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American Werewolf photo AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS, AN
A sequel of sorts to "An American Werewolf in London," this special-effects-fest follows an American on a "daredevil tour of Europe" (which includes bungee jumping from the Eiffel Tower) who meets and falls in love with a sad, mysterious woman who turns out to have a pretty hairy secret. She's the girl of his dreams - - but she presents quite a nightmare for the naive American. For fans of the genre who enjoy gory human-to-animal transformations.

Director: Anthony Waller. Stars: Tom Everett Scott, Julie Delpy. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 98 min.), Horror, 1997, Box office gross: $25.761 million, (Buena Vista 13550), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/19

2 stars go
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As Good as It Gets photo AS GOOD AS IT GETS
An eccentric, acid-tongued anal-retentive romance novelist discovers love and a new respect for other human beings when his carefully ordered life is jolted by events beyond his control. First he's forced into caring for his gay neighbor's dog, then he becomes involved with a waitress/single mother and her asthmatic young son. Academy Awards for Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson. A great, warm, loving film ... kind of like the way they used to make them. Directed by James L. Brooks and co-starring Greg Kinnear.

Director: James L. Brooks. Stars: Helen Hunt, Jack Nicholson, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 138 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office gross: $131.786 million, (Columbia TriStar 21703), $14.95 SRP, Available: 5/19

4 stars go
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DECONSTRUCTING HARRY
Life and art, sex and love intersect in this "return-to-his-roots" comedy by Woody Allen, who once again plays a despicable (but loveable) sex- and love-hungry best-selling author who gets in trouble when his latest book reveals all about his friends -- much to their chagrin. Allen mingles the novelist's fictional creations with his reality, developing an enthralling story line that continually comments on itself. One of the more entertaining pieces of Allen work in some time, peppered with some of Hollywood's finest talent (Robin Williams, Richard Benjamin, Billy Crystal, Judy Davis, Kirstie Alley and others).

Director: Woody Allen. Stars: Woody Allen, Kirstie Alley, Richard Benjamin, Billy Crystal, Judy Davis, Julie Kavner, Demi Moore. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 96 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office gross: $10.569 million, (New Line 4632), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/26

3 stars go
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DESPERATE MEASURES
A police officer, in need of a bone marrow transplant for his young son, strikes a deal with a sociopathic convict who happens to be a perfect blood match, setting off a horrible and violent chain of events. When a San Francisco cop persuades his superiors to transport a serial killer to a hospital for a transplant, the murderer stages an ingenious escape, turning the hospital into a battleground. Now the cop's world is turned inside out: does he hunt down or help the one man who can save his son? A bit overwrought but thrilling. Stars Andy Garcia, Michael Keaton.

Director: Barbet Schroeder. Stars: Andy Garcia, Michael Keaton. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 101 min.), Thriller, 1998, Box office gross: $13.244 million, (Columbia TriStar 21753), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/26

2 stars go
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FIRESTORM
Weak action adventure starring former football pro Howie Long as a smoke jumper, a forest-fire fighter who parachutes into raging infernos to save the day. Here he must fight a fire as well as a group of convicts who make their escape into the wilderness posing as fire fighters. There's plenty of action, computer- generated fireballs, scorched earth and even a love interest for the hero. William Forsythe is a suitable villain.

Director: Dean Semler. Stars: Howie Long, Scott Glenn, William Forsythe, Suzy Amis. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 88 min.), Action, 1998, Box office gross: $7.727 million, (Fox), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 5/26

2 stars go
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FOR RICHER OR POORER Richer or Poorer
photo
Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley star as Manhattan socialites on the run from the IRS: they had plenty of money but a lousy marriage and a dishonest accountant. Now they're fugitives, hiding out in the Amish county of Pennsylvania as the long-lost relatives of a local family. But they soon discover that doing hard work might be more difficult than doing hard time. Both Allen and Alley are comedians of the first order, and despite the film's weak premise, the pair are a pleasure to watch.

