Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 52

PHILADELPHIA' DAILY NEWS Page 53 Wednesday, Dec. 9. 1987 At its best, "The Last Emperor" inscribes this theme with scenes of great cinematic power. Often, Bertolucci works with doubled images. We see the young Pu Yi playing a game with his eunuchs in which they tnjr to feel him through a sheet, and then, years later, he makes love under a sheet with the empress (played with wonderful charm by Joan Chen) and his "secondary consort." The boy Pu Yi runs in vain after a motorcar carrying away his beloved wet nurse; the adult is unable to stop the car carrying away the empress, his last, best hope for love, now become a shriveled morphine addict.

"The Last Emperor" will be criticized for its relatively benign depic-tion of life in the re-education camp. And its screenplay could have used anoiher rewrite: in addition to the lack of exposition, whole sections seem unnecessary. But for all these faults, and even though its ambitions sometimes get the better of it, the film succeeds often enough to make us grateful that, even in our MTV age, a director like Bertolucci is still willing to get on the mat and grapple with Personality and History. Pu Yi, absolute emperor of China at age 3, dies a gardener in 1967 man's 1973 cult novel, somehow manages to incorporate both the pleasures of the adventure story and a very hip sensibility. Featuring Cary Elwes.

Robin Wright. Wallace Shawn and Andre the Giant. "THE RUNNING MAN." A futuristic fable filled with venomous violence and vile villains. Richard Dawson of "Family Feud" gives the performance of his life as a sleazebag game-show host in this, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie at its best. "THREE MEN AND A BABY." Title tells it, but here goes anyway: three New York bachelors fall in love with a baby girl left on their penthouse doorstep.

Pretty unsophisticated, but does have some tender moments. "SIGN O' THE TIMES." Prince's concert film. 'Nuff said. "SUSPECT." Cher plays a public defender who like every other woman lawyer in movies nowadays can't reconcile her principles with her hormones. The plot of "Suspect" is flimsy, but Cher turns in her usual good performance and director Peter Yates catches some nice nuances.

"TEEN WOLF TOO." The only scary thing "about this sequel to the Michael J. Fox movie of a couple of years back is the possibility that you might be bored to death, j- "THE WANSEE CANFERENCE." Riveting recreation of the 1942 meeting of German officials at which; Hitler's "Final extermination of the Jews was ratified. Extremely powerful moviemaking. "WOLF AT THE DOOR." Classics Illustrated version of a year in the life of the artist Paul Gauguin reverent, homogenized and deadly dull. Donald Sutherland is the painter; No stars.

Chinese Puzzle Movies Stunning 'Last Emperor is also confusing By BEN YAGODA Daily News Movie Critic he Last Emperor," the new 11 11 film by Bernardo Berto-U lucci, is about the real life of a real person named Pu Yi, who in 1908, at the age of 3, became the absolute emperor of all China. Although his reign only lasted until 1912, he was allowed to continue to live in Peking's Forbidden City and to keep his 1,500 eunuchs. This idyll was brought to an abrupt halt in 1924, when a warlord expelled Pu Yi from the Forbidden City. In the years that followed, he became the ruler of a Japanese puppet state in Manchuria, served five years in a Siberian prison after World War II, and in 1950 was returned to China, where he was "re-educated" by the Communists in another jail. Pap doned after nine years, he worked until his death in 1967 as a gardener the film remains hazy.

in the Peking Botanical Gardens. As a result, the audience's main impression of "The Last Emperor" will probably be confusion. This is a pity, since it is a film of frequent beauty and occasional brilliance. As might be expected from the director of "Last Tango in Paris" and "The Conformist," the principal concerns of "The Last Emperor" are politics and sexuality and the ways in which they intersect. As the film sees him, Pu Yi (a superbly disciplined performance by John Lone), because of the absurd power given to himj remained a child until very nearly the end of his life completely egocentric, lacking in any moral sense and unable to love.

Clearly, this was one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century, and my main complaint about "The Last is. that I wouldn't have been able to describe it as I did if I hadn't been holding a hefty press kit in my hands. Bertolucci and his scriptwriter, Mark Peploe, who tell Pu Yi's story from his assumption of the throne through his last years, give us precious i little help in deciphering the events we see. We never know precisely why Pu Yi was chosen for the throne (even the press kit doesn't help), the reasons for his peregrinations are not made sufficiently clear, and his collaboration wiih the Japanese the crux of THE LAST EMPEROR: A drama starring John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole. W-rected by Bernardo Bertolucci.

