Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 66

Cfucajo TfiDur, Monday. Ctecenwi 20 1982 (Chicago tribune charities) Tempo Lack of dramatic tension dooms Jim Henson's 'Dark Crystal' i KM By Gone Sskel Mom ate "Tr Dark CrytU!" MtrU-rwiaxv: 6 lav muppa COURSE, good going to Sr Jaa wini axel fim Ot; )) might as well have had the ushers eome around and huper in our ears, Don't worry, there's going to be a happy ending And the resultant aUence of dramatic tension cripples "Crystal," which doesn't have much else going for it save for sonte weird charae-ters, who look like they just walked Oi i triumph over evil in a (airy tale such tut "The Dark Crystal," but must we be told Mae a i emv rmmm, ewavewe t4 1 Ciisas stoma, fta F'ewa. uieael Ptttwiee leteeee mt that is going to happen at least three times during the ftrtt hour ot the picture? The maker of "tYystal" TMC voces THE NUTCRACKER A delight for all ageil December 17-Ianuary 2 Owes emrmmm Ci etWa0lfc(stH Kjaswyai in Eastwood acts as mere plot device in 'Honkytonk Man' at the Arie Crown Theatre Hum Ot in from the bar u-vim in "Star Wars." In fact, a of this movie looks like was ri4d off from "Star War "Crystal" is an all Muppet style adventure from Muppet creator Jim lienson. And instead ot young, fWh-and blood heroes fighting the evU Don.ii Vader on a diatant planet, we have a couple of foam rubber looking cutie. called tieliiings.

battling the evU Skekae. group of 10 vulturelike creatures, fur potaeaaion of a shard of crystal, which, in Me rignt hands, will restore peace and tranquility to a foreign world. Instead of those great metal elephant like walkers in "The Empire Strikes Back," "Crystal'' gives us a pale imitation in the form of gawky land Binders, which look exactly like what they are in some shots a couple of acrobats inside an elongated horse costume. And though our heroes don't have a pet robot, they do have a pet dog of sorts, a genuinely cute little furball named Fuzgigg, who has a great bark and two sets of teeth. HEARING THIS criticism, the film so dreary, in fact, that it is a genuine pleasure to see soiitrthmg as simple and clean as a bubbling brook or a green field The film is set on a planet facing Puomsday unless someone can replace the missing shard in the purple crystal that in some way governs this world.

Jen and Kira, who took a bit like Donny and Marie Osmond as Muppets with pointy ears a la Mr. 5jxx.k, are charged with the responsibility, or so it is written in the prophecy that we're forever being reminded about. The best the film can do is throw out a bunch of wild characters along the film's certain path to world Eace and tranquility. An old wise dy named Aughra, who comes across as an English Shelley Winters, is a repetitious bore. Fuzgigg, that little doggie, is a delight.

The meanest of the vulture-like Skekses is a so-so villain. And so it goes. One has to admire the enterprise of making a reported 125 million movie without human actors, but another $500,000 for a fresh script would have been money well spent. Older tickets lodeyi(IU) 791 6000 I Viv. MjsterCatd and American tspieu accepted Ticket prices: Main Floon 111 00 and 110 50 Balcony: $10 50.

$7 50. and $150 maker of Crystal" would probably argue that "Star Wars" itself was ripped off other sources but we weren't that aware of it while the film was on the screen. "Star Wars" had a freshness in character and energy that is missing here, "Crystal" has a strange took for a film ttiat will appeal mostly to youngsters, from 8 to 12. Conceptual designer Brian Froud has created a dark world where purple and black dominate. The overall tone of the Also available at Arte Crown Theatre "Honkytonk Man" Mini-review: Nice try Produced anal mnc4 ky CM bama; ttw paary ay Clancy UfiM baa aa Ma wo aneaa-aapAM by aVuc aortaaa, anna ay ftnn waa-ta, aviate ay ta Oott, Wanow aroa mini a) ttaw Tovaf and noagntMKMXM) ini Rata O.

