TAG THE PLAIN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1995 FILM CLIPS Capsule reviews and summaries by Plain Dealer Film Critic Joanna Connors (JC), Plain Dealer Reporter Karen Sandstrom (KS), and New York Times (NYT). The Amazing Panda Adventure A family tale directed by Christopher Cain about a boy who visits his estranged father on a panda preserve in China. The scenery is so breathtaking that it lends this otherwise conventional family adventure film an eyecatching visual splendor. With Stephen Lang, Ryan Slater, Yi Ding and Wang Fei. Rated PG.
93 minutes. (NYT) Apollo 13 The true story of the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission to the moon in 1970, when an oxygen tank exploded and all but stranded three astronauts 205,000 miles from Earth with little power and a rapidly decreasing oxygen supply, has all the elements of a classic adventure tale. And Ron Howard and his crack team of actors headed by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton and Gary Sinise make the most of i it. They combine the sobering realism of a documentary while also telling a story as compelling and heartwarming and, yes, as enchanting as "E.T." Rated PG; it's long for younger children (135 minutes), but a mustsee for older kids and adults for its portrait of real-life heroism and grace under fire. (JC) Angus In Patrick Read Johnson's comedy, based on a short story by Chris Crutcher, an awkward teenager (Charles M.
Talbert) tries to make sense of his chaotic life. The film is directed with amiable intelligence but not a lot of dramatic verse. With Kathy Bates, George C. Scott, Larry Drake, Rita Moreno, Ariana Richards and Chris Owen. Rated PG-13; includes very mild profanity and sexual references involving an inflatable party doll.
91 minutes. (NYT) Babe Based on Dick King-Smith's novel "Babe, the Gallant Pig," Chris Noonan's film is about a pig who thinks he is a sheepdog. The movie maintains a refreshingly light touch in spinning a fable about individualism and conformity. With. James Crom- well and Magda Szubanski.
Rated G. 91 minutes. (NYT) The Baby-sitters Club Melanie Mayron's first feature, based on the successful series of books about the ups and downs of seven friends growing up in an affluent suburban Connecticut town, had some promise: about pre-teen girls, a still underrepresented constituency on the big screen; directed by a likeable, smart. offbeat tress; and it's produced by the illustrious Scholastic Books, who just put out "The dian in the Cupboard." Disappointingly, turns out to be yet another movie made with that peculiar condescension Hollywood serves for its most appreciative audience. You know: It's just for kids, so it doesn't have to have a polished script or direction, not to mention much money in the budget.
So, the dilemma. Can you forgive sloppy production and terrible writing if a movie viously entertains your kids (mine gave thumbs up), has some engaging young (in particular Schuyler Fisk, who plays lead role Kristy), and slips in a worthwhile messages along the way? Rated PG. 85 minutes. (JC) Lite! The third installment in the Warner Bros. franchise is funnier, lighter, and will probably even lower your cholesterol while you watch.
But like fat-free cream cheese, the instant you taste "Batman Forever" you know it is not the real thing. Directed by Joel Schumacher, a competent journeyman who took over from the mad genius Tim Burton, this movie is considerably archer than its two predecessors. The jaunty script borrows a smidgen of camp attitude from the '60s TV series, and the plot is nothing if not antic: The Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) team up to take over Gotham with a brain-wave contraption, and, oh yes, kill Batman (Val Kilmer) who has a new partner, the young hipster Robin (Chris O'Donnell). Though the PG-13-rated movie is a tad long for kids and jam-packed with fights and explosions, almost to the exclusion of any- Batman Forever It's the all-new Batman It's it's ac- Init re- obit ac- few Entertainment. ent.
Film Live Performance Directory BARGAIN PRICES ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6 PM. Eleven Luxurious Stereo "THE BIG GREEN" (PG) 1.50 EVE "POCAHONTAS" (G) 5:30 SAT. SUN. Bargain Matinees Before 6 P.M./Discount Parking "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) NET" (PG-13) "MORTAL KOMBAT" (PG-13) 5:45 Discount Student Rate College with I.D. "SEVEN" (R) "UNDER SIEGE 2 (R) (R) FINAL DAYS.