Screenplay by Mark Peploe with Bernardo Bertolucci. A Columbia release. Parental Guide: Rated PG-13. Implied sexuality, violence. irprHirrxvrprhirr mma SHOWTIME FOR TODAY ONLY MOTION PICTURE RATINGS: G-ALl AGES ADMITTED.

Gnrol Audience; PG-All AGES ADMITTED. Parental Guidance Suggested; PG-13 Parents should give guidance lor Children under 13; -RESTRICTED Under 17 requires accompaning Parent or Guardian; No one under 18 admitted. rOII TIIIIU I lUIDrilPf DIM 356-3300 157 BALA AVE. GIANT SCREEN 468-4695 2 Blks. N.

of City Ave ERIC TWIN CLIFTON HEIGHTS 623-8770 BALA 1908 Chestnut St. 567-0604 SAMERIC IV NARBERTHons Lriiu inin mnranoL rin Broomall MASTERPIECE AMC MARLTON 8 In Greentree Sq. 596-8288 $3.00 Til 7:00 $3 00 'Til 1:30 PM ERIC TWIN STRATFORD w3HorseFPkPNja $3 00 Til 7:00 The Running Man (R) Babv Boom IPG) ft ALL SEATS TONITE Y.DU $2.00 SR. CITIZENS ANYTIME Baltimore Pike at Bazaar S3.00 Til 7:00 On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times MAURICE The Running Man. (R) Suspect (R) 9 nc Twi-Lite ShowLtd.

Seats nr L.3J Senior Citizens All Times yXJJ (R) 8:15 Only Three Men And A Babv (PG) THE RUNNING MAN (Rl i THE STRANGER (R) t3o 340 3jo 8 00 lo.io TEEN WOLF TOO (PG) SUSPECT IR) PUERTO RICO PRINCE OF DARKNESS BELIEVERS Outlet Mall Rt. 1, Langhorne ERIC LINCOLN PLAZA ERIC 4 CONCORDVILLE ufifh THE PRINCESS BRIDE (PG) 7 STARTSFRIDAY.DEC.il EXCLUSIVE AREA 1st RON SHOWING THE COMEDY SENSATION OF THE YEAR! DANNY DEVITO-BILLY CRYSTAL (PG-13) THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN $3.00 Til 5:20 On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times Next to Oxford Valley Mall 752-2900 $3.00 Til 7:00 Hiding Out (PG-13) Dirty Dancing (PG-13) ERIC TWIN WESTMONT oSt. $3.00 Til 7 00 Teen Wott Too IPG) 15 Suspect IR) The Last Emperor (PG-13) Oirtv Dancing (PG-13) ruir tuiiu uirrT rnruru fliv Rt 202 Reduced Matinee lodav FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (PG-13) $2 FATAL ATTRACTION (R) 1 Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R) DIRTY DANCING (PG-13) CINDERELLA (G) THE HIDDEN (Rl 9:45 PM Only NUTS (R) 30 BARFLY (RT flt HELLO AGAIN (PG) $2 Barfly (R) Lnib inin ntoi uuonLn 1020 Paoii Pk $3.00 'Til 7:00 The Running Man (R) ERIC 4 MicDADE MALL oX $3.00 Til 7:00 -The Running (Wan (R) Teen WoH Too (PG) Dirty Dancing (PG-13) Flowers In The A the (PG-13) Three Men And A Babv (PG) ERIC 3 FAIRLESS HILLS '43-'400 ERIC TWIN WILLINGBORO $3 00 Til 7 00 The Running Man IR) Teen WoH Teg (PG) 1 DIT7 rilf Movies To Talk About Kill lilt 214 Walnut St. 925-7900 CHILDREN UNDER 6 NOT ADMITTED BARGAIN ADMISSION lsl SHOW DAILY DARK EYES (Rl MAURICE (R) 00 WOLF AT THE DOOR (R) I've Heard The Mermaids Singing (PG) I.I5-305-4.50 6.35-8.25 10 15 HOPE AND GLORY IPG) PIDITil 52nd above GR 3-2255 lArllAL Girard Ave. Cont.

12 Noon COPS -HORROR -ALIENS THE HIDDEN Also Cops On The Rampage Thriller Someone To Watch Over Me 140-5 00-8 30 Levittown Pkwv. Olds Blvd. $3.00 Til 7:00 rnin iiivmirmnnR The Running Man" (R) Less Than Zero (R) Teen WoH Too (PG) llUu-ninntnuUU 2S2 Lancaster Av. $3.00 'Til 7:00 Three Men And A Babv (PG) 30 Bargain Matinee Thurs. 1 PM $3.00 ERIC $3.00 Til 7:00 -The Running Man (R) On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times Three Men And A Babv (PG) AMC HILLSIDE 4 Rt.

