OnVideo DECEMBER Video Reviews
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OnVideo DECEMBER Video Reviews

AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER
Air Bud, that high-flying athletic pooch who captivated audiences last year with his ability to sink baskets, is back, this time on the gridiron as he saves the day for his young master's junior high school football team. There's the obligatory villains to attempt to foil Bud's football victory -- here in the form of two fumbling Russian circus crooks who steal extraordinary pets for their show -- but never fear, the dog conquers all, along the way saving the coach's job as well as mom's romance. Definitely for the kids.

Director: Richard Martin. Stars: Kevin Zegers, Cynthia Stevenson, Gregory Harrison, Nora Dunn. CC, (MPAA rating: G, 90 min.), Family, 1998, Box office gross: $10.215 million, (Dimension), $14.98 SRP, Available: 12/18, DVD: No.

3 stars go
back





Avengers photo AVENGERS, THE
This weak filmization of the classic 1960s British TV series has Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman starring as John Steed and Emma Peel in a production that eschews the sophistication and off- color humor of the original for special effects and big-bucks action. In this modern update, the playful pair of agents fend off an evil meteorologist played by Sean Connery who wants to harness the environment for his own nefarious ends. Original TV Steed Patrick Macnee pops up in a cameo.

Director: Jeremiah Chechik. Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, Sean Connery, Patrick Macnee. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 90 min.), Thriller, 1998, Box office gross: $23.322 million, (Warner), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 12/29, DVD: Day & Date.

2 stars go
back





Blade photo BLADE
Wesley Snipes plays Blade, a half-breed immortal with big muscles and even bigger guns whose mission in life is to exterminate the increasing number of vampires haunting the earth. Born of a vampire mother, Blade is able to chemically overcome his bloodlust, hunting down blood-suckers wherever they may be. But his latest nemesis turns out to be a formidable foe: Deacon Frost, played by Stephen Dorff, whose agenda calls for the complete subjugation of humans by vampires. Exciting action, impressive effects and lots of blood. Not for the squeamish.

Director: Stephen Norrington. Stars: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristoffersom. CC, (MPAA rating: 120, R min.), Horror, 1998, Box office gross: $70.000 million, (New Line), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 12/22, DVD: Day and Date.

4 stars go
back





HALLOWEEN: H20Halloween: H20 photo
It's been 20 years since the original Halloween but don't think that ol' Michael Myers is gone. He's back to menace a whole new generation of students, but this time he's got to contend with a blast from the past -- Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who he unsuccessfully stalked in the original. Living under an assumed name these many years, she's the head mistress of a private school that Michael coincidentally terrorizes. Is blood thicker than water?

Director: Steve Minor. Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Williams, LL Cool J, Adam Arkin. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 86 min.), Horror, 1998, Box office gross: $52.810 million, (Dimension), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 12/15, DVD: No.

4 stars go
back





KNOCK OFF
Another disappointing slam-bang outing from the boy-next-door-kick-and-slug action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, one that could have used more thought than action. This time around Van Damme is the king of Hong Kong knock offs (cheap copies of brand name products) who's gone straight but soon comes under suspicion when knock-off jeans are used by former KGB members as vehicles for microbombs being shipped to the U.S. Van Damme must go up against the Russian mob as well as the CIA to save the world.

Director: Tsui Hark. Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, Lela Rochon, Paul Sorvino. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 91 min.), Action, 1998, Box office gross: $9.883 million, (Columbia TriStar), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 12/29, DVD: Day & Date.

2 stars go
back





LETHAL WEAPON 4
Leathal Weapon 4 photo They said couldn't be done -- but they were wrong. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) are back in a third sequel that is just as high-powered and exciting as its predecessors. The story -- about the smuggling of Chinese immigrants -- is really secondary to the character interactions and the exciting slam-bang action that highlights this comic-cop-thriller. Add in Rene Russo as Riggs' love interest, Chris Rock as the secret husband of Murtaugh's daughter, and Hong Kong action star Jet Li as a suitable opponent and you have one heck of an enjoyable film.

Director: Richard Donner. Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, Jet Li, Darlene Love. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 127 min.), Action, 1998, Box office gross: $129.636 million, (Warner), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 12/15, DVD: Day & Date.