"HACKERS" (R) 1:00 "HACKERS" (PG-13) 1:15 "FREE WILLY 2" (PG-13) "DANGEROUS MINDS" (R) FINAL DAYS. "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) WONG FOO" (PG-13) "NINE MONTHS" (PG-13) "WALK IN THE CLOUDS" (PG-13) "STEAL BIG, STEAL LITTLE" (PG-13) "DANGEROUS MINDS" (R) "BATMAN FOREVER" (PG-13) "RUN OF THE COUNTRY" "MORTAL "PROPHECY" KOMBAT" (R) (PG-13) 13" (PG) 1055 Pearl Rd. "CASPER" "CRIMSON (PG) (R) (R) NP DIS. "CLOCKERS" (R) HICKORY RIDGE 8 42) Brunswick 225-1604 "MOONLIGHT AND VALENTINO" "DEVIL "HALLOWEEN IN BLUE (R) DRESS" (R) "THE "HALLOWEEN BIG 6" (R) (PG) LOEW'S SONY passes, THEATRES coupons passport tickets are STEREO: (R) NP DIS. (NC-17) "CLOCKERS" (R) valid subject to applicable restrictions.
DETROIT 16407 Tues. Detroit, nites $3.00 8 Lakewood 521-2245 TAVERN (R) FOO" (PG-13) "SEVEN" (R) (PG-13) BARGAIN PRICES ALL SHOWS 13961 BEFORE 6 P.M. STEVEN WEBER SIGOURNEY WEAVER "THE BIG GREEN" (PG) "TO WONG FOO" (PG-13) 4.35/7:25/9:40 CEDAR CENTER Cedar Rd. 371-2300 "JEFFREY" (R) NO PASSES "DANGEROUS (R) "CLUELESS" "DANGEROUS (PG-13) MINDS" (R) "SEVEN" "SHOWGIRLS" (R) (NC-17) "SHOWGIRLS" 101 (NC-17) Water St NO PASSES BARGAIN LAKESHORE PRICES ALL 7 SHOWS Lake 226th Shore BEFORE 6 PM. 731-1700 "BABE" (G) 4:45 EAST 8 Richmond Mall 449-4321 E.
8 GEAUGA CINEMA Chardon 285-9781 "BIG GREEN" (PG) HUDSON CINEMA 10 5339 Hudson Darrow Rd. 656-2233 "HACKERS" (STEREO) ONLY (PG-13) "THE BIG GREEN" (PG) 7:30 "TO WONG FOO" (PG-13) FINAL DAYS. CREDIT CARD SALES 655-7733 "BRAVEHEART" (STEREO) 6:20 ONLY (R) "CLOCKERS" (R) FINAL DAYS. IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) "SHOWGIRLS" (STEREO) (NC-17) GENERAL CINEMA "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) NP DIS. "HALLOWEEN 6" (R) "DANGEROUS MINDS" (STEREO) (R).
BARGAIN MATINEES DAILY SHOWS BEFORE 6:00 P.M. "HALLOWEEN 6- (R) NP DIS. "THE BIG (PG) "UNSTRUNG (STEREO) (PG) SHOWTIMES FOR TODAY ONLY "SEVEN" (R) NP DIS. VALENTINO" (R) "STEAL BIG STEAL LITTLE (STEREO) (PG-13) Plaza. "SEVEN" (R) "MOONUGHT AND (STEREO) (R) ERIE COMMONS Blvd.
974-8383 "DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS" "HACKERS (PG-13) 1:20 "SEVEN" (STEREO) (R) TO WONG FOO" Stereo (PG-13) STEREO: (R) (R) NP DIS. WONG FOO" (PG-13) "DESPERADO" (STEREO) (R) "MOONLIGHT "HALLOWEEN 6' VALENTINO" (R) (R) MAPLETOWN 3 Broadway 662-2240 "WALK "SOMETHING IN THE TO CLOUDS" TALK (PG-13) (R) YORKTOWN Brookpark Pearl Rds. 661-6330 "THE BIG GREEN" Stereo (PG) Libby Rds. "BABE" (G) "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) "APOLLO 13" (PG) $2.50 $2.50 "THE "UNDER NET" SEIGE (PG-13) 2" "SPECIES" DAYS. (R) 9:40 13" (PG) "SEVEN" (R) "STEAL "CLOCKERS" BIG, STEAL Digital Sound Stereo (R) (PG-13) $2.50 "LORD OF (R) (R) I SEVERANCE MOVIES at Mayfield Taylor 291-1244 SOUTHGATE Northfield Shopping Center Libby 475-3211- "DEVIL IN A BLUE Stereo (R) SAT.
