The death of AIDS victim Dr. Peter last week reminded us of the seriousness of that illness and the importance of safe sex. Are you sexually active? If so, do you practise safe sex? Do you under- “THE BLOOD is the life and it shall be mine!”’ Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an exhilarating movie produced by Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Fuchs and Charles Mulvehill. Directed by Coppola, Dracula is a story of a legend, love and desire. It is the battle of good and evil, love and hate, and life and the undead. The story begins when Prince Viad (Gary Oldman) leaves his beloved wife Elisabeta (Winona Ryder} and goes off to lead a fight against Turkish forces. Elisabeta, who had always loved him and is unwilling to live without him, kills herself when shic receives false news that her beloved Vlad has been killed in battle. The prince returns from the battleground and learns of his wife’s death. The shock drives . him out of his mind. This is where - his war against God begins. Thirty-three million on its first weekend speaks for itself sold-out shows, crowded theatres, and huge lineups. This is what people waiting for hours in front of the theatres had to face. *“*Fhe crowds were unbelievable,” said an 1!&-year- _ old student after her experience on Saturday night. ‘‘We went at seven o’clock to find that the ear- ly and the late shows were sold - out at Park & Tilford. So we went over town to the Granville Cinema and got tickets for the special midnight show. “After 50 cups of coffee, we went back at 11:30 p.m. to line up. The line. went all the way down to the basement and back out the side door. It was like a huge snake made up of screaming, tired and bored people, waiting to see the movie. Once we got in, we were lucky to sit in two seats beside each other. Many couples had to sit apari.”” All that trouble for just a movie! Was it really worth it? Yes! It wasn’t just a movie. It was a story full of very strong scenes — some funny, others horrifying — that really grabbed the au- dience. Through interviews with a few students who had seen the movie, it appeared that they held the same opinion: “The movie was long — two and a half hours — but it was worth every minute.”’ “Dracula hmmm, it was really funny how the old professor was talking about chopping heads off like it wasn’t a big deal. He was So casual about it.’’ “I like the shadow. It was a unique feature, like something I have never seen before. It was a character on its own. The best part was when Jonathan was shaving and a hand touched his shoulder. “The audience was led at first to believe it was Dracula. Howev- er, it was the shadow, because when Jonathan turned around, Dracula was standing at the door instead of behind him.”’ “It was cool. It was really good. It was one of the best movies I have seen this year. When we left the theatre there were all these guys pretending to be vampires, biting on their girlfriends’ necks.’’ “The gross part was when the half-wolf, half-human creature raped Lucy in the garden. Yuk — gross.”” “The part that I really liked was when the prince showed his feelings, saying to Mina, ‘3 love . you too much to condemn you,’ while Mina was sucking his blood to become immortal.” eee In my opinion, the movie was awesome and dramatic from its very beginning to its very end. The actors were convincing. The only unrealistic and unbelievable parts were when the screen turned red with blood as Lucy was ripped apart and killed by a wolf and later when she intentionally spat - blood all over the professor’s face. Oldman piayed an excellent role as the perfect Prince Vlad. He was even better in scenes with Ryder who, with her natural beauty and innocence, fit perfectly into the romantic scenes. Keanu Reeves played his role well, especially in his scene with the three wild women who seduc- ed him. Anthony Hopkins was aiso fitting in the role as the old professor. His joking manner and ability to make people face reality made the movie even stronger. All of this movie’s apparent success made me wonder just ex- actly what it is that has drawn such an immediate response. What is it about our society that attracts us to so much blood and gore? Why are we so fascinated with vampires? “It’s fascinating to us, because it’s far from our own reality,”’ said one of the movie-goers I spoke to. ‘it could never happen to us.”’ Or could it? Youth Views is written coopera- tively by the students of Sutherland secondary school’s Video Production career prepara- tion course. Monika Janousek is one the class’ four studeuts. SHE 15? YOU MEAN, LIKE, RiGNT NOw ? ELLEN Ss WORKING IM THE! NOW ? RIGHT WHO AM 17 WHYAM JT HERE? HOW DID GET HERE? iy Na treme tre ee wo x A rr >t Jee ay = ane nd ee ON ee ra stand what safe sex is? and late shows sold out by 7 p.m. should cut it out or go sit in the corner and sulk. You should have equal rights. f do think women should be treated equally. Space constraints in last week’s ZAP! section allowed us to print only a few answers to the question ‘‘Is alcohel or drugs a problem among teens?’’ More answers to- that question follow: You better believe it is. Almost everybody I know is drinking or doing drugs half the time. I drink 2 fot, I ase drags occasionally. A lot of teens are irying heavier stuff now. There should be more programs out there for teens and more people offesing kelp. Drinking is very common amoug my friends snd drug use used to be. I used fo never drink, but I used to really be on drags, but I’ve recovered from that. I do think alcoho! aad drugs are a problem: for teens, but sat for all. I realized what FE was doing to myself and I'm straight now. I had a lot of friends that have ended up down the drain. I’m just giad | didn’t go there. They should try educating the youager ones, Dat you’re not going to get “Pheto sts Tuyseuzian LINE UPS FOR Dracuia were ‘‘unbellevabie,”’ according to teens who tried for weekend tickets, but found Park & Tiitord’s early very far because it’s a matter of curiosity — everyone wants to try it. Drinking and drag abuse is common zcong some friends of mine. Taey don’t do drugs really; they drink wher they go to parties or when they think they have problems. Alcohol and drags are s problem for teenagers becanse that’s how yout, viclence starts — when they're high. It is very com- mon. Me and my friends smoke ap every lunch hour. We get druak. I don’t think it’s very good but we do it to rebel against our parents. To younger kids — ‘think before you smoke un. Lots of my friends are drug users and I think there’s a big teen problem with drugs. Hav- ing a beer now and thea is not that bad. You have to do it in small quantities or you might become an alcoholic. They should pat more emphasis on not doing drugs. Drugs can become a big part of your life and they can screw you up pretty bad — some people have had to learn the hard way. I don’t do drugs and I don’t drink, but it is pretty common. I think it is a pretty big prob- lem because it’s so easy te get a bold of and it’s not too ex- pensive because most kids my age have jobs and they have money for drugs. I think that drugs are bad and they can kil! you. My mom says not to use drugs and I don’t think drugs are cool. I don't know anyone who uses drags because my mom won't tet me heng ont with those people because they’re bad.