4 stars go
back





MADELINE
Madeline photo That enduring childhood classic "Madeline" finally gets adapted to the big screen and, surprise, its fairly faithful to Ludwig Bemelman's 1930s books about the adventures of the fearless, red-headed little girl who lives "in an old house in Paris that was covered with vines." Newcomer Hatty Jones plays the feisty orphan Madeline, constantly in trouble and testing the mettle of Miss Clavel, the resourceful nun who overseas the boarding house in which "lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." Never mind the plot -- taken from four "Madeline" books -- enjoy the whimsey. For kids of all ages. In clamshell packaging.

Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer. Stars: Francis McDormand, Hatty Jones, Nigel Hawthorne. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 89 min.), Family, 1998, Box office gross: $28.946 million, (Columbia TriStar), $15.95 SRP, Available: 12/15, DVD: Day & Date.

3 stars go
back





MASK OF ZORRO, THE
Mask of Zorro photo This swashbuckler picks up the legend of Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) -- the Spanish aristocrat who donned a mask and grabbed a sword to fight injustice in Old California -- 10 years after his wife was killed and his baby daughter was stolen by the governor of the territory. Too old to take on new enemies, he hands his dueling mantle to a young protege (Antonio Banderas) to continue the fight against evil. There's plenty of matinee movie action, good-guys vs. bad-guys fights, and swinging from chandeliers to satisfy most action fans, but the story line is the height of predictability and lameness. In pan-and-scan and widescreen.

Director: Martin Campbell. Stars: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 136 min.), Action, 1998, Box office gross: $85.000 million, (Columbia TriStar), $22.95 SRP, Available: 12/1, DVD: No.

3 stars go
back





Parent Trap photo PARENT TRAP, THE
Remake of Disney's 1962 family comedy that starred Hayley Mills, about identical twins, separated at birth when their parents split, who meet up as pre-teens and scheme to reunite their wayward divorced mother and father. Thanks to a witty and literate script, fine acting by Lindsay Lohan (as the twins) and Natasha Richardson (as the mom), and delicious sets, it's a rare case of a remake being better than the original (though Dennis Quaid is only an adequate dad).

Director: Nancy Meyers. Stars: Dennis Quaid, Matasha Richardson, Lindsay Lohan. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 124 min.), Comedy, 1998, Box office gross: $56.000 million, (Buena Vista), $22.99 SRP, Available: 12/8, DVD: No.

4 stars go
back





Six Days SIX DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS
Modern interpretation of a classic screwball comedy scenario: A gruff, wisecracking cargo pilot (Harrison Ford) and a sensual but tough New York magazine editor (Anne Heche) are thrown together when they crash land on a deserted island. The bickering pair not only have to struggle with themselves and their environment in order to survive, but they most fend off modern-day pirates to fight their way off the island. A frothy comic romance.

Director: Ivan Reitman. Stars: Harrison Ford, Anne Heche. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 102 min.), Comedy, 1998, Box office gross: $73.088 million, (Buena Vista), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 12/8, DVD: No.

3 stars go
back





SLIDING DOORS
Smart drama with a story telling twist about a twentysomething PR exec (Gwyneth Paltrow) whose life goes in two distinct directions -- literally -- when she decides to take a train home from work. Two different and simultaneous plots unfold side-by-side: one story has Paltrow catch her train and come home in time to catch her boyfriend with another woman; the other story has her miss the train and miss her philandering beau's escapade. The narrative flip-flops seamlessly between the two stories.

Director: Peter Howitt. Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 97 min.), Drama, 1998, Box office gross: $11.827 million, (Paramount), No SRP, Priced for rental, Available: 12/1, DVD: .

4 stars go
back





WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE
Musical biopic of famed teenage heartthrob rocker Frankie Lymon (whose hit "Why Do Falls Fall in Love" catapulted him to early fame and fortune) told in flashback from the point of view of his three wives -- Rashomon style -- as they contest the deceased musician's estate. Fine slice of life of the '60s and sturdy performances by Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon (as the three wives) and Larenz Tate as Lymon.

Director: Gregory Nava. Stars: Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon, Larenz Tate. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 116 min.), Biopic, 1998, Box office gross: $12.273 million, (Warner), No SRP, Priced for rental Available: 12/29, DVD: Due Jan. 5.

3 stars go
back






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November 15, 1998