SPIKE AND MIKE "Spike and Mike's Original Festival of Animation" is in town - laugh and be grossed out by some of the world's best animation. Michigan Theater, Friday 5 p.m. and Saturday 5 p.m. & 11 p.m. AwuS Wednesday ( June 12, 19967 Big Three' power action-packed 'Rock' 3y Gabe Smith Determined to seek justice, Hummel )aily Arts Writer and a team of highly trained commandos To this day, a cloud of mystery hangs hijack a weapons depot, steal several rock- iver the closed maximum-security peni- ets armed with VX nerve gas, and com- iary called Alcatraz. Home to such mandeer Alcatraz, taking 81 hostages in otorious criminals such as Al Capone and the process. ohn Dillinger, the With the rockets irison was most KnVyi nw pointed at San amous for the fact that Francisco, the only hope 1o one had ever 1 Diedic haelay lies in an FBI chemi- 'scaped alive from its wth Nicholas Cage, Sen cal/biological weapons onfines. Alcatrazd Ed Harrs expert, Stanley -losed in 1962, but Goodspeed (Nicolas oday ferries bring Cage), and a top-secret learly 1.3 million tourists each year to the federal prisoner named John Patrick Mason sland prison. (Sean Connery), the only man known to ever SNow, producers Don Simpson (who escape from Alcatraz. With the clock tick- led before the movie debuted) and Jerry ing, this unlikely duo, escorted by a group of 3ruckenheimer ask you to step off the Navy SEALs, embarks on a mission to avert 'erry and envelop yourself in the mystery disaster. if "The Rock." In this action thriller However crude and illogical this script lirected by Michael Bay, Ed Harris plays is, its rough edges are smoothed out by trancis Hummel, a highly decorated, yet Cage, Connery and Harris. All three add lisgruntled, military general who is human textures to their characters, especial- ngered over the fact that families of the ly Harris, whose Hummel is not evil but nen whom he has lost over the years in rather a sympathetic antagonist. Connery's :ert operations have been denied com- Mason is surprisingly similar to Hummel - 6sation. both are patriots and both have been Guns, guns, bUtirHere Cage and Connery exhibit support for the Brady Bill. betrayed by their country. Cage's Goodspeed is quirky and a smart aleck at times. Michael Bay pieced the action sequences together like a strobe light, rarely letting up on the audience from one action- packed scene to the next. However, writers Weisberg and Cook leave too many unre- solved issues, including an infamous roll of microfilm. The movie is at the very least, entertaining, but ultimately it is the "Big Three," Harris, Connery and Cage, that makes this movie one worth seeing. Cocteau Twins milk the Sanctum Throughout the '80s, the Cocteau Twins created some of the most beautiful and innovative music of the decade. Liz Fraser's uncanny gossamer voice and Robin Guthrie's shimmery guitar work both gar- nered acclaim and inspired bands. The band's latest work, "Milk and Kisses" (Capitol), finds the band giving Its fans more of what they want - hypnotic, dreamy music, awash in ethereal voices and liquid guitars. "Tishbite," "Violaine" and "Seekers Who Are Lovers," in particular, reflect that airy loveliness for which the Cocteau Twins are renowned, while "Rilkean Heart" finds the group adding acoustic touches to its formula. Along with the new album, fans can rejoice over the fact that the Cocteau Twins return to the Detroit area for the first time in nearly . three years, playing Pontiac's Sanctum on Friday, June 15. An experi- ence not to be missed, the Cocteau Twins in concert is as rare - and beautiful - as a blue moon. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and It's an all ages show. Call (810) 33&2828 for more information. -By Heather Phares, Daily Arts Writer 'The Phantom' fails to cut through the cheese By Prashant Tamaskar Diane Palmer (Kristy Swanson), the characters. This is usually a good thing, Daily Arts 'riter feisty niece of one of Drax's foes. but for a production this shallow, aimed What could one of New York City's Surprisingly, the comic-book-esque at comic-book fans and younger audi- richest, most corrupt men want with storyline is not what brings about the ences, it amounts to suicide. three ancient skulls made of precious downfall of this film. In fact, it goes However, the excellent performances metals? To rule the world, of course! rather nicely with the overall tone of the by the two lead actors should not be to get the skulls, he has to somehow movie. This is because "The Phantom" overlooked. Burdened by terrible writ- ispose of a cunning jungle warrior in doesn't take itself too seriously. Rather, ing. the charismatic Billy Zane manages purple, named the Phantom. it chooses to combine the mindless plot to shine by mastering the art of dry Such is the corny plot of Simon with cheesy humor, most of which is humor. As Drax, the boisterous Treat Wincer's new film, entitled "The provided by the title character. Williams is the perfect foil to the more Phantom," based on the comic-book The problem is, at some point you laid back Phantom. And as for Kristy superhero of the same name. When a sil- wish the film would take itself seriously, Swanson, well, she always has "Buffy ver skull is stolen from a cave that the rather than remain a mere farce. The the Vampire Slayer." Phantom (Billy Zane) is protecting, he mildly amusing action scenes are few Let's face it. The comic-book does not realize what consequences may and far between, while the rest of the superhero genre is getting old. It a se. Apparently, when it is combined film attempts to develop the plot and the isn't necessarily that audiences are similar Jade and gold replicas, it creates a forcefield more powerful than alt of Earth's armies combined. Xatder Drax (Treat Williams), the masterminid of a scheme to find all of the skulls, seeks lo use the power for evil. However, X M V U S E statding it his way are the Phantom ad YE EXAMS & EYE GLASSES -- 1) RA LRaum L;11r,, GIORGIO ARMANI r~CALVINKLEIN ,1 j9 ZID ST U DE NT D ISC O UNTS e v ea .r "ForTry? ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS!!1 Bring home a GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! bucket of Rod's ild and hot wings BILLIONS OF $$$ IN PRIVATE FUNDING. QUALIFY IMMEDIATELY. Call ahead for carry-out 1 800-AID-2-HELP (1.800-243-2435) 8..1 s. Se t. 'Y. ~ The Phantom ABrarwood and Showcase tired of seeing characters like Superman and Batman fly or swing around on the big screen. The prob- lem is that filmmakers believe sim- ply having a movie featuring these unique heroes is enough. Consequently, little attention is actu- ally paid to making the film a quali- ty production. But as long as the Batman franchise is making 200 million dollars a movie, mediocre -- works like "The Phantom" will find The Phantom, shown here in the midst their way into multiplexes. of adventurous revelry. Think You're Pregnant? " Free Pregnancy Test " Information about pregnancy j-7 E and options WASHTENA Cleary " COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL a olg Pregnancy Counseling Center p - - Women Helping Women Ypsilanti (313) 434-3088 (24 hours) High School 2950 Packard, Ypsilanti, MI (I Block East of Golfside) ur MCAT prep course offers the following streonreduction therapies: 63 Hours of Class Instruction 4 Full-Length Diagnostic Tests #Free Extra Tutoring .1Class Sizes of 15 Students or Fewer THE PRINCETON REVIEW # Free MCAT Computer Software # Free Flowers Manual + 5 Additional Full-Length MCATs Classes begin June 15th. 5 ' s_ + 2 16 8()(}-2 I E V I EVE