HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-12-04, Page 26HAPPY 2ND
BIRTHDAY
CASSIE HENRY
December 3rd
By John Schedler
Leading off this week's releases is Strictly Ballroom **** (C/FP), a
romantic and magical film from Australia, focusing on a rebellious young
ballroom dancer and a girl from the wrong side of the tracks as they try to
win the country's biggest dance competition. Full of wildly eccentric
characters, great music and a joyous energy, this low budget movie isn't
afraid to show you a good time, which is something I guarantee you will
have.
Into The West **** (C/FP), is a beautiful and haunting film from
director Mike Newell (Enchanted April). Set in modern day Ireland, the
story tells of two young boys from the slums of Dublin touched by myth
and fantasy in the form of a beautiful white stallion, which follows their
grandfather home one day. When their horse is claimed by an
unscrupulous breeder they manage to set him free resulting in a chase
across the windswept' Irish countryside. With a screenplay by Jim
Sheridan (My Left Foot/In The Name Of The Father), Into The West also
features first rate performances from a wonderful cast especially the two
young boys, Ciaran Fitzgerald and Ruaidhri Conroy. Pure Magic. (Rated
PG)
After only a half hearted theatrical release A Dangerous Woman ****
(MCA/Universal) is now available on home video. This is an
exceptionally fine drama about a developmentally challenged woman who
is incapable of telling a lie; and in a world where lies are the norm, the
truth can indeed be dangerous. Based on the novel by Mary McGarry
Morris, this film is refreshingly different and totally unpredictable. It also
features some of the year's best performances most notably by Debra
Winger, Barbara Hershey, Gabriel Byrne and David Strathaim. Highly
recommended. (Rated R)
Originally made for television and released briefly in theatres
Gettysburg *** (Turner) is a very good film based on Michael Shaara's
Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Killer Angels. Focusing on the pivotal
three-day Civil War battle that involved more than 150,000 men, this
historically accurate re-creation is not only mammoth in scale but is
emotionally powerful as well. The cast includes not only fine
performances from Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen and Sam Elliott, but
award calibre work from Jeff Daniels and the late Richard Jordan whom I
was hoping would be nominated fora supporting actor Oscar. While this
film does have its weaknesses, including cumbersome running time of
over four hours, Gettysburg is well worth your time. (Rated-R)
While The Three Stogges may be dumb, they are also funny. For those
of us who enjoy getting our nyuk's via the eye poking and head slapping
clowning of Larry, Moe & Curley, Columbia Tristar Home Video is
releasing a couple dozen volumes of the boys best shorts from the 1930s,
40s and 50s.
During these years, the team made more than 200 shorts and feature
films which of course proved to be very popular, first in theatres, later on
television and now home video. Considering the callous violence of
almost any contemporary movie, the cartoon like slapstick of The Three
Stooges is a welcome relief.
Originally broadcast on PBS, Benny Goodman: Adventures In The
Kingdom Of Swing **** (Sony) is a fascinating and comprehensive one
hour documentary covering his career. Labelled "The King Of Swing",
Goodman not only led jazz into the commercial mainstream but, brought
with him into the limelight an extraordinary group of gifted and original
musicians. Blind to race, he crossed the colour line to include in his band
the best black musicians in the land. This biography features never-before-
seen performance footage from the 1920s and 30s and studio rehearsal
footage from the 50s as well as home movies. In addition to interviews
with family and friends, this program features appearances by Ella
Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Harry James,
Peggy Lee and many others in their prime and doing what they do best.
Highly recommended.
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Advertising Deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 18
This special greetings section will appear in
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PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1996
Madill Mirror
Principal, V-P give school year report to-date
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
By Mr. Wayne Tessier
Earlier this fall a new group
moved into the main office at the
school. Working in such close
proximity has allowed me to watch
this group far more closely than I
have in the past. While I always
knew that they worked hard, I now
am far more aware of all of the
good work that they do and I want
to recognize this group for their
efforts. The group is the F. E.
