16 - Friday, February 19, 1988 - North Share News

LAND OF THE

Horror flick good for a shudder

THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW °* (Universal) - Rated R
(at the Granville, Oakridge, Dolphin, Scott 72, Coquitlam cinemas)

PITY THE scientist in horror movies. Despite years of
training at the best universities, they never seem to learn

that clever-bottom scientists exist only to be knocked off —
their lab stools. Dr. Dennis Alan (Bill Pullman) is a perfect

example.

In 1988, in the Amazon jungle,
a local witch doctor offers a potion
to the drug- and root-collecting
anthropologist. A terrifying
hallucinogenic mindbender
follows, wherein the scientist meets
his future nemesis, Capt. Dargent
Petraud (Zakes Mokae). You
would think that a quick descent
into The Pit would rattle a scien-
tist’s beliefs. But Dr. Alan is not a
quick study.

TIM |
BELL

film reviewer

Immediately upon his return to
civilization, he’s pooh-poohing
voodooism, claiming that the soul
begins and ends with the brain. His
new Job i is to collect the ingredients
used in Haiti to zombify the local
citizenry.

Apparently, tens of thousands
of lives could be saved from shock
during surgery with such an elixir.
Naturally,the bicchemical cor-

poration that is funding his
research would also benefit by
picking up a nice chunk of change
from sales.

Quicker than you can say, ‘‘Pan
Am to Hell,’’ the doctor finds
himself in Baby Doc’s Port-au-
Prince, a nightmare world of polit-
ical repression and torture. Aided
by the local psychiatrist, lovely
Dr. Marielle Celine (Cathy Tyson),
our hero gradually discovers the
mysteries of voodooism.

The chief practitioner of the
black art is also the head of the
secret police, Capt. Peytraud, 2
nasty chap who, since finding
extracting confessions by scalpel a
limiting career, has expanded into
soul-collecting.

Before long, Dr. Alan is ex-
periencing bad dreams ... very bad
dreams. The kind with shuffling,
rotting corpses, snakes and a
premature burial. It doesn’t take a
Harvard graduate to see Peytraud
doesn’t take kindly to sleuthing
scientists.

Fortunately for the an-
thropologist, there is a good
voodoo priest (Paul Winfield) to
lend a protective hand. —

With danger lurking at every
corner and a couple of painful ses-
sions with the evil captain, Alan

* proves his sanity questionably by

staying to obtain the secret to
making zombies. But then again,
what kind of horror film would let
its hero simply run away from the
supernatural without a special ef-
fects-laden showdown?

Director Wes Craven keeps this
nonsense hopping along with some
nicely claustrophobic photography
by John Lindley and a driving per-
cussive score by Brad Fiedel. Good
performances | help make Richard
Maxwell's script credible and a
sensual lovemaking scene doesn’t
hurt either. ‘

The major flaw is the presump-
tion that fear consists of blatant
special effects, surprise entrances
and decaying cadavers. These
devices are limp from overuse in
other horror movies.

The Serpent and The Rain-
bow may startle you, or even
cause a flicker of a shudder, but
will not lower the temperature of
your spine.

SHORT TAKES ON VIDEO

DIRTY DANCING **% (Vestron)
- Rated Mature

Cliche coming-of-age story with
Jennifer Grey learning some facts
of life and fancy footwork from
Patrick Swayze during her family
vacation in the 1980s Catskills.
Although predictable and as corny
as aresort comedian, the hot
dance numbers and likeable leads
make this a pleasant diversion.

ROBOCOP *** (Orion) - Rated R

The not-so-distant future is grim
and violent in this big hit of last
summer. Law enforcement has
been handed over to private cor-
porations when crime becomes
unmanageable. A young officer,
executed by ruthless thugs, is rein-
carnated as a cyborg and promptly
earns public acclaim as mechanical
crimebuster.

The violence is well-baianced by
the antics of a clumsy first version
of Robocop and satirical swipes at
television. What makes this sci-fi
interesting is Peter Weller’s
touching performance of a
machine in search of his humanity.
A good supporting cast is headed
by Nancy Allen as his partner and
Ronny Cox as the corrupt cor-
porate head, Great special effects
and stop-motion animation are
spiced with a wry sense of humor.

Puccini's presents
West Vancouver singer

WEST . VANCOUVER singer
Eve Smith will be performing at
Puccini's restaurant Feb..21,
22, 28 anc 29 with her quartet,
which also fentures musician
Phil Dwyer. :

Liviag In West Vancouver
since the 1960s, Smith has- in
the past performed with legend
Duke Ellington, and is active
locally in. the revitetization: of

‘ Vancouver:

mers to gain experience.
‘There's an awfal lot of tal-
ent in this city,’ said Smith. “It
woald be a great thing to have a,
place to give young people more

| encouragement.’

Puccini's. Itallan Restnarant dq
is located ‘at: TA Main St. in

the Lux ‘Theatre: -S.a.venue for -~

ARIES (March 21-April 20):
You're able to establish a
different dialogue this week

especially in money matters. Study
those facts and figures.

TAURUS (April 21-May

,, 20): By mid-week, you'll feel

J confident enough to launch
a new plan or special project. Leave
nothing to chance.

| C EMINI (May 21-June 20):
i ‘this can be an active week,
+——J une in which you learn more
about friends, associates and their
needs.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

{ A cross-section of feelings

i~=% and ideas are about to invade

your working environment and your
relationship with close ties.

proves to be a banner week,
as you lead the way with in-
novative concepts. Nothing is

in the way of sound thinking.

3 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): '
! Your ability to renew and

restore former conditions to

their original state is highlighted.

You'll relish a new-found
rtunity.

99

LUNCH

f SUNDAY

BRUNCH

180 W. ESPLANADE

Keka Kea Kk Kk

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This |

BUFFET
APPETIZERS #0" 99° to 299

4 Burgers, Pasta, Stir Frys, Fi Fish & Chips and an excellent Steak selec-
tion with great Seafood combinations

Hi Plenty of room for parties fron 4 to 40.
f Birthday Party specials — call us

Week of Feb. 21-Feb, 27, 1988

| LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

An assortment of new terms
iad is placed before you this
week, And you'll be attracted by the
resources of others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.
) 22): Pace yourself with at-
tention to detail, 4s you

make your way through partnership
matters. This week can be a turning

oint for agreements.

a SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23
-Dec. 21): Love and romance
aan refuse to go away as the

week wears on. But you will still have
to work, nonetheless.

- CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

19): You'll apply yourself

yn with enthusiasm to several
home-related concerns. Then reward

yourself with some real fun and
eS. a

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
fe) 18): By the end of the week,
+ you'll be ready to enjoy fife
to the fullest: However, a new ar-
rangement must be arrived at.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Take your time now as.7ou

make your way. through a
variety of highly charged mements.

Understanding is definitely’ called

for. -

DINNER

TAKE OUT