Page 12 — Pittsburgh Catholic, Friday, August 26, 1983 Entertainment Movie review

'‘M e ta lsto rm 9 a disaster A look at Fall shows "Metalstorm. The Destruction ol can only really wonder why there Jtred-Syn": A Char toe Band Film. are so many people going to R Jattray Byron...... Dogar movies? This was meant to be Kelly Preston...... Dhyana suitable for the family, but no Tim Thomaraon...... Rhodes family should be subjected to By JAMES BREIG when it is bought by a family. She appears only to Mika Preston...... Jsrad-Syn F R . P E T E R something made in such haste and The stores say “Back to School Sale." The the 14-year-old boy and helps him in his problems. Richard Moll...... Hurok HORTON poor taste. The audience deserves football teams say, “ We'll defend that goal "The Before her, he didn't have — all together now — a written by Alan AdlerIproduced by much better for the price of their hardware stores advertise their rakes. ghost of a chance. Charles Band and Alan Alder/Direc­ tickets, and “Metalstorm” fails to These are Autumn's precursors and among "F o r Love and Honor." I ’ll let the network tell ted by Charles Band/an Albert Band deliver anything salvageable. them is TV, saying, "Here are our new you about it — "The dreams, aspirations, International production!a “Metalstorm” is billed as being program s." So, for the next few columns. I'll be comedy-filled adventures and romantic intrigues Universal Picture Rated PQ tor "H igh Noon” at the end of the introducing the three commercial networks’ involving young male and female recruits of the soma graphic violence and action. universe. Believe me, the offerings to give you a preview of what they will crack 88th Airborne Division form the fabric of least. Kelly Preston is pure producers of “High Noon” should dangle to tempt you away from cable, pay-Tv and this series.” In other words, they ripped off By FR. PETER HORTON decoration, but at least she breaks sue for slander. “Metalstorm” is the other attractions for your eyes. “Officer and a Gentleman," Here we are again on a distant up the dull sets. The villain, Jared- not a “High Noon,” nor is it First up: NBC, which has been mired in third "Rousters." Stephen Cannell (one of my planet in some unknown galaxy in Syn, is a typical corrupt and evil anything even remotely connect­ place for so long it is becoming the Chicago Cubs favorite writer-producers for his work on an unknown era of time. The schemer, but the heroes are so ed to a classic. This film is simply of television. But N BC is gam bling a little, “Rockford Files’ and "The Greatest American planet could be any one of those hardened in toughness that they “3-D”: dumb, disgraceful! and renewing “Cheers" and "St. Elsewhere” from H ero” ) is in charge of this hour about the which make up our own galaxy, all begin to look the same. Once dull, another extravagant waste of last season, despite their weak ratings, in hopes descendents of Wyatt Earp. Who said there are no any one but earth, that is. The time you have seen all this, the only time, energy and money which an audience will catch up to them. more great series ideas left? Chad Everett — frame could be the past or the words that come to mind are, just might cause the final demise On the other hand, NBC isn’t totally noble, as remember him? — plays Earp III, the roustabout future, but no one really cares as “Why am I here?” for three-dimensional photogra­ witness such new programs as “Manimal." So for a carnival, “a job that keeps him in the middle past and present film plots are “Metalstorm” is a disaster, a phy. Then, come to think of it, let’s go take a peek at what they have to offer: of the action and comedy.” I’m betting Cannell spun into one complex, moth- film without merit other than the there hasn’t been a decent "3-D” "Boone.” Remember "The Waltons”? Its can pull this off. eaten tapestry. fact it is rated PG. However, when film yet. “ M etalstorm ” keeps that creator, E arl Hamner, is behind this hour-long "The Yellow Rose. ’ ’ and now back to Texas for A bit of this, a bit of that in an PG rated pictures are so horrid, unattractive heritage intact. comedy-drama about the Fifties and a young man this tale of a working ranch, rich folks, complex unintelligible screenplay in Nashville who wants to be a country music star. emotions and lots of soapsuds. basically dealing with revenge. "A unique show with all-family appeal," says the “Manimal." This is the one you have been Add a touch of the old "3-D," and Movie ratings network (the source of all quotes in this colum n). waiting to hear about. “A beautiful, bright supposedly this will cover up all Movies at area theaters: Superman III, A-II Meanwhile, Pat Boone must be demanding detective teams with a noted criminology the mistakes contained within this Trading Places, O copyright fees. professor, ’ ’ who has the ability — get this — to extra-terrestial cinematic