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familiar these days (She sees dead people, but not. lei us hope, Bruce Willis.) Opens Friday. (Beechwood, Carmike) X-MEN (PG-13) Based on the popular Marvel Comics series, director Bryan Singer's (The Usual Suspects) film is an entertaining but slightly unbalanced first entry in what is certain to become a sci- ti/superhero franchise. The movie spends a lol of time introducing its audi ence to each character and otters more than a few heavy-handed thematic over tures to the Holocaust, human evolution, and Neo-McCarthyism. The two main characters (out of the dozen or so) are misfit ‘mutants'—‘superior’ humans who. for some reason or other, have obtained and harnessed special powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, extraordi nary physical strength or more violent talents. At the center ot the story are two misfits: Rogue (Anna Paquin of The Piano, She$ All That) is a contused young woman afraid of her powers to absorb the memories and healing powers of others by touch; Wolverine (newcomer Hugh Jackman, looking very “Dirty Harry’) is a tough guy with a com plicated past, keen senses and a skeleton enhanced by unbreakable metai. The gowiuys, led by Prolessor X (Patrick StelS), include Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Cyclops (James Marsden), and Storm (Halle ‘Hit-And-Run* Berry). The villains—also mutants- are led by Professor XS old triend-turned-tiend Magneto (Ian McKellan), and include Toad (Ray Park), Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos). Whew. The plot follows the X-Men as they try to thwart Magneto'S attempt to take over the world during a UN summit on Ellis Island. Although much ol the script is smart and brisk with tew corny one-liners anu the story gradually builds great intensity, the final scenes are a bit anticlimactic and riddled with lame fight sequences. Fans of the series will love this. Others may frown in confusion. (Beech wood, Carmike) MOVIE PICK A Piedmont ATHENS CENTER Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree In: Business Administration Psychology • Sociology Mass Communication • Education Complete Your Master’s Degree ln ; Education • Public Administration 325 M I LI,EDGE • (706)548*2022 t&e uorm Me The Art of ColectiNes from the 50s,60s & 70's! gift certificates cvoDotte New shipment coming soon. We're cooking up sometning special for your home! 9A0 W. Brood St. #2 • Mon-Sot llom-5pm 70€ J53J299 • crtwormbeAsoutfi-oet • see us on eooy ATLFEST SENDS ITS BEST For 24 years, the Atlanta-based IMAGE Film & Video Center has focused its efforts on unearthing and presenting the best in cutting edge, critically-acclaimed independent films. This year's 24th Annual Atlanta Film & Video Festival, held for eight consecutive days starting on May 13, offered 120 animated, narrative, experimental, student and documentary works shown at key locations throughout metro Atlanta and 13 educational panel discussions with guest appearances by filmmakers, video artists, actors and media professionals from around the world. This year the Atlanta Film & Video Festival received over 600 films and videos for consider ation—more than any previous year. After being selected for gen eral screening, 50 films were selected for com petition screening in front of a panel of four judges from the film and video community, including: Khr. Adelman, content editor for SHORT (formerly Short Cinema Journal), the acclaimed series of short film collections on DVD; Stephen Gallagher, publisher of Filmmaker; Tony Murphy, Festival Director for the Urbanworld International Film Festival; and Cauleen Smith, director of the film Drysolong playing at this year's AFVF. The film won the Silver Armadillo at the 1999 South by Southwest Film Festival. For the first time, the AFVF will present its "best of" program at the Flicker Theatre & Bar in downtown Athens. "The Best Of The Atlanta Film And Video Festival" is a 100-minute program including documen tary, animated, experi mental and short nar rative works. "We've never done anything at Flicker and we're really happy to be working with them this week," says festival co-director Brian Newman, who returned to Atlanta this year after working for years marketing independent feature films in New York. "We'll be there two nights in a row, and, despite the hot weather, it should be a lot of tun for everyone " Among the rive featured works or this yeai s Lr?t *T nrooram, Athens movteaoets should aaliv raise a cheer for hometown filrnmaxer Walkers awaiu- winning My Big s.ear:. 'V.vmar. commented o:. .1/ nimr added that he and the rest of the IMAGE crew may bring a few extra surprises, including addi tional animated films and spoofs. Moonshine (6 min.): A brief look at the craft of an old-school North Carolina bootlegger. Directed by Kelly Riley. "A great short film about a moonshiner who lives in the hills where North Carolina and Georgia meet. It's not patronizing in any way. It's upbeat and fun; a slice of mountain life. Riley came down and got to know the guy really well. The film shows how he makes the stuff and how the guy supports himself." < Mister Smile (9 min.): Twelve characters living in an apartment building try to amuse themselves. Directed by Fran Krause. "Saying much about it would give it away. It's a weird twist on the 'Happy Face.' The animation is humorous and in a sort of minimal line drawing style." V Crush (26 min.): A short coming-of-age film. Directed by Phillip Bartell. "This one got a great feedback during our 'Boys Next Door' program this year. It's about a 12-year-old girl in Illinois who develops a crush and falls madly in love with a boy who is 16 years old, then finds out he's gay. It's about her coming to terms with that. It's a cute film, but it's not as madcap as Mister Smile." 186 Days (20 min.): A Southern fairy tale type film about a wicked stepmother, a young girl and her suitor. Directed by Tom Smugala. "This is definitely one of my favorites from the festival. It has an experimental feel to it and is beautifully shot." My Big Heart (5 min.): Fxpenmental piece about an out-of-contTol heart. Directed by Jeff Walker. 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