Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Vol. 39, Issue 8


Volume 39, Issue 8. Today is .

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Volume 39, Issue 8
January 15, 2002

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Winter movie previews promise wicked villains, noble heroes

Mesa Legend

Movie producers are beginning the new year with a series of adventure-based movies, stirring together the perfect ingredients to produce a hit movie.

Good vs. Evil, love that must be sacrificed and even man vs. beast, seem to be recurring themes for the newest releases of 2002.

Up-and-coming actors Josh Hartnett ("Pearl Harbor") and Jim Caviezel ("Angel Eyes"), take center stage at the box office while Christophe Gans, director of "Brotherhood of the Wolf," might obtain crossover appeal from a French audience to an American one.

Audiences can look forward to a steady intake of patriotism from "Black Hawk Down," and a substantial amount of sword play from "Count of Monte Cristo" as well as "Brotherhood of the Wolf."

Mostly, however, spectators can rely on plenty of worthy escapism.

"Brotherhood of the Wolf"

In a rural province of France, a mysterious creature is terrorizing the countryside, savagely killing scores of women and children. Desperate to end the growing unrest of the populace, King Louis XV sends in a renowned scientist and his Iroquois blood brother, a team which may finally bring the beast down.

French actor Samuel Le Bihan stars as the young scientist investigating the murders.

Directed by Cristophe Gans, "Brotherhood of the Wolf" opens Jan. 18.

"Black Hawk Down"

From director Ridley Scott, whose film credits include "Gladiator" and "Alien," comes the true story of a group of elite U.S. soldiers sent to Somalia in October 1993 to abduct two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord. But when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down and the country’s inhabitants turn against them, the soldiers remain trapped and wounded until they can be rescued.

Josh Hartnett stars as the idealistic young Ranger, Staff Sgt. Matt Eversmann, along with actors, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Jeremy Piven. "Black Hawk Down" opens nationwide on Jan. 18.

"The Count of Monte Cristo"

Alexander Dumas' tale of betrayal and revenge comes to the big screen this Spring, recounting the story of Edmond Dantes, a young sailor whose peaceful life is shattered when his best friend, Fernand, sets him up to be unlawfully sentenced to prison in order to marry Edmond's fiancee, Mercedes.

After 13 years trapped on an island prison, Edmond escapes with the help of an equally innocent inmate and transforms himself into a mysterious and wealthy Count. With cunning ruthlessness, he makes his way into French nobility and sytematically destroys the men who betrayed him.

Jim Caviezel plays Edmond Dantes opposite Guy Pearce as Fernand. "The Count of Monte Cristo" hits theaters Feb. 1.