Blue Thunder, O War Games, A-II "B a y City B lues." The third word of the title transform himself into a variety of animals. So wasteland. Too bad earthlings are Breathless, O Movies on Home Box Office: should be a clue since the folks behind "H ill Street when she says to him, "You animal," she knows responsible for this galactic Class, O Arthur, A-III B lues" are in charge of this dram a about "young of what she speaks. And you thought this was nightmare called “Metalstorm: Easy Money, O Barbarosa, A-II adults in a working class town in California” who reserved for Saturday morning cartoons. the Destruction of Jared-Syn." Fast Times at Ridgemont Best Little Whorehouse in are ‘ 'connected by their association with the local There you have them; how do they sound? "Metalstorm " follows the High, O Texas, O minor-league baseball team, the Bay City daring adventures of a young Fanny and Alexander, A-IV Some more news about NBC this coming Cat People, O Bluebirds." Not enough ballgames on cable for warrior named Dogen and his pal 48 Hrs., O season: "V ," the science fiction movie which had Firefox, A-III you? How about this show as a winter fili-in? Rhodes. After coming to the aid of Flashdance, O no ending when it aired last spring, will return G regory’s Girl, A -II a damsel in distress, the m erry Jaws 3-D, A-III "We Got It Made.” First, there was "Three’s with six more hours. “ Little House on the Heavy Metal O trio go off on a vengeful mission to Krull, A-II Company" about two girls living with a guy. Prairie," which was cancelled, will pop up in Looker, A-III destroy the enemy, Jared-Syn. On The Man Who Wasn’t There, O Guess what this show is about. Right — two three two-hour specials. Melissa Gilbert, who The Missionary, O the way through this junkyard of a bachelors hire a “gorgeous, savvy young played Laura on “House," will be Jean Donavan National Lampoon’s Vaca­ Mommie Dearest, A-III planet, our trio encounters villains tion A -III woman” as their housekeeper, who is “eye­ in “Roses,” the story of the churchwomen slain in Night Shift, O of various shapes, sizes and catching and neat-as-a-pin." Somehow, I think El Salvador. Octopussy, A-III Outland, A-III deformities as well as toys I've seen this all before. An Officer and a Gentleman, Reds, A—III (Recommend­ A seven-hour miniseries about John Kennedy is ranging from army-issue tanks to O ed “Mr. Smith." This is probably the single most being filmed. “A.D.," a look at the first NASA-brand space ships. There Porky’s II: The Next Day, O unbelievable Fall program, even beating Christians, is before the cameras. The original are deserts and more deserts, but Private School, O Silence of the North, A-II “ Manimal." Mr. Smith as an orangutan with a 256 cast of Burt Lancaster and Julie Christie has been not much more. If the landscape Return of the Jedi, A-II Summer Lovers, O IQ and the ability to talk. He is — I ’m serious now replaced by lesser lights. Mr. T should be on were any more developed, it The Star Chamber, A-III Time Bandits, A-III — hired by the government to be a consultant on “A.D.” since it would make a nice monogram; would steal the show. Staying Alive, A-III Young Doctors in Love O the MX missile and Supreme Court cases. It’s instead, he will be the star of a new Saturday As the latest entry in the “ 3-D " from the creators of "Taxi,” who are alumni of morning cartoon series. Other new cartoons for sweepstakes, the film does "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." They hope you nothing beyond that we have Local TV, radio the kiddies: “ Alvin and the Chipmunks” and TELEVISION PROGRAMS will go ape over this program. "G oing B ananas" about — oh, no! — another already seen. The technique is far Channel 4 "Jennifer Slept Here.” Ann Jillian stars as the orangutan. from perfected, still bothering the Directions 6:30 a.m. Sunday Channel 2 For Our Times ghost of a movie star who remains with her home (Next week: More Fall previews) eye and a chore to watch. The 6 a.m. Sunday rediscovered novelty of the '50s Channel 11 M ass for shut-ins 6:30 a.m. Sunday causes more pain than pleasure, Channel 9 "Glory of God” Sunday, noon but it is one of the few things Channel 40 Fr. Manning 1:30 p.m. Saturday TV review “Metalstorm” has to offer. Channel 40 The Glory of God 6 p.m. Tuesday Listed as a Band production, RADIO PROGRAMS By HENRY HERX information about life in Los Friday, Sept. 2, (NBC) "Gray Albert and Charles are the W P N T -F M 93 Sacred Heart Sunday, 6 a.m. NC News Service Angeles, Robert Aldrich's film Lady Down’’ (1979) — A Program version of Joseph Wambaugh's reconditioned nuclear submarine supposed geniuses behind this W N U F -F M 100.7 M ass TV Film Fare popular police novel might convey returning to New London after a epic which looks more like Sunday, 11 a.m. something filmed in their W E SA 94 Croatian Program Sunday 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, 