Movieline Online

The ÒTrekÓ films almost made a fatal mistake with part ÒV,Ó which disappointed even die-hard fans with its out-of-character stabs at humor and lapses in sci-fi logic. So itÕs no surprise the studio turned to the two men responsible for the successful even-numbered films in the franchise to pull their collective fat out of the fire and give the original Enterprise crew a more respectful send off. Leonard Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer were never afraid to mess with creator Gene RoddenberryÕs vision, which made their films more accessible to audiences that couldnÕt understand the Trek universe. Parallels to 20th century life abound, and, in the case of ÒStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,Ó are often the jumping off point for a metaphorical discussion on current affairs. The hot topic in 1991 was the demise of the communist regime and the uneasy peace between two superpowers. ÒTrek VIÓ transposes the idea to outer space with the wall coming down between the Klingon and Federation empires. B...

THE FLICK: There are very few auteurs still working at the top of their game. Spielberg sold out. Scorsece has lost his edge. Even indies like Cronenberg and Lynch are only intermittently engaging. Yet maverick moviemaker Terry Gilliam continues to deliver fantastically challenging films full of comic genius and visual bravado. And “Time Bandits” is where it all started. After co-directing “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” (as well as the solo project, “Jabberwocky”), Gilliam came into his own with this imaginative take on the standard time travel story. Young Kevin (Craig Warock) is kidnapped by a gang of squabbling dwarves who drag him from one famous historical locale to another. Using a stolen “map of the known universe,” they loot from the likes of Napoleon (Ian Holm), King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) and Robin Hood (John Cleese). Pursued by the “Supreme Being” (Ralph Richardson), the wacky group eventually becomes prisoners of “Evil” (David Warner) and must defeat him to save them...

THE FLICK: As the Western stops and starts its way to a comeback of sorts, a new generation of filmmakers look to put their brand on the genre. Kevin Costner has a head start, having appeared in three previous outings (“Silverado, Dances With Wolves & Wyatt Earp) with varying degrees of success. And it’s obvious that the myth of the Western hero holds a particular appeal for him both as an actor and director. “Open Range” is an undisguised tribute to the men of the frontier – those who traded the comforts of civilization for a life of simple freedoms. But when those freedoms are threatened, as they are in the film by a monopolistic cattle baron who objects to freegrazers Charlie (Costner) and Boss Stegg (Robert Duvall) on his land, the true nature of Man comes into question. For the Charlie the question is, can 10 years of living at peace with himself erase a lifetime of killing? If that sounds a bit like “Unforgiven,” you’re right. But where Eastwood’s film was a nihilistic ode to...

THE FLICK: “Winged Migration” impresses on two levels. First is the innovative and extraordinary photographic accomplishment of capturing images of birds in flight the way they never have before. Second is the behind-the-scenes commitment it took (4 years, 3 directors and 8 ultra-light planes over every continent on the planet) to bring the film to the screen. Inspired by the footage from “Fly Away Home,” lead director Jacques Perrin set out to follow the migratory existence of several species of birds - geese, pelicans, ducks, and a few more colorful varieties. Traveling upwards of 1500 miles on their journey, the scenery is as much a part of the wonder of the film as the birds themselves. The camera soars over mountains, forests, oceans and cities, then skims the ground for a “bird’s eye” view of a life in flight. Yes, it’s a nature film. But there is relatively little commentary and Perrin’s goal seems much more philosophical than educational. Just when things seem to be getting rep...

THE FLICKS: It’s enough to restore your faith in your fellow man. It’s proof there is a higher power. Or at the very least it’s proof that years of internet whining can make a difference. What’ s the big announcement? After 50 years of waiting, the big green lizard himself, Godzilla, is finally speaking Japanese. Well, he’s not actually talking, but all the poor saps he’s stepping on are. And for once fans get to hear the original audio tracks with English “dubtitles” (translations of the English dubs) in place of the unintentionally hilarious voice work. The first two releases to get the treatment on DVD are “Godzilla vs. Megaguirus” and “Godzilla, Mothra, Ghidorah – All Out Monster Attack,” both part of the new wave of G-films that arrived in the post-Roland Emmerich re-make era. Like “Godzilla 2000,” which saw a brief theatrical window in the States, these films feature better effects and bigger explosions, although still relying mostly on “man in a suit” technology. “Megaguirus” is...

Buffalo Soldiers is one of those movies that swings both ways. It can be either a dark comedy or an amusing tragedy depending on how you look at it. Set during on a U.S. military base in West Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall, Joaquin Phoenix stars as ÒRadarÓ-like company clerk Ray Elwood (that is, if Radar cooked heroin and screwed his superiorÕs daughter in his spare time) whose corrupt and jaded attitude is pervasive throughout his fellow soliders. With peace comes boredom, and the ex-cons and high school drop-outs in uniform are looking out for themselves - arranging big money arms deals with a side of smack. Director Gregor JordanÕs film turns up the heat as Elwood gets cornered by a new gung-ho sergeant (Scott Glenn) out to clean house. Meanwhile, his buddies are getting picked off one by one in a black market deal gone bad. Can the love of a good woman and a dash of reality turn one man around? A harsh satire of military politics and our species as a whole, the best thi...

THE FLICK: Few actors defined a role so unassumingly as Henry Fonda did as the legendary Wyatt Earp in “My Darling Clementine.” And few directors could have shaped the by now predictable ricochets from the gunfight at the O.K. Corral as expertly as John Ford, whose collaborations with Fonda always brought out the humanist in both of them. Playing fast and loose with history (despite Ford’s claim to have gotten the true facts from Earp himself), “Clementine” re-stages the famous shootout as little more than an footnote to the everyday challenges of life on the frontier and the constant struggle between savagery and civilization. After the Earp’s cattle are rustled and youngest brother killed by members of the Clanton clan, Wyatt sticks around Tombstone as the new Marshall until he can bring the killers to justice. His role as lawman also puts him at odds with Doc Holiday, the quick draw artist who runs the local gambling hall. And their relationship becomes even more strained when Holid...