UA homecoming this weekend is all about Wilbur the Wildcat - the beloved and furry mascot turns 50 on Saturday.
The UA used real animals as mascots off and on between the early 1900s and the late 1950s (with at least one tragic mishap), until two UA students (Richard Heller and John Paquette) pitched the idea of using a costume-wearing human.
Wilbur made his first appearance at the UA vs. Texas Tech football game on Nov. 7, 1959, and was an immediate hit, according to a UA Web site.
Wilbur's look has evolved over the years. It was during one of those costume makeovers that Wilma the Wildcat was created.
She made her first public appearance on March 1, 1986, during a "blind date" with Wilbur. The pair later "married" before an Arizona-Arizona State football game.
For a chance to win a a set of three audio books, tell us the date of their wedding.
Phil Villarreal has worked for the Daily Star since birth, but he's been the movie critic since February 2001. You could say he's a fan of the cinema. Each day he wakes up to a plate of steaming scrambled movies, which he washes down with a glass of movie juice, all while watching a movie. In his free time he plays video games and watches movies. Phil's new book, the humorous, money saving guide "Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel" is due out Sept. 1 and available for preorder.
Giving it away (spoiler alert)
04/18/2008 11:51 AM Phil Villarreal
Director Vadim Perelman wants you to know the ending of his film “The Life Before Her Eyes” before you see it. He says you’ll understand and appreciate the movie better if you’re aware of the late-film twist.
The story follows the plight of a woman in her 30s played by Uma Thurman, traumatized by a high school shooting she survived. In the flashback scenes her character is played by Evan Rachel Wood, who, along with her friend, is confronted by the killer in the school bathroom.
Perelman says most of the film takes place in the mind of the Wood character as she lay dying in the bathroom.
“What’s strange about this film is unless they know the twist, I don’t think they enjoy the movie,” Perelman said.
“The reviews that are trickling in say the metaphors are too heavy-handed. But by the time you know what the twist is, you’re kind of past it. Every single one of the visual metaphors and echoes only exist to support the main concept that she imagines her future life in front of her eyes. … I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to know and kind of follow along. I can’t expect people to see it twice.”
My full interview with Perelman will run May 1, when the movie opens in Tucson. It opens in larger markets today.
OOoooooh! Geez, I definitely am no movie buff and therefore had no idea what was going on with that ending. All the other reviews were criticizing the heavy use of “obvious” metaphors, and here I am thinking, “what metaphors? and what was their ‘obvious’ meaning?” Yeah…thanks for spelling out the “obvious” for me.
so, the whole movie is from dianas view on how her life would be if she lived and her friend died. she picks to be shot so her friend can live.. uma thurman’s part isnt real- its the girls imagination of what would happen if she married that professor and had a kid.. its very moving.
so Diana survived the shooting?
— jannice 05/01/2008 07:18 AM #
OOoooooh! Geez, I definitely am no movie buff and therefore had no idea what was going on with that ending. All the other reviews were criticizing the heavy use of “obvious” metaphors, and here I am thinking, “what metaphors? and what was their ‘obvious’ meaning?” Yeah…thanks for spelling out the “obvious” for me.
— raquel 09/18/2008 11:02 PM #
so, the whole movie is from dianas view on how her life would be if she lived and her friend died. she picks to be shot so her friend can live.. uma thurman’s part isnt real- its the girls imagination of what would happen if she married that professor and had a kid.. its very moving.
— jenna 09/21/2008 11:53 AM #