9-11 p.m. the impression that things would shakedown cruise is struck by a basement in three days. The W T A E 1250 M ass Sunday, 8 a.m. (NBC) — The Godfather" (1972) be relatively peaceful in that city freighter and sinks to a depth of screenplay is a deadly weapon, K D K A 1020 Am plify Sunday, 6 p.m. — Francis Ford Coppola’s movie if it could only get rid of its 1,400 feet. The Navy brings into filled with idiotic lines and old W P IT - F M 101.5 Rosary Daily 7 p.m. and 1974 sequel tell the story of a corrupt, drunken, violent, play a whole panoply of men and cliches. The plot moves like a W E D O 810 Alive to the Spirit Sunday, 2 p.m. mob’s rise, near fall and perverted and vicious police equipment to save the survivors. great elephant journeying toward (Fr. Ed Bunchek) resurgence in the murderous force. The Choirboys is nothing Charlton Heston, as the that sacred final resting ground. W E D O 810 Lift Your Heart Monday through world of New York racketeering. but a series of clumsy, submarine commander, and Stacy Keach, as the officer in Slow, dull and incoherent already, Friday 9:15 a.m. Even in a somewhat sanitized TV presumably black-comedy W E D O 810 charge of the rescue operation, the one-demensional performan­ Say Yes to Life Saturday, 10 a.m. edition, the film is for adults, and sketches thrown together in so (Fr. Tom Smith) slapdash a fashion that it is are properly taut-jawed and ces simply add salt to the wound. the non-squeamish at that. Parts W E D O 810 Spiritual Life in Saturday, 8:15 a.m. grimly heroic, while for variety’s Jeffrey Byron plays the hero, II and III will air Monday and difficult to ascertain just what the Bible sake, David Carradine is loose- Dogen, as a hardened victim of the Tuesday, Aug. 29 an d 30,9-11 p.m., Aldrich and his scriptwriter, W E D O 810 Rosary Sunday noon jawed and cheerfully heroic as the streets, a "hard nosed" rough and part IV will air Thursday, Christopher Knopf, were getting W E D O 810 guy. His partner, Rhodes, as New Testament Sunday, 2:30 Sept. 1, at 8-11 p.m. A -III — adults. at, though it is obvious enough that pilot of a small experimental W E D O 810 Mass (Fr, Pat Jones played by Tim Thomerson looks Sunday, 3:30 p.m. their aim was low. The cynical, submarine. All in all, “Gray Lady W E D O 810 Catholic Update like someone who wants to be Sunday,4 p. Sunday, Aug. 28, 9-11:30 p.m. leering tone of Choirboys, Down" makes for fairly good (Fr. Pat Jones) (ABC) — "The Choirboys’’ (1977) entertainment. A-II — adole­ Dogen when he grows up, a moreover, is altogether offensive. W E D O 810 Abp. Fulton Sheen Sunday, 4:30 p.m. — If one had no other sources of O — morally offensive. scents and adults. questionable achievement in the

Father Bruce Ritter T H E LURE OF CULTS 7 9 *

I ♦qw y “Do you need a What our kids found was not happiness, fulfill­ members of this cult from entering UNDER 21, or Our greatest weapon against these cults is the ® job, a place to stay. ment, and instant salvation in Philadelphia; but enticing any resident to leave our Center. By 11 30 truth: the truth about how their lying promises can ^ ftWl ' j soma money, a heavy and intense indoctrination sessions lasting that same night, our attorneys presented the quickly influence people; how quickly their chance to travel, until 3 and 4 in the morning in Brooklyn. documents to the cult's headquarters in Brooklyn. manipulative techniques can enslave their security, salvation, follow ers. And, sadly, how difficult it is to break their "I couldn't go to the bathroom without getting Back at UNDER 21, our Public Relations staff im­ happiness. accep­ almost diabolical hold. tance, friendship, permission. Bruce. They kept chenting the Bible mediately informed the media; our counselors at us. Bruce. It was 3 A M ." ______love?" calmed and reassured the kids. Teach your children! Teach them how these cults operate. The techniques they use to recruit and in­ They came, one by one, at ten minute intervals. "They wouldn't let me go to sleep. Bruce. "Billy Later that night, two of our kids phoned our staff doctrinate their unwary victims could easily and They came to ask that question of our kids. Ten was outraged. "Besides they said I was going to from Brooklyn, pleading to be rescued from the cult effectively be taught in a school setting and this young men and women, 18 and 19, each carrying Philadelphia and they brought us to Brooklyn! I live headquarters. Covenant House immediately called same knowledge can protect our children in times of knapsacks, infiltrated UNDER 21. They were in Brooklyn. Bruce." the police and explained the situation. The police loneliness and doubt and pain when they too seek homeless, they said. They had "problems at home” , pushed ov e r a n d dem an d ed that th e tw o you n g m en ' 7 couldn 't leave. Bruce. They said I would go to instant love and acceptance and security, the