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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1992)
‘FernGully’ is all-star animated adventure ■ “FernGully ... The Last Rainforest” By Gerry Beltz Staff Reporter “FernGully ... The Last Rainforest” (Douglas 3, 13th and P Streets) is one of those rare movies that is so visually and mentally en trancing it can keep the mind from wandering from the screen. Based on the “FernGully” stories by Austra lian author Diana Young, this movie sweeps into an animated world of fairies, magic and music. The innocent, wide-eyed Crysta is the ap prentice of the forest mother Magi Lunc. Crysta is curious about the world beyond FemGully, but is convinced to stay back by her friend Pips and newfound friend Batty Koda, a bat who has a radio antenna originally attached by animal experimenters for tracking purposes. Whenever the antenna is touched, Batty’s per sonality shifts. However, Crysta eventually does venture outside of her forest home and finds a group of loggers cutting down trees in a nearby section of rainforest, including a young man named Zak. She becomes entranced by Zak because she has never seen people before — she has only heard about them in “human talcs.” She saves Zak from a falling tree by shrink ing him down to her size, and takes him back to FemGully. But unknowingly, Zak has released theevil Hexxus, which could destroy the peace ful FemGully. From there, the adventure be gins. The movie is all-star and guest-star from head to toe. Samantha Mathis and Christian Slater (both from “Pump Up The Volume”), Jonathan Ward (“Steel Magnolias”), Grace Zabriskie (TV’s “Twin Peaks ), Robin Wil liams and Tim Curry head up the cast, with guest appearances by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong as a couple of Beetle Boys, and Tone Loc as a multicolored, rapping goanna lizard. All of these talented entertainers combine wonderfully to form a spectacular film. Wil liams is especially hilarious, shifting his voice from John Wayne to Luke Skywalkcr in “Star Wars” to Scotty from “Star Trek.” The music of the film is equally entertain ing, with such talented artists as Thomas Dolby, Shecna Easton and Raffi making contribu tions. The soundtrack is available on cassette and compact disc. The animation is superb, showing both the beauty of the rainforest and the horrifying emptiness after its destruction. The scenery and characters might rem ind one of the popular “Elfqucst” scries. This movie attempts to show concern for what is left of the world’s rainforests and for the mistreatment of animals. The movie runs a dedication at the end: “For our chi Idrcn and our children’s children.” Proceeds from the film will benefit such organizations as the Sierra Club, The Rain forest Foundation and Greenpeace. “Ferngully” This movie is terrific from start to finish, and is perfect for any age group. Big-name, formula buddy flick new to video By Anne Steyer Staff Reporter Video releases lean toward the obscure this week, with two films that did not play in Lincoln during their theatrical run. The exception from this obscurity is the latest mainstream action/ad venture movie, that in spite of itself, is entertaining and rentable. “The Last Boy Scout” (R) Bruce Films on sleuths, cons and sex to hit stores Willis bounces back from the dismal failure of “Hudson Hawk” with this entertaining, though formula, buddy/ action flick. Willis is Joe Hallcnback, a former secret-service agent turned private investigator. Hired to keep an eye on an exotic dancer (played by Halle Berry, the crack addict in “Jungle Fever”), he strikes up an unstable alliance with her boyfriend, Jimmy Dix, when she is brutally murdered. Dix (Damon Wayans of Fox’s “In Living Color”) is an ex-professional football player who lost his career to drugs and gambling. Neither Hallcnback nor Dix is particularly happy about their tenta tive alliance. But that is required of all buddy/ action films. First the main characters have to be thrown together, then they go through an intense dislike phase, followed by a bonding period, usu ally during a moment of extreme danger. After that, they’re friends. This happens here, loo. They strike out on their own to find clues and instead find a lot of trouble. Their investigation finally uncovers a more intricate crime than just the dead dancer’s murder. This misdeed in volves extortion, politics and profes sional sports. Willis returns here to the formula that made him a star — the bumed out, unshaven and wise-cracking hero. He’s funny here and the chemistry between him and Way an s works. Sure, it doesn’t do anything new. But it comes from the creators of “Top Gun,” “Lethal Weapon” and “Die Hard.” And that means it’s a lot of fun. (Available lodav) “Lonely Hearts”(R)Eric Roberts (“Star 80”) is Frank, a professional con artist who hustles women for a living. Beverly D’Angelo (of the “Vaca tion” flicks) is Alma, one of those hapless women hustled