Boxoffice-July.1997

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FLASHBACK: JAA^f/A/JF 5, 1959
What BOXOFFICE said about...
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
[Because it looks unlikely James Cameron's "Titanic" will sail this summer, we
thought we'd at least bring our readers a look at a four-decade-old retelling of the
sea disaster itself then four decades past. In February 1959, Rank brought Walter
Lord's book to the big screen memorably with "A Night to Remember." Notably,
exhibitors were already worrying about another see disaster: TV.]
One of the greatest catastrophes of modern
times—the sinking of the "unsinkable" Titanic
after it struck an iceberg in the Atlantic in
1912—has been superbly recreated on film in
almost documentary fashion by the Rank Organization.
If heavily exploited, this two-hour feature
should do fine business, particularly in key
cities. Although Walter Lord's best-seller was the
basis for an outstanding live TV show, plus a live
repeat, a few seasons ago. Rank producer William
MacQuitty maintains that these merely
serve as trailers for this far more complete and
frighteningly realistic film. After 40-odd years,
this astonishing tale still has tremendous impact,
especially for patrons who remember or had read
or heard about the events of that awful night. The
picture is splendidly directed by Roy Baker, and
Eric Ambler's screenplay evenly divides the
screen footage between the nautical side of the
disaster and the human angle. The technical
credits, including the sharp black-and-white
photography and the special effects, could
scarcely be surpassed. Kenneth More, who plays
the heroic second officer, is the best-known player, but Laurence Naismith (as
the Titanic's captain), Michael Goodliffe, Anthony Bushell and John Merivale
all makes their scenes count. Frank Lawton and Harriette Johns co-star.
EXPLOITIPS
For local engagements, advertise for Titanic survivors, who could be honored guests
and give interviews about that tragic night Bookshops will cooperate with window
displays of Walter Lord's best-seller, and fashion shops might display ladies' styles of
that era along with copy for the picture. Kenneth More starred in "Genevieve" and
"Doctor in the Hoase" and is in the forthcoming "The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw."
CATCHLINES
A Picture You'll Never Forget..The True Story of the World's Great Sea Disaster—Brilliantly
Told by Walter Lord in His Best-Selling Novel—Now Comes to the
Screen...The Full, Fantastic Storj' of the Night the Titanic Went Down in an Icy Sea.
with its fish-out-of-water time-waip mayhem,
and though there are many hilarious
moments (esjjecially those that parody the
cheesier aspects of '60s spy flicks) just as
many miss the mark. Christine James
WARRIORS OF VIRTUE
•••
Starring Angus Macfadyen, Mario
Yedidia, Marley Shelton and Chao-Li Chi.
Directed by Ronny Yu. Written by Michael
Vickerman and Hugh Kelley. Produced by
Dennis Imw, Ronald Law, Christopher
Law, Jeremy Imw and Patricia Ruben. An
MGM release. Fantasy. Rated PGforfantasy
action violence and some language.
Running time: 102 min.
Essentially a cross between "The
Neverending Story" and "Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles," "Warriors of Virtue" could
be the most impressive Hollywood debut
yet for a Hong Kong director, although
lackluster writing and a needlessly muddled
storyline somewhat tarnish the effort. Talented
newcomer Mario Yedidia stars as
Ryan, a standard-issue misfit adolescent
whose fertile imagination propels him into
a mystical world of martial arts and magic
known only as the land of Tao. The once
tranquil paradise, however, is threatened by
an evil tyrant named Komodo (Angus
Macfadyen) who supports his power by
draining Tao's Lifespnngs to mine an element
called Zubrium. Only one Lifespring
remains, ju.st outside Komodo' s reach and
guarded by the amazing Warriors of Virtue,
aka Roo-Warriors. Nonetheless, the balance
of power in Tao lies neither with the
Roo-Warriors or Komodo, but with Ryan.
Skillfully blending popular motifs from
both Hong Kong and Hollywood fantasy
films, director Ronny Yu ("The Bride Witn
REVIEWS
White Hair") and his mostly Hong Kong
crew lend "Warriors of Virtue" an exquisite
look and feel. Expert martial arts action in
the best Hong Kong tradition and first-rate
Hollywood special effects and makeup
work together to create a magical adventure.
Although the Warriors themselves
lack the strong personality
traits and humor of
the Ninja Turtles, they
make for more compelling
onscreen characij
ters, helping to divert
attention from a surprisingly
amateurish and
cliched script. Occasional
lapses into overly
technical Chinese philosophical
jargon, though
distracting, are forgivable
in view of the overall
theme.
Wade Major
ROMY AND
MICHELE'S HIGH
SCHOOL REUNION
•••*
Starring Mira Sorvino,
Lisa Kudrow,
Janeane Garofalo and Alan Camming.
Directed by David Mirkin. Written by
Robin Schiff. Producedby Laurence Mark.
A Buena Vista release. Comedy. Rated R
for language. Running time: 91 min.
Buena Vista's second high school reunion
film in as many weeks, "Romy and
Michele" is just as charming and quirky as
"Grosse Pointe Blank," with a lighter yet
equally witty script. Fun and funny are the
adjectives that characterize the mood of the
film (based on the stage work "The Ladies'
Room," adapted by the playwright, Robin
Schiff), with hilariously wmsome performances
by Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow
as the titular dimwit duet. Sorvino' s talent
for amusingly odd vocal inflections (which
helped get her that Oscar for "Mighty
Aphrodite") is key to Romy's Valley Girl
appeal; Kudrow's Michele may be
"Friends'" Phoebe redux, but it works well
in this tale of two nonconformist but
slackerly misfits who fabricate glamorous
lives to impress their former school nemeses.
"Romy and Michele' s High School Reunion"
is replete with audiovisual delights;
with our heroines' outrageous fashion
sense and a soundtrack jam-packed with
'80s hits, the film captures much of the
glamor and glitter indigenous to Me Generation-era
offspring. Yet, in addition to
bubbly baubles, there are some real gems
in the script, and in the performances as
well. With clever flashbacks and wacky
dream sequences, there's never a lag in the
movie's humor or its pace.
If the film wants anything, it's probably
more allusions to the last decade to sate the
nostalgia of the target audience; more investigation
into how everyone else's lives
turned out; and more inventiveness regarding
payback and karma. Christine James