Video/ DVD

DRAMA SOLAS (ALONE) (15) 97 mins 00.

Benito Zambrano's powerful debut is the story of Maria. an embittered yOung woman who lives alone in a run-down apartment in Seville. When her father takes ill. Maria reluctantly agrees to let her mother to stay. but her miserable past at the hands of a violent father and a mother who meekly accepts her fate begins to take its toll. So/as is not. however. a pessimistic film. Celebrating the strength and resilience of the human spirit. the two female leads deliver thorOughly

convincing performances. Zambrano’s beautifully drawn details create a believable reality but sadly. its happy ending is less convincing. (Artifical Eye VHS and DVD retail)

(Helen Monaghan)

THRILLER TESIS (18) 125 mins .00

Young Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenabar‘s debut is released on the back of his chilling ghost story Starring Nicole Kidman. The Others (Vanilla Sky. the Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz remake of his second film. Open Your Eyes. is out in the new year). Amenabar's highly competent debut revolves around a film student researching violence in cinema who discovers a snuff movie production outfit. Amenabar doesn't miss an opportunity to be self-referential. including taking a stab at the industry that would dumb down cinema. He mixes

MARTIAL ARTS RUSH HOUR 2 (12) 93 mins 0.

The title gives the game away really. Completely lacking in originality, this lame sequel is tiresome in the extreme, despite the presence of the ever-watchable Jackie Chan. He and Chris Tucker reprise their roles from the original film, as Hong Kong Chief Inspector and LAPD detective respectively, this time investigating a counterfeit money operation run by the Triads. The plot is, however, completely superfluous: it serves merely as a backdrop to the action scenes and comedic interplay between Tucker and Chan which are the main focus of the film.

The 1998 original was fast-paced, funny and fresh, but this is stale in every aspect. The chemistry between the two leads is non-existent, and the feeble attempts at humour are based on racial stereotypes; Tucker is constantly baiting Chan about his size and poor command of English, and when Tucker attempts to speak Chinese, he ends up saying completely inappropriate things. Yeah, hilarious. I thought that kind of humour went out

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several decades ago. Even the action scenes are forgettable: ' _, 2; usually Chan’s stunts are intricate and original, but for some '5 ~ -"’ reason, this time it’s fight-by-numbers.

In an effort to add some spice, Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) appears as a deadly Triad, but since her part is

Tiresome, despite the ever- watchable Jackie Chan

non-speaking, she is little more than eye-candy, although her fight scenes are a joy to watch.

If you’ve seen Rush Hour, there’s really no need to see this. If you haven’t, I suggest you do and forget all about this sequel. (Kirsty Knaggs) I Available through Entertainment on VHS rental and DVD retail from Mon 37 Dec.

mystery with shock tactics effectively. though ultimately Tesls feels like an exercise in genre filmmaking. Which is perhaps what it is. (Metro Tartan VHS and DVD rental)

(Miles Fielder)

art loving, comedy laughing, attraction visiting, theatre going, hill walking, scotland touring, club dancing, beer swilling, sport crazy, film watching,

music listening, hotel staying money spenders?

VT

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DIRECT DISTRIBUTION

Arts, Entertainment,Tourism and Leisure Publicity Nationwide

O|4| 429 3838

1 10 THE LIST Iii Dec 7001 (5 .Jan Qflf)?

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