Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 9, 1994 TAG: 9407140053
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This year's vacation was a long overdue two-week stay at the beach with the extended clan - parents, sisters, in-laws and assorted kids. Of course, Uncle Mike was expected to provide the video entertainment.
A rich assortment of preview tapes was submitted for the approval and criticism of the Review Council: Audrey (age 5), Erik (7) and Michael (4). There was absolutely no doubt about their recommendations.
The undefeated heavyweight champ of the season is ``Rugrats: Angelica the Divine.'' For the uninitiated (as I was), ``Rugrats'' is an animated series on the Nickelodeon cable channel. The three short cartoons on this tape are Simpsonesque comedies about toddlers and slightly older siblings. They're fast-paced, smart-alecky, inventively animated and really really funny. The humor does begin to pale on the sixth viewing, and by the 10th (in seven days!), everyone with a driver's license was heartily sick of it.
It was more difficult to distinguish between second and third place.
``Dragonworld'' was a solid hit with kids and adults, though I saw only a few minutes at different points in its several screenings. The film is a live-action fantasy from Charles Band's new Moonbeam label. It's about a Scottish boy (Sam Mackenzie), his pet dragon and the greedy businessman who wants to turn the critter into the main attraction at the titular theme park.
As is always the case with Band films, the plot follows a familiar formula structure; the special effects are fine; and the production values look great. Again, by the third go-round, it was wearing a little thin, but the kids were still wanting more.
``Bethie's Really Silly Clubhouse'' was just as popular as ``Dragonworld,'' even more with the littler ones. It's a variation on the themes and ideas that have been popular on kids' TV shows from ``Howdy Doodie'' to ``Pee-wee's Playhouse'': talking objects, skits, songs, cute critters, puppets, adults acting like complete and utter bozos. In this case, the title is thoroughly accurate. The tape is so silly, without any of the anarchic wit that made Pee-wee's show a cross-over hit, that it's virtually impossible for adults to watch more than five minutes. This crowd of youngsters sat through it about 600 times.
The one clear loser in the bunch was a long cartoon, ``The Jungle King.'' Though the producers are certainly hoping to catch some of the audience of ``The Lion King,'' my panel of experts was not amused. They gave it the hook in less than 10 minutes, and I couldn't disagree.
On the grownup side, reaction to the tapes was also mixed.
Though the 1968 version of ``The Charge of the Light Brigade'' began well, all of us who tried to watch it fell asleep. That's probably due to a combination of the slow initial pace, two hour-plus length and the delicious spareribs that my brother-in-law Jimmy had cooked for dinner.
The film itself is a sharply satiric and realistic look at the military in Victorian England where allegedly responsible officers were actually complete and utter bozos. The cast is first-rate - David Hemmings, Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, Harry Andrews, John Gielgud - so is the recreation of the period. Director Tony Richardson tells the story with the same flair that he brought to ``Tom Jones.'' Though my fellow viewers weren't moved to finish it, I went back later and watched the rest. The conclusion is almost as strong as the battle scenes in ``Glory.'' All in all, this is a fine film that deserves better treatment than we gave it.
Just don't start it too late, particularly after a day on the beach and really good ribs.
Next week: Robinson Crusoe on Mars!
Corrections and clarifications:
The tape ``Pat Paulsen For President,'' reviewed here on June 11, is not carried in most video stores. It is available at 1-800-800-6961.
In the review of ``Blindfold: Acts of Obsession'' on June 25 several words were inexplicably lost in computer transmission. The sentence that began ``Ms. Video veteran Lawrence Simeone directs the film ...'' should have read ``Ms. [Shannen] Doherty is a sexy, albeit somewhat chunky leading lady whose skills are well-suited to the material. Video veteran Lawrence Simeone directs the film ...''
New releases this week:
Searching For Bobby Fischer: HHH
Starring Max Pomeranc, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne. Written and directed by Steve Zaillian. Paramount. 107 min. Rated PG for a little rough language.
The subject is chess but this is still a sports movie (based on a true story) that follows the well-worn cliches of the genre. That's not to say that it's not suspenseful or involving - it is - and despite some unfortunate flaws, it's surprisingly effective. Young Max Pomeranc delivers a winning and unaffected performance as the hero. A ``family film'' in the best sense of the term.
Reality Bites: HHH
Starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Ben Stiller. Directed by Stiller. MCA/Universal. 99 min. Rated PG-13 for subject matter, some strong language, drug use.
This romantic comedy is carefully aimed at a young audience, but the characters and their situation have a universal appeal. As portrayed by Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder, ``Generation X slackers'' aren't that much different from the '50s beatniks. The conventional story - will two friends become lovers? - doesn't have many surprises but the leads are so winning and attractive that doesn't matter.
Sister Act 2: 1/2H
Starring Whoopi Goldberg. Directed by Bill Duke. Buena Vista. 108 min. Rated PG for a little rough language.
This shabby, slapdash sequel embarrasses all concerned. It appears to have been made purely for a quick buck, not because anyone involved really thought there was anything more to tell about the story or characters. Though a few of the musical numbers are lively and well-produced, the rest of the film is second-rate.
Blink: HHH
Starring Madeleine Stowe. Aidan Quinn. Directed by Michael Apted. Columbia TriStar. 106 min. Rated R for strong language, violence, sexual content, brief nudity.
Judged as a thriller about a partially blind woman who ``sees'' a killer, this one is nothing special. A decent premise, an effective sense of place (Chicago) and a strong female protagonist (Stowe) are undercut by some lapses in internal logic and a lame conclusion.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Rugrats: Angelica, the Divine HHHH
Sony. 45 min. Unrated, contains no objectionable material.
DragonworldHHH1/2
Paramount. 84 min. Rated PG for mild violence.
Bethie's Really Silly ClubhouseHHH
BMG/Discovery. 45 min. Unrated, contains no objectionable material.
The Jungle King 7
Sony. 48 min. Unrated, contains no objectionable material, at least not in the first few minutes.
The Charge of the Light BrigadeHHH
MGM/UA. 130 min. Rated PG-13 for graphic violence, sexual material.
by CNB