Preview

GREMLINS 2 - THE NEW BATCH
*ing: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Christopher Lee
Dir: Joe Dante
Genre: Horror
Ultra-Warner, Rs. 285
If you are the kind who gets a high watching creepy, crawly creatures, then this is just the film for you. This sequel to the popular original Gremlins doesn’t offer much in terms of a story, except for the fact that it has some good, innovative computer generated images and special effects. The plot is repetitive, in the sense that like in the original, in this film too rules are not followed, which ultimately leads to the disaster. So you have Gizmo, the cuddly furball (an invention of the Chinese), who, when left alone for sometime by Zach Galligan, gets drenched, resulting in the birth of hideous-looking creatures with an evil streak called Gremlins. They grow and multiply fast in the futuristic building, which is the broadcasting centre of a leading cable network owned by a media tycoon. Aided by the latest technology in the building, the Gremlin army go on a rampage, destroying everything in sight. There are a lot of comic moments too, a result of the funny activities the Gremlins indulge in. The filmmaking team is the same as in the original - director Joe Dante, and producers Michael Finnell and Steven Spielberg. A film meant to pass your time.

THE AMAZING PANDA ADVENTURE
*ing: Stephen Lang, Yi Ding, Ryan Slater
Dir: Christopher Cain
Genre: Adventure
Ultra-Warner, Rs. 285
This one’s a must-see for children. Besides an engrossing story-line, it also educates one on the importance of preserving the environment, and focuses on the behaviour of the endearing animal Panda. Since Pandas are found mostly in China, the story is set in that country. It revolves around the 10-year-old Ryan Tyler, who goes to China to visit his father, director of a preserve for endangered Giant Pandas. While on a trek into the lush bamboo forests, he gets separated from his father. Looking for his way out, he comes across a baby Panda who has been trapped by the poachers. Ryan manages to set the Panda free and also meets a Chinese girl, who promises to help him find the way out of the jungle. But they have to act fast, what with the poachers hot on their trail and the baby Panda having very little chance of surviving without its mother.

The film has been beautifully shot by cinematographer Jack N. Green, who brings across on screen the finer nuances of the Pandas, and the breathtaking Chinese landscapes and Himalayan highlands. Director Cain proves he has a way with kids, as he captures their natural emotions. Entertainment well-served with education.

TOM & JERRY’S CARTOON CAVALCADE
Animated Cartoon
Ultra-Warner, Rs. 225
A line on the inlay cover of this video describes it as “A Cavalcade of Comic Cat-tastrophes!” and that really is an apt description of this series of adventures of the big Tomcat and the puny mouse. Though one has seen a lot of Tom and Jerry cartoons, and we keep seeing them everyday on TNT, one just doesn’t seem to tire of the cat-and-mouse game. That’s because this cartoon series always has something new to offer. This video of the now-friends-now-enemies relation between the cat and mouse, has Jerry having an upper hand like always, outwitting the Tom-cat in a series of short strips named Casanova Cat, Jerry’s Cousin, Fine Feathered Friend, Jerry And The Lion, Mouse For Sale and Southbound Duckling. Needless to say, you tire laughing non-stop all the way.

Salma Khatib