. The Man Without a Face * *
(Warner Bros.) Rated Mature
(playing at Famous Players
cinemas)

Tim Bell
FILM REVIEW

ou know, these teen

movies of late are

making me feel more
than a little inadequate
about my post-puberty
years. .

Hands up those of you who had

a teacher in high school fike Mel
‘Gibson. Yes, I thought so ... more
like Henry Gibson from Laugh In,
right?

in this uneven blend of Phantom
of the Opera and To Sir with Love,
a troubled teen, Chuck (Nick
Stahl), from a broken home needs
help to pass his entrance exam to
military school.

_ He's so desperate to escape an
unstable mother (Margaret Whit-

~ ton) and two half-sisters (Fay
Masterson, Gaby Hoffman) — all
have different fathers — that he
seeks out the local enigma as a
tutor, -

Justin McLeod (Gibson) is the
subject of intense speculation
among the locals of the small -
town. "

“. What does this disfigured
recluse do, alone in that remote
but gorgeous iakefront home of

is? . ~ :

How did he lose the right half of
his face? :

.. $s the former teacher now a por-
nographer? Did he kill a student

: years ago? -- “

: As Chuck finds out, McLeod is a
stern, unorthodox instructor who
insists on being addressed as

GONG LI as Songlian in Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern

(1991).

But beneath the brooding man-
ner, there's a playfulness and a
passion to educate.

During the lessons, Mel gets
another chance to perform
Shakespeare. Only this time it's
hot just Hamlet. He plays — and
rather well, | thought — most of

the roles in The Merchant of

Venice.

Acting through makeup is
always a challenge, but after a
while he makes us forget the star-
tling scars.

This is a serious Mel, a mature
Mel, leaving that Lethal Weapon
and Three Stooges fan in the dust.

Now, if only he were as adept at
directing.

tn his tirst turn behind the cam-
era, he lets the film lumber on,
dragging its earnest intentions
behind.

But the real problem is the
script. Dialogue is embarrassingly
arch at times.

How many 10-year-olds would
say, “Don't compensate by using
me as your emotional punching
bag.""?

And when Chuck leaps behind
the wheel of a car for'an impromp-
tu spin, well, you have to ask
yourself if Mel is a ‘Man Without
a Screenplay.”

PLUS MUCH,

SAT. 10 -
_ SUN.

Raise the Red Lantern * * * ¥2
(Orion Home Video/tmage Laser-
disc) Rated Mature

Here’s a film concerned totally
with face — the saving and losing
of it, Chinese style.

Independent Songlian (Gong Li)
finds herself the fourth concubine
to Master Chen, a little-seen figure
(even when he’s on screen) who
totally controls his small domain of
women and servants with long-
standing, perplexing rituals.

To secure whatever scraps of
comfort they might get, the four
wives must stand at their door
every evening to see who is the
“lucky” one who will have the
red lanterns placed by her (which
translates to “you get to have sex
with the master.’’}

As romantic as that seems, it’s
the perks the women really want:
a soothing foot massage by the
servants and their favorite food .

Songlian finds that inter-con-
cubine politics are fierce.

Another beautifully photograph-
ed and superbly acted film from
the gifted Zhang Yimou (/u Dou,
Red Sorghum).

SHOWTIME HOTLINES:
Famous players .......... 681-4255
Cineplex Odeon .. - 687-1515

Wednesday, August 25, 1993 - North Shore News - 27

peters wssssres:t

Dines

1351 Lonsdale, N. Van.

2 LARGE

HAWAIIAN

PIZZAS

Tals.-Out Onlare Only
Must Present Coupon
° Valid till Sept. 5/93

fh, cosce nom ume meso erm mmm nom teres omen &

Z for

Ls

® Maximum value $7.00
« Valid until Sept. 5/93
* Not valid on deliveries or take-out

985-5385

ONLY

LUNCH ENTREE

Purchase one entree at the regular price and receive a
second entree of equal or lesser value at no additional charge
upon presentation of this coupon

985-5385

 cleeetetniententententeds:

2 for

Ne ces ee ew ee oe ee me os

F1500/6

© Must present this coupon
* Valid until Sept. 5/93

SUNDAY
BUFFET BRUNCH

Purchase one entree at the regular price and
receive a second at no additional! cl
upon presentation of this coupon 10:30AM-2:30PM Sundays

cD Dines

1351 Lonsdale, N. Van. '
985-5385 ;

Heavy Metal with a New Twist
Valley Forge®...Lighting the Past in Your

Presence.

Oe.

Revolutionary
forged iron colonial

look

sure to become

a modern heirloom.
Available in six to
twelve-light hang-
ing fixtures with
matching floor and
table models in

rust

. verdigris,

white and black
finishes.

UR

WESTIE

ELECTRICAL - INDUSTRIAL - PLUMBING - REI

T1070

RAY FEISS

FRIGE

Bath and Ligh
(formerly Light Ideas)

OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Mon. - Sat.

845 ‘Terminal Ave. (between Clark & Main)
Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2M9 Tel. 685-0220 Fax.685-0746

— Dinss

1351 Lonsdale, N.Van.

URNE

AATION

ween) bane