Madill Students' Council.
The Students' Council is an
elected body that represents our
1,100 students. They also act as the
students' representative when
interacting with the school staff and
the School Advisory Council.
Inevitably any decision made will
not satisfy everyone and the
Council spends much of its time
trying to find the best solution to
problems so that the large majority
of parties in the school are
satisfied.
The Students' Council is
responsible for representing the
interests of the student body,
organizing special events, dances
and fundraising. Most of the money
raised is used to support student
activities including the co-
curricular program. Without the
council's hard work many of these
activities would not be able to
continue. The council also supports
a number of charities such as the
food drive at Christmas, Special
Olympics, Heart and Stroke and
Cancer research.
To accomplish its mandate the
Students' Council works in a very
quiet and responsible manner
always trying to find the balance
required between academics and
co-curricular activities. This is
often a thankless task that many of
us take for granted. I want to tell
the members- of the council that
their efforts are greatly appreciated
and are deserving of recognition.
Well done, council members!
Our next School Advisory
Council Meeting will beheld on
Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in
the school library. The topic under
discussion is the Student Code of
Behaviour.
On behalf of the staff and
students I would like to wish
everyone a very safe and Merry
Christmas.
VICE-PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
By Mr. Joe Porter
We are past the midway point in
our first semester of schooling this
year. A number of observations
may be useful.
Firstly, good students will be
preparing themselves now for
January exams. They will already
have established a regular daily
pattern of dealing with new work
and will be reviewing earlier
material. Research shows that a
brief daily review of past notes
increases comprehension and
improves retention which results in
higher marks. Finding the time and
then actually making the effort to
review material should be a normal
student practice. Getting into the
habit of review and forward
preparation will be essential for
post secondary studies. At the high
school level and beyond, it
becomes a fact of life that the
individual is responsible for
informing and reminding
himself/herself of all the necessary
tasks to complete. You can't get
Laura Cousins, daughter of
George and Emily, has
raduated with honours In
he Executive Administra-
ive Assistant Course from
Westervelt Business
ollege in London. Laura
as accepted an office
osition at Westervelt.
ongratulations, Laura. We
re very proud of you.
ove, your family and
riends.
credit for someone else's work,
only your own.
Secondly, with the Christmas
season coming upon us, there will
be many opportunities to socialize,
It is a time to be with friends and
family. It is also the time to take
more care. Don't ignore the good
advice of friends who have your
best interests at heart.
Lastly, students and staff may be
looking to the new year as one of
uncertainty and impending change.
There will be changes to school
programs, classroom operations,
and personnel turnover. For
example, some of our current staff
members are anticipating
retirement at the end of this
semester. We will miss them and
wish them well and welcome new
staff who will take their places.
Changes mandated by our
government, will continue to
occupy most of our attention. One
useful way to address any change is
to view it is an improvement. I
know that this is not always
possible, given the source and
magnitude of impending changes,
but keeping a positive mental
attitude in viewing it goes a long
way in helping to manage the
process itself. After all, change is a
regular fact of our daily existence.
Let's hope that Mother Nature co-
operates and doesn't provide us
with too much snow. Keep tuned to
the radio for information about
possible snow days.
DANCE
By Alysha Metcalfe
For the first time in years F. E.
Madill is hosting a semi-formal
dance. On Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.,
students from Grades 9 to OAC are
invited to dance to Speck Jennings,
a live band and D.J., until 11 p.m.
People attending are. expected to
dress in their "Sunday best."
On Thursday, Nov. 21, approxi-
mately 300 students came to gym
228 for F. E. Madill's Casino
Dance! Games were played and
prizes were won by participants
using fake money given to them by
Students' Council.
CONCERT
F.E. Madill is presenting its
"Winter Shivers Christmas Concert
on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
Music teacher John Matthews
said there will be "choirs, bands
and carols, to help warm your
Christmas season,"
The concert will be held in the
small gym 228. Freewill donations
are accepted at the door.
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