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•Entertainment extra • 6/5Z98 thu B/ii/98 ’'
Lifestyle extras
PEIA WILSON: NIKITA—AMRS.
PEEL FOR OURRMES
by Sally Stone
Peta Wilson, the Australian-bom
star of USA Network’s hit series, “La
Femme Nikita,” smiled when told her
character, Nikita, has become a 'role
model, for women.
’“That’s nice to hear,” she said. “But
it certainly wasn’t what I expected to
happen with her when the series start
ed. I thought, well, she’s an interest
ing character, and I hoped, along with
everyone else on the show, that people
would like her and like the show, and
that we would get respectable rat
ings.”
As it turned out, “La Femme
Nikita” is getting phenomenal ratings,
and could eventually reach cult status
a la "The Avengers” when Diana Rigg
played the cat-suited Mrs. Peel who
never met a villain she couldn’t take
out with one of her well-placed kung
fu moves.
And speaking of Mrs. Peel, she and
Nikita appear to have many things in
common: Both work for super-secret
government agencies . Both women
are resourceful. And both women are
beautiful, with a certain feline sexual
ity that may promise purring pleasure,
but watch out for the unsheathed
claws.
As much as women admired Diana
Rigg’s Mrs. Peel, the times were not
yet right for her to become a role
model for her generation. But it’s dif
ferent with Nikita.
“I think that’s because we are final
ly accepting women on a more equal
basis,” Peta said. “While there are still
those who think women should not be
aggressive, should not be involved in
situations where they may have to kill,
the fact is women have always had to
defend themselves in real life. There
by Mickey Greene
GODZILLA: I must admit my
fondness for the original rendering of
this flick. Bad dubbing and all, it was
breathtaking watching Godzilla trash
Tokyo. And Raymond Burr, dolefully
giving the narrative, touched just the
right emotional tone. However, now
it’s time to forget Tokyo. This Godzilla
Has moved uptown —way uptown
to Manhattan.
A blinding flash of white light fills
the sky above the French Polynesian
islands. The Pacific Ocean chums,
engulfing a supertanker with wicked
eGtinf ■fbotatepa'plow M ‘
path through milas.*,pC
anion
■ ■
wasn’t always some white knight to
ride out of the woods to defend a
damsel in distress.
“Os course, I don’t think women
would necessarily want to do what
Nikita does, but I do think they like
the fact that she is a strong person
who can stand up for herself. And I
also think they like the fact that while
there are some things she must do if
she is to survive, she will not
exchange her soul for survival.”
Peta added, “In the 19505, there
were characters played by actors such
as Steve McQueen who expressed the
feelings of the young men of that
time. Perhaps Nikita is doing the
same thing in the ‘9os for young
women.”
In the series, Nikita has been aban
doned by her parents and is framed
for a murder for which she is sen
tenced to death. But before she can be
executed, she is “recruited” by
Section 1— called in the series, sim
ply SECTION —a government
agency so secret, only a few know of
its existence. They fight against ter
rorists, and aren’t above using ruth
lesstactics themselves, even against
inuvic iwvmw
Ships off the U.S. coasts ‘capsize,
dragged into an inexplicably roiling
sea where they are instantly demol
ished. This incessant, inexplicable
destruction is heading toward a small,
densely populated island called
Manhattan.
Far away, nuclear scientist Nick
Tatopoulos (Matthew Broderick) is
ripped from his research for the great
est project of his life to help the
United States track the beast behind
these mysterious disasters.
As Nick begins his investigation,
the enormous creature descends upon
New York City, causing complete
their own members who somehow
“slip up.” Nikita knows if she doesn’t
do what they expect her to do, she’ll
be “canceled,” Section’s euphemism
for killed.
“She will accept the fact that she
may have to do terrible things as part
of Section,” Peta says, “but she will
hang on to her humanity; she will
protect her capacity for compassion,
especially for those whom she
believes were unjustly killed. I think
women understand this, and that’s
why they react so positively to Nikita.
“A woman like Nikita tells other
women that we are capable of many
things. We have a great range and
much to aspire to. Because of cen
turies in which women have had to let
the men take the lead, women have
had to repress so much. Because she’s
now in a repressive situation, Nikita
also has to suppress much, but she
manages to express it in other ways.”
It’s interesting that Nikita was sup
posed to be changed by the people of
SECTION, but in holding on to her
humanity, is it possible she’ll change
them?
“I think,” Peta says, “that we all
influence each other to one degree or
another, of course. But as you’ll see
next season, she will find some way
to hold on to who she is without wast
ing her energy on people who have
determined they want to be unreach
able.”
Finally, would Peta Wilson want a
friend like Nikita?
“Oh, yes. She would be a very
good friend. And my grandmother
with whom I live would certainly
approve of her, and welcome her to
our home. And, as you know, “grans’
are remarkably wise about people.”