THf CAST PM MoVaal Cam taataoa WM KytataMvood. Onndpa Jono Btewa aaawlsno AMU Kantn brany Vaina 9toam box office and all Ticketron outlets, including Tribune Tower (f hirap Tribune MOTION ICTUlii Itl. lun Chkalain1 MOTION PICTUill 1st. Bun Chlcogalarvd MOTION PKTUill Itl. tun CMcagalarHi MOTION HCTUill 1st.

tun Chlcogoland MOTION nCTUHS 1st. Bun Chlcagalanei MOTION lICTUlf 1st. Run CKIcaaalanel RICHARD PRYOR JACKIE GIXASON The neu est tunniest of them THE WILDEST, FUNNIEST ACTION THRILLER OF THE YEAR. By Gene Siskel Movm cmc CUNT EASTWOOD will go down in film history as one of the most Independent stars who ever lived. Eastwood, 52, could easily make "Dirty Harry" films for the rest of his life.

But his goal appears to be to see just how much he can stretch himself both as an actor and as a filmmaker. "Honkytonk Man" is the ninth film Eastwood has directed, and he couldn't have calculated a quieter, lower-key starring role for himself. Eastwood plays Red Stovall, a boozing country and western singer who sees a shot at the Grand Old Opry as his one chance for salvation from the bottle and from his dust-bowl home. Making the journey from Texas to Nashville with Red, in a huge convertible that he doesn't know how to drive, is his teenage nephew Whit nicely played by Eastwood's own son Kyle, IS and his nephew's grandfather. The trip turns out to be as much of a rites-of-initiation journey for Whit as it is a purification ritual for Uncle Red.

Whit is introduced to women and booze and the blues, and it's the kind of trip that a lot of young men woould love to make and treasure for the rest of their lives. So far, so good. THE ONLY problem with "Honkytonk Man," and it's a considerable one, is that Eastwood isn't particularly believable as Red, who therefore comes across as more of a plot device than a living, breathing character. Eastwood has the clothes right: He's the kind of old-fashioned country singer who wears a dark suit, tie and 10-gallon hat and walks slightly slumped over with his shoulders rolled forward. Maybe the character is too much of a stretch for an actor we just saw hijacking a Russian bomber in "Firefox." I would say so, except that a couple of years ago, Eastwood successfully played a character similar to Red Stovall in "Bronco Billy," which is my favorite Eastwood-di- rected film.

Billy, like Red, was a bit of a charlatan and a dreamer, but one never doubted that he existed. The difference may be that "Bronco Billy" was the main show in his film, whereas in "Honkytonk Man," Red often takes a back seat to his nephew Whit and thus we see Red as more of a host to the events of the film rather than a living, breathing participant. Another, more basic problem with Eastwood's credibility as a country singer is that he can sing well. Other than that, "Honkytonk Man" is full of familiar, mostly pleasing, low-kev incidents that sometimes are more familiar than pleasing. Whit's visit to a bordello is cute but familiar.

The picking up of an off-beat girl along the road is more of device than anything else. "Honkytonk Man" is never a bother to experience; it's just too laid back to be believed. And when we see other characters in the film respond positively to his singing, we don't buy it. FILM NOTE: It's official. The Fine Arts I and II, those two new movie houses at 410 and 418 S.

Michigan replacing the Studebaker and World Playhouse theaters, will open Christmas Day with two fine art films, Jerzy Skolimowski's "Moonlighting" and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Veronika Voss." The theaters have worked out a special parking deal four hours for $3 with the garage across the street from the nearby Auditorium Theatre, Congress Parkway and Michigan Avenue. ntu muki-aiui mam umiu RASWR SI Ml HI SI. IXVII) MVIN HI SHI XI IDM MAKI) Ml II K.AN HIASNA 11 MIIV I APK IM S.OM HI LIK.OIA hAHVf kOKMAS HI Rl kllHK Ml HISRV MAM ISI MIIH BV BIAkf tlAR(S miNPlAY BV I ASK VlAII)MA ItlM WAUJMAN HLAKI I IJ ARIA t.fuf KM MWAkS PR(II' (1) BV BlAkl lARI ASI) KINV ADAMS HUM Tll BY RlAkl inviARDS -r Tri iliiiri'ir' if STATE-LAKE CORONET EDENS Chicago Evanston Northbrook WOODFIELD HILLSIDE SQ. Schaumburg Hillside MERCURY OGDEN 6 ORLAND SQ. Elrrwood Park Naperville Orland Park EVERGREEN LINCOLN MALL Evergreen Park Malteson NOW SHOWING CHICAGO LAKESHORE PLAZA I imo 782-701 1 UiHnKO JJ7-41I4 Chir ami 5 1 00 BOLINGBROOK BREMEN HulinHiiriKik 7IU JSHII inlav f-ira 4JU-I0I0 CENTURY DIANA DUNES PLAZA H.ilfnian KtlMltti BB2-4Wi7 llumiiwoud 7yB-H40 IN 2 19 3(MJ7(JO EVERGREEN FOREST PARK GOLF MILL Kvunremi Hark 6 IMMW0 Kuroal I'arl 77I-4JJ7 Nll 2Mb0O HILLSIDE SQ.

