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:

A Home at the End of the World (R)
Written by the author of The Hours, A Home at the End of the World follows two best friends (Colin Farrell and Dallas Roberts) through two cities and three decades. Opposites in most respects, Bobby and Jonathan must battle their sexuality, the death of their parents, an unexpected pregnancy, and ultimately a love triangle that pushes their friendship to the edge.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

BAADASSSSS! (R)
Mario Van Peebles directs and stars in this movie about his father, pioneering blaxploitation filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles. The film follows the highs and lows of Peebles as he struggles to shoot a low-budget independent film about a pimp anti-hero on the lam.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Benji: Off the Leash! (PG)
Fourteen-year-old Colby rescues an unwanted dog named Puppy from a puppy mill, and hides him in an abandoned house, protecting him from his abusive, alcoholic stepdad, thus launching a story about unlikely heroes— human and animal— who band together in the fight for animal rights.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Exorcist: The Beginning (R)
A prequel to the original Exorcist, this film follows Father Lankester Merrin, who is left disheartened and faithless after World War II. Traveling through Cairo, Merrin stumbles upon the archaeological excavation of a mysterious Byzantine church in pristine form. Merrin soon discovers that underneath the church, something terrible sleeps.
Now Showing: Carmike Cinema 10, Tinseltown USA, Hall Cinema 7

Garden State (R)
Returning home for his mother’s funeral, a young man must face the family he has avoided for 10 years, his growing dependence on anti-depressants, the best friend he used to know, and the quirky, epileptic love interest, Sam (Natalie Portman). The visit provides for self discovery, or something like that.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Open Water (R)
Based on true events, an on-the-rocks couple escapes for an island vacation. Things go dangerously awry when they are inadvertently left behind during a scuba diving trip. The film chronicles the couple’s experience, as they are stranded miles from land in waters that are icy cold and swarming with sharks.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Without a Paddle (PG-13)
After the death of a mutual friend, three city-dwellers (Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, Dax Shepard) discover a treasure map belonging to their deceased acquaintance. They launch a miserable camping trip in the Oregon wilderness, a trip replete with hippies, backwood farmers and deadly rapids.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Zatoichi (R)
Though Zatoichi fools everyone with his facade as a masseuse and gambler, he is actually a master swordsmen. Wandering one day, he discovers a remote village ruled by a ruthless Samurai and a group of gangs. After his path crosses with two beautiful and menacing Geishas and he angers the village, he is destined for sword fighting adventure.
Now Showing: Downtown West 8

Just the Good Old Boys

With the extreme popularity of the DVD format, many television shows of yore are going digital, with complete seasons of sometimes-obscure series becoming available for the first time.

So it’s no surprise that one of the greatest shows of all time is now available. This show gave inspiration to a generation coming of age in the ’80s. It taught us morals and gave us a sense of family. But more than anything it made youngsters want to haul ass in a ’69 Dodge Charger, run from the cops and yell “Yeehaw” at the tops of our lungs.

Did The Dukes of Hazzard, a show about two cousins in Hazzard, Ga., who have continual run-ins with an incompetent sheriff’s department, claim any adult fans? The unlikely sitcom attracted children with its down-home humor, high-speed chases and simplistic story lines. With more pantyhose, hot pants and cleavage than a Hooters convention, Daisy (Catherine Bach) helped keep the men folk watching every week as well.

The show’s multiple flaws and continuity problems—lost on young viewers at the time—don’t necessarily take away from its enjoyment factor and are somewhat endearing. The show certainly wasn’t Masterpiece Theatre. In one scene as the General Lee drives by the drugstore, another General Lee can be seen parked in front.

The show’s earlier days were a little racier and heavily dependent on Southern stereotypes. In “One Armed Bandits,” Bo and Luke Duke (John Schneider and Tom Wopat) are approached to help save an orphanage. Bo tells Luke that it’s their civic duty; some of those kids may in fact be Luke’s. “Bo’s always bragging on me,” Luke responds jovially.

In the same episode, Bo tells Daisy, “You know if we weren’t cousins, I’d marry you.” She replies, “That never stopped anybody in this family before.”

The DVD’s extras, as thin as an episode’s plotline, include a 20th anniversary special and commentary by Schneider and Bach on one episode.

Now that the ’80s are in fashion again, many of the cultural icons that seemed so great have reappeared only to show their age. Nostalgia and kitsch can only go so far as making something bad seem so appealing. The Dukes of Hazzard is nostalgic and kitschy but still entertaining.

—Brad Ridenour

August 19, 2004 * Vol. 14, No. 34
© 2003 Metro Pulse