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Radio,
Film & Television
Killer
Suitcases, a Film by Ben Rude
The market has seen more than its share of Kung Fu movies. Ever since Bruce Lee popularized the genre, scores of such films have found their way to the silver screen. ... Now, however, comes a new release -- Killer Suitcases, a short Kung Fu film by Ben Rude, graduating Senior from CVU who lives in Williston. ... Rude's Suitcases picks up where other films in the genre fear to tread. Certainly, there are the obligatory elements -- the Youthful Hero, the Kung Fu Master, the Evil Villain, and even the Damsel in Distress. But it's what Rude manages with these stock elements that make his film unlike any other.
After many grueling rounds to achieve a level of mastery himself, the young Billy feels ready to take on the evil mad scientist, Dr. MacGregor {Ryan}, who has Billy's sweetheart, Sally {Karen Smith} bound up in his equally evil laboratory. The scenes in the autumn woods are among the more beautiful in the film. And some of the special effects which Rude manages are accomplished. ... But, of course, the point of Kung Fu films is not beauty, but courage. And so, the young Billy leaves his master in an unexpected fashion, to begin to fend for himself and find his way toward his goal.
Just before Billy arrives at the evil lab, filled with the evil machinations of the evil Doctor MacGregor, the suspense builds to an almost unbearable degree. Seeing poor Sally, alone, caught between her contempt for MacGregor and the fear she must inevitably feel, we become so absorbed that we forget it is film and want to do something, anything, to save Sally ourselves. But, as fate and the plot of most Kung Fu movies would have it, just when we can take it no longer, Billy descends upon the scene and challenges the evil Dr. MacGregor. But it will not be that easy. ... Of course, it can't. And it is a testament to Rude sense of novelty and adventure that what comes next is very far, indeed, from your stock Kung Fu B movies. ... Before he can rescue Sally, the young Billy will have to test his metal -- as well as what he has learned from the Kung Fu Master -- in a pitched and fiercesome fight against none other than a Killer Suitcase {played by producer/director Rude himself}.
The tension builds as the two circle one another, sizing up the opposition, when, suddenly, the fury is unleashed. ... Well ... We won't spoil the ending, which producer / director Ben Rude has graciously allowed us to stream to you as part of this month's The Movies. So you can see with a click of the mouse how things turn out. {We do, however, heartily recommend clicking twice, once for the first clip, before viewing the end.} As a first major effort, Ben Rude has already accomplished more than most in the art of filmmaking. Where he goes from here is anyone's guess, although there have been some rumors that he is moving to China to study martial arts first hand, and others that have him considering film school as a next step. Either way, you can be sure that there's a lot to look forward to after the accomplishment of Ben Rude's Killer Suitcases.
Note: Ben's film production was his CVU Grad Challenge project, a project which allows students to work more intensively and creatively, and which all graduating seniors must complete in order to satisfy requirements.
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