NORRIDGE OGDEN 6 Hillude MI-6UUI NiirrulliH5a.ou0 Naporville 317-5050 RIDGE PLAZA TOWN COUNTRY tinllilh. IN 2IH ArliriHlim llBiahU 255-4000 PLAZA BARRINOTON SQUARE 6 Chicago Hoffman Bstataa NORRIDOE WILLOW 0REEX Itorriags Palatlna HILLSIDE SQUARE EVERGREEN HUlalda Cvargrean Park RIDOE PLAZA RIVER OAKS Griffith, IH Calumat City RIVER OAKS SOUTH LAKE MALL Mernllville, IN Calumet City 1st. Run Neighborhood 1st. Run Neighborhood (NTERTAINMENT GIFT BOOKS onSeitNOWl) This Christmas you can do something to overcome your fear of flying or you can go see. Al ie WON THRU SAT All SHOWINGS BEFORE 6rM la SUNIHOIIDATSIIDSTMATINEISHOWONIV ALL THOSE WHO PURCHASED TICKETS FOR OPENING NIGHT, PLEASE CALL 853-8000 The Perfect Last Minute Christmas Gift "A MUSICAL MADE IN HEAVEN." Time Magazine Share The Joy Share The Magic Share The Wonder This Holiday geaon.

BURT REVNOLDS QOlDtE HUWN "BEST FRIENDS" i J0 i 45-5 M0 i5u iP6- MEflVL STHEEP IN IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT 4 f. 6 '0 FIRST BLOOD" (R 4 9 'C STARTS WED KISS ME OOODBVi MARV TVLER MOORE I StX WEEKS" 't, A' pg PAUL NEWMAN IN THE VERDICT" i SO 20 9 'jQ 1R1 PAUL NEWMAN IN "THE VERDICT 2 -4 35-7 15 6 45 (HI BURT REYNOLDS IN "BEST FRIENDS" Wl. 3 35 5 0b lti iPlj. DUDLEY MOORE IN "SIX WEEKS" 1 OS-3 i 7 3S 9 lrj Pf. i UA 4ml the Extraterrestrial UMIVIRSAl IT SHihlOs INI CM THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL ET Ml 30 10 1 MEtOI SONO Ml 30 3 30 JO -O.

I Uttm EAST TIMES 7 30 9 30 CLINT EASTWOOD IN "HONKY TONK MAN" i 15 340 6 6 '5 10 30 'PGt THE DARK CRYSTAL' i' 'b '0 4 SO 40 9 30 iPOi AIRPLANE II THE SEQUEL 45 34S 45 -45 945 Previews Begin December 28 TICKETS AT BOX OFFICE TICKETRON OUTLETS iSears and Tribune Towerl TELETRON (312)454-8400 CHARGE IT BY PHONE (312) 853-8000 CIVIC OPERA HOUSE 20 N. Wackcr Drive Chicago DUSTIN HOFFMAN IN TOOTSIE iRi 1 30 3 3' 6 0 '6 PROSPECT Ml Prolprcl 2-74) SKOKIE Skukir67)-42I4 TIVOLI Dnwnrr Grove 968-02 IV TRADEWINDS Hannvrr Park 2RSMi707 WH EATON Whcalon 66H-I6H0 YORK tlmhuMt RI4-Oh75 PAUL NEWMAN IN "THE VERDICT" i NICK NOLTE IN 48 HOURS PGj ADELPHI Chicago 7M-I6W ATLANTIC Chioso SW 762-WV BRIGHTON hicago 92 7-0095 DAVIS Chicago LOGAN Chicago NW PATIO Chicago NW 7)6-1010 RAMOVA Chic.go-S 927-5S157 RHODES Chic.gii 874-0H55 TIFFIN Chicago-NW 1421)12 DUPAGE Uimbard 624-OVSO GLENWOOD (ilcnwood 754- )200 HOOSIER Whiling2l M9-I2I4 LAKE Oak Park H48-90HH OLYMPIC Cicrro652-IMS PARK FOREST Park porl 747-hOhO PICKWICK Park Ridge H25.5HOO AIRPLANE II THE SEQUEL WM'V 'ii-'iv v', A -i i', S'Af WJH tISMJ -A. i '-'l'1 i i (' "ViSfli A CLINT EASTWOOD IN "HONKY TONK MAN" BURT REYNOLDS IN BEST FRIENDS" iPGi THE DARK CRYSTAL as lllll'll Ml CHICAGOLAND NORTHWEST 9m ok eat re CALL THEATRES FOR SHOW TIMES. WATER TOWER FORD CITY East PORTAGE Chicago Chicago Chicago OLD ORCHARD BARRINCTON SO. 6 Skokle Hoffman Estates WILLOW CREEK STRATFORD SQ.

