- -------- ----- :. a " - ; r t 'i 'r ; " Trek engages new 'Generation' 'Next Generation' hits the big screen, Shatner boldly grows. By FRED RICE So cut the transwarp drive. Go to impulse power. The latest entry to the popular sci-fi saga should have checked its antimatter-matter containment field. No doubt, it has the difficult task of Star Trek: Generations Directed by David Carso with Patrick Stewart and William Shatner being a transitional movie, (Picard re- places Kirk) but it tries to do too much and does it too slowly. At the crux of the whole adventure is a dastardly scientist (Malcolm McDowell) who is plotting to destroy a solar system so that he can live for eternity in the Nexus, a sort of time warp. Naturally, he's involved with some renegade Klingons who want to reclaim their empire, so it's up to the crew of the Enterprise to stop them all. This would make for a great Star Trek flick, but Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga's script throws in too many subplots. First, there's the subplot with Cap- tain Kirk (William Shatner) who has retired, but has to go on one last rescue missionon the EnterpriseB. Then there are the "character development" sub- plots (eighty years later) with the an- droid Data (Brent Spinner) who gets an emotion chip and Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) who suffers due to a death in his family. Of course, the exposition is what sets apart the new TV series from the old one. All of the characters on "The Next Generation"'s bridge are fleshed out, not just the Federation of Planets triumvirate -- the captain, the doctor and the guy with the funny ears. But details like these have to be covered quickly in an adventure flick. Besides, most people who are go- ing to see this film already have seen at leastseveralofthe TVepisodes. There's no need to waste time introducing ev- erybody. It could be said that "Genera- tions" breaks an unwritten adventure commandment: At no moment shall you plod at the pace of "The Godfather III." But if you are a veteran fan of the long running TV series, none of this will matter to you. To watch your fa- vorite characters have fun perambulat- ing for their first time on the big screen should be sufficient. The adventure does eventually get going. The two former Shakespearean ac- tors McDowell and Stewart exchange Although his role is limited, the gutsier Captain Kirk still has his macho moments of glory. Sadly, his movements look less believable then usual, with Shatner packing an increasingly huge amount of weight around the waist. some dialogue as well as punches. This is rather unexpected from Stewart's Captain Picard. In the series, he was more of a philosophical captain that rarely left his starship. Hopefully this is the start of a new trend. Although his role is limited, the gutsier Captain Kirk still has his macho moments of glory. Sadly, his move- ments look less believable then usual, Hoo boy! Look at that Patrick Stewart, sexy as ever as Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: Generations." r--- 41, with Shatner packing an increasingly huge amountof weight aroundthe waist. The subplot with Data's emotion chip doesn't totally drag things down; it gets rather funny in some places, especially with his song about life forms and his imitation of Captain Picard. The rest of the crew has its mo- ments too, although not as extensive as Data's. Riker is still suave and dapper. Deana still responds sensitively to whatever vibes she receives. Worf still maintains an excruciating standard of honor. Jordi and Dr. Crusher play their parts well. Industrial, Lights and Magic also deserves honorable mention. Without the awesome special effects that this company delivers, there would be no Star Trek movies. If you ever won- dered if a galaxy class starship had a landing gear. this movie has the defini- tive answer. While this is not a spectacular en- try, there is a promising future for the new movie crew. Historically, the even numbered Star Trek films have been good while the odd numbered ones have been not so good. "Generations" is technically "Star Trek 7." Stay tuned for part eight. STAR TREK GENERATTONSis- playing at Briarwood and Showcase. Women's Glee Club looks toward the future at Hilt By EMILY LAMBERT Many memorable things have hap- pened in 1994. The Israelis and the Palestinians moved closer towards peace. The Republicans gained a ma- jority in the House and Senate. And, after this Saturday, the University Women's Glee Club will have per- formed a complete concert in Hill Au- ditorium. In past years, the Women's Glee Club crowded onto the stage of Rackham Auditorium for concerts. The women aren't expecting to fill every seatin Hill, a significantly larger space, butas Glee Club member Bo Lee put it, "It's a first step." Lee, anLSA sophomore andamem- ber of the Glee Club Executive Board, is thrilled with this year's group. As a first-year student, Lee noticed a small blurb about Glee Club auditions in her orientation handbook. This year, she helped to plaster the campus with post- ers announcing the event. The cam- paign was successful, and the turnout for fall auditions was great. "We were able to be selective, and the women we have this year are abso- lutely fabulous," said Lee.This year, more women auditioned for Women's Glee