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Show The Salt Lake Tribune CALENDAR Friday, November 18, 1994 Ww: ‘Swan Princess’ Enchanting Animated Tale Kak The Swan Princess Surprise! A non-Disney animated film that’s actually good. By Sean P. Means THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. You've seen the commercials in which a new product is compared with “the leading brand.” In termsof animation, the leading brandis the mighty Walt Disney Studios. The new kid on the blockis ‘‘The Swan Princess,” and it gives Disney a run forits money. The film displays muchof the wit, charm and creativity that havelet the Mouse Factory corner the market for so long. Thestory is a simplefairy tale: Princess Odette is destined almost since birth to marry Derek, the v prince-next-door. As children, forced to spend their summerstogether, they can’t stand to be in the same kingdom together. Then Jean-Bobthe frog and Speed the turtle plot Swan’s escapepuberty sets in, and they fall in love. Enter the evil enchanter Rothbart (menacingly voiced by Jack Palance),still seeking revenge for being banished by Odette’s father. Rothbartspirits Odette awayto a secluded lake andcasts a dreadful spell on her: She is a swan and can become human only when the moonlight touches the lake. Her only hope is for Derek to find her and break the spell with a public vow of everlasting love friends, a self-important French frog (John Cleese) and a laconic turtle (Steven Wright), are wonderful comic foils. (Other voices include Sandy Duncan and Salt Lake actor James Arrington.) Director Richard Rich (an Ogden native) also creates someinventive set pieces and fast-paced musical numbers — with music written by Utah’s own Lex de Azevedo, cocreator of “Saturday's Warrior.” “The Swan Princess” (rated G) is a pleasant surprise: a sweet car- The fun comes largely from the supporting roles: Odette’s toon that will entertain children and keep parents amused, too. Capt. JamesT.Kirk (William Shatner,left), Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) saddle up. Mamet’s ‘Oleanna’ Asks New ‘Star Trek’ Anything But Stellar tke Star Trek: Generations A not-so-successful Enterprise. By Sean P. Means THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE First, a confession: I’m a Trekkie. Have beensinceI wasthesize of a tribble. So it brings me no joy to say that “Star Trek: Generations” is a less-than-stellar attempt to bring Picard, Riker, Data and company into the motion-picture galaxy. Thefilm opensin the late 23rd century, with retired Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner, of course) attending the maiden voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise-B. Thetrip is a milk run until a distress call forces the new ship’s captain to ask Kirk for help. (There is an early indication of this movie’s problems when you see the Enterprise-B’s captain, played by Alan Ruck. This guy wouldn't drive his dad’s Ferrari in “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” — and Starfleet gives him the keys to a starship?!? Illogical.) The galactic peril Kirk faces is the Nexus, an energy ribbon where time literally standsstill. The Enterprise-B pulls some survivors out of the Nexus, including 3605 $0. OPEN AT 5:45 A 2660258 SUNDAY sot SINDAY HARRISON FORD “CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER”(Pc-13) :00 8:30 Sat. Mat, at 2:00 4:30 7:00 : COATT “Vandermeide evenoh at 14:00 Fret Fastest Every Sat. Night 88TH Week! two familiar faces: Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) and a mad scientist named Soran (Malcolm McDowell). Fast-forward 78 years to the Enterprise-D, which finds the long-lived Soran on board a damaged solar observatory. We soon learn Soranis workingwith those Klingon babes, Lursa and B’Etor (if you don’t watch “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” just nod and pretend you’re hip), to destroy stars. Soran’s planis to alter the course of the Nexusso he can get back in. After 90 minutes of poking through the plot at sublight speed, Picard finally gets to the moment all Trekdom has been waiting for: when Kirk and Picard join forces to stop Soran and save the galaxy — again. Alas, this meeting betweenthe twogods of the “Trek” pantheon is a letdown of universal proportions. Thebiggest problem with ‘Star Trek: Generations” is that the crossover from TV to moviesisn’t complete yet. The film’s production values — especially