YORKTOWN Palatine Bloomlngdale Lombard LA CRANCE ORLAND SO. GRIFFITH PARK La Grange orland park Griffith, in NORTHWEST 1 LOVELIEST ADULT THEATRE AND MEIQHBORHOOD. IN THE COUNTRY DOWNTOWN toru irecion NORTH CI 1111 EACTUJAf-iri HONKY TONK MAN UiiMmmiaUtMimMm AIRPLANE II en 4 Q0-er4O-10: 1 NEAR NORTH NEAR NORTH "TITILLATION" Kmen Nalibidad 10 30-1 35-4 35-7 45-10 45 "TIFFANY MINX" X-RATEO LOOP EXCLUSIVE "YOUNO 1 INNOCENT" Plua "THE FLASH" "OUTLAW LADIES" "TWILIGHT PINK" CREEPSHOW 9 05 "WOLFEN" 7 15 (R) MILFORD 12 30-3 45 I iwri 7 00-10 00 Llvt! LIVE! PIRANNA niRIFNF O'DAV HOLIDAY AT THE FIRST AvNER THE ECCENTRIC December 4-24 Tue-Frl 10:30 am 12 00 Noon Sat Sun 1 30 3:30 pm FIRST CHICAGO CENTER Daarborn of Madison' 732-4470 SPECIAL WEEKEND PARKING 40 S. Clark Sneer NEAR NORTH SOUTH Samantha Fox 9 00-12 10-9-15 Exclutlvety Contracted to Premlvre nt the Admiral February 4th DEBBIE DOES DALLAS' (Pari 2) BRING YOUR CAMERAS! st? TONITE AT 8 CRITICS' CHOICEI "IT'S JUST TERBIRCI A FUNNY. TUNEFUL.

BEAUTIFUL. EXHILARATING SHOWI' Christiansen' Tribune 6TBONO VOICES. INGENUOUS STAQINO AND GUARANTEED LAUGHS! Syta Sun-Tlmea Little me WINNER 4 JEFF AWARDS "BEST MUSICAL 1982" A Marriott's Lincolnshire Prod. Pert Tues -Sun $13 to $17 Box Office ft Ticketron. Phone Reserv.

Visa And MC 266-0500 DRURY LANE THEATRE WATER TOWER PLACE -Roger Ebrt CHICAGO SUN TIMES "There is greatness in the extraordinary performances of Meryl Streep, Kevin and Peter MacNicol. Alan Pakula has responded to the challenge as a screenwriter while ascending to a masterful level of control as a director." -Gar, Arnold WASHINGTON POST Best Actress Meryl Streep Starring BAMfcJI WUUUS 764-0894 4614 Lincolr 5 OO 8 00 6 10 DAVIS 1 M0N. E.T. Robert Alimaii's Coma Back to the 5 Dima Jimmy Daan, Jimmy Dean LAST 2 DAYS' 6 00 I 00 10 00 THE 3 STOOGES" 7 15 ONLY TOOtSie I rYTTyn I ''-'-'J OPENS NEW YEAR EVE 8PM 1981 Tony Award, Best Musical 42nd STREET Previews: Dec 28, 29 30 8PM: 30 00, 26 00, 17 50 Dec 29 2PM; 22 50. 17 00, 1250 Opening: New Year's Eve 8PM: 40 00.

30.00, 20.00. Reg Pert Schedule: Tues. Wed ft Thurs Eves 8PM: 32 50, 27 50. 18 50. Wed Mat 2PM: 25.00.

18 50, 13 50. Fri ft Sat Eves 8PM; 37 50, 27 50, 16.50. Sat Mat 2PM: Sun Mat 3PM: 30:00. 27.50. 16 50.

