Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 69

E28 ve Friday, December 27, 1996 Latest 'Land Before Time' is best one yet 1 I 11113 By Randy Myers Knight-Ridoer Newspapers Sonny "Carnosaur" can't get past those rubber dino monsters that make Barney look scary. Heck, a fourth-grade science project could come up with something more realistic. (R: Graphic violence, dinos dining on cut-rate actors. If the sight of grisly appendages strewn on the floor is your idea of entertainment, "Carnosaur 3" can't be beat The plot, as if this film even needed one, finds a getting-chubby Scott Valentine as a grizzled Special Forces commander called in to exterminate hungry carnosaurs that escaped during a botched terrorist raid (don't ask). Besides the obvious problem of casting Valentine as a junior-league Rambo (hey, why not just cast Al nCTAMFMIMO OfltW CAArt AHf DACTAC In Historic Nob Hin Off Street Paridng Defcinus Sour Sdads 31 09 Central HE 2C3-9250 FuJUquor Take-out Oders Monday through Thursday 11a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Friday Saturday H1 1 1:30 p.m. Sunday Noon-10 p.m sequel is the best While "Land was a tad too scary, "Land II" a little too wimpy and "Land III" a minor success, "Land IV" shows this series is far from extinct. "IV" is a lively and tuneful addition as tiny dinos Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike search for a plant with mystical powers that could save Littlefoot's grandpappy. MCAUniversal Video finally gets the foolproof Disney formula with wicked villains and all down pat, perhaps a little too much so. The chief offender is a forgettable tune sung by a palsied Granny Dino that features the refrain "Circle of Life." I wonder what the Disney lawyers will think about that.

But what "IV" might lack in hippity-hoppity Top 40 songs, it more than makes up for with two inventive and clumsy villains, a nasty bird and a dumb crocodile. They have a show-stopping number worthy of anything from Mickey Co. (G: Nothing offensive.) "CARNOSAUR 3: PRIMAL SPECIES" 1 star No one's going to accuse the Roger Corman video factory of being original. Certainly that's the case in this second sequel to a horridly popular series about Dinosaurs come in all shapes, sizes and ratings. Such is the case with The Land Before Time IV" and "Carnosaur 3," two direct-to-video releases.

In one corner, you've got your cute plant-eating beasts the kind that break out in a song-and-dance routine, talk like babies and live a zip-a-dee-doo-dah existence. They come from the Gentle Kingdom and are usually G-rated. In the other cor-ifer are the human-hungry monsters the kind that crack heads open like eggshells, growl like Roddy Piper and live a "let's-goeat" existence. These specimens come from the Very Bad Kingdom and are usually rated R. When I have a choice between the two, I usually prefer the mean, nasty dinos of that "Jurassic Park" variety.

After all, I don't think dinosaurs were ever intended to be cute, coy and cuddly. Not this time, though, and here's why: THE LAND BEFORE TIME IV: JOURNEY THROUGH THE MISTS" 3 stars: Despite its cumbersome title, this third animated mm' 1 I I I Ji: III I I I I i i I I I I I I I I I I I I I JEIIUXZ 1 1 I I I I I I I I I I If Ybiii iHirift In- Qi A biisin dministra- Yes, I'm interested in the Executive MSA Program. masters degree i far high-potdntiM tion desi mandgers with fat work 3 years of experience, Intensive won't 2-: gram mat pn year; interrupt I plan to attend the open house on January 4. I can't attend, so please send me more information. your career Eyery-otheriwekehd format with LI classes on rriday aiternoqns and Saturday mornings Name Address befeeldctetifdrtHe Candidates how 10979 Program beginning in July fTSff CityState Zip Code Phone HE LITTLEFOOT AND HIS CUTE DINOSAUR FRIENDS ARE BACK IN "The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists." am.

td 00 12 Saturtiajt January 4, 10: hoqn Anderson Schools of Management 924 Las L6mas UNM Campus, MAIL TO: Management Development Center Anderson Schools of Management The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-1221 Los Angeles Times I I I 4. "Striptease" 5. "Mission: Impossible" 6. "Dragonheart" 7. "The Cable Guy 8.

"Primal Fear" 9. Toy Story" 10. "Fargo" The week's Top 10 video rentals, as compiled by Billboard Publications 1. "Independence Day" "Eraser" 3. "Nutty Professor" PHONE OR FAX: Phone: 277-2525 FAX: 277-0345 The University of New exico CA-2 I- i -1 t'VP- i.