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.
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.
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.
HALLOWEEN: H20
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.
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.
LETHAL WEAPON
4
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.
MADELINE
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.
MASK OF ZORRO,
THE
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.
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.
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.
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:
.
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.
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