Tickets at Box Office, Ticketron ft Tele-tron, CIVIC OPERA HOUSE 20 Wacker Or. Chicago, Illinois Charge by Phone (312) 853-8000 Group Sales (312) 236-6661 I LIVE MOVIE STAR ANNIE SPRINKLE 12:30 3:45 7:00 10:00 FACETS MULTIMEDIA 1517 Fullerton 284-41 14 "Not A Love Story" EPLUS 2 RATED ADULT FILMS PBCIAL CONTEST Fni I HimkutiHtfi Man till I ie 1548 CLARK VILLAGE 6422403 ERE RT-SISKEL OFFICER a A OErlTI.EMW"710-9 30 raTal'liBM LAST WEEKS Tha Hit Romantic Musical Special Holiday Performances Brigadoon Tuea Dec 21: 8 30PM, Wed Dec 22: 2 Thurs Dec 23: (Christmas Day 6 ALL TICKETS $10) Sun Dec 26: 3 a Spend New Years Eve In BRIGADOON tram S37.0S per person Including dinner. Visa MC'Amax. Tickets at Bon Office a Ticketron. MARRIOTTS LINCOLNSHIRE THEATRE Lincolnshire, IWnols 634-0200 i a motion picture about pornography i in (VI in EVERY 04 UNTIL 6-30 P.M.

Lawancs NORTH crt 400 761-1700 2.50 AN OFFICER a A GENTLEMAN 7 00 9 10 THE VERDICT 2 15-4 45-7 15-9 45 bargain price rii 1st show There are still some things we have yet to imagine. SOPHIE'S CHOICE DEVON Til 5 1: Clark A Diverse, 929-9555 THE TipY Tumi of Hi hut risiHiii i-l Ulia 473 Iti-ioMi 79344404 fa LUNA ALL SEATS ALL DAT 1 OFFICEB OENTLEMAN 7 00 915 PETER PAN 740 D'SNEYS "FELLINI'S ROMA" 5 00 9 45 "CITY OF WOMEN" 7 10 Special Holiday Performance TOMORROW AT 6 00 PM Gin Certificates Available! X-Mas Night Pert at 8 00 PM New Year Eve 6 30 ft 9 30 PM VERY FUNNY" New York Times "MAXIMUM YUCKS Chicago Magazine "SPARKS FLY" Chcego Tribune "YOU'LL LOVE IT Roy Leonard. WON Shear madness A Comedy Whodunit Tues Wed. Thurs Eves 8PM Sun 3 ft 7 30PM 13 00 Sat X-Mas Night 8PM: 16 00 Fri New Year Eve 6 30 ft 9 30PM 20 00 Tickets Box Office ft Ticketron Outwts mayfajr theatre B'eckstone Hotel Michigan at 6ekx-Chicego Ticket Into Cell (312) 786-9120 G-oup Seles Can (31?) 951-7683 Te-Tron Call (312) 454-8400 3nralalV 224 LincolrvJ8i.7200 rtlNNT Mxyi Sl-seo-Roy Scfwow STILL tm NIGHT PATIO "E.T." -SB" s.1.50 7 OO 9 OO I frtot fat mwil-nl WAV LAWRENCE RIVlCKA 561-5049 NEW OWNERS NEWIV MODERNIZED NEW HEAT FREE PARKING EMPLOYEE UPTOWN BANK LOT "1MPIRE STRIKES BACK" 7-9 X) iM-tNMI 1i HI 1 11 1 1 It SHOWING CARNEGIE ENGAGEMENT 102 Boh W4 THE NEW ADELPHI 4 7074 CLABK 764 3656 I E.T 6 30 8 40 aaaii asm a tMTwet ou.y WWnAL no Mim saooaAM AVONFr1.50 THE JURY 6 00 9 -MAN FROM HO NQ KQNQ" 7 58 ADVERTISERS: For Information regarding space In this directory call 222-3846 1230 2 05 3 40 "PETER Pan- 5 15 8 45 8 15 at 2 0C 4 25-e 50 9 2C BRIGHTON M.7S ai "a iati i 3m i ft li I 'I MEPHlSTO For the lastest MOVIE listings Turn to The Chicago Tribune McClurg Court Oiio St ENJOY LIFE GO OUT TO A MOVIEI fljt i1WII1IIb) looking FOR A GOOD MOVIIT.