by Frank. Even after discovering that Frank has used her for her cash, Alma wants him. Shejoinshim on hiscrimc spree, posing as his sister while he continues seducing other women for their bank books. This less-lhan-idcal situation brews trouble as Alma’s jealousy starts to get the better of her. (Available to day) “The Rapture” (R) Mimi Rogers (“The Doors”) stars as a telephone operator who lives for her allcr-hours affairs until she suddenly becomes a true believer in the second coming of Christ. “The Rapture” received much at tention for its frank sexuality. It has not played in Lincoln. (Available today) Plug into the outlet to your success with a Macintosh. v///k m/>) './//A war) : ■ % ... ..I.Ill li.mil II mil. > „ J If your graduating at the end of the semester, this is your last chance to cash in on the special educational prices for a Macintosh computer system from the CRC Computer Shop in the 501 Building. Along with a lot of computing for your money, an Apple Macintosh computer system handles spreadsheets, graphics, page layouts, and scanned images all at amazing speeds. So whether you are a graduating senior or a returning freshman, stop by the CRC Computer Shop today and discover the affordable power of a Macintosh. /-\ The CRC Computer Shop 501 Building 10th St. 472-5785 ^_8 a m. - 5 p.m, J . 1 Momix dancers to return to Lied From Staff Reports Momix Dance Company will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The avant-garde troupe combines gymnas tics and visual effects with modem dance. The company performs illusions by using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body. This weekend’s performance marks Mo mix’s third appearance in Nebraska. This time around the company will perform “Passion” without intermission. The music for “Passion” was composed by pop star Peter Gabriel. The Momix production was conceived and directed by Momix’s artistic director Moses Pendleton. Momix takes its name from a solo dance work created by Pendleton for the 1980 Olym pics at Lake Placid. Momix also is the trade name for a milk supplement that Pendleton once fed to his veal calves. Lisa Fusillo, head of the dance department at the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln, will give the pre-performance talks about the use of gymnastics movement in modem choreogra phy. These talks will begin 55 minutes and 30 minutes before each performance. Tickets cost S22, S18 and SI4. Student tickets arc half price. Production to explore human ambition From Stan Reports Thcalrix will present “Line” and “Life in the Bush of Ghosts” Thursday through Satur day in the Studio Theatre of the Temple Build ing. “Line," is a black comedy by Israel Horo vitz directed by senior theatre major Barbe Marshall. The play will explore the American success story through five characters who will slop at nothing to secure first place in line. “Life in the Bush of Ghosts5, showcases the work of Paul Sieger, associate professor of theatre and will feature a series of monologues exploring humanity, relationships, love oppor tunity and the struggle to get balance and harmony with the elusive “American Dream.” General admission is S2. For more informa tion call the Department of Theatre, Arts and Dance. British spoof to show at Ross From Staff Reports Voted Best Film of 1991 by the National Society of Film Critics, “Life is Sweet,’’ Mike Leigh’s gastronomic view of family life in an English suburb, opens at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater on April 26. Book Continued from Page 9 ing has often feared to tread. The story is complex and as subtle as all the ways of sex: Don Rigoberto has taken his second wife, Lucrccia, into the home he shares with his pre adolcsccnt son Alfonso. The adults titillate each other by telling stories to each other. The stories run the gaunt let of passions as the author explores the aphro disiac power of words, of talk. Then the young Alfonso begins secretly to “Life is Sweet” will show on April 26, April 30 to May 3 and May 7 to May 10. Screenings arc at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each day. Matinees arc on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is S5, S4 lor UNL.students and S3 for senior cili/cns, children and Friends of the Ross Film Theater. watch his new stepmother bathe. One thing leads to another, as they say, and soon Llosa has formed for us a strange love triangle among his characters. The novel, for all its dell power, remains playful; never allowing the reader to lake the events of the story to heart. It’s part of the allure of the erotic in art that it allows a kind of experience without the consequences. It is probably this facet of erot ica that gives it its socially redeeming qualities, if such things arc to be required of art. Llosa is an excellent introduction too, to the South American literary scene — a scene as rich and as different as the cultures that arc giving birth to it even now.
