Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 22, 1994 TAG: 9401220087
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Blood In Blood Out" is an ambitious drama in "The Godfather" mold that got muscled out of a theatrical run by last summer's big hits. Doubtless, the producers wish it weren't so, but this is a film that probably plays better on tape than it would have in the theater. The reason is simple: length.
At three hours, this one will test your patience. But on home video, you can break up the running time to suit your schedule, so that's not a big problem. And the story does deserve the extended treatment.
Set in the 1970s and '80s, it's about three young Chicano cousins in Los Angeles. Miklo (Damian Chapa) has a white father, blond hair and blue eyes, and because of that, he's the most ethnically chauvinistic of the three. With his tight tank top, porkpie hat and suspenders, Paco (Benjamin Bratt) fits the stereotype of the tough, cocky kid. Cruz (Jesse Borrego), a talented painter, has the most promising future.
Of course, each of them takes an unexpected path as he comes of age.
Much of the action takes place in prison, where it has a frighteningly realistic feel. That authenticity carries over into the scenes filmed on location in East Los Angeles. Though the entire production has the well-scrubbed look of a mainstream film - this one came from Disney's Hollywood Pictures - the neighborhoods and streets appear to be authentic.
The story is by veteran mystery writer Ross Thomas, who knows how to keep things moving. Director Taylor Hackford ("Thief of Hearts," "Against All Odds") handles the action well. The focus is on the characters of the three protagonists, and he's not afraid to let the pace move slowly while those are developed. At other times, particularly toward the end, he lets them spend a lot of time philosophizing. But that's all right; there's also compelling physical action then, again reminiscent of "The Godfather."
Other comparisons to Edward James Olmos' "American Me" are inevitable; the films are similar in setting and conflict, but their purposes are different. Though it lacks star power and a theatrical track record, "Blood In Blood Out" should find an appreciative audience on home video.
Some people inside the video industry predict that the future will not be limited to such conventional films. Instead, they say, home video will be "interactive" - i.e., a combination of narrative storyline with viewer participation. Playing the role of the hero, the viewer makes decisions about the direction of the story. You won't watch/play these movies on a VCR. They'll be on fancy compact discs designed to be used with a home computer.
One of the first, "Under a Killing Moon" is due in March from Access Software. If the brief preview tape is accurate, it's a supernatural, science-fiction, detective comedy featuring computer generated images of such actors as Brian Keith, Margot Kidder and Russell Means. It's difficult to say exactly how "interactive" the film really is. The quality of the image is about as grainy as most video games. The backgrounds are as flat and obvious as most computer-generated wallpaper. That's to be expected of such a pioneering effort.
Will it be a hit? I have no idea. The hardware involved in interactive CDs still is sorting itself out. There are internal and external CD drives for computers, competing systems involving (as I understand it) double and triple speed, speaker systems, sound cards, etc. A year from now, certain standards may be more widely accepted.
Assuming that the technology becomes widespread and affordable, will interactive CDs become as popular as video games? Probably. In their present state, these games are so addictive that the addition of a story and pictures that approach the quality of a feature film ought to be irresistible. But that's somewhere down the information highway. For now and for the immediate future, couch potatoes are going to stick to movies.
And to help them find their way through the wealth of choices available, there are the two volumes of L.A. Morse's "Video Trash and Treasures" (HarperCollins. $5.95 each, paper). First published in 1989 and 1990, these books are an eclectic guide to the unusual and off-beat in home video. The first book looks at fantasy, s-f and horror; the second is devoted to mystery, suspense and sex.
Morse also writes lurid paperback crime novels ("Sleaze," "The Big Enchilada") and he approaches this subject with the same zest and relish. He has seen and enjoyed a lot of bad movies, and he writes about them well. The books are curiously organized into thematic "festivals" so you have to use the index to find individual titles. Morse has pretty much limited his choices to films of the 1980s, so he barely scratches the surface of alternative video. But the books are still a fine browse, worthy of a place on any serious videophile's reference shelf.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Blood In Blood Out: *** Hollywood Pictures. 180 min. Rated R for graphic violence, raw language, sexual content, brief nudity.
New releases this week: Hard Target: *** 1/2
Stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Yancy Butler, Lance Henrikson, Arnold Vosloo. Directed by John Woo. MCA/Universal. 92 min. Rated R for graphic violence, strong language.
Essentially, this one is an updated version of "The Most Dangerous Game," with a plot based on wealthy hunters stalking human beings. It becomes a fine vehicle for Hong Kong director Woo's full-bore style. Van Damme does good work and the big action scenes are astonishing. One of last summer's better action pictures.
Last Action Hero: ** 1/2
Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Robert Prosky. Directed by John McTiernan. Columbia TriStar. 122 min. Rated PG-13 for graphic comic violence, strong language.
Last summer's megaflop is loud, colorful, inventive, way too long and, in the end, really silly. It's difficult for a parody of action movies to provide the cheap thrills of the real thing, even if the real thing is an illusion. And that's the central idea of this Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle about a magic ticket that pulls an 11-year-old into a Schwarzenegger movie. Director McTiernan treats the action as slapstick comedy, but it's still too long and too violent for younger viewers.
Rookie of the Year: ** 1/2
Stars Thomas Ian Nicholas, Amy Morton, Dan Hedaya, Daniel Stern, Gary Busey. Directed by Stern. FoxVideo. 101 min. Rated PG for rough language.
Young viewers made this light fantasy one of last summer's sleepers and it will be just as popular on home video. Boys and girls who are really into baseball will love it. And why not? It's the story of a 12-year-old who becomes a major league pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and turns them into a contender. Recommended.
by CNB