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and The Matrix. No mercy. No shame. No sequel Starring Carmen Electra. Shannon Elizabeth, Li’l Kim, Cheri Oteri and a the rest ot the Wayans brothers. Opens Friday. SHAFT (R) Samuel L. Jackson is a tough, smart-mouth New York detective in director John Singleton's stylish update on the 1971 ‘blaxploitation* classic. The film maintains a cool, gritty style similar to the original and touches on serious social issues. However, it loses its balance somewhat along the way and almost stumbles over its numerous implausibilities and over-the- top violence. The story mostly follows the wide-eyed, goateed detective as he investigates a brutal, racially-motivated murder, keens tabs on the killer and confronts the unfairness entrenched in the justice system. Jackson delivers a surprisingly smooth performance, even it his bug-eyed ‘bad mutha’ delivery is starting lo look a bit stale. With Christian Bale. Jeffrey Wright. Toni Collette, Busta Rhymes, Vanessa Williams. Dan Hedaya and Lee Tergeren. Featuring music from Isaac Hayes. (Beech wood, Carmike) UTAH A.E. (PG-13) Computer-gener ated animation meets comic hook sci-fi in this visually impressive action-drama from directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. After Earth is destroyed by the attack ol the Drej—an evil alien race that fears the intelligence ol humans— in 3028, a pack of human heroes use a map that shows the way to a mysterious ‘earthship’ called The Titan that may hold the key to saving mankind from a terrible fate. Featuring the voices ol Mat Damon. Bill Pullman, Hank Azaria. Drew Barrymore. Jim Breuer, Janeane Garofalo, Nathan Lane, John Leguizamo and Lena Olin. (Beechwood. Carmike) 28 DAYS (PG-13) Sandra Bullock plays a heavy-drinkin', pill-poppin' party girl who gets sentenced to 28 days at a drug and alcohol rehab center in this ligLtweight drama. The film tries to examine specific peculiarities of addic tion, denial and dependency while maintaining an exaggerated ‘cute’ vibe. (Mall) MOVIE PICK PATRIOTIC GORE THE PATRIOT (R) This grand, sentimental Revolutionary War epic never quite digs its boots into the ideas of "patriotism" and "liberty" and what they meant to the cause of the Continental Army, but it certainly depicts the nature of the struggle and the look of the times. Filled with powerful performances, expansive, scenic pho tography and a handful of realistically brutal battle scenes. The Patriot is moving, disturbing and complicated. It almost caves in from the weight of attempting too much, however, and ixpects its audience to have already brushed up heavily on Colonial history. Mel Gibson leads the cast in an effective per formance as Benjamin Martin, a South Carolina farmer living inland off the Santee River. Very loosely based on the reaHife Francis Marion- known as 'The Swamp Fox" for his cunning guerrilla-type tactics—Benjamin is a loyal, stem family man with a mysterious past (involving a famous battle during the previous French and Indian Wars). "I have long feared that ay sins will come to visit me and that the costs will be more than I can bear," he lets us know early in the film This story begins in early 1776 as the Colonies are about to draft a Declaration of Independence and dive into war against King George Hi's well-organized Redcoat army. Benjamin resists the urge to go to war; he's seen enough bloodshed and aims his concerns at his family rather than at the cause of the newly forming nation. Tm a parent. I haven't got the luxury of principles," he announces at a state delegation summit. Benjamin's eldest son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger, showing impressive range after the teen flick 10 Things I Hate About You), is determined to fight for the cause, however. He registers for service against his father's wishes and promptly marches off to war. The story turns sharply after the film's vil lain, the sinister, sneering British Col. William Tavington (Jason Isaacs), anives on the scene ^t Benjamin's farmhouse and wreaks havoc. Benjamin's reaction sets off the first of several shocking and well-shot combat scenes. Think Eraveheart and Gladiator with a splattering of Saving Private Ryan. No coincidence there, as both Ryan and The Patriot were written by Robert Rodat. Immediately afterward, Benjamin hides and assembles a small, ragtag band of fellow "militi amen." The gang uses steaithy tactics to aggra vate the armies of Tavington and foppish British Gen. Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson)—a leader who conducts "perfect campaigns" and promotes a "gentlemanly" conduct between opponents. Benjamin and his militia know that old-school warfare—"going musket to musket with the British army''—would be suicide, so they opt for a sneaky hit-and-run approach, forever popping up from behind trees, bridges and com fields to pick off a few dozen Redcoats at a time. The massive battle scenes show men and horses, entrenched in muddy, bloody sword fights and face to face shootouts (reminder: it takes a few minutes to reload a pistol or musket after just one shot). The scenes are well-staged by director Roland Emmerich (Godzilla, Independence Day). Unfortunately, Emmerich mishandles much of the rest of the story. Benjamin is a flawed man with heroic qualities, but the balance between his ruthlessness, his supposed patriotism and his devotion to his children is shaky. Other side plots touch on such issues as slavery, disloyalty, religious conviction, war crime and the pursuit of liberty, but never fully examine any of them. Two romantic subplots go nowhere. Audiences may be confused or even bored by all the sentimental silliness, but they will be riv eted by the violent battle scenes. Historians may argue over a few details, but most moviegoers will be captivated. Ballard Lescmann CITY BAR Where the Drinks Don’t Taste Like Ass * HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY 4-1 $1 Domestic Beers ;■ Every Monday $2.00 Draft Bass, Guinness, Newcastle, Homsbv Cider & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale ’ HAPPY HOUR: MON-SAT 5-8 $1,50 Well Drinks and Domestic Beer 220 College Avenue Downtown • 546-7612 HAVE YOU SEEN ME? You Won’t At im.P©RT DIAGN@STICS K21 M www.importd.com Import Specialist of Downtown Athens Concerned Maintenance and Repair of Fine Swedish, German and Japanese Aufcs 945 College Ave. 543.7982 RECONNECT ^ PAGERS FOR ONLY \ $5.00 + AIRTIME • Free Pagers: Activation Required v • Pre-Paid Cellular Including 60 Minutes ALLSOUTH Communications, Inc. 954 N. 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