‘Mohicans’ Offers Captivating Photography, Suspense
You can end the weekend by visiting an old friend, Jim Rockford; getting a dose of high suspense with “Baywatch’s” David Hasselhoff; or settling down to an intense love story starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeline Stowe.
On hand to help clear the name of their favorite detective is con man Angel Martin (Stuart Margolin) and Rockford’s police friend Dennis Becker (Joe Santos). Dyan Cannon is thrown into the mix as an Internal Revenue Service agent.
Cannon, Garner, Santos and Margolin make the right combination to turn this “Rockford” tale into a movie to be cherished by fans.
Over on NBC Sunday at 9, the fast-action 1996 TV movie “Gridlock” premieres. The fast-paced yarn stars Hasselhoff and Kathy Ireland.
It was unavailable for review, but one can certainly surmise that the acting in this one won’t be receiving any Emmy nominations.
My recommendation is the historical drama “The Last of the Mohicans” on ABC Sunday at 9. This film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper’s tale is mesmerizing with its honest portrayal of the war between the French and British in 18th-century North America.
The harshness of life in the 1750s is quite apparent in this story that has several violent moments. (It isn’t suitable for young children.)
Visually this movie is stunning. The story offers wall-to-wall suspense. Why not end the weekend with the “Mohicans”’ winning combination?
Highlights
“JAG,” NBC Saturday at 8: An alleged alien abduction brings Lts. Rabb (David James Elliot) and Austin (Tracey Needham) to a deserted island. Soon the two are being chased by humanoids with glowing eyes.
Wasn’t this story acted out a few times already on “The X-Files?”
“Legend of the Ruby Silver,” ABC Saturday at 9: This modern-day gold rush tale - actually it’s more like silver rush - has a group of folks with dollar signs in their eyes searching for silver in a once legendary mine.
John Schneider plays the mine’s owner who enlists a single mom (Rebecca Jenkins), her son (Jonathan Jackson, “General Hospital”) and a has-been miner (Bruce Weitz). You can guess the rest as the group faces hardships on its way to glory.
“Touched By an Angel,” CBS Saturday at 9: Some familiar TV faces - Ed Begley Jr., Joan Van Ark and Concetta Tomei - guest-star in this sensitive hour about the death of a loving father.
“The Simpsons,” FOX Sunday at 8: George and Barbara Bush have moved to town and across the street from you know who. The laughs in this cartoon sitcom stem from Homer’s jealousy over how much attention the Bushes receive.
Cable Calls
“I.Q.” (1994), HBO Saturday at 8: This romantic comedy begins quite predictably: A garage mechanic (Tim Robbins) meets the woman of his dreams (Meg Ryan). Soon it turns into an involving tale about human nature as the mechanic must contend with the fact that his love interest is the niece of a genius, Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau).
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this mismatch will eventually work. But how this tale comes to its happy conclusion is fine escapist fare.
Matthau steals the show as Einstein.
“Shakespeare: The Animated Tales,” HBO Sunday at 7:30: The series kicks off with “The Winter’s Tale,” a story about a king’s jealousy that goes out of control. These half-hours are too sophisticated for the younger set, but teenagers may enjoy the exposure to Shakespeare. Robin Williams lightens the load with a hilarious introduction.