In-your-face. American Pie, like American History X, is bold, frank and highly explicit. But not course, the 2 films are in totally different leagues. It is a tale about 4 high school boys trying to get laid before college and sadly, nothing else. No subplots, flat characters and sadly lame. Unlike Can't Hardly Wait and She's All That, Pie is not bothered with wholesome romance. Candid displays of teenage hormonal surges pretty much rule the movie. Crude jokes and gross talk with lots of off-the-head humour, Pie is as loud as it comes. Despite it all, the movie manages to evoke many good laughs and serious fun. For teen flick fans, you are in for some major chuckles. Just do not expect much else.


VARSITY BLUES

Feel good and wholesome, Varsity Blues is the antithesis of American Pie. James Van Der Beek of teen hit series Dawson's Creek plays the under-rated and over-shadowed quarterback of his high school football team. He gets a shot and taste of fame when the captain injures himself and he takes over. This fine drama, featuring veteran actor Jon Voight is more an adult drama with a teen cast than a flick with an old cast member. What's worth fighting for and the struggles of growing up are tackled tastefully without the cliches or stereotypes. James, with his Texas accent, is fitting for the lead while Voight is amazing as usual. When he acts bad, you really want to throw a fist in his face. The supporting cast, including the beautiful Amy Smart who plays James' all-so-right girlfriend and Ron Lester who is the likeable huge footballer, is complimentary and well characterized. With enough angst and triumph, this low-key cosy movie is a refreshing change from the manufactured teenage flicks churned with the flavour-of-the-season faces. Give me Varsity Blues over American Pie anytime. If you enjoy movies such as Luke Perry's 8 Seconds or heart-warming teen dramas without the sleek vanish or glossy coasting, you should enjoy this one. Check out the equally fine soundtrack with tracks from Van Halen, Third Eye Blind, Green Day and Collective Soul among others.


MYSTERY MEN

Flashy, tacky and silly, Mystery Men is a nightmare come true. Acclaim actors such as William H. Macy (Pleasantville), Geoffrey Rush (Shakespeare In Love), Hank Azaria (The Birdcage), and comic talents Ben Stiller (There's Something About Mary) and Janeane Garofalo (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion) are hugely disappointing by starring in this disaster movie of the year. The plot is lame, so is the movie, and the jokes are grossly corny with little to chew on. Did I mention how grotesque the visuals are with the kaleidoscope of loud in-your-face colours thrown all over the bulky sets and gaudy costumes? I'm sure glad I caught this in a test screening. Paying for it would have been most regretful. What's worse, the movie lasts longer than a usual slapstick flick at over 2 hours.


BROKEDOWN PALACE

Claire Danes Juliet is powerful as the girl framed for drug-trafficking alongside her equally beautiful childhood friend played by Kate Beckinsale. Their performance made the mediocre film more than watchable. Hardly a dull moment in the whole movie, we follow the 2 girls on their to Thailand and through the mess involving the authorites there. Nothing spectacular but definitely worth a ticket price, Brokedown Palace is a young tourist's horror come true.


THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR

A classier Entrapment is how I can best describe this remake. 45 year-old Rene Russo (Outbreak) plays the role Faye Dunaway did and the latter guest stars as the shrink of the suave mystery man (Nothing of the movie Mystery Men sort) who is 007 himself, Pierce Brosnan. Art Museum, crooks, double-id, lust, romance... you get the drift. The film has some poor camera work, a mediocre plot and good casting. The pace of the film should bore most of the audience but it still remains watchable with all thanks to the leads' chemistry. And if you're lucky, you'll get to witness one of the raunchiest sex scenes in Hollywood history. This film promises no surprises and is frankly, overhyped.


EYES WIDE SHUT

The most mysterious film in Hollywood starring the biggest star couple and directed by the late respected genius Stanley Kubrick (The Shining) has won over critics and lost commercial appeal in spite of all the correct ingredients for a blockbuster hype. This film is straight forward and surprisingly comprehensible. The plot is one of a kind, good, not one of a kind bad. The cast is brilliant as expected and the direction is apt- a fresh change. The soundtrack is highly effective despite the use of only a key on the piano at many times. So the verdict of the film?

I thoroughly enjoyed the last film of Kubrick. I must admit that the star power played an important role and that the film is a tad bit long but on a whole, it was a most stimulating ride. The techiques and lighting and blue filters certainly added style and class to the seemingly simple film. The wonder lies in the wealth of emotions and thoughts evoked from the simplicity of plot. I believe that most people attempting to catch this film with the correct frame of mind and the right attitude would reap as much as I did. The slow pace and long dialogues can draw intensity and suspense; this alone is reason enough to experience the sexual thriller. The performances are the best yet coming from the good-looking leads.