130, Delran, NJ 4 Miles North of Pennsauken 22nd Market LO 7-0)24 ERIC4FEASTERVILLE Fea $3.00 Til 5:30 J2.50 'Til 7:20 PI'TflB 31 Castor 5-3915 lihiilunPii i THE RUNNING MAN Gimn Fatal Attraction mi f) DC Twi-Lite ShowLid. To Seats nt Ji.TJ Senior Citizens All Times ft'W CINDERELLA (G) (515 (a, DEADLY ILLUSIONS (R) 8:45 PM Only Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R) GCC DEPTFORO MALL 6 Oepitord Ctr. Road (Opp. Sears Auto.) S3.00 EVERY DAY Sefc 6 pm CINDERELLA (G) HELLO AGAIN (PG) 9 00 ONLY TEEN WOLF TOO (PG) DEADLY ILLUSIONS (R) FATAL ATTRACTION (R) DIRTY DANCING (PG-13) On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times ROXY SCREENING RMS 1 1 2 2023 SANSOM 561-0114 THE WANSEE CONFERENCE 6-i- 10 mn nirrninrnti! THE LAST EMPEROR (pg-w V-V-h? ERIC 3 PENN IERSEY $3.00 Til 7:00 On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times Three Men And A Babv (PG) Babv Boom (PG) BABY BOOM (PG) 2 IUU UUIKftULUUi! JU FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (PG-13) (6:15 (li! $2.95) i CHARLIE'S DREAM ADULT THEATRE 61st Passvunk Phila. 724-8507 3 TRIPLE XXX RATED FEATURES Continuous Showing 10 A.M.

'TM Closing TEMPLE CINEMATEQUE WOT s'- (XXX) RATH) FILMS (XXX) POSMIY ADULTS ONLY Forbidden Sex at its best Deep Rooted Family Secrets of Uninnibited Sexual Starring "KAY PARKER" and New Adult Starlet, "KIAABERLY WONG" Hustler rated this Explosive Sex, 110.. (X) TABOO III (X) PLUS: Purely lavish arousing Sexual TaDoos. Various Variety of Passion (X) TABOO II (X) Continuous from 11:00 AM Last Feature 10:30 PM THE HIDDEN IR) ERIC TWIN FRAZER Rt. 30 8. Malin Rd.

$3.00 Til 7:00 Baby Boom (PG) Teen WoH Too (PG) 8:45 PM Only FATAL ATTRACTION (R) 15:45 fe 449-6800 Township Line "MOZART: A CHILDHOOD CHRONICLE" (1976 7:30 PM COMPLETE VERSION (1976) 1 Mi. S. of W. Chester Orexel Hill $3.00 'Til 7:00 Babv Boom (R) COLINIAL 385 All Seats 125 The Princess Bride (PG) TflUllir TUtlU Levittown Shop, Ctr. Rt.

13 lUlNnt IWIn Wi 6-1000 Pk Fr. 6000 Cars mm ruriTor (n) 931-5994 NUULI I HIH I nt A 9 AM 12 PM CONT $2 50 Til 5:30 PM Disnev CINDERELLA (G) ONLY ERIC TWIN HORSHAM oK $3.00 Til 7:00 Baby Boom (PG) Dirty Dancing (PG-13) firunil Frankford Levick i VtlUn 333-4400 I 1st Run Free Parking 2 Loc. $1 710 Black Horse Pike, Mt. Ephraim 3000 Adm. Wilson Pennsauken GCC ECHELON MALI 4 Someroaie Rd.

N. of White Horse Pk. $3.00 EVERY DAY before 6 pm 1. FATAL ATTRACTION IR) 2. CINDERELLA (G) 100-3 3 THREE MEN AND A BABY iPG) 4 Planes, Trains A Automobiles (R) HELLO AGAIN (PG) ERIC'S PLACE $3.00 'Til 1:00 PM fatal beauty (r) 2.45-6:30-10:15, plus: death wish iv (r) S250-THE HIDDEN IR) 830 Only $2.50 Til 7:15 PM II Fatal Attraction IR) 541 Church Lane Fri.

