Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 35

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1994DETROIT FREE PRESS 3D Van Damme kicks his way through time RUSH TO THE THEATRE! WhoopI ft Ray Uotta are irresistible!" HABAMIimil TlMECOP fit5 ftomna, J' new line cinema JMV- enlightening, MiiiantH in wnn OLIVER ST0HE KS3k MAJOR MftMM iiMK WflHl nWM tit.n rjtmwjM "THi MOST WW "firwoRK ORAHGt cpn siHC 'A hriiiiance. It plays unprecenenwB. PIIMtll I By Anderson jones Free Press Staff Writer In the voice-activated future, just beyond the turn of the century, "Time-; 'cop" wants us to believe, time travel 'will be as common as Space Shuttle -missions orbiting the Earth perhaps more so. And if you can believe that, perhaps you'll buy the rest of Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest action-adventure sci-fi fantasy. It won't be easy.

We're asked to believe that in 2004, time travel requires only a rocket- powered transporter. It's so imprecise, however, that time-traveling special agents are dropped into bodies of water and busy highways. And, while the trans- Van Damme porter which somehow disappears once you arrive is necessary to go back in time, to go forward all it takes is pushing a button. The time transporter is invented in 1994. And Van Damme stars as Max Walker, a time cop who works for something called the Time Enforcement Commission, an agency formed by the U.S.

government to police time travel. Traveling through time, you see, could be used for illegal personal gain, or evil deeds that threaten the republic. Like, say, going back a decade or so and investing in companies that peddle bottled water or cable TV. Who knew? The crooks in this flick aren't that smart. Imagine international terrorists "dumb enough to use gold bullion stamped "1863" for a modern-day weapons transaction.

They also shoot people wearing "bulletproof vests and don't check to make sure they're dead. They deserve to get caught. And Van Damme just a little brighter 1s the man to do it. Which is why power-mad Sen. Aar Caraboo' skewers BY MICHAEL H.

PRICE 'Fort Worth Star-Telegram Stylish and dreamlike, with brisk currents of social criticism anchoring its frivolous essence, Michael Austin's "Princess Cara-i boo" may be the most delightful romantic fantasy since 1987's "The Princess Bride." A mean-spirited 19th-Centurv En gland is the setting, 'j( anumiu uusicpies- sive climate comes "oe')e Cates the free-spirited Caraboo (Phoebe Cates), a wanderer of Polynesian aspect who may turn out to be the royalest presence this side of Buckingham Palace. Caraboo is not saying. It's an ordeal just to get her to speak her name, and her writing seems to be in a language Mr. mfr i a I NO A SHO lAStNG CZj cn whim warn 7 i -CHtCK MOVIE STUDIO HAS 1 'SP Mill HIS HKIRll Jil-AVU'Jul CUDt FOR SHOWTIMtS- TODAY FOR SHOWTIMES ft i IIVIB ri MIB 1 Rated excessive violence, some nudity, profanity. 4: Outstanding 2: So-so 3: Worthy effort 1: A bomb on McComb, a sleaze-bucket played by Ron Silver with his usual cool-as-ice villainous gusto, wants him dead.

McComb wants to be elected president in 2004 and abuses time travel to finance his televison-lriven campaign. He's probably the smartest bad guy here, but it's unclear why he and his heavies would take such attention-getting trips when he knows an agency exists to monitor such travel. I mean, duh? Furthermore, with such concern over how time can be altered by a single ripple, it's baffling that government agents and McComb's motley crew routinely kill people whose deaths could conceivably alter time as well. But perhaps that's too deep. For the record, Van Damme, who spends about a third of the film obsessed by the mysterious death of his wife (Mia Sara), is still in no danger of being nominated for an Oscar.

Yet he maintains his hard-body splendor (shown to great effect in one fight sequence in which assassins are dispatched by Van Damme, dressed only in his underwear). And really, the only reason to watch the screen is the typically impressive hand-to-hand (foot-to-foot?) combat sequences that include such acrobatic moves as daring leg splits, walking up walls and a swashbuckling fight in which knives are brandished like swords. But that's it. Directed by Peter Hyams without an ounce of suspense, too much testosterone, and little or no reason, "Timecop" takes the fun out of what has to be one of the most enduring human fantasies to go back and make things right. Victorian society Princess Caraboo 3 Rated PG; mature themes, discreet partial nudity.

4: Outstanding 2: So-so 3: Worthy effort 1: A bomb unknown to the civilized world. The free-handed movie version, written by director Austin and supporting actor John Wells, captures a vivid sense of period. Phoebe Cates' performance is a marvel of near-wordless eloquence, conveying about equally the elements of rambunctious comedy, sad longing and exotic mystery. Cates' husband, the versatile Kevin Kline, shines in a small but showy role as Broadbent's contemptuous butler. ZED 15" 10 45 1 40 5 10 7 45 lOi'O 20 9 30 11 40 7 15 11 00 45 10.1230 1, 3 15 5 30 7 45 10, 12 10 12 20 11 50 3, 5 50 8 40 1 1 00 05 9 30 DHIVt-IN NOW SHOWING kMJl.JM.lir'rTTTlPTTTTTTrm IE GUIDE Rf 'x "A STUNNING, RIVETING FILM EXPERIENCE! 'FRESH' IS NOT THE SAME OLD THING!" "ApOOTlFUL "A flashy and fleshy performance by Jessica Lange? -Oannit Cunningham, CBS-TV IWVifaiMm.

I'MiKOY mMJiMtiitiitn "MelanieGriffithAndEd -Joel Siegel, GOOD MORNING AMERICA "A Fun, Romantic Comedy. ACharmingFairyTale." -Jim Ferguson, FOX-TV "Griffith's BestIn Years." -Jeff Craig, SIXTY SECOND PREVIEW Melanie Griffith Ed Harris MOT iNEY 1 00 3:05 5:15 7:25 351V0 "A side of Tommy Lee Jones you have never seen before? ITn- Uk IW II Vl. I AS )r UU) EXTRAORDINARY! COMPLETELY ORIGINAL! Features one of the most unforgettable characters in recent American films." -Roger Eberl, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES "BRILLIANT! THIS IS A FILM YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!" -Gary Franklin. KCOP-TV TIMfH" jA'iJ i A PR.UI0l'T PidlTRES ffiOT a EMD'A1J1SH11 psodiction a RICHARD BENJAMIN mm trvmm klwdyid fr.nk jlrsh.u "ricruuj beamin 5:20 7:45 9:55 l' Til J.tU IW'jM'rii iJ lA iiil lii i iHIIJi QII32IErI (EHUD 1 50 545 8 STARTS CHECK DIRECTORY 1:35 4-30 7:25 9:40 12:10 1 :05 3:15 7:50 10:05 12:15 1:15 3:25 5:35 7 50 10 05 12:10 11:25 1:50 4:30 7:10 9:30 11:151:45 4:00 6:15 8 45 10:50 11:45 2:00 5 00 7:15 9 30 Vf 1 1f 12:40 3:00 5:10 7:30 9:40 NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT COUPONS ACCEPTED 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:40 10 00 1:05 4:10 7:05 9:40 1 30 5 30 800 10 45 2 30 4 55 5 30 7 50 10 10 1 15 3 25 5 35 5 15 7 45 10 05 12 15 7 50 10 05 1 30 4 15 7 11 50 2 15 5 30 8. 10 30 7 7 YOUR MONEY: FINANCIAL INFORMATION, INSIGHTS AND ADVICE.

THROUGH FRIDAY IN THE FREE PRESS BUSINESS SECTION. 5 TUESDAY.