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But Ted Baehr (Movieguide) labels it great: "Clockstoppers is a very entertaining diversion for teenagers. It skews too old for the younger crowd and may be too sweet for older teens, but it's got a great heart and great action adventure." Unlike the majority who found its special effects gimmicky and unoriginal, Baehr claims the film "has the same production excellence as its science fiction predecessors."

John Evans (Preview) argues that the moderate action and some "suggestive comments" make the film "objectionable viewing for pre-teens and very questionable for teenagers." He also has a notion that young viewers who experience this "frantic action with loud, startling music" may become hyperactive.

Last week, Film Forum featured a menu of critical responses to the reissue of Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi fable E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Raves continued this week. Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) sums up a number of possible interpretations of the film, and explores its theme of childhood innocence lost: "Like Peter Pan, who also took children flying until it was time for them to grow up, E.T. represents the wonder of childhood, of a time that we must all leave behind, though we may continue to carry it inside, 'right here,' in our minds and hearts."

Every year, well-funded, widely released movies powered by aggressive promotional campaigns end up winning awards at the end of the year. But a very different list of titles shows up on the ten-best lists of critics, and several of them show up out of nowhere in video stores. These are the movies that lack the funding to compete, but often are better-made and tell more original and exciting stories than A Beautiful Mind and the blockbusters.

This week, yet another critic comes forward praising the virtues of the new-on-video Ghost World (see our earlier coverage of the film here). Terry Zwigoff's movie follows two meandering high school graduates as they struggle with cynicism in a grownup world fraught with hypocrisy, superficiality, and loneliness. It stars Steve Buscemi in a role that won him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Michael Leary (Relevant Magazine) describes Ghost World as "daring, epic, well directed, even better acted, but unfortunately underrated." He points to "layers of meaning and purpose that will stick with you long after you rewind the tape. This is 'not another teen movie.' Its subtleties do not have the immediate impact that characterizes films of the 'teen film' genre, but will linger with you and bring to light those areas in your mind and heart [in which] you are pushing away the world instead of dealing with it."

While most 'teen movies' are preoccupied with fornication and rebellion, Ghost World stands apart as an honest exploration of contemporary teen disillusionment. While troubling, it has far more to say about the real world than a hundred American Pies.

Next week: Big Trouble , High Crimes, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, and the return of Amadeus.

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April (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46