Thomas and the Magic Railroad kkk! (out of of 5) : Directed by Britt Allcrof. Si ec win, Mara Wilken ead Peter Fonda. Now playing. . « IB you have kids you’ve .. doubtiess noticed a shift .., im your movie discus- sions. <-> These days fierce debate is ‘less likely to focus on who “plays Hamlet most convine- ingly, or even who is the best ° ‘James Bond. The hot topic in our house ‘is who is the best Thomas the Tank Engine narrator: Ringo Starr, George » Carlin or Alec Baldwin? _., And so Thomas the Tank Engine’s fea- ture film debut has been much anticipat- ed. Britt Alicroft, the woman respunsible for bringing the Rev. Wilber Awary’s 's train. tales to television wrote, directed and pro- ‘duced Thomas and the Magic Railroad. “. Part animation, part live action, the : film tells the story of wo parallel worlds: the island of Sodor, where Thomas and his hard-working friends live, and Shining : Time Station, where real people live an - idyllic life: Mr. Conductor (Alec Baldwin) i is able to keep trains running on time in both worlds, thanks to magic gold dust that and the evil Diese! 10 is threatening to send Thomas and all his steant-engine friends to the scrapyard. Several characters offer to help Mr. ‘ Conductor and Thomas, including Mr. C Junior (Michael E. Rodgers) and 1 1-year- old Lily (Mara Wilson), who is visiting her grandfather, the somber Burnett Stone (Peter Fonda). Burnett has been hiding Lady, a magi- cal steam engine, in Muffte Mountain for years. Lady is the key to the magic rail- road that links Shining Time and Sodor, and she is the source of Mr. Conductor’s gold dust. If only they could get Lady’s steam to work, they could re-open the railroad and get rid of the evil Diesel once and for all. If it sounds confusing, i it is. The film’s ee 7 Photo Alliance Atientia ALEX Baldwin stars as Mr. Conductor in Thomas and the Maaic Railroad. The Britt Alleroft film is now showing at Park and Tilford Cineplex. children. Extraneous characters litter the live-action world of Shining Time unnec- essarily (Patch, Billy Twofeathers and Stacy among them); after all, Thomas and his railroad friends are what kids want to see anyway. The film does an excellent job of merging the two magical worlds of Sodor and Shining Time. And Thomas is visually appealing for youngsters, wich a trippy, Willy Wonka-esque quality to it, complete with tiny people and ringing bluebell rele- phones, Allcroft has preserved the some- what primitive train animation, which will cause critics to gripe about the low-tech- ness of it all in an age of over-produced, over-stimulating kid flicks. But the simple charm of talking trains _ is what made Thomas the Tank Engine him back and forth. But Mr Conductor's gold dust i is: running out, only negative is its convoluted storyiine, which is complex for adults, never niind the international phenomenon it is, and what will pack the theatre seats. owe’ Ss Film Centre to host showcase din rake 4 high-q ality film”. ’ Lowe, who received his Canadian citizenship s several weeks ago, *. know, He’s made 52 films since he got into the business in ): In Hong Kong, the world’s second-largest 90; most are done for less than $200,000. The idea behind Film Centre is simple: get stuff free. The way Leslie talks, it’s tasier.than it sounds. “As a producer I’ve had to out “and find ‘money. that didn’t exist. What I found was not - ( but services.:Peopte would give us equipment for free for. , no problem. You'll be back. Next : 1¢"hext we “Really?” ‘S i ; Thats the: spirit of independent film.”