Sal $1.50 All Seats rnin nruiioiiturii Rts. 73 923-C rOlf I DC TUMI Intersection 1-95 LKIl I-3J I WIN 8, Rt. 1. Wi 6-0900 $3.00 Til 7:00 Flowers in the Attic (PG-13) The Princess Bride (PG) Lniii i nun onunin 130 665-3322 ERIC TWIN ARDMORE aSSm J3.O0 Til 5:30 PM The Last Emperor (PG-13) BARFLY (R) 265-3456 $3,00 Til 5:30 P.M. MA 3-7060 $1.00 All Seals FATAL BEAUTY ERIC TWIN PLAZA, Rts.

202. 363 Expwv UflDTUflCT I Roosevelt Blvd. 676-ulib riUKINLflol welsh Rd. 1600 $3.00 EVERY DAY 6 PM 1. Planes, Trams Automobiles (R) 2.

FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (PG-13) 3 Barlly (R) 4 POSITIVE 1.0. (R) rnin Ttinu lira ninnr $3.00 'Til 7:00 The Last Emperor (PG-13) Three Men And A Baby (PG) The Running Man mW On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times Three Men And I Baby (pg) On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times The last Emperor (PG-13) WlO5 Mb IRin III -ftlUUi 8370 8. Ridge Av. $3.00 Til 7:00 The Running Man (R) Dirty Dancing (PG-13) -S" PLAZA CINEMA T'rn'rsVe, NJ 227-8989 MATINEE TODAY 1 PM STEPHANIE'S LUST STORY (X) LILLITH UNLEASHED (X) Eve. from 6 PM, Conl.

fr. 1 PM Last Complete Show 9:30 PM ERIC TON BAEDERWOOD Rle. 611 to Fairway Rd. East, Jenkintown S3.00 Til 50 On 2 Screens Your Choice Of Times The Last Emperor (PG-13) ERIC 3 ON THE CAMPUS $3.00 Til 7 00 MfirDTMDn 0n Clements Br. Rd.

UtrlrUKU 0 848-2400 Deotlord Mall 9:30 The Running Man jr Twi-Lite SnowLtd. Seats Senior Citizens All Times Reduced Matinee Today GCC PLYMOUTH MEETING MAL1 1 ft 2 Germantown Pk. Pa. Turnpx. 825-0312 DEADLY ILLUSIONS (R) FATAL ATTRACTION (Rl 720-945 G.C.C.

Tix Gift Books Now Available at Box Office ERICpaMOORESTOWN "IS, LESS THAN ZERO (R) Suspect Three Men And A Baby ipo Zj $2 9:20 $3.00 Til 1M Babv Boom IPG) THREE MEN AND A BABY IPG) ERIC TWIN BARCLAY SQUARE $300 Tit 70 THE PRINCESS BRIDE (PG) DIRTY DANCING (PG-13) 4:45 (a: $2.95 The Princess Bride IPG) The Last Emperor (PG-13) ERIC TRI STATE MALL 5 SSSSi ERIC KING i QUEEN 6 m- VALLEY FORGE SHOPPING CENTER 1 Mi. of Schuylkill Expwy. on Rt. 202 $3.00 Til BABY BOOM ipgimo LESS THAN ZERO THE RUNNING MAN THE PRINCESS BRIDE wl DIRTY DANCING SUSPECT rIS Add: Bargain Matinee Thurs. PM $3.00 jy.Vb)-V:JO Planes, Trains A Automobiles (R) 2O0-I5 I5 CO.

$2 State 8. Monroe Sts. 565-I Bl. W. of Balt'm Pk; 7116 $300 tii The Running Man (R) THE HIDDEN (Rl rnin mini nnnrr in On 2 Screens-Your Choice Of Times 30-1500(0) 5 951-7-45-9-55 tKlb llllfl KUUIt 00 Cherry Hill Mall ERIC RITTENHQUSE III $3.00 'Til 1:00 PM THE PRINCESS BRIDE (PG) Baby Boom (PG) BARFLY (R) FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (PG-13) Three Men And A Babv IPG) Adm.

$3.00 Suspect (R) 7:45 Only Mezzanine Screening Room Adm $3oo Jean DE Florette 745 omv TWILIGHT SHOWS SAT SUN. 145-15 15 li $3.00 Til 7:00 Flowers In The Attic (PG-13) 1O0-7 I5-9 IS Sign O' The Times (PG-13) ERIC TWIN CHESTNUT HILl in mm1 so. $3.00 Til 7:00 Baby Boom (PG) Three MM And it Baby (PG) NUTS IR) Teen WoH Toe (PG) 115-1415 iW $2 95 -7 00-930 20 THE RUNNING MAN IR) Flowers The Attic (PG-13) i' 1.00-7:15-9:15 1 -l4i (, $2ii-7 00-9-15 t..