镖行天下前传之燃眉危机

　　美国哥伦比亚大学迎来了新一届学生。黑人青年马里克（Omar Epps 饰）拥有极高的运动天赋，为了得到全额奖学金，他必须拼命训练取得优异成绩。超级大四学生富吉（Ice Cube 饰）的愤世思想深深影响了马里克，他对自己的前途倍感迷茫；白人女孩克莉丝蒂（Kristy Swanson 饰）对大学校园的一切都感到新鲜，在一次狂欢醉酒后，她遭到强暴，从此投身于女权运动中；来自爱达荷的白人男孩雷米（Michael Rapaport 饰）木讷保守，与周遭格格不入，偶然机会他结识了几个光头党的朋友，在偏执的路上越走越远……
　　本片荣获1996年美国有色人种大奖NAACP Image Awards最佳男配角奖（Laurence Fishburne）。

　　A most pleasingly atmospheric rendition of the tale, noirishly photographed and moodily set, this is the version which probably would have delighted Conan Doyle the most. There is one important plot change which enables the beautiful Alice Brandt to enjoy both a larger role and a more intriguing part in the proceedings. This change also builds up the parts of Dr Mortimer and Lord Charles, yet at the same time provides a nice introduction to the is-he-sinister or is-he-a-good-guy Barrymore, deftly played here by Fritz Rasp.
　　Despite the sting of its well-developed story, the spellbindingly atmospheric direction and the engrossing performances delivered by the entire cast, many fans may find this version somewhat disappointing. For at least three reasons: As in the novel, the part played in the narrative by Sherlock Holmes, though vital, is minimal. And in this version, not only has no attempt been made to enlarge his role, if anything both writer and director do their best to minimize it. Holmes does not even make his entrance for half-an-hour, and when he does finally appear, he has his back to the camera. It is Fritz Odemar, as Dr Watson, who receives the more favorable camera angles. And there is a purpose in this. It is Watson, not Holmes, who figures as the main protagonist of The Hound of the Baskervilles. For the bulk of the narrative, Holmes disappears. It is Watson and Lord Henry (Peter Voss) who take up the running. The movie is almost over, before Holmes closes in on the villain. And even so, this is not the obsessed, self-important Holmes we are accustomed to see taking charge. Another problem is that the title hound itself does not figure a great deal in the action, a downgrading which will undoubtedly rate as another major disappointment for fans. And finally, it could be argued that the script gives too much attention to Conan Doyle's red herring, the escaped convict, and not enough to the real villain.
　　This said, it must surely be admitted by all, that Odemar's interpretation of Watson—intelligent, charming, level-headed, courageous and resourceful—is much closer to Conan Doyle's conception than either the bungling, inveterately stupid Nigel Bruce or the self-effacing Ian Fleming.
　　One other player deserves special mention: Erich Ponto (Dr Winkel in The Third Man) who seems exactly right for Stapleton. A difficult part, superbly played.
　　- JohnHowardReid, imdb

　　本该温馨美好的情人节，四名漂亮的女人却收到了令人不寒而栗的古怪卡片，接着古怪恐怖的事情开始在她们中间发生。原来，这一切起因于她们上学时曾无情的嘲笑过个一个性格内向、古怪的可怜男生。现金一转数年过去了，当年高中舞会上的“丑小鸭”已经变成了“天鹅”，决定回来在情人节当日对她们实施最无情的报复。到底谁才是元凶，这四个漂亮女人能否逃过此劫？围绕在她们周围的男士人人皆有可疑……

　　An anthology of five horror stories shared by five men trapped in the basement of an office building