Arts & Entertainment

'Destination 2,' 'Boyz,' 'Recruit' offer thrills 

By Jose Pineda
The Daily Cougar

Everyone needs something to get their blood flowing again after a week of lectures, studying and hours of reading. Hollywood is happy to come to rescue with three action-packed films.

Shane Harvey/New Line Productions

Whether you want to go 160 miles per hour, stare death in the face or lie, cheat and steal for the love of your country, this weekendis openers will have you on the edge of you seat.

Biker Boyz opens nationwide Friday. It is directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood.

The movie is rated PG-13 and stars Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Tyson Beckford, Lisa Bonet and Kadeem Hardison.

This fast-paced action film puts you in the middle of underground motorcycle clubs. It follows the story of a young, talented racer named Kid (Luke) as he tries to become "King of Cali." In his way stands Smoke (Fishburne), the "King," who is undefeated. The directors proclaimed this movie to be a throwback from old western movies. It is rated PG-13.

Final Destination 2, directed by David R. Ellis is finally here. The film stars Ali Larter (the only returning star from the original Final Destination), A.J. Cook, Andrew Downing in his film debut, Michael Landes and T.C. Carson.

This much-anticipated film follows the framework of the original Final Destination. It promises to scare the wits out of you by showing how everyday actions can bring your life to an end if that is what deathis design is. This time, however, death-defying Clear Rivers (Larter) is racing against death to save the life of an unborn baby. The movie is rated R.

The Recruit, directed by Roger Donaldson (of 13 Days fame) stars Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht and Kenneth Mitchell in his film debut.

Itis been a long time since a good spy film was made, and with all the talk about intelligence and secrets revealed, Hollywood offers us The Recruit, set in the CIAis secret training grounds known as The Farm. 

James Clayton (Farrell) is not your typical recruit, but he is a CIA natural. When he tries to leave the agency, Walter Burke (Pacino) assigns him to his first field mission in an attempt to keep him in the agency. 

Through this mission, Clayton learns the meaning behind the CIAis old maxims: "trust no one" and "nothing seems is as it seems." The movie is rated R.

If you are in the mood for something different this weekend, go check out Harold and Maude, showing at midnight Friday at the Landmark River Oaks Theatre. This 1971 cult classic pairs a disillusioned 20-year-old deadpan obsessed with suicide and a loveable, fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a funeral, and develop a taboo romantic relationship, in which they explore the tired theme of the meaning of life with a fresh perspective.
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