The Pilot, page 8
The Reel Thing
Movie Reviews
Phantom of the Opera, The
Motion Picture"
By Casper Jetson
Do you want to see a good
movie? Do you want to see a
movie that will literally scare
living daylights out of you??
Do you want to see one of the
best-edited movies of 1989? Do
you want to see one of the most
versatile actors of our time?
If you answered "yes" to
any of these questions... don't
go see "Phantom of the Opera".
What was wrong with this
movie? Almost everything. From
the typecasting of Robert
Englund as The Phantom (Englund
is also Freddy Krueger of
"Nightmare on Elm Street...")
to the sloppy job of editing (as
seen when a microphone is
hanging form the top of the
screen in one scene) . There were
too many bad points and too few
good with this movie.., o.k.,
o.k. what was good about it? Ah,
well, um. . . oh, the music wasn't
too bad.
What I found most disap
pointing was the fact that it
could have been a good movie. . .
other actors, another director,
another story, etc. (get the
point?).
What am I saying about this
movie? Don't waste your money
on it now or when it comes out
on video tape. And when it comes
to cable... watch something
else.
STEVE MARTIN
Parenthood
V UNIVERSAL RELEASE
"Parenthood"
By Jane Richards
It seems as though Ron
Howard has the Midas touch.
After directing such hit films
as "Night Shift" and "Splash",
one would expect his star to
fade a little. Instead, it's
shining brighter than ever, as
seen in his latest effort,
"Parenthood".
A stellar cast, including
such big names as Steve Martin,
Rick Moranis, Diane Wiest, Keanu
Reeves, and Tom Hulce help make
this movie one of the best this
year. Although, released in
early August, it continues to
hold its own at the box office
and is now being shown at the
Mall Cinemas in Shelby.
There are several plots,
shown in vignettes, alternating
from hilarious to sad to sweet.
Martin strives to be the perfect
father for his eldest son, while
a mate-hungry Wiest tries to
relate to her moody, sexually-
confused son. Moranis tries to
raise a brilliant daughter, and
Hulce brings home his illegiti
mate son. But, wait. There's
morel
A newlywed couple (Reeves
and Martha Plimpton), a crabby
patriarch, and a head-butting
3-year old help to round out
the storyline that will leave
you crying and laughing at the
same time.
I have seen this movie
twice, and enjoyed it thoroughly
each time. The dialogue is quick
and hilarious; sincere and
sarcastic; and downright
wonderful.
Each star gets a chance to
shine in this 4 star comedy.
It's a guaranteed good time for
everyone who likes to laugh at
good comedy.
In the
Groove
Album Reviews
By A. Nony Muss
"Epic", Jefferson Airplane
This just in: Jefferson
Airplane crashes...leaves many
fans wounded.
Who would have expected
the reunion album from such a
great band to be anything but
first class? Well, to the
disappointment of many fans,
this attempt to once again take
flight leaves one reaching for
the barf bag.
Even after seventeen years
apart, the band still possesses
its trademark harmony. That
harmony, however, is nothing
without at least semi-meaningful
and coherent lyrics. Songs such
as "Panda" and "Freedom" leave
one saying, "Okay...That was
interes-ting. Now what were they
trying to say?"
This last desperate attempt
should have been grounded from
the start. If you really want
to hear some true Jefferson
Airplane, catch an earlier
flight.
By Dash Riprock
"Rhythm Kation 1814", Janet
Jackson
Janet is back...and after
a three year wait, is it worth
it? You bet it is. Jackson's
last album, "Control", was a
colossal success, and it looks
as though "Rhythm Nation 1814"
will soon be standing by it's
side.
The album's first three
songs touch lightly on drugs,
hunger, and homelessness but
zero in on illiteracy and self-
help.
That's right, Janet's gone
political. And if that's what
the girl has on her mind, that's
fine. The first song "Rhythm
Nation" sets this tone: "We are
a nation with no geographic
boundaries, bound together by
our beliefs." Janet begins
sounding angry. "We are like-
minded individuals, sharing a
common vision, pushing toward
a world rid of color lines."
Following "Rhythm Nation"
and finishing out the political
trilogy, there are "State of the
World" (homelessness) and "The
Knowledge" (education). These
first three songs allow one to
see Janet's heart.
After "The Knowledge,"
Jackson snaps, "Get the point?
Good. Let's dance," and breaks
into "Miss you much," the
album's first single.
The rest of the album is
what is expected from Janet:
a few crunchy, upbeat dance
tunes that will definitely
provide ample video opportuni
ties and a trio of ballads to
compliment the album's closing.
The only real surprises
are the one rocker, "Black Cat, "
where Janet sounds like her
brother (the one who looks just
like her) singing a Robert
Palmer song, and "Escapade," a
tune rich in groove and rich in
melody that makes one think of
the Human League's crash album
(also a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewb
production).
By the sound of the album
maybe the way it is selling. . .It
looks as though Janet is going
to be a busy girl for at least
the next year. . .or so. . .Look for
at least five videos...or so—
Keep it up girl!
Look back at the 80’s
with The Pilot
in next issue.