SUN. MAT: (PG) "DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) BARGAIN MATINEE BEFORE 6 P.M. Ridge 884-6406 NORTHFIELD NOTE 2 467-8141 "HALLOWEEN "HALLOWEEN: CURSE OF M. MYERS" (R) 6" (R) PARMATOWN MALL Rd. RL 82 "THE BIG GREEN" (PG) "CLOCKERS" (R) NEXT: "DEAD PRESIDENTS" "SEVEN" Stereo (R) "BABE" (G) SAT.
SUN. THAT BINDS" (R) "DANGEROUS MINDS" (R) "ANGUS" "BROTHERS McMULLEN" (PG-13) (R) "LAST OF THE DOGMEN" SISKEL EBERT "TWO THUMBS -TO WONG FOO" (R) (PG-13) STRONGSVILLE 14m. 14769 So Pearl 82 572-0134 "THE BIG GREEN" Stereo (PG) TOM BERENGER, BARBARA HERSHEY (PG) (G) "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) "WALK IN THE CLOUDS" (PG-13) PARIS ADULT 3153 W. 25th St. 741-9785 "APOLLO 13" (PG) "THE BIG GREEN" (PG) VALENTINO" Stereo (R) Free Parking (PG-13) "SEVEN" (R) RIDGE PARK SQUARE 749-4344 A NEW Conveniently TIMES! Located NEW Between SHOWS 1-90 1-71 NOW on W.
DAILY! 25th I SOLON COMMONS 10. 6 a Am 248-7373 "BABE" "SOMETHING (PG) 5:00 TO TALK (R) "LAST OF THE DOGMEN" (PG) Doors Open 7 A.M. A.M. Sun. "DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) BIG, STEAL Stereo (PG-13) PARMA Ridge Snow at 885-0600 "THE BIG (PG) IN A BLUE DRESS" THX Sound (R) "HALLOWEEN 6" (R) DRIVE-INS "THE USUAL (R) $2 $2 WILLY 2" BULLOCK 7:20 (PG) WHILE 9:20 (PG-13) (PG) (R) "CLOCKERS" (R) SANDRA "THE 'MOONLIGHT AND VALENTINO" (R) AUT-0-RAMA TWIN D.I.
327-9595 "DANGEROUS MINDS" (R) "BATMAN FOREVER" 7:00 "HACKERS" (PG-13) 5:10 33395 Lorain 1 mi. W. of I-480 at Tpk. Exit 9 "TO WONG FOO" Stereo (PG-13) $2 SIEGE 2" 9:30 (PG-13) FRI. "USUAL SUSPECTS" (R) (PG-13) CLUELESS" (PG-13) 10:20 Stereo (R) (R) (R) DREDD" 10:10 (PG-13) REGAL CINEMAS "DANGEROUS WONG FOO" MINDS" (PG-13) (R) MEMPHIS DRIVE IN 10543 Memphis 941-2892 WESTGATE 8 8356-1035 SAME DAY ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE Detroit DANGEROUS MINDS (R) "TIE THAT (R) 9:36 "THE USUAL SUSPECTS" Stereo (R) NS NO WESTLAKE CINEMA 11 Crocker la 871-7661 "PROPHECY" (R) (PG-13) 9:41 "BROTHERS McMULLEN" (R) GARFIELD MALL Rockside 662-6155 CREDIT CARD SALES 871-7671 (G) 13' (PG) 9:42 (R) "HALLOWEEN 6" (R) "DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) BOX OFFICE CLOSES AT 10:00 "THE BIG Stereo (PG) "HALLOWEEN 6" (R) BIG FLEA MKT.