© 1998 King Features Synd., Inc
Roche, an enigmatic insurance investi
gator, assesses the destruction left in
the creature’s wake. While these par
ticipants have their own agendas, they
find they must join forces to unravel
the mystery behind the incredible crea
ture and stop it before it is too late.
Given the amount of time that’s
passed between the original film and
this remake, you can imagine how
much more high-tech the special
effects are. When Godzilla rampages
through the city, it’s astoundingly
realistic. The plot, as such, is so-so
and the acting is workable. What real
ly makes this movie is the hugeness of
the effects 'and Godzilla itself. Fans
won’t be disappointed.
1 €■ 1998 King Features Syndq her J
MUSK7MOVIE RAIINGS
Top Rhythm/Dance
1. Janet (Feat. Blackstreet) ‘1 Get Lonely” (Virgin) Last Week: No. 3
2. Mariah Carey “My Ali/Breakdown)’’ (Columbia) No. 1
3. Gloria Estefan “Heaven’s What I Feel” (Epic) New Entry
4. Boyz II Men “A Song For Mama” (Motown) No. 20
5. Jon B. They Don’t Know/Are U Still Down” (Yab Yum/550 Musk) No. 7
6. Tony Mascold “Where Do We Go From Here” (Modem Voices) No. 5
7. Playa “Cheers 2 U” (Def Jam/Mercury) No. 8
8. Beenie Man “Who Am F (2 Hard) No. 9
9. Master P Feat Sons Os Funk “Got The Hook Up!” (No Limit/Priority) No. 21
10. Fire Island Feat. Loletta Holloway “Shout To The Top” (JBO) New Entry
Top Ten Singles
1. Mariah Carey “My All” (Columbia) Last Week: No. 1
2. Janet (Feat. Blackstreet) T Get Lonely” New Entry
3. Xscape “The Arms Os The One Who Loves You” (So So Def/Columbia) No. 7
4. Gloria Estefan “Heaven’s What I Feel” (Epic) New Entry
5. Voices Os Theory “Say It” (Red Ant) No. 24
6. Next “Too Close” (Arista) No. 2 < (i
7. Backstreet Boys “Everybody” (Jive) No. 3
8. Jon B. “They Don’t Know” (Yab Yum/550 Music) No. 28
9. Mya & Sisqo “It’s All About Me” (Universal/Interscope) No. 4
10. LeAnn Rimes “Looking Through Your Eyes” (Curb) No. 9:
Top C&W Singles
1. Randy Titavis “Out Os My Bones" (Dreamworks) Last Week: No. 1
2. Steve Wanner “Holes In The Floor Os Heaven” (Capitol Nashville) No. 3
3. Tracy Byrd Tm From The Country” (MCA/Nashville) No. 2
4. George Strait T Just Want To Dance With You” (MCA) No. 4
5. Mark Wills “1 Do (Cherish You)” (Mercury) No. 12
6. Reba/Brooks & Dunn “If You See Him/If You See Her” (MCA
Nashville/Arista Nashville) No. 17 - <3
7. Garth Brooks ‘To Make You Feel My Love” (Capitol) No. 10
8. LeAnn Rimes “Commitment” (Curb) No. 8
9. Clint Black The Shoes You’re Wearing” (RCA) No. 18
10. Lonestar “Say When” (BNA) No. 23
Top Video Rentals
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2. Copland Sylvester Stallone (Buena Vista - R) No. 3
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4. Kiss The Giris Morgan Freeman (Paramount - R) No. 6
5. Boogie Nights Mark Wahlberg (Warner - R) No. 1
6.1 Know What You Did Last Summer (Columbia TriStar -R) No. 4
7. Flubber Robm Williams (Buena Vista - PG) No. 5
8. Red Comer Richard Gere (MGM/UA - R) Na 10
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10. Mouse Hunt Nathan Lane (Universal - PG) New Entry
11. Anastasia (Fox Video -G) No. 2(7
12. In & Out Kevin Kline (Paramount - PG-13) No. 7
13. Body Count David Caruso (PolyGram - R) New Entry
14. For Richer Or Poorer Tim Allen (Universal - PG) New Entry
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16. Seven Years In Tibet Brad Pitt (Columbia TriStar - PG-13) No. 11
17. The Edge Sir Anthony Hopkins (Fox Video - R) No. 14
18. The Ice Storm Kevin Kline (Fox Video - R) No. 17
19. Wee’s Gold Peter Fonda (MGM/UA - R) No. 18
20. Alien Resurrection Sigourney Weaver (Fox Video - R) New Entry
1. Godzilla starring Matthew Broderick
2. Bulworth Warren Beatty
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4. Deep Impact Robert Duvall
5. City of Angels Nicolas Cage
6. Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio
7. Les Miserabies Liam Neeson
8. Woo Jada Pinkett
9. The Big Hit Mark Wahlberg
ro?BlackDog Patrick Swayze • ‘