Rising Sun (1993) ***

Ruby In Paradise (1993) ***

Kalifornia (1993) ***

Dave (1993) ***

An amusing comedy with Kevin Kline impersonating the president of United States. Full of hilarious, self-reflexive jokes (including Oliver Stone coming up with a not-so-paranoid conspiracy theory).

Butterfly And Sword (1993) ***

A "wu xia pian" pic from Hong Kong, whose action sequences were directed by Ching Siu-Tung. Directed by Michael Mak and produced by Chu Yin-Ping. A great closing-credits song.

The Blue Kite (1993) ***

Unlike Chen Kaige's "Farewell My Concubine" (1993) and Zhang Yimou's "To Live" (1994), two other Chinese films about the Cultural Revolution, Tien Zhuangzhuang's "The Blue Kite" eschews melodramatic and stylistic excesses in favor of simplicity and realism.

L'Arbre, le maire et la mediathèque (1993) ***

Very philosophical, gently satiric film set in a quiet French village.

The Age Of Innocence (1993) ***

Social conventions in snobbish 19th-century New York.

Addams Family Values (1993) ***

Excellent sequel to the 1991 hit.

Once Upon A Time In China III (1993) ***

This isn't the final installement of the "Once Upon A Time In China" saga (there were two more films after that), but it is the last "Once Upon A Time In China" movie starring Jet Li (before Chiu Cheuk took over).

The Wonderful, Horrible Life Of Leni Riefenstahl (1993) ***

Fascinating documentary about the controversial German filmmaker. A close friend of Adolf Hitler, she directed "Triumph Of The Will" (1935), a brilliant documentary that glorified the Nazis. In this film, she defends her life's work, claiming that art and politics should be judged separately. The second adjective of its title nothwithstanding, this film makes a very convincing case for her rehabilitation. It certainly presents her as an apolitical (though occasionally naive) artist fascinated by African culture and marine ecology (unusual interests for an alleged Nazi sympatizer).

What's Love Got To Do With It (1993) ***

The life of Tina Turner. Songs:

"Let It Shine" *
"I Know You Love Me Baby" *
"Make Me Over" *
"Rock Me Baby" *
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine" *
"A Fool In Love" **
"Shake It Baby" *
"River Deep, Mountain High" ***
"Proud Mary" ***
"Nutbush City Limits" *
"Disco Inferno" **
"What's Love Got To Do With It" ***
"I Don't Wanna Fight" **

The Wedding Banquet (1993) ***

Bittersweet comedy about a gay Taiwanese-American living in New York, who tries to please his traditional parents by arranging a "green card" marriage with a Chinese immigrant girl.

Les Visiteurs (1993) ***

Silly, but screamingly funny comedy about two medieval knights getting stranded in present-day France.

Trois couleurs: Bleu (1993) ***

Very stylish, slow-moving drama about a young woman who looses her family and withdraws from the world.

32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993) ***

Meditative, beautiful film about the great Canadian pianist.

Tai Chi Master (1993) ***

Excellent kung-fu/historical drama about two Shaolin monks joining a group of rebels.

Sword Stained With Royal Blood (1993) ***

A successful mixture of kung-fu and slapstick comedy. An entertaining film from Hong Kong.

The Snapper (1993) ***

A girl finds herself pregnant, but refuses to identify the father.

Remains Of A Woman (1993) ***

One of two films based on the notorious Patrick Wong case (the other being "Legal Innocence"). This film is better directed, more accurate and less exploitive. The acting is superb (especially Carrie Ng and Loletta Lee), the pacing is swift, and the murder sequence (presented as a flashback) is haunting. But the absence of sex and nudity might disappoint some fans - they might want to check the other, sleazier film. Box office: 3 million HK.

Pierscionek z orlem w koronie (1993) ***

Ciekawy film o powojennym Ruchu Oporu w Polsce.

Philadelphia (1993) ***

Interesting courtroom drama about a lawyer with AIDS suing his former employers for wrongful dismissal.

Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) ***

"The Thin Man" meets "Rear Window" in this post-modernist Woody Allen comedy-mystery.

The Last Action Hero (1993) ***

Weak action film, but a superb comedy - self-reflexive and almost brechtian in its daring criticism of Hollywood cliches.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) ***

Outstanding drama about Chinese immigrant women in America.

In The Line Of Fire (1993) ***

Tense drama about a wacko trying to assassinate the president of United States.

Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) ***

Almost no plot, but plenty of jokes in this funny spoof of "Rambo" and "Apocalypse Now".

The Heroic Trio (1993) ***

Three butt-kicking heroines (Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui) join forces to fight an evil kidnapper.

Fong Sai Yuk (1993) ***

Historical drama starring Jet Li.

First Shot (1993) ***

"The Untouchables", Hong Kong version.

El Mariachi (1993) ***

Made on a shoe-string budget by first-time director Robert Rodriguez, this well-directed, superbly photographed and perfectly edited film was among the most astounding discoveries of the year.

Dazed And Confused (1993) ***

George Lucas' "American Graffiti" was a nostalgic look at 1963 made in 1973. This film is a nostalgic look at 1977 made in 1993. ***

The Actor (1993) ***

Iron Monkey (1993) ***

Martial arts film from Hong Kong, directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, and starring Donnie Yen.