The REEL James Clavell’s TAI-PAN

TRUTH

By Chris Vessey

A FUTURE FOR EVERY CHILD. . .

IT’S IN THE CARDS BUY UNICEF CARDS

WR

)

UNICEF Prince Edward Island P.O. Box 294

Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 7K4 Telephone (902) 892-0584

Or call toll-free 1-800-268-6364 (Operator 509)

: BOSTON? 205).

Starring:

Bryan Brown - Tai-pan John Stanton - Brock Joan Chen - May-May

Based on a novel by James Clavell

“Tai-Pan” takes place in China, during the era of the Opium Wars. Before this,China had been a closed country to the “westerners”. She had neither seen norheard of Eng- lishmen; when the Chinese met

-them they thought them to be bar-

barians. Perhaps they were, for it was the hunger of the western civ- ilization for the riches of the Orient — tea, silk, and spices — that brought China to an Opium stupor (it should be noted that not only the English were at work in these areas; others were active as well,

including the French). Imperialism moved the British and other wes- terners to establish colonial ports in this new world. The Chinese leaders were not in favor of this — the westerners were turning their people into hopeless addicts. It was for this reason that the Opium Wars commenced.

Tai-Pan is not about the wars themselves but about the ruthless trading that went on in China, and the competition between the Brit- ish for colonial of the British col- ony was called the Tai-Pan by the Chinese: He had control over trade in the area — a monopoly, so to speak, onall aspects of the trade including opium. But it was the Tai-Pan who had to build the community; the need for wealth to

AMANDA

set one up sparked fierce rivalry between British companies. Murder and treachery might well be the only way to become Tai-Pan, for there can be only one.

In the film a competition takes place between the residing Tai- Pan’and Brock. Each must try to defeat the other while winning the support of the people. Through all of this there is adventure, romance, and tragedy. I tend to compare it to Shogun, for it bears many of the same qualities. Rivalry, lust, power, comedy, and young romance are alla part of Tai-Pan. Because it is not asci-fi, cinematography isn’t quite as important; it is extremely good nevertheless. Background music is typical for this type of drama. I feel that Bryan Brown (Tai-Pan) has played his part to the fullest, even to the use of a rich andauthentic accent. John Stan- ton’s character, Brock, is played as it should be — a hateful man who relies on his henchmen to do his dirty work. Joan Chen (May-May) plays a beautiful slave girl, Tai- Pan’s lover. Her insatiable lust defies any other desciption but nymphomaniac. Overall, the char- acters are well-played and reason- ably plausible.

“There can be only one.”

I confess, I have not read Clavell’s novel, so lam not qualified to draw a comparison. Everyone who watches amovieis a critic (to some extent). If you have read the book, give the movie a break. Rarely is a movie as good (or better) than the book it is based on. Time dictates much of this. Also, most of what you read you envisage in your own unique way. The movie version is almost certain to be different from your visual interpretation. Make allowances, and merit the movie on its own grounds, not those of a book. I rate this according to how interesting I found it to be, not how interesting it is in comparison to the novel. I found it to be intrigu- ing, informative, and not at all bor- ing. It is a long movie at approxi- mately 125 minutes. It will keep you busy for all of them. “Tai-Pan” is really good. Don’t listen to some high-brow reviews which compare it to the novel. Go and enjoy your- self. You may not see one like this for quite a while.

Rating: ****+

You can see Tai-Pan at the Prince Edward Cinemas, theatre 2.

RIM: MIT CHB: 5650 sinis't odes cree sen doneee ALANA LOVES ME SESS Es BO anna Pcesg svi seadin oe 9 aes pie ageless TO BE ALOVER HUMAN LEAGUE .... 0.0. c eee e erence eee eeeeneees HUMAN THE CURE .....- hsb clk Sli lamas Hi 26 Septacesn ooh pmaiae CLOSE TO ME THE SMITHS 2 oo 5a5 nce. 9 THERE’S A LIGHT THAT NEVER

GOES OUT ETS POLIOE.. ©) csjnoes ae <0 DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME (86 VERSION) MADONNA so iu Sg eo toc = shin deree eas seee sce get's TRUE BLUE . STEVE WINWOOD ........ BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE AGAIN ETHIE SPOONG Soo. cs caine +4 cet ates BRIDGES OVER BORDERS . HOWARD JONES ... YOU KNOWI LOVE YOU...DON’T YOU? MGLASS TIGER 5. otesis poem cons oe Hie LOOKING AT A PICTURE SOCRINY TRIBE Fas os co toate wa ce eesti ey 1 AM BY YOUR SIDE PARACHUTE CLUB: 0. oi .3 exec ecco oe TEARING THE VEIL . PAUL SIMON ..... Sere ee re ae YOU CAN CALL ME AL De eg tee ete gh eave hehe oe nies SUMMER CAULDRON/GRASS = BU NDOC Rs Foie on ae iene nereas 3 AMERICAN SINGER . TOM: COCHRANE .......... +--+ THE UNTOUCHABLE ONE . PET SHOP BOWS Ass as Heese es Ses TWO DIVIDED BY ZERO BON SOV ao restart ci seel: +>: YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME . TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB. oo ice cc ice ce ese ce neeee ee RUMOURS . SAM MOORE & LOU REED ....................--. SOUL MAN Pp APPAGCOSEA ® «oss si cess WHEN I FALL IN LOVE AGAIN CY NDT AON x esas gos app Baa Foo TRUE COLOURS POTN 5 cee Os as hick ERD Hota See Chs be WHO MADE WHO

PICK HIT: DURAN DURAIEG oscil sas Stan ar apes ania sete see .'s NOTORIOUS

t 2 3 4. 5. 6. 7 8 9. 10 11 12 13 14 15, 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. 23 24 25:

NOW DELIVERING DELIVERY STARTING AT 8:00 PM for only $1.00 Third Floor S.u.b. Barn

_ EVol. 4, No. 11 November. 20, == =FreSen

ee >