EVERY SAT. "HALLOWEEN 6" HEROES" Stereo (PG) (R) 'THE "SEVEN" BIG (R) (PG) "THE BIG AND (PG) (R) MILES DRIVE IN 19001 Miles 662-1090 "TO WONG FOO" MINDS" (PG-13) (R) "SEVEN" (R) "DESPERADO" (R) 10:25 'PROPHECY" WESTWOOD TOWN CTR. 331-2815 Greet Lakes (PG) "TO Mile WONG West FOO" of W. 210th St. on Center (PG-13) Ridge Rd.
GREAT LAKES Mall 951-3500 "HACKERS" (PG-13) (PG-13) 12:45 The Plain Dealer "LAST "SEVEN" OF THE (R) (PG) "SEVEN" (R) "THE WONG USUAL FOO- SUSPECTS" (PG-13) (R) is on the ball (NC-17) (PG-13) "HACKERS" "BRAVEHEART" (PG-13) (R) 8:00 "MOONLIGHT VALENTINO" Stereo (R) USUAL "BABE" (G) (R) when it comes to IN A BLUE DRESS" Stereo (R) "WALK IN THE (PG-13) "THE SUSPECTS" (R) "STEAL BIG, STEAL Stereo (PG-13) "DANGEROUS (R) 3 sports coverage. tells you who's doing what and ithere in Cleveland five mornings a week in The Plain ADULT MOVIES 16500 Open 24 Brookpark Hrs 267-7979 COLONY 5 Shaker Park Free Square 283-6333 HOYTS TOWER CITY 11 621-1172 GREAT NORTHERN Lorain BROOKGATE Smith Snow AVON LAKE 4 Shows Lake before Rd. 6pm $3 933-4444 "POCAHONTAS" (G) "DESPERADO" (R) "MORTAL (PG-13) WALK IN THE CLOUDS" (PG-13) BEREA 201 Berea, Front OH St. 234-4300 BARGAIN PRICES TIL 6:00 "INDIAN IN CUPBOARD" SAT SUN 3:30 (PG) IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) "SHOWGIRLS" (NC-17) (NC-17) CEDAR LEE Park Cedar Free and Lee After 6 Roads PM 321-8232 MIDNIGHT FOR TODAY ONLY 'STEAL BIG STEAL (PG-13) "NADJA" (LATE SHOW 11:30 SAT)(R) HANDS" FRI: "ROOSTERS" FRI: "GROSSE MCMULLEN" "MUTE WITNESS" 9:10 (R) CENTRUM AT COVENTRY 932-5956 5 W. of 271 off Cedar or E.
on Carn. thru Univ. Cir, "USUAL SUSPECTS" upstairs (R) HEROS" BARGAIN PRICE IN for today only CHAGRIN CINEMA 543-5775 8200 E. Washington (2 Mi. East of Chagrin Falls) SAME DAY ADVANCE TICKET SALES BARGAIN PRICES ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6:00 P.M.
WONG FOO" (PG-13) IN A BLUE DRESS" (R) HEROS" (PG) (G) BIG (PG) "SEVEN" (R) "MOONLIGHT AND VALENTINO" (R) "STEAL BIG STEAL (PG-13) 13" (PG) OF THE DOGMAN" (PG) "HACKERS" (PG13) 3:50 CINEMARK THEATRES MOVIES 10 Willoughby Hills 943-2090 Loehmann's Plaza Bishop Chardon Rd. $1.50 ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6 P.M. ALL SHOWS AFTER 6 P.M. ADULT $1.50 PRICES INCLUDE SR. CITIZENS ALL CHILDREN ALL FEATURES PRESENTED IN ULTRA STEREO SURROUND SOUND SAME DAY ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE NO CHILDREN UNDER 10 ADMITTED IN A RATED (R) AFTER 6 P.M.