Director: Bryan Spicer. Stars: Tim Allen, Kirstie Alley, Michael Lerner. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office gross: $36.611 million, (Universal 83375), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 5/5

3 stars go
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GATTACA
Gattaca photo In a bleak future, the world strives for perfection and a person's genic code determines one's station in life; those with inferior genetics are considered "de-generates" and lose access to professional status. One young "In-Valid" man tempts the fates and tries to prove that he's the equal of his superiors despite his genetic shortcomings: He's passionate, emotional, a dreamer - - and he wants to become a space navigator for the Gattaca Corp. But a murder in the ranks threatens his success in this icy sci- fi melodrama.

Director: Andrew Niccol. Stars: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Loren Dean, Jude Law. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 112 min.), Science Fiction, 1997, Box office gross: $12.253 million, (Columbia TriStar 82643), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 5/5

3 stars go
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MOUSE HUNT
Mouse Hunt photo Two hapless brothers inherit an empty, run-down house from their deceased father, whose fixation on his string factory has all but caused the family to go bankrupt. But the house turns out to be an historical mansion worth a fortune ... if the pair can fix it up for an auction. All goes well until they discover there's someone else on the premises: a mouse who doesn't want to be evicted. More than "Home Alone" with cheese, the film's wild slapstick and mouse point-of-view shots grow on you. There's a great cameo by Christopher Walken as an exterminator as well as to-perfection performances by Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. An off- kilter delight. In clamshell packaging.

Director: Gore Verbinski. Stars: Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Christopher Walken, Michael Jeter. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 97 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office gross: $59.732 million, (Universal 83585), $22.98 SRP, Available: 5/5

3 stars go
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PLAYING GOD
When a Los Angeles surgeon is stripped of his license after performing an operation on amphetamines, he hits harder drugs and enters a downward spiral that leads him to become a "gunshot doctor" for a hip Los Angeles gangster. Now his life-saving skills are put to use saving the wrong men. Should he keep his lurid life or face his demons and regain his destiny? This thriller plods along with little believability and carries no weight from its cast, particularly David Duchovny, whose laconic manner may suit "The X-Files" but only comes off as sleepwalking in this more demanding big-screen situation. Co- stars Timothy Hutton and Angelina Jolie.

Director: Andy Wilson. Stars: David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 94 min.), Action-Thriller, 1997, Box office gross: $4.159 million, (Buena Vista 10443), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/12

2 stars go
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STARSHIP TROOPERS
Starship photo Director Paul Verhoeven brings to life Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 tale of intergalactic war between giant insects and mankind, with extravagant special effects and directing, but less-than-spectacular acting and scripting. Part of the problem is a young, inexperienced cast going for the action jugular coupled with Heinlein's "fascist utopia" political vision -- silly words from silly kids -- but overshadowing it all are the magnificent action sequences that are downright mind-blowing. Verhoeven has a knack for orchestrating violence and here he raises the ante on mayhem.

Director: Paul Verhoeven. Stars: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 124 min.), Science Fiction, 1997, Box office gross: $54.628 million, (Columbia TriStar 71713), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/19

3 stars go
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SWEET HEREAFTER, THE
Following a tragic school bus accident, a high-profile lawyer descends upon a small town with promises of retribution and a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of the grieving community. But his investigation into the crash uncovers a tangled web of lies, deceit and forbidden desires that mirrors his own troubled personal life. There's secrets to keep and personal agendas to be kept. A stirring drama from a talented director (Atom Egoyan).

Director: Atom Egoyan. Stars: Ian Holm. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 93 min.), Drama, 1997, Box office gross: $2.937 million, (New Line 4629), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/26

3 stars go
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Bond photo TOMORROW NEVER DIES
Latest James Bond epic pits 007 (Pierce Brosnan) against an evil media baron (Jonathan Pryce) who wants to start a naval war between China and Great Britain to boost subscriptions to his newspapers and satellite channels. Joining Bond in his efforts to stymie the villain is Chinese action heroine Michelle Yeoh, as a Chinese secret agent, who almost out-Bonds the hero. In only his second outing, Brosnan almost fills Bond's shoes and this adventure is surely one of the best since the last of the Connery epics. What Bond really needs, however, is more Yeoh.

Director: Roger Spottiswoode. Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 119 min.), Thriller, 1997, Box office gross: $121.644 million, (MGM 906834), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 5/12

3 stars go
back






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April 15, 1998