HURRAH AND KUDOS ****************************************

...To PoolMan, who has been officially promoted to Mutant Reviewer status.
In addition to his reviewing duties, PoolMan is in charge of a new area of
our site, POOLMAN'S PICKS.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Studio/3070/

Here you'll find links to movie resources, cult movie pages, and PoolMan's
Pick of the Week.  PoolMan is drunk with ecstacy, but we expect him to
come down from the ceiling within the week.

LET THE VOTING BEGIN! ***************************************

The 2nd Annual Mutant Awards page is completed, and although the polls
don't officially open until May 1st, we would like to extend the
invitation to you, the Mailing List Buddy, to come cast your votes early.

The 2nd Annual Mutant Awards is at:
http://www.geocities.com/~aral/rma2.html

THE REVIEWS MARCH ON ****************************************

JUSTIN: Animal House, Remo Williams, Jack Frost, Sixteen Candles
POOLMAN: Princess Bride
MARK: Animal House            

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, AN OLD THRILL ************************
by PoolMan

Greeting, Mutants!

     Too often today, in looking at our own reviews here at the MRFH, or
looking at the more 'serious' or current websites, there are far too many
new movies hitting the theatres that no one can truly fathom a reason for.
(I drove by a local theater the other day, and had to shake my head at the
thought of actually paying to see Dom Deluise and a bunch of CG enhanced
children in "Baby Geniuses".)  The theaters of the nineties have become
slums, where movies with no substance, heart, or intelligence constantly
flow in and out of our field of vision, every one of them laughably trying
to gather up our underrated dollar.
Do you feel comfortable paying up to $10 (or even more) for these films?

     But we are finally once again at a fortunate time in moviegoing
existence. For the first time in 16 years, the collective fans of the
world's most famous movie are poised at the edge of something great,
something rare.  In the fantasy realm, there are only a handful of truly
great movies (in this reviewer's humble opinion).  Movies that make you
smile with the memory, and feel like old friends.  The kind you pull off
the video shelf, dust off, and just pop into the VCR with a bowl of
popcorn.  Who didn't love it when Indiana Jones shot the
swordsman?  Who can't help but laugh at the thought of the Ghostbusters
marshmallow man?  Truly, is there anything finer than a good cult film?
In the world of fantasy and sci-fi, these stand out as great works,
timeless in their approach, sharp in their delivery, and fun in their
viewing.

     And then there's Star Wars.

     George Lucas' stellar creation is truly unique.  It is cult embodied.
There are people all over the world (myself included) who can recite all
three of the classic movies line for line.  Some of us have gone to the
trouble of memorizing facts about Star Wars from outside the movies (ie.
books) that no ordinary mortal should know... where is Nien Nunb from?
What's special about Wookiee paws?  What product is mined at Lando's Cloud
City?  What was it for? Sad as it makes me look that I know that kind of
stuff, I'm hardly alone.

     When was the last time you truly wanted to see something in the
theater?  I don't mean that kind of "well, let's go catch it before it
ends up in Justin's video collection, I guess" humdrum feeling.  I mean
you want to see this.  You need to see it.  It's an event.  It's a
cultural signpost.  For me, the last time was the rerelease of the edited
Star Wars Trilogy.  And it's happening again with the Phantom Menace.
Much to my delight, it's finally happening again.

     I'm a movie lover, but I'm not a theater enthusiast.  I like tapes.
I like the comfort of my own home, the company of my friends, and the fact
that I don't have to break the bank to watch a video.  But this is
different.  I want to hear the roars of unhappy aliens.  I want to feel my
seat shake as some hulky star cruiser goes shooting by.  I want my
fillings to work their way out of my teeth in sync with the hum of the
lightsabers.  I must see the Phantom Menace in
theater, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure I do so.  (Note: I
have NO obsession to see it opening day, or even week.  I will not camp
out to see it, as I happen to like showering.)

     If you need to ask why, send me the address of the rock you've been
living under; I may be able to prepare a fruit basket welcoming you to the
real world. Star Wars, while an initially simple story of downtrodden
heroes fighting an impossible foe, has become a wonderfully twisted story
of tyranny, family, love, vendetta, and honour.  What grew from the
initial "save the princess from the
black knight" fairy tale became a genuinely entertaining, painstakingly
crafted world of wonder.  Characters you laughed at, empathized with, and
ultimately, wanted to win the battle.  Fantastic.

     And now, the new movies pit the villain of the future as the young
hero of the day.  The Phantom Menace includes a young Darth Vader in the
early days of his life.  We will also be treated to earlier views of Yoda,
the droids, and, I'm very sure, more of our favourite characters.  With
twists and in jokes sure to tickle any true fan's fancy, the "new" trilogy
of the original stories is sure to delight a new generation of fans.

     And I intend to be one of them.  I will be there for New Hope, and
and Old Thrill.