Armed only with his mysterious mental connection to the feral minds of studio executives, the Movie Guru reveals just how good or bad this week's new releases will be:

Spider-Man 2 (PG-13)
In this eagerly anticipated sequel, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is still struggling with the fact that he’s living a double life as a mild-mannered college student and a spandex-wearing superhero. He wants desperately to tell Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) that he’s Spider-Man, but all the while, his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) is consumed with a growing hatred for Peter’s alter-ego. Add supervillain Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) to the mix, and things could get complicated for Spidey.
Now Showing: Halls Cinema 7, Farragut Towne Square, West Town Mall, Carmike 10, Foothills 12, Tinseltown USA, The Ritz

Valentin (PG-13)
In the tradition of My Life as a Dog and Kolya, Valentin is the coming-of-age story of a 10-year-old boy living with his grandmother in a politically unstable Argentina of 1969. While he seeks to find out the truth about his estranged parents, he plays Cupid to several adults in his life, including his piano teacher neighbor with one of his father’s ex-girlfriends. Critics are split on whether the kid’s cuteness is charming or cloying.
Now Showing: Downtown West

Live Forever

What the hell is a Wonderwall anyway? It didn’t matter; the brothers Gallagher of Oasis could do no wrong.

Live Forever tracks the remarkable success and unfortunate demise of British pop culture of the ‘90s. The documentary-style film covers the music, fashion, art, films and drugs that epitomized the new post-conservative nation.

The turn of the tide came on the back end of Thatcher’s Britain when a stodgy, stale culture was being trampled by a new sound. The sound of Oasis, Blur, Massive Attack, Pulp and many others defined a fresh, exciting time in the UK, as the crust of the working class took over and quickly became idols of British pop.

Forever weaves clips from interviews, music videos, political advertisements and still photos to explain how music affected a nation. The heavy accents, though difficult, do make the film all the more charming. You will, at some point, wish there were subtitles running along with Liam Gallagher’s seemingly drug-induced slurring.

This film was made in the UK and geared for a native audience. Anyone can appreciate the sentiment of the movie, but it is made clear that there are a few hostile feelings toward the United States. America had previously dominated the music market, and the British resented it, but they wanted our approval as well. Live Forever chronicles how such feelings of frustration lent to the cultural notion of “Cool Britannia.”

Candid interviews explain how these young musicians felt during the different stages of their careers. The inevitable vices of stardom may have tainted a few of the bands, but it didn’t stop them from performing for quite a while.

This cultural phenomenon didn’t last forever, but it helped to pave the way for more change. The film tacks its fall from grace with the death of Princess Diana in August of 1997, but it hints at further renewal with the release of Robbie Williams’ first album shortly thereafter.

This pop history film is well worth viewing. With a fantastic soundtrack to strike a nostalgic chord, Forever encompasses the idea that the country wasn’t just Britain anymore, but Great Britain once again.

—Rosemary Nottoli

July 1, 2004 * Vol. 14, No. 27
© 2003 Metro Pulse