The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 Snieceininent Chan Rumbles in the Bron: y By Jorn Porrykus STAFF WRITER | Hong Kong's biggest action-comedy hero, Jackie Chan, has hit the United States for the first time with "Rumble in the Bronx," another installment in over 40 of Chan's high-impact kung fu vehicles since 1976. Chan has reigned as China's most beloved son and is now claimed as America’s favorite new import since Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chan plays Keung, an Asian coming .to New York to stay with his uncle. Keung falls into the position of defending a supermarket in the middle of the Bronx, while doing battle with a gang of motorcycling thieves. Perhaps Chan's explosive burst into the United States can be explained with the re- ceiving of his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1995 MTV Movie Awards. Quentin Tarantino, the master-mind behind some of Hollywood's most off-beat films, presented Chan with the award. He also introduced a clip of Chan's fight scenes, and heralded him as being influential to his filmmaking. Tarantino has brought other 70's and 80's pop- culture icons out of the limbo of sitcom cameos and back into the public's heart. John Travolta, through "Pulp Fiction,” and Richard Round! The Polemie © Wednesday, March 27, 1996 a an America and his reign as a king in China, is the breathtaking stunts featured in his films. More importantly, is the fact that he p forms all of his own stunts. This charisma actor will place himself in extreme risk, ai he demands the cameras to capture the da ger in each scene. Chan was recently quoi as saying, "I don't care if I break a leg, j make sure you get the shot!” ’ This dedicated attitude allows Chan continue to raise the element of danger in € stunt. Chan has broken his nose three ti his jaw, his shoulder, and nearly every of bone from head to toe. Close observers notice, during a scene in "Rumble," Ch right ankle buckles as he bounds onto a m ing hovercraft. He broke his ankle in shot, but returned to filming after rect cast. 4 Go les, ir The story is simple, perhaps too simple. Keung must retrieve stolen diamonds wt in competition with a gang and a grou organized crime lords, who are also in p suit of the diamonds. After the smoke clé from on-going chases and heroism, Kei ends up grabbing the bad guys and wi the girl. : This is one aspect of Chan's films lacks imagination and interest. An ho bs id a.k.a. Shaft, by means of "From Dusk 'Till Dawn," have benefited from Tarantino's touch. Now, once again, it seems, through a small dedication at an awards show, he has sparked the revival of another actor, Jackie Chan, by bringing him into American theatres. Chan, an obvious disciple of Bruce Lee, creates fast-paced action that wanders from the typical punch-kick-pull-a-gun scenario. He du- als with refrigerator doors, swats with a pair of skies, and defeats his opponents with his own shirt. : What has gained Chan his popularity in a half of his fist-flying, building-leapin; - formance would be much more exhilar than his attempt to form a plot that is s a cinematic cliche. Nevertheless, "Rumble in the Bro brings out Chan's tremendous athletic and charm. His innovative karate techn: and brilliant stunt sequences should a any viewer. Although critics have called effort to act more daring than being d with shards of broken glass, this film i to capture the imaginations of Chan's American audience. i es is o E H : 66Let me analyze your H insurance needs with a free Family Insurance Checkup. 99 CALL ME Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® JUDY BURNS Agent 1013 State Street N Alpena, MI 49707 Bus: 517-356-4862 ‘State Farm Insurance Companies Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois pay UB i v, 7, Vj ae — - Over Shared. 7 aoe ee ek ee : Ploreaoon spoa Siew Shure op by any Gis | Leigh Dorr, $7 Million! | Green | H| $20 To Update/Reset Existing 4 P ‘to Chuck Walczak and Merri Domer practice tree climbing for "'Chidre HOTO By Despre PARKS n of a Lesser God". "Children" is a lesson for all By LYNLY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Thunder Bay Theatre presented Children Of A Lesser God on March 7-9. This play was a three day production, but its impact was long last- Sarah Norman is a deaf student played by newcomer Merri Domer, and was the fo- cal point behind the play. Ms. Domer is a substitute inter- preter in the Alpena Public Schools working with the hearing impaired. Ms. Domer is not hear- ing impaired, but speaks sign language nearly fluently. She devoted many extra hours to her fellow cast mates to teach them to sign. "have always loved sign language," Domer said "So much of talking with sign is body language, that this was a liberal, rewarding experi- ence.” _ Also new to the theatre was the young and talented Lydia, a student of the Hear- ing Institute. Miss Dorr is a student at Thunder Bay Jun- lor High. New to TBI was Ben P Gougeon, last seen at the Civic Theatre in The Lion In Winter Playing Prince John. In Chil- ren, Ben plays Orin Dennis, who is a partial hearing stu- “dent at the Institute. , For 5 RESUMES »| That Get You Results Call Moonlight Computer Services (617) 471-911-0. $25 For New Résumés (I’m on campus Daily) 635 West Chisholm Alpena, MI 49707 517-356-9377 who played. pr dececieterlee "Learning to sign for the part was the most challenging for me," Gougeon said. "Both Merri and Leigh helped me prepare for the part." Most impressive was Chuck Walczak, who spent three months learning sign language to play James Leeds, the teacher who falls in love with Sarah Norman. This reporter has seen Mr. Walezak in many plays, but never have I seen this actor's talents in better light. The energy and excitement that Walczak portrayed in learning this complicated part conveys the true spirit behind acting. To undertake the chal- lenge of hearing people speaking with sign language was a marvel to see. There was never a dull moment in the play because there were no real scene changes. It was imagination at its best when the actors changed scenes. The audience saw James in the tree outside of Sarah's dorm room window, even though the stage was barren of everything but a couple of chairs and stools Nan Hall and Jennifer Andre were co-directors of the play, as well as having small but important parts. Ms. Hall played Mrs. Norman Sarah's mother, and Ms. Andre Played Edna Klein, the law- yer, who was a real crack-up to watch. Jerry Post played Mr. Franklin, the uptight wise cracking director of the insti- tute. It was interesting to note that even though Mr. Franklin was the director, he never once used sign language, but spoke only to those who could hear. For those who have seen the movie or read the book, and there were a number in the audience, the intensity blew the audience away, even” though they knew what was coming. ; Congratulations TB’ This one was a winner! TBT's losing two Actor's By LYNLY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ing on to greener pastures, fame and fortune. Thunder Bay Theatre will soon be losing two of their best actors. Chuck Walczak and Jennifer Andre are mov- The two will depart from Alpena sometime in April. Chuck and Jennifer will head out to California to seek their We are all going to miss these troopers because they helped to make TBT the great show place it is. Good Luck, and God Bless. We'll be looking for you both in the movies. Clip and Save $5.00 Cz eae re aes pact cad Shecesanglentant s.r mar we neae, Star Massage The Drug Free Way I Reduce Stress, Relieve Tension, ll Improve Circulation and Feel Better I with "Deep Muscle Therapy” | 119 Water Street - Downtown Alpena J] 356-2999 1 Open Weekdays by Appointment I al Gourmet Cookies & Coffee Homemade Soup Daily Hot & Cold Sandwiches on Fresh Homemade Buns French Pastries Laate Buds paery & Caté "Clpena's Meeting Place" "When Faste & Courtesy Count" Wayne's background is Classical French, so if there is some- thing special you wish to serve at a party or dinner, talk to Chef Wayne McWilliams. BRING IN THIS BUY | COOKIE GE 492 Ripley EREE Alpena es Sat. 6-3 356-0120 TAKE OUT AVAILABLE! Sun. 7-12 M-F 6-6 &