John A. Alonzo’s cinematography and the Industrial Light and Magiceffects — are movie-quality. Unfortunately, the script (by “Next Gen- pred AR athe s as0-0568 328 WES! 3800 SOUTH 575-3870 $3 ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6 PM * STAR 9:50 TREK: GENERATION (PG) 5:40 help from producer Rick Berman) and the direction (by David Carson, whohelmed the “Deep Space Nine” pilot) arestill locked on the small screen There's an atmosphereofhastiness throughoutthefilm (not surprising, since production began only days after the last “Next Generation” episode was filmed). Scenes are edited haphazardly, plot threadsare started that never finish, and the writers have painted themselves into a nasty corner with thefinale. Most of the supporting ensemble (including oldtimers James Doohan and Walter Koenig) have little to do — except for Brent Spiner as Data, experiencing emotions for the first time, in scenes that draw somelaughs before becoming tiresome. In “Star Trek: Generations” (rated PG for mild violence and a single swear word), the original Enterprise officers pass the movie torch to the Enterprise-D crew. Next time, let’s hope they run with it. Warp speed, Mr. Data. \ * SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT NO PASSES OR DISCOUNTS YZ te Oleanna A confrontational drama about what men and womensay, and don't say, to each other. By Sean P. Means THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE “Oleanna” is not a movie to like. Director-writer David Mamet doesn’t want you to like it. He wants you to confront it and argue about it. A student (Debra Eisenstadt) wants to discuss her failing grade with her professor (William H. Macy). She doesn’t understand the course, despite taking copiousnotes and readingthe prof’s book. He has no time to talk — he’s dealing with a tenure committee and trying to close the deal on a new house. What is Mamet trying to say in “Oleanna’? That depends on your point of view. It could be interpret- He tries to explain his theories. She says she ed as a wake-upcall to aging white males, warning John (William H. Macy) confronts Carol (Debra Eisenstadt) in “Oleanna.” doesn’t understand the classwork. Sheis afraid of flunking out. He calls higher education “ritualized hazing” that has replaced real learning. Shecalls herself s:upid. He offersto give her an A in theclass if she will return for future talks. She confessesthat she’s a bad person. Hetries to reassure her, even putting a hand on her arm. that wordsandgestures that seem innocuous actually are harmful. Perhaps it’s a screed against victim- hood, in which minority groups perceive affronts from every corner. Or maybe it’s a warning against the creeping influence of “political correctness,” whereoutsiders can pass judgment about your be- ActII deals with the consequencesof that meeting. She has interpreted his actions as sexual harass- havior even in the most personal circumstances. The characters, likewise, are open for argument. Is the professor a manipulative power-player, or just ment. With the backing of a campusfeminist group, out of touch? Is the student a wide-eyed innocent she hasfiled charges against him with the tenure buffeted by others’ opinions, or is she a stealth femi- nist trying to entrap the professorin his own words? “Oleanna” (unrated, but probably R for language and violence) doesn’t give away any answers.Butit committee. He fears losing his house and his job — everything he has workedfor. She has no sympathy: “Do you know what you've worked for? The power. ... You've worked 20 years for the right to insult me.” will ask the questions that will keep you arguing all night long DRINK FROM ME AND LIVE FOREVER “Mesmerizing. Sumptuous. Haunting. Playful and bo chilling. ‘These guys may be undead, but they're rop-dead, too.” PECCMI + THE SANTA CLAUSE (PG) 5:20 7:25 9:25 * LION KING (G)5:20 7:20 9:20 + STARGATE (PG-13) 4:45 7:10 9:35 %& THE WAR (PG-13) 4:50 9:30 All the Right Questions eration” writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, with story best films of the year.” AORTANSD Om MeCURTIN ICCC Uvaal ATOR aS) “Hypnotic, sca ON aanNM UN Bult acious, riveting Tom Cruise performance.” SS. Scena ic. A real breakthrough. As beautiful asit is chilling,” TOM CRUISE INTERVIEW 7 eRe nate VAMPIRE ESTAUL RG SOIT G ns) ]}H/AHE BRAD PITT ANTONIO BANDERAS STEPHEN REA ANI) CHRISTIAN SLATE - etsy “140 2:40 4:40 7:10 vo nat8 Se name * S ! |
