DE Arts & Entertainment Editor

Species 2′ halfway fun to watch

What Star Wars, Alien and The Godfather all have in common is that they’re American classics with stronger sequels. Though strong sequel epitomizes the movie-making oxymoron, the movies succeeding the aforementioned films are so good that people can follow and enjoy them without seeing the originals.

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In a way, so goes Species II. My friend updated me a little bit on the first film since I failed to see or rent it, but even without his synopsis I could still follow Species II. Enjoying it, on the other hand, is another story.

The movie starts out exceptionally well with the first ever human Mars landing. The ship taking the crew to the red planet is cleverly depicted as well as Capt. Patrick Ross’ (Justin Lazard) reconnaissance on Mars.

Back on Earth, the vicious lady villain from the first movie, Sil (Natasha Henstridge), remains dust in the wind, but her genetic clone, Eve (Henstridge again), is alive and well and under laboratory study by Dr. Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger).

The Mars crew brings back an alien virus which turns Ross into a sexual killing machine like Sil in the first film impregnating a melange of women with his alien babies that explode out of the women’s stomachs immediately after sex.

Hired by the government to catch the alien, Preston Lennox (Michael Madsen) must catch Patrick before he creates a whole new species. Patrick’s crew mate, Dennis Gamble (Mykelti Williamson), avoided the alien virus because of an inbred human deficiency and accompanies Preston on the search.

Species II boasts more holes than a Swiss cheese wrapping plant, but if taken as a B movie it proves halfway enjoyable to watch. But there still should have been more of Henstridge, who proves to be a clever villain character (when not talking too much she’s a model give her a break) with her drop-dead good looks and all.

As far as a worthy sequel, Species II hardly makes the original any more appealing to rent, but like all B sci-fi horror movies, the ending remains unresolved so keep an eye out for Species III.

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Directed by Peter Medak

Screenplay by Chris Brancato

There’s nothing harder than trying to pick out a movie to rent when on a date with someone relatively new to you. The pressure to get something they like borderlines the excruciating feeling in your stomach as a possible boss eyes your resume. A bad movie could mean the date is surely your last, while a good one could seal your destiny as your date’s new love interest.

To ensure the latter when renting videos, look away from the new releases and venture to the L section and grab the noir thriller The Last Seduction. While the Species films flourish with a beautiful but alien lady villain, Seduction relies on the subtle cruelty and explicit sexuality of Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) rather than alien mating tactics for the dangerous vixen to get what she wants.

Bridget wants the $700,000 her husband, Clay (Bill Pullman), inherited from a pharmaceutical drug deal that was supposed to be used to get them a penthouse and help pay off his medical school bills. A slight slap on the face kindles the devious flame of Bridget’s master plan, and she busts out of New York City with the entire wad before Clay even gets out of the shower.

Bridget ends up in the small town of Beston, N.Y., where people are cordial and sincere and easy to take advantage of. Bridget eventually manipulates Mike Swale (Peter Berg) into being the perfect pawn in her game. Mike is hopelessly in love with Bridget, and she is hopelessly engulfed with playing with his mind for her benefit.

The barrage of twists and turns keeps us involved in this film, but Fiorentino’s dead-on performance inexplicably steals the show. Not once does she ever let up. She talks, smokes, walks, reads, thinks and makes love with the utmost maliciousness that makes her one of the most evil yet interesting and complex characters ever to hit the big screen.

Director John Dahl weaves the elaborate plot around Bridget but never lets us lose interest even as the story delves deeper and deeper. Steve Barancik’s script keeps Bridget’s plan from becoming excessive to the degree of unbelievability, and the dialogue between Bridget and her male counterparts is some of the best ever such as when Mike tries to charm her by discussing a well-endowed organ of his.

Take note when renting this, though, because your date may find The Last Seduction as interesting and fun to watch as I do, thus, refocusing their attention from you to the television. But they’ll definitely thank you when it’s done.