3 NEW RELEASES Card Admission $6 (PG) "WHILE YOU WERE (PG) TIDE" (R) "SPECIES" (R) "THE BABYSITTER'S CLUB" (PG) "NINE MONTHS" (PG-13) "THE AMAZING PANDA" (PG) "ROB ROY" (R) 9:25 SIEGE 2" (R) (PG-13) WILLY 2" (PG) "THE (PG-13) "BATMAN FOREVER' (PG-13) Strassmeyer minutes. (JC) Braveheart Grail" doomed the medieval adventure movie; after they had at the legends of knights and kings, you couldn't watch a serious attempt without snickering just a little. So it goes with Mel Gibson's Scottish epic, an indeed brave-hearted effort to bring the Middle Ages back to the screen in glory. For the most part, Gibson has made an exciting, often stirring account of Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace (Gibson), who singlehandedly mounted a rebellion against the ruthless King Edward I of England in the late 13th century. His three-hour epic is fullblooded and fully bloody, with plenty of close attention paid to the realities of battle in an age of arrows and swords.
Compared to Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood" and the recent "Rob Roy," it is by far the most respectable effort at a period battle epic in recent times. Rated for much violence, brief nudity and some sexuality. 178 minutes. (JC) The Brothers McMullen "I'm a Catholic!" explodes one of the three eponymous brothers in Edward Burns' small, very amusing comedy. "There are certain rules and regulations!" Ah, yes, those vexing rules.
They have been the subject of many memorable looks back in anger. But in Burns' refreshingly low-key (and low-budgel) film, the look back is more in sweet, abashed confusion. The movie follows the romantic ups and (mostly) downs of three Irish-Catholic brothers from Long Island as they mess up with women and endlessly, hilariously, discuss the mysteries of love. Burns, just 27 when this won the Sundance Film Festival's grand jury prize, wrote, directed, produced and edited the movie, played one of the brothers (the middle one, Barry), and cast his non-actress girlfriend (the delectable Maxine Bahns) as his true love, Audry. The main location was the Burns family home on Long Island, and that family atmosphere seeps like the heady aroma of corned beef and cabbage into the film.
For as engaging as "Brothers" is when the boys confront their (terrific) women, it is at its best when they click bottles of beer and try to sort out the binds of religion, sex, love and family that hold them all captive. Rated for language and sexual situations. 97 minutes. (JC) Casper In a genre commonly known as "fun-house ride" movies, the first family movie of the summer takes the term literally. Directed by Brad Silberling and produced: by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, this is a 96-minute them ride just waiting to be built.
Ghosts, the latest in Industrial Light and Magic's computergenerated imagery, cavort through a haunted mansion. Objects fly through the air. Characters levitate. There's even a userfriendly contraption all ready to carry the crowds when "Casper: The Ride" comes to Universal Studios. This makes it perfect for kids in the elementary years, never mind that they're too young to have met "Casper" as the friendliest ghost on TV.
The story will quickly fill them in on everything they need to know, from Casper's unsuccessful attempts to make friends with mortals, to his life in Whipstaff Manor with the formidible Ghostly Trio. With Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle. PG (may spook younger children). 96 (JC) Clockers Based on the novel by Richard Price, Spike Lee's drama details the power struggle between a streetwise young drug dealer (Mekhi Phifer) and a homicide detective (Harvey Keitel). This is a story told with mournful, epic vision that rises high above its grim setting.
With John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Keith David and Isaiah Washington. Rated includes explicit but muted violent images and predicatbly profane language. 129 minutes. (NYT) Clueless Only scriptwriters and the lovely Alicia Silverstone could keep up with the intense new valleyspeak that helps carry "Clueless" through its frothy, effervescent 90 minutes as mindless summer fun. Silverstone plays Cher, a Beverly Hills teen-ager with a cellular phone, credit cards and an Alicia Silverstone dresses to attract boys' attention in "Clueless." 4 thing else, they're more Zap! Pow! Ker-pow! than Blood! Nightmares! 121 minutes.
(JC) The Big Green If plagiarism is the sincerest form of Hollywood, it's the only form of family movies. This Disney production takes "The Mighty Ducks" and substitutes soccer for hockey, and Steve Guttenberg for Emilio Estevez. It shoots, but unless you're a diehard soccer or Steve Guttenberg fan (and who it doesn't score. Rated PG. 100.