Club than men auditioned for Men's Glee Club. Despite this, the women still feel that they lag behind the Men's GleeClub in terms of money and acknowledgment. "We know that musically we're strong," Lee said. "We're just as good as the Men's Glee Club." The Women's Glee Club was founded in the late 1890s, but disap- peared for several decades. Restarted in 1976, the student-run choir now consists of approximately 65 enthusi- astic members. The group is under the direction of Theodore Morrison, pro- fessor and co-director of choirs at the School of Music. Morrison selects mu- sic and runs rehearsals. All other re- sponsibilities are delegated to the stu- dents. The Glee Club has an executive board, consisting of a president, two vice presidents and two business man- agers. The women in Glee Club study a variety of subjects, and only one singer is enrolled in the School of Music. "It's more like a forum for people who aren't in the School of Music to express their love of music," said Lee of the chorus. Yet Lee shuddered to think that a chorus composed of non- music majors implied one without musicians. "Our musicianship is amaz- ing. The women this year are very Daily Arts sez: Read a Wlliam Shatnernovel. EMMAUS VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 10 minutes south of 1-94 and Us-23 talented." Hill debut, the choir plans to trek across the Midwest this May, making their.. first tour in several years. Y. Lee is optimistic that the future will continue to be favorable. "I think this year is a turning point for the Women's <. Glee Club. 1n past years, they concen- trated on the present. This year we're looking towards the future." THE MCIHGAN WOMEV' GLEE CLUB will present its Annual Fall Concert Saturday, November 19, at 8 *.. p.m. in Hill Auditorium. Tickets are $4 and $8, and are available at the door orfrom the Hill Auditorium Box Office. Call 764-8350 formore information. Women's Glee Club practices for their big night. DOUGLAS KANTER/Dal Palace Brothers are crown princes of indie rock Enjoy traditional Indian dancing and music in our Raas/Garba/Bhangra on Friday, November 18, 1994 Michigan Union Pendleton Room 9:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M Tickets are $3.00 available at the Union Ticket Master and from HSC members For more info please call Rajeshri Gandhi at 764-0676 By HEATHER PHARES The Palace Brothers show at the Blind Pig Wednesday night offered a very mixed bag of modern rock. Plush and Apollo 9 garnered an ambivalent' vftc.t. AUVI ANN ARBOR YPSILANTI i"194 / Z c.,J CARPENTER EXIT W HURD Ken Wilson, Pastor 424 HURD MILAN 973-6910 439-2400 Christ-Centered Contemporary Music Sunday School & Nursery Paace Brothers The Blind Pig November 16, 1994 Sponsored by Hindu Students Council SUDA' ERIE 0A.M reception at best; the long, unfamiliar sets they played, coupled with the long waits in-between made the crowd im- patient and anxious to see the "indie rock with a country flair" that the Pal- ace Brothers are becoming famous for. Apollo 9 were first on the bill. De- spite the marginally cool name, their brand of college rock failed to connect with the preternaturally bored audi- ence. A generically jangly guitar here and a nondescript vocal there from the band (or is it bland?) made the Guns'n' Roses pinball game downstairs that much more enticing. Welcome to the, jungle, baby! Next up were Plush. A small crowd gathered to watch the band, much to their misfortune: the first song by this mellow, bluesy band didn't really go anywhere. Neither did the second.Nor the third, for that matter. By the sixth song people were actually falling asleep; all the nodding heads and closed eyes showed that the crowd was defi- nitely knocked out by the band - but in the wrong way. "I don't like this stuff when Alex Chilton does it, and I sure don't like it now," muttered one disgruntled concertgoer. "I wish Ihad asquirtgun!" laughed another. Unfortunately for the band, the only emotions Plush's "moody" music provoked were bore- dom and hilarity. Unfortunately for the audience, the band continued to make them snicker and snore for what seemed like an eternity. When it was finally over, people had to be nudged awake. Butthe stalwarts who stoodin place for Palace Brothers were not disap- pointed. Will Oldham and the rest of the band tore into their set, which in- cluded much of the first album and their newest, "Palace" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Minstrel Boy." The Pal- ace Brothers sound surprisingly ful and rich onstage; the band's perfo mances fleshed out the stark, skeletal beauty of the songs as they sound on the albums. The shambling structure ofthe songs and Oldham's creaky, antiqued voice were definitely the focus of the show, however. On both the quieter, pensive songs and thelouder, more rocking songs, the Palace Brothers were in complete co trol of their performance. "It all seems very calculated," complained one indie geek. Even so, that didn't stop him from watching indieroyalty make good at the Pig. Inspired by the likes of Dylan, Young, Gram Parsons and even cooler- than-ever Tom Petty, Palace Brothers show that country and folk-influenced rock can wear the crown of indie famel g10 A CLEAN BREAK PRODUCTIONS presents HOSTED BY TOM ARNOLD FEATURING THREE COMICS FROM AROUND THE NATION -._ MII