The Idaho Statesman from Boise, Idaho • 44

An angry Brandon Lee "V' Bk ijKr' i Jk I qHHk no surprises Reviewed by Jack Garner Gannett News Service Brandon Lee the son of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee makes his debut in "Rapid a karate chop movie of the type his late father would clearly rec ognize Within its limited unimaginative form "Rapid has its moments and should entertain fans of martial arts action Though American in origin "Rapid is spiced with the high pitched action choreography peculiar to a lot of the Hong Kong action films along with the occasional flippant wit that has brought cult status to some of those movies The plot that propels "Rapid however is weighed down with the sort of narrative contrivances and cliches two dimensional Asian drug lords and US gangsters and domestic pseudo dra ma turn off viewers looking for more than kick spins karate chops and mucho gunfire Lee moves well on screen and is a handsome youthful actor The jury is still out on his reported ambitions to move beyond action films as an actor however for nothing here suggests or denies that possibility Rapid ire 00 Cast: Brandon Lee' Powers Boothe Nick Mancuso Director: Dwight Little Rating: strong action violence pro fanity Theaters: Nampa Cinemas Northgate Cinemas Opening today 1 Nampa Cinemas Northgate Cinemas Towne i Square The licks Towne Square Nampa Cinemas Northgate Cinemas fVi Merchant Ivory masterpiece film is as beautiful enthralling as the novel by EM orster Reviewed by Kathleen Carroll Knight Ridder Newspapers American director James Ivo ry has obviously found his greatest source of inspira tion in the novels of EM orster Ivory producer Ismail Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala cap tivated audiences with their award win ning adaptation of "A Room With a But their most memorable achievement to date is their incisive ex quisitely crafted interpretation of or true masterpiece "Howards They have done the impossible creat ed a movie of such sublime artistry that it is as rich and rewarding as reading the actual novel The movie takes place in Edwardian England its staid stultifying traditions are clearly on the verge of major changes as the technological advances of the in dustrial age threaten the very foundation of the empire In London they are already tearing down elegant Victorian townhouses and replacing them with monotonous apart ment houses Howards End on the other hand is a vine covered brick house deep in the heart of the English countryside and as such symbolizes the comforting stability of the past The house is the pride and joy of Ruth Wilcox who played with touching fragility by Vanessa Redgrave clings to traditional ways Having devoted herself exclusively to the service of her husband Henry (An thony Hopkins) and her irritatingly shal low children (played by James Wilby Jemma Redgrave and Joseph Bennett) she has decided to protect them from the fact that gravely ill She holes up alone in a rented London flat where she finds herself drawn to the Derrick SantinlSony Pictures Classics Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins share a tender moment Howards End 0000 Cast: Anthony Hopkins Emma Thompson Vanessa Redgrave Helen Bonham Carter Directon James Ivory Rating: PG Theater: The licks vibrant Margaret Schlegel (Emma Thompson) a woman who is everything not educated opinionated and highly independent Margaret is the very model of a modern woman She reads voraciously She talks constantly insist ing upon having intense political discus sions with her male guests at the dinner table As emancipated women Margaret and her sister Helen (Helena Bonham Carter) fancy themselves do gooders Henry is mildly amused by the cultural pursuits of the Schlegel sisters although he himself scorns such pleasures As the epitome of the modern businessman only concerned with acquiring money and property The performances are all worthy of Oscar nominations Thompson is simply magnificent bringing out natural ebullience Carter displays increasing inner fire as the stubbornly idealistic Helen As the rigid Henry Hopkins projects the robust optimism of a man con vinced of his superiority But in one heartbreaking gesture in which he mere ly covers his face with his hand he trans forms this insufferable prig into a touch ingly shattered human being Ivory has managed to recreate the nov el with astonishing accuracy The movie is visually spellbinding This haunting tragedy of manners builds in intensity to its inevitably shock ing confrontation as Ivory exposes the dangerous emotions that exist under the rigid facade of British propriety Animated film is harmless but the story very entertaining either Reviewed by Joe DeChick Gannett News Service The animation quality of "Little Nemo: Adventures in falls some where between standard setting "Beauty and the and hip sausage grinder quickies such as based on Winsor turn of the century comic strip is innocu ous well meaning and as bland as all get out While dozing off one night young Nemo (voice of Gabriel Damon) who is ignored by his father is summoned by Professor Genius (Rene Auberjonois to Slumberland a Utopia like World will put kids the circus runs all day and people and animals "from camels to peacefully coexist There Nemo must befriend Princess Camille and aid King Morpheus who adopts him and makes him heir to the throne As such he is entrusted with the royal scepter and the golden key which unlocks a door told to never open Tempted by froglike lip (Mickey Roo ney) a cigar chomping con man Nemo opens the door unleashing a monster from Nightmare Land who casts a pall over Slumberland and kidnaps the King Can Nemo spring the King from Night mare Castle? Do winged monkeys fly in "The Wizard Sure packs fewer surprises than an episode of But it also delivers a niftv etiuuette set 'piece ahUlbt fit to sleep Little Nemo 00 Cast: Animated voices by Gabriel Damon Rene Auberjonois Mickey Rooney Rating: Theater: Towne Square pet squirrel sidekick a mostly mute cousin of Rocket Squirrel com plete with cap Yet the just OK visual effects the for gettable songs by Richard and Robert Sherman Jungle and the zingerless script by Chris Columbus and Richard Outten ac tively avoid anything resembling an edge Yes is harmless Yes is charmless Yes worse is just there.