~ Wich’ the help of vendors who appreciate independent minds, © Centre has. managed: to see.13 productions te completion éach ‘month, including feature and ‘short films, commercials, and Bi ‘They provide qualified crews, grip and lighting equip- it, cameras, permits for locations, and a complete video casting z facility, ‘all for a price that producers can afford. ¢ ‘aope is that a birrgeoning market in independent produc: tion in Vancouver will continue its success; and that producers will invest their moncy in making more films. «| 1979.. exporter of films : (first is India) a $500,000 film is considered big budget. Except for... ith a big namie like action hero Jackie Chan or director John : “fucky audience members will be’ selected to join the cast and see what it’s like to be a movie star. The shoot will feature Hollywood action star Bob Apisa, from movies such as Courage Under Fire and Executive Decision, per- forming in front of the camera. Lowe has lived in Canada since the end of 1996, “The main reason, (for moving here) was I shoot quite alotin L.A. and the U.S., and I was here once before. So I compared the areas and J found Varcouver, the weather, the people, and so on, were the most suitable for me to stay here and try to build up my career in film.” Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and $7 for children. Those under 10 will be admitted free. Film Fair runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5: :30 ) p.m. Call Ticketmaster (280-4444) fo," ‘To encourage interest in. the industry, they are organizing ae] Film Fair at’ the Waterfront-Hotel in Vancouver on’ Aug. t training, computer generation, and makeup re-creations. Lowe will be on the set ofa shoot for coe gment of a thriller he is developing For the person... - who is. ipeposebble e to buy for... | LA ial selection fun unigire oe Sod Cll to AsMeske ee fe ‘are foo! Ir paintings, glass etc for consi nent, « Call for i 10 f Sun roon-5 wiww,siunfloweremporium.com °°” 222 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver “Telephone: 990-3900. 5. The” exhibition will feature live demonstrations including animal and ° ends of the Bushwatker, , long with, Leslie, Some... Friday, July 28, 2000 ~ North Shore News - 15 #9 Pack & Tilford Cineplex 200 — 333 Brooksbank, North Vancouver (985-3911) X-Men (PG) — 1:40, 7, 9:25 What Lies Beneath (144) — 1:10. 6:30, 9:50 p.m. The Patriot (18A} —- 8:15 Scary Movie (18A} — 2:05, 7:20, 9:30 p.m. Loser (PG}— 2:50, 7:30, 9:40 p.m. Thomas And The Magic Railroad {G) — 2:20, 6:30 Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps (MA) 1:25, 7:15, 9:45 p.m. @ Esplanade S$ Cinemas 200 W. Esplanade, Noith Vaucouver (983-2762) Chicken Run — 12:50, 3, 5, 7:30, 9:30 Disney's The Kid — 1:10, 3:45, 7:10, 9:40 Missiun Impossible 2 — 1, 4:05, 7:05, 9:45 Pokemon 2000 — 1:30, 4, 7:20 The In Crowd —1:20, 3:55, 7:15, 9:55 The Perfect Storm — 12:45, 3:40, 7, 9:35, 9:50 @ Caprice Park Royal S, West Vancouver (926-6699) Gladiator (]8A) —-7:30 p.m. Gone In 60 Seconds (14A) — 7, 9:20 p.m. Me Myself and Irene (J8A) — 7:05, 9:25 p.m. Fifth Avenue Cinemas 2110 Burrard at Sth, Vancouver (734-8700) Blood Simple (144) — 7:2 320, 9:45 p.m. Sat/Sun 2:30, 5 pm. “Tue § pa chuck An Buck (14A) — a: 15, 9:40 p.m. Sat/Sun, 145, 4 p.m. Tue 4: Une Liaison Pornographique (14A)— 7: 10, 9:20 p.m. Sat/Sun 2: 15, 4:45 p.m. Tuc 4:45 p.m. Bossa Nova (14A)— 9:15 p.m. Sat/Sun/Tue 4: pm. 7 After Life (G) ~- 7, 9:30 p.m. Sat/Sun 1:30, 4:30 pm. Tue 4:30 p. Butterfly (14.4) — 7:05 p.m. Sat/Sun 2 2 p.m, ends | Tac, Aug} 1 @ Park Theatre 3440 Cambie ar 18th, Vancouver (876-2747) . What Lics Beneath (18a) — 7, 9:35 p.m. plus Ss/Sun 4 pam ‘ B Hollywood Theatre © ; 3123 West Broadway, Vancouver (5155868) All About My Mother (14A) — 7:30 p.m The Emperor And The Assassin in (14A) —920 pm. @ Van East Cinema 2290 Commercial Drive, Vancouver (299- 9000) Friday, July 26 to Monday, July 31: High’ Fidelity. _ 718 Pp. m5 Eat is 9:25 pm. - : Tuesday, Aug. | to Thursday, Aug. 3: sev Women — 7: 15 P: m5 The Virgin ‘Suicides '— 9:30 0 p. m. : : : : 113) Howe St., Vancouver ; : el ES New 35 mwa prints of Hitchcock and Sirk classics: , z Friday, July 28: The Lady Vanishes — 7:30 p.m.; ; Frenzy — 9:25 pa m. 1 Sats July 29: Psycho — 7:30 p.m.; The Lady Vanishes — 9:35 | p.m. Sunday, , » July 30: Spelibound — 7:30 p.m.; Psycho — 9:35 p.m. Monday, iy: al: : Frenzy — 7:15 p.m. ; Spellbound — 9:25 p.m. ; irk: : : “ Wed, Aug. 2 : Written on the Wind — 7:30 p.m; Imitation of Life - 9:25 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4: Imitation of Life — 7:15 pms Written on the Wind — 9:35 p.m. es 997 Wear. ist St. 1 V; Bucks Sour OF Sans) * Ortn 7 Days A