easy they said. They needed shelter, they said. be permitted to leave the "Young Sheep House." hell end that awful things would happen to us if way. They lied They were actually members of a w e le ft." One of the boys released—a real street kid and Kids and young people should not be exploited by vicious cult headquartered in Philadelphia, with definitely no crearti puff—said fervently: "I was anybody. Not by pimps, not by people who buy and centers in Brooklyn, Boston, Baltimore. never so glad to see a bunch of blue uniforms in my sell them, not by cults who offer security and love Washington, DC, and Montreal. They call "Do you want a job. some money, securi­ life." and shelter in coerced exchange for the total themselves The Church of Bible Understanding— ty. salvation, love? Come with us and find What kind of man runs such a crazy outfit? What devotion—and the hard-earned money—of their or, as they liketo be known—the "W e People". the truth. " the liars said. " come with us kind of man would send out legions of brainwashed followers. Love, not freely given, is not love at all. “ Coma with ua and find tha truth," tha liars to Philadelphia. " kids to recruit, with lying promises, other equally A pimp by any other name is still a pimp. said. "Com a with us to Philadelphia!" fragile kids? The founder and leader of this cult is a man named Stewart Trail, a former vacuum cleaner We do need youl Your prayers most of all. Don't An irresistible invitation to vulnerable, hurting "They wanted us to confess our sins in front of salesman. Trail founded his cult in 1971 in Allen­ ever stop praying for us. We thank God for you all kids who needed and wanted all those things in­ everybody. Bruce. They yelled at some of the kids town, Pennsylvania, and immediately began to at­ th e tim e. stantaneously. No more hard decisions about get­ until they cried. " tract followers—and establish lucrative businesses ting their heads together, about taking responsibili­ "Girls ere always supposed to serve the men. for th em to w ork in. ty for their own lives. No more hard choices about Here's my gift to help rescue the children from the Bruce. That's why God made us." Mery was in­ sch o o ls. No m ore thinking through w h at it m e a n s to diabolical hold of the cults. I've enclosed:» dignant. "to cook all their meets end everything. " "Our greatest weapon against these be accountable to yourself. cults is the truth. please print: "There were lots of kids there. Bruce. They Seventeen of our kids ran upstairs and excitedly wouldn't let us leave. There were locks and guards Three months ago some Philadelphia members of NAME: packed their bags: money, jobs, travel, security) and bolts." his cult were arrested for savagely and repeatedly Philadelphia! W ow I beating Trail’s own 12-year-old son Donald, at "They went you to work in their rug cleaning ADDRESS: Our counselors pleaded with them, trying vainly Trail’s request, to "discipline him". Young Donald business end give them beck ell the money you to stem the exodus. But it's hard to argue with needy was beaten first with a belt, then with boards. "W e CITY:______earned. / worked for that money. Bruce!" .STATE: longing kids caught up in the hope of instant fulfill­ didn't want to hit him with the board, but the belt ment and instant solutions to tough problems. The "We Psople" apparently delighted by their had no effect," said a member of the cult. "We ZIPl FJ (NOE) "catch" returned to UNDER 21 the next night and stopped when the board broke. Then he was told to The kids piled into three vans the cult had hidden brazenly parked their van right in front of our Center : read a verse in th e Bible." Please send this coupon with your donation to: around the corner, and took off—they thought—for trying once more to lure away some of our young the "Young Sheep House” in Philadelphia—a kind For thousands of years, charlatans and deceivers and impressionable youngsters. One terrified 12- COVENANT HOUSE of indoctrination center for new recruits—and have wrapped themselves in religious garments year-old fled back inside UNDER 21. Father Bruce Ritter wound up in Brooklyn! and exploited the credulity and ignoranbe of theiij P.O Box 2121 ENOUGH! Our angry—and quick to respond— followers. It's particularly despicably when children Times Square Station attorneys immediately drew up the necessary legal are exploited and abused by these evil manipulative N ew York. NY 1 0 1 0 8 I Father Bruce Ritter, OFM Conv. is the founder and President documents and by 10:15 that night obtained from men. (I am glad to report that 'the FBI and the of Covenant House/UNDER21, which operates crisis centers Supreme Court Judge Richard W. Wallach a tem­ Brooklyn DA have launched a major investigation Because the street is NO PLACE FOR A CHILD | for homeless and runaway youth. porary restraining order. The order prohibited ihto the "W e People".)