Boxoffice-September.1997

—
—
REVIEWS
I
^
P
STAR MAPS ^1/2
Starring Douglas Spain,
Efrain Figueroa, Kandeyce
Jorden, Martha Velez and
Lysa Flores. Directed and
written by Miguel Arteta.
Produced by Matthew Greenfield.
A Fox Searchlight release.
Drama. Rated R for
strong sexuality and language,
andfor violence. Running
time: 87 min.
Douglas Spain stars as Carlos,
a young Hispanic man who
returns to his family in L.A.
determined to be a star after
working as an actor in Mexico.
Despite the protests of his
sweet sister Maria (Lysa Flores),
Carlos goes to work for
his manipulative father, Pepe
(Efrain Figueroa), a pimp to a
group of young men who sell
star maps on the streets as a
front for prostitution. Carlos
has kinky sex with both Johns
and Janes, hoping his dad will
reward him with help getting
into show business. When Carlos
on his own gets a break
from a smitten actress/customer
(Kandeyce Jorden),
who's determined to put him
on her TV show, an all-out war
with Pepe ensues.
First-time filmmaker Miguel
Arteta seeks profundity in
Carlos' quest to become an
actor and escape his brutal dad,
but their emotional confrontations
don't engage the audience.
What's worse is that the
director seems to want his film
to be topical, funny, shocking
and sweet, all at the same time;
Arteta should have stuck to
Carlos' grittier story instead of
taking excursions into other
terrain. Carole Glines
OPERATION
CONDOR *iricir
Starring Jackie Chan,
Carol Cheng, Eva Cobo De
Garcia and Shoko Ikeda. Directed
by Jackie Chan. Written
by Jackie Chan and Edward
Tang. Produced by Leonard
Ho. A Dimension/Miramax
release. Action/adventure.
Rated PG-13 for martial arts
action and some shootings,
and for sensuality. Running
time: 89 min.
The third time's the charm
for Jackie Chan ("Rumble in
V the Bronx"): His latest import
) sports nonstop fun and madcap
mayhem. Miramax's Dimension
label has done a good
job of tightening the original
1 99 1 Hong Kong film (entitled
"Armor of God II: Operation
Condor"). The sequel has little
to do with the original 1987
"Armor of God" (which Jackie
Chan also directed and starred
in) except for the leading character:
Jackie (code name: Condor),
a globe-trotting Chinese
Indiana Jones/James Bond.
"Operation Condor" is one
of the best Chan movies and
the first Chan-directed film to
be released in America. Most
importantly. Dimension has
made sure to secure a PG-13
rating (as opposed to the R rating
given to both New Line's
"Rumble in the Bronx" and
"Supercop"), thus expanding
the movie audience to include
those in America who might
most appreciate Chan's blend
of goofy humor and endless
action: young teenagers.
By Chan standards, the story
is straightforward and solid, if
simple and often silly. Yet any
Chan film is really just an excuse
for extended chase sequences
and .spectacular fight
scenes that highlight Chan's
physical prowess and comic
timing, and Chan's high action/comedy
hijinks are in top
form here. Susan Lambert
KISS ME GUIDO ^^1/2
Starring Nick Scotti and
Anthony Barrile. Directed
and written by Tony Vitale.
Produced by Ira Deutchman
and Christine Vachon. A Paramount
release. Comedy.
Rated R for sexuality and
strong language. Running
time: 89 min.
The premise has potential:
In dire need of rent money,
Warren (Anthony Barrile) advertises
for a GWM (Gay
White Male) to share his apartment.
Homophobic Frankie
(Nick Scotti) answers the ad,
thinking GWM means Guy
With Money, and comedic
consternations ensue.
The film's intent is to show
how the fundamentally opposite
roommates learn from one
another and grow in the process,
but the comic possibilities
of this construct are barely
explored. (The similar
"Maybe. ..Maybe Not" exploited
this culture-clash concept
overlapping the two
protagonists' worlds more.)
Frankie isn't exposed to
enough of Warren's friends,
family or pastimes, and vice
versa, to fully demonstrate the
wide differences between the
unlikely roomies.
THE LEHERS
OF YOUR IMAGE
•
DIMENSIONAL, READER
BOARD AND CHANGEABLE
COPY LETTERS PLUS
TRADEMARK LOGOS AND
RATING SYMBOLS
•
CABINETS AND CHANGE ARMS
Gemini Letters & Sign Products are Available
from Your Theater Supply Distributor.
GEMINI
INCORPORATED
103 Mensing Way
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
Response No. 31
••yCL PCCVIDC THE PODCOCN,
WE PCCVIOE THE CLEAN...
J6