching Dirk Benedict
prance around as the not-so-suave Lieutenant Starbuck
-- that's right, the man's name is Starbuck. Be sure to
pay special attention to the soundtrack -- the score's
composer, Stu Philips, also did the music for Knightrider.
Bookmark this one a steamy summer evening when you can't
live without a guilty pleasure.
-- Carla Sparks
BOOK
FABULOUS
SMALL JEWS
Joseph Epstein
Houghton Mifflin, 2003
This delicious collection of 18
short stories about the Chicago Jewish experience delves
beautifully into the human psyche, as few modern day
authors are capable of doing. The book collects several
stories published over the last 10 years in magazines
like Commentary and The New Yorker. Reading
them again and seeing how undated and incisive they
remain makes me want to rush out and read more from
Epstein's literary output.
Some of the stories centre on single old men, often
bachelors, who bring an understanding of the human condition
to the printed word. In my absolute favourite story,
Don Juan Zimmerman falls too late for his idolized high
school classmate. What attracts him, he realizes is
the difficult life she's had -- first she was divorced,
then widowed and finally she lost her only child. Until
then he had let life lead him onwards without feeling
any urgency to need or want anything. The sad ending
just makes you want to cry.
Mistresses and feminists are pervasive presences throughout
the book, especially in "Postcards," in which
a middle aged genius and failed poet is caught sending
out cultural criticisms. When the feminist who finds
him out finally meets him, the first thing she asks
is "When did you first discover that you were a
maniac?"
Another very touching story, "Saturday Afternoon
at the Zoo with Dad," is the poignant tale of a
divorced father who has removed himself out of his little
children's lives to make it 'easier' -- but the story
raises the question, easier for who?
For those who've never heard of Joseph Epstein, the
collection's title might not attract them to pick it
up. In this case, judging a book by its cover would
mean missing out on one of the top all time short story
writers of our day.
-- Dr Markus Martin
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