Range of movies to begin this weekend

By Mary Dees
Staff Writer

So, what's up for this weekend? If the January blues have you down, the Kentucky Theatre has two first-run films starting today. The Doom Generation , written and produced by Gregg Araki, is a twisted, alienated teen pic with a fair share of subversive sex. The movie portrays the journey of three teen-age slackers on their way to nowhere fast. The Doom Generation begins with Jordan White (James Duval) as a likeable, easy-going guy and his dark, drug-liking counterpart Amy Blue played by Rose McGowan.

As the two venture out into a night of rock and roll, drugs and sex they meet Xavier Red. Red played by Johnathon Schaech, is an ambisexual drifter that bonds with the couple after a terrible quickie mart massacre. This odd trio then embarks on an insane journey across suburban America.

The Doom Generation follows the tradition of Araki films with its sexuality conflicts in a straightfoward manner. Although his previous films, The Living End and Totally F***ked Up dealt with more problems dealing with homosexuality as this film is considered a "heterosexual movie, Araki believes it is one of his most dark and cynical films.

"While The Doom Generation is my funniest film, it's also the darkest and most pessimistic. But I think all of my films end on a note of uncertainty. And its final image, its invocation of the icon of the open road and its possibilities really symbolizes ambiguity," said Araki in a news release.

Starring in The Doom Generation is James Duval, a veteran of Araki films has starred in Totally F***ked Up and will soon appear in Nowhere . Rose McGowan is appearing in her first Araki film, but has co-starred with Pauly Shore in Encino Man and Biodome . Johnathon Schaech has appeared in How to Make an American Quilt and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr .

Stalingrad is another first run film being shown at the Kentucky this weekend. Stalingrad is a German film, by Joseph Vilsmaier, and is aired in German with subtitles provided.

Stalingrad , one of the bloodiest battles in history, depicts the battle over the control for the city of Stalingrad. The movie portrays the battle by focusing on three main characters.

The first is Hans Von Witzland, a handsome lieutenant who desires to live up the military past of his family. Manfred "Rollo" Rohleder, a gung-ho daredevil looking to become a hero, and finally Fritz Reiser, a corporal.

The three trek on with the rest of the company to their cold and inevitable fate. The bitter cold takes its toll on the soldiers, who now think they are just faceless flags on a map.

Stalingrad is an anti-war film released in Germany in January of 1993 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the German surrender at Stalingrad. The movie is about the men and the people, not just strategies, generals and wars.