Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_07_25/GC_25072002_E1_065.pdf 

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[ENTS 1
CINEMA REVIEWS
Q u i c k

^ J - l i c s A weekly guide to what's on at the cinema compiled by UNA SINNOTT
STUART LILTLE 2: The little mouse with the big i heart comes to the rescue of an injured bird in | his latest animated adventure. Michael J Fox, James Woods, and Melanie Griffith voice the animated characters. Kids will love the animal antics, while adults may balk at the saccharine portrayal of family life. THE CROCODILE HUNTER: Burly Aussie conservationist Steve Irwin brings his inimitable presentation to the big screen, with disastrous consequences. Irwin, tries to tie his real life career into a dodgy plot over international agents' slapstick attempts to capture a croc which has swallowed part of a crashed satellite. GOLDMEMBER: Mike Myers in back in this shagtastic third instalment for the, erm. world's sexiest spy. As usual, Myers plays multiple roles, including the evil arch villain Goldmember. Michael Caine is superb as Powers' estranged father.. Previews begin today (Thursday) BAD COMPANY: Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock play a mismatched crime fighting duo in a film which is more concept than comedy. Hopkins is a CIA agent whose partner is murdered, and must train his twin brother as an agent in nine days in order to save the world. The pair fail to develop the kind of chemistry seen in successful odd couple films. THE WARRIOR: A brutal henchman denounces violence and embarks on a spiritual journey in this parable from UK writer/director Asif Kapadia. Based on a Japanese folk tale, the unnamed warrior lays down his sword after having a vision, but his ruthless former master will not allow anyone to leave his j service, and a bounty hunt ensues. Hindi with j subtitles. SCOOBY DOO: Scoob and Shaggy are back in a movie that will appeal to children and those of us who have fond childhood memories of watching the hapless duo repeatedly bagging the M bad guys. However anyone who didn't enjoy the cartoons is likely to hate thi.

A not totally cheesy birthday girl

IN THESE jaded times, it appears that each new contender in the well-worn genre of romantic comedy has to have a 'twist'. This serves to lure potential audiences to what would otherwise be yet another boymeets-giri-but-there's-problems-ahead story. THE BIRTHDAY GIRL'S twist is that the girl in question is a Russian mail-order bride. Unfortunately, BIRTHDAY GIRL'S representation of Russians is simplistic and riddled with stereotypes, which detracts from the fact that the story itself isn't bad. John (Ben Chaplin) is a lonely bank clerk with no romantic life to speak of. To rectify this, he 'orders' Nadia (Nicole Kidman) from a website specialising in mail-order be recognisable to any Muscovite, although the somewhat brides, and goes to meet her at the airport. As it turns out, random translation might flummox him or her. Nadia doesn't speak English. Terrified that John will send Director Jez Butterworth's background is in theatre, which her back to Moscow, she promptly seduces him, and for a partly accounts for the attention to detail he demonstrates while they live together happily, if mutely. here. He is also ably served by his admirable cast. Chaplin is However, things abruptly become more complicated when at home in the role of the romantic lead, having been here Nadia's boisterous cousin Yuri (Mathieu Kassovitz) arrives, before in THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS, while with his equally rambunctious pal Alexei (Vincent Cassell) her usual luminous yet deep self on screen. Established in tow. The three promptly engage in traditional Russian French actors Cassell and Kassovitz seem to positively relish activities like downing vodka and eating borscht, leaving their roles of spiv-like petty criminals, each only just John stammering and bewildered. resisting the urge to ham it up completely. The story takes several turns in quick succession, which British rom-coms don't have a great track record, as reveal that Nadia is not the sweet docile fish out of water everyone's been trying to make the next FOUR WEDDINGS A that she appeared to be, as her relationship with Yuri and A FUNERAL for the last eight years (NOTTING HILL, any Alexei gradually becomes clear. John, meanwhile, becomes What saves BIRTHDAY GIRL from the straight-to-video more confused with each new twist in the plot. The cartoon cheesiness is the talent on offer, from the director to the characterisation of the Russians somewhat hampers the actors involved. Consequently, what could be a onestory's rapid, and fairly believable, progression; although all dimensional fromage fest becomes something slightly more three actors playing the Russian parts develop their subtle and convincing. characters further than they must have appeared on the page. Katie Moylan I am reliably informed that the Russian spoken here would

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Bad Company
NORMALLY, WITH Joel Schumacher directing a Jerry Bruckheimer movie you are thinking lots of special effects, lots of explosions, and as many car chases Those one-liners just have to come out somewhere. Hopkins does his best, even on the action sequences, but you know he's thinking 'what on earth have I got myself into this tim e?' The first Chris Rock we see is Kevin i Pope, an undercover agent for the CIA. He and his partner Gaylord Oakes (Hopkins) are trying to buy a "device" from an unscrupulous Russian mafia boss Adrick Vas (Peter Stormare). The device just happens to be a nuclear weapon that fits in a briefcase. However there are others who want the device and will do anything to get it. Pope is killed saving Oakes' life. Enter the second Chris Rock as ticket hustler Jake Hayes. The CIA need him to impersonate his brother aso the deal can go through and they can save the world. In a few short days Jake must become the educated agent perfectly at home with classical music and fine wines and take on his brother's undercover persona of an antiques dealer. However, there is the little matter of those rival buyers. Watch for how Hopkins gives Rock his wake up calls. Somehow, I think, his enjoyment of those scenes wasn't just acting. Michele Viney

Right at the start there is Chris Rock, but never as you have seen him before, there are no wise cracks, no huge cheeky grin, and what is more he is even acting. Then they go and kill him MINORITY REPORT: Tom Cruise plays an officer in an elite futuristic pre-crime police unit who off. But wait, they haven't finished All those elements arc here, but you sets out to prove his innocence after he is mixing enough genres into this movie accused of the future murder of a man he has would hardly notice, the problem is yet, because there is the more never met. Stephen Spielberg directs this they decided lo try to make the non recognisable Chris Rock playing chess entertaining, if predictable, film based on a short action part of this action thriller funny. at ferocious speed in Central Park. It's story by cult s c i - f i writer Phillip K Dick. In America when they think funny, the long-lost twin brother. Naturally they think Eddie Murphy, and the new now Hopkins has to train the over-theSPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON: Animated "Eddie Murphy" on the block is Chris top Chris Rock to impersonate the western from Dreamworks which follows a wild Rock. BAD COMPANY is also a buddy stallion on his journey across the American more suave, sophisticated Chris Rock. movie with a fish-out-of-water twist so frontiers. A simple story which provides Unfortunately we never really see they team Chris Rock with Anthony beautiful widescreen animation and enough the cool and collected acting that was Hopkins. anthropomorphism to allow the animals to so surprising at the start of the movie. convey their story without resorting to speech or comedy antics or, worse still, bursting into song. HOW HARRY BECAME A TREE: Colm Meaney plays a litter cabbage farmer whose hatred of his neighbour anifesls itself physically. This surreal comedy from a Chinese story but is set in post4

SNOWDOGT: A Miami dentist who hates dogs [ (Cuba Gooding Jr) enters a trans-Alaska sled

Sir Aaihony Hopkins and Chris Rock ponder their next move in BAD