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Show c4 The Salt Lake Tribune ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, May 4,1996 ‘Great White Hype’ Lacks Satirical Punch The ‘Right to Bear Arms’ don't go together. That’s like toe Carries a Hefty Price Tag The Great White Hype black unity. But the flamboyant Sultan ‘This spoof of the boxing business is a pre tender, not a contender ANP. MEAN‘ THESALT LAK Like the boxing match that climaxesit, the satirical sports movie “The Great White Hype” is a fast-paced, bruising affair that is more pounding than poetic Boxing promoter extraordinaire the Rev. Fred Sultan (played by Samuel L. Jackson) is in a bind His undefeated champion, James “The Grim Reaper” Roper (Da- thinks he has found his man: Ter- ry Conklin (Peter Berg), a Cleve- land punk rocker who KO'd Rop- er as an amateura decadeearlier. Sultan signs Conklin, finds him a trainer, and starts the hype machine rolling for the “fight of the century” between Conklin and the sadly out-of-shape Roper. Nipping around the edges of Sultan’s world are a muckraking reporter (Jeff Goldblum) who soon becomes Sultan's publicist, and a legitimate contender (Michael Jace) seeking a shot at Rop- er's title. Other familiar faces — Jon Lovitz, Corbin Bernsen and Hudlin and his writers — Tony Hendra (a former editor at Spy magazine) and Ron Shelton (“White Men Can't Jump”) — cram too many characters and drawer, pulled the trigger and hit his 2-year-old sister, killing her instantly. How many more tragedies such as this one are we going to read about in the paper before something is done to stem the tide of “aecidental’’ shootings? Whyis it so difficult for parents to understand that such a tragedy can happen so easily? They will tell you the weapon was in the dresser drawer for “protection.” portraysthis sleazy hustler with- out making youthink of real-life promoter Don King. Jackson's Sultan dresses opulently in tur- bans and caftans; he says “I love you” as often and as sincerely as that Bud Light guy, and for the samereason: because it gets him what he wants. But the problem with “The there's a press conference at the MeNeely debacle, for example), asks in disbelief. “Those words MGM Grand to accompanyit. But fiction can’t pack the same punch. “White heavyweight?” Roper took a loaded gun from a dresser manages the near-impossible: He Cheech Marin — pop up, though it's hard to say exactly why. Director Reginald Hudlin (“Boomerang”’) capturesthe flash and frenzy of the fight game, where nothing happens unless Does it matter? Their daughteris lost to them forever. The second Great White Hype” (rated R for language and brief sexuality) is that it’s hard to spoof something that’s too outlandish to begin tragedyis that their son will grow up with the awful knowledge that hekilled hislittle sister. Careless parents pay a high with. Compared with the real-life antics of boxing (the Tyson-vs.- price for what they view as “pro- tection,” and so do their children. Please, Ann, publish this letter and let your readers ask them- ‘Barb Wire’ Is a Long Way From Casablanca we Barb Wire Pam-bo baresall — exceptfor anytalent. » : « BY THE SALT LAKE ‘TRIBUNE One might expect a lot of things rom “Barb Wire.” Sinceit stars torate. Barb gets her wardrobe from the Barbarella catalog and her motorcycle from Triumph, and she carries an arsenal that would make the Michigan Militia sali- vate. She even has a trademark line: ‘Don't call me ‘Babe.’” (Those who do usually find them- “Baywatch” blonde Pamela Anlerson Lee, one might expect bad ~ acting and canyons of cleavage. gunshot wounds.) Into Barb’s bar, The Hammer- gave us “The Mask”), one might head, walks Axel — and you know how loopy “Barb Wire" is when the Ingrid Bergman character is Since it’s based on a Dark Horse comic book (the same folks who expect cascades of violence and selves with a mild case of multiple i, be right on both counts. But “Barb Wire” delivers » slam-bang action. And one would played by brawny New Zealander Temuera Morrison, the abusive husband of “Once Were Warriors.”’ Barb and Axel werelovers . Something you wouldn't expect: when both were battling the Con- the most brazen remakeof“Casa- . blanca” ever perpetrated onfilm. Leeplays the title character, a ‘ mercenary bar owner and part- * time bounty hunter in a 21st-cen- Bt tury America overrun by the totalitarian Congressional Direc- gressional Directorate — though Axel was and is married to Cora D.(Victoria Rowell), a former Directorate doctor smuggling vital information to the rebellion. A Gestapo-like Directorate colonel (Steve Railsback) is on Axel and selves, ‘Could this happenin our home?” — Jamesin Orlando,Fla. Dear Orlando:Here's your letter. And nowI will receive several Cora’s trail, while the local police chief (Xander Berkeley) shifts his allegiance where necessary. thousand moretelling me about the Second Amendment and the “right to bear arms.” Once again, Theoriginal “Casablanca” was built on themesof honor, love and Pamela Anderson Lee naked as often as possible. Director David Hogan starts with the opening credits, as Lee dances seductively in a clingy dress that tries (and fails) to contain her abundantbo- som. From there, she changes into ee my children to value and ret the things they have, not a in their playroom but in the world around them. How can | teach them to be appreciative when a doll broken today is replaced tomorrow by two others? the Constitution was referring to “a well-regulated militia” — not handguns. o Dear Ann:Please allow me to respond to “Gagging Grandma,” who said her grandchildren’s playroom looks like a toy store. She should see ours. It contains seven bookcases, each 8 feet high, filled with dolls of every size, shape andpricerange. Is this a pretty display? No.Is this a valuable collection? No. Do the children care about these dolls? No. Why not? Because they have too darned many. Who bought all these dolls? Grandma. Every Christmas, every birthday, every holiday, here comes BY STEVEN sROPHY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE were so loud that the music was If there is anyonein rock 'n’ roll who enjoys being a rock star more teen-age girls sang the band’s lyrics and swooned whenever Ross- than Bush’s lead singer, Gavin one leather-and-fishnet outfit af- Rossdale, you would have a hard time provingit. The wiry frontman for the English quartet is the epitome of music’s conspicuous excess. ter the next — each one stretching farther than Lee's acting ability can. Barb even takes time outfor a bubble bath, from which she rises camouflaged by the most strategically placed lather in moyie history. Butin his case,it is not the tra- ditional vices — drugs, alcohoi or women, Itis the adoration of fans “Barb Wire" (rated R forvio- that he can't get enough of. In between fits of the band’s lence, nudity and sexuality) gives new meaningto gratuitous: gratuitous violence, gratuitous nudity, a gratuitous story. But, considering the audience that the movie is heavy, guitar-driven sound Thursday night at the Delta Center, Rossdale would stop, raise his arms andlisten to his female fans scream, And scream.And scream. In fact, many times during the ess RiP) can kill a child's appreciation. Whatcan I do aboutthis ongoing problem? — Deluged in Decatur Dear Decatur: Obviously, the situationis out of hand. It is up to you to put a stop tothis glut. First, get rid of the excess at once. Takeall but a few dolls to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Let the children decide which two or three they wish to keep. Inform Grandma thatthe children are to receive no more than one doll for Christmas and birthdays. Be firm about this, and if Grandma becomesupset, put the blame on me. evening, the applause and yells parody, but the crowd ate it up. An upbeat version of ‘“Glycer- ine,” done solo by Rossdale with a guitar, had the crowd singing along, armslifted and swayingto dale, who bearsa striking resem: the beat. Backed by drummer Robin Goodridge, bassist Dave Parsons and lead guitarist Nigel Pulsford, blance to INXS’ Michael Hutchence, cast his gaze their The band played most of its ma- terial from the album “Sixteen Stone” including exceptional versions of ‘‘Machinehead,” “Testosterone,"’ ‘‘Down From This Cloud” and “Everything's Zen,” which had people dancing in the Delta Centeraisles. the band showedanability to manipulate the audience's emotions. The group is a solid gathering of musicians, Pulsford being an exceptionally talented guitar player. Pulsford at times made his single guitar sound like sever- al. Simply stated, he is a master of Rossdale spent much of the time between songscreating distortion with his guitar and yelling into the microphone asif he just distortion and a_neck-bending toy. It had the makings of a self- ences are eagerly awaiting more. wanted to hear himself talk — muchlikea child with a loud, new fool of a guitarist whois quite fun to watch If Bush is any barometer for what is to come in pop music, are- na rock is back and Utah audi- pee Sandcastle Bountiful | FROM DUSK TUL DAWN & 798 $40 1240 ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 2 o 14:90 t48 400 RUMBLE IN THE BRONX ¢ 42:45 220 440 8:90 4048 12:20, DOWN PERISCOPE ro13 145 240 428 7:25 a8 1188 WARY REILLY @ ‘11:50 225 486 7:96 1025 LEANWIND LAS VEGAS 2 200 236 6:40 748 10:20 cor Git gift to a childis like water toa plant — atthe right time and in appropriate amounts, it is nourishing, but too much water can drown a plant and too manygifts nearly drownedout as throngs of ia To) oe do r teach them gratitude when the presents come so frequently andin such abundance? | ANN LANDERS Popular Band Certainly Isn’t Bush-League patriotism. “Barb Wire” is built on the producers’ desire to show aimedat, criticizingit is also gratuitons. (Gover I appreciate her thoughtfulness? Yes, I do, But my children don't. I want my kids to appreciate but both the gift and the giver, Dear Ann: In Florida, it has happened again. A 4-year-old boy side issues into the mix. Raising his head proudly above the din is Samuel L. Jackson, who mon Wayans), has defendedhis title again — but the gate receipts and pay-per-view take are down sharply, and Sultan can’t pay Roper’s $10 million purse. Sultan realizes, cynically, that the way to bring in a ton of moneyis to find a white fighter to challenge Roper. Grandma with not one, not two, put three or moregifts for each of my daughters, and always there Do areat least three or four dolls. JUMANJI ro ‘{Wi36 200 4:80 7:00 9:95 12:00 MR. WRONG Pats 1140 1:85 20 10:06 12:28 BED OF ROSES °o ‘88 206 420 738 480 ‘SHEEP. 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