FREEZE FRAMES

ARTHUR 2 ON THE ROCKS - Arthur is still wealthy and still drunk most of the time. He's losing whatever hilarity he once had, though. In this limp sequel he loses his money, but - surprise! - it's only temporary. John Gielgud lights up the screen for a few minutes, in a reprise of his role as Arthur's butler. The rest is silliness. (Rated PG) BOYFRIENDS AND GIRLFRIENDS - The story of two young women, the men they like, and the gently amusing complications that arise in these relationships. This is the sixth installment in the enchanting ``Comedies and Proverbs'' series of French filmmaker Eric Rohmer, and, while it's not as brilliant as ``Summer'' or ``Le Beau mariage,'' it has a charm that's as literate as it is beguiling. ``L'Ami de mon ami'' is the original title of this smart, savvy, and sophisticated romp. (Rated PG) CAMMINA CAMMINA - Ponderous epic about Italian peasants reenacting the Nativity story. Directed by Ermanno Olmi, in a momentary slump. (Not rated) A DAY ON THE GRAND CANAL WITH THE EMPEROR OF CHINA - A guided tour of an ancient Chinese scroll painting, written and narrated by artist David Hockney. Diverting and instructive. Philip Haas directed. (Not rated) THE DEAD POOL - Dirty Harry, a policeman who never lets the law stand in his way, tackles a string of murders connected with a sinister game. The screenplay drags in all kinds of nastiness, from drugs to devil worship, making most of it look fairly unglamorous. It also suggests that violent movies may beget violence, which is an odd message to find in a violent movie like this. Directed with much technical proficiency by Buddy Van Horn, and starring the inevitable Clint Eastwood. (Rated R) DIE HARD - Murderous thieves hijack a Los Angeles office building. Will a lone New York policeman be able to save the day? He's played by Bruce Willis, so you know the outlook is good. Most of the action is run-of-the-mill Hollywood blood and thunder, but a couple of scenes are unusually reprehensible: one in which the villains kill an innocent person, and another in which a peaceable man turns to gunplay. In both cases, the audience is coaxed into cheering by techniques that have as much to do with Pavlovian conditioning as with the art of cinema. John McTiernan was the director. (Rated R) A FISH CALLED WANDA - Two members of the Monty Python comedy troupe, John Cleese and Michael Palin, join American stars Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis in this British farce about dishonor among thieves. There are a few hilarious moments, and a few more that are foolish and even disgusting. Charles Crichton directed. (Rated R) LICENSE TO DRIVE - That's what the hero doesn't have, and desperately wants, in this comedy of teen-age manners. It's a silly picture, but it has more laughs, and even a bit more sense, than most of today's youth-targeted movies. Directed by Greg Beeman. (Rated PG-13) PHANTASM II - A supernatural villain called the Tall Man menaces a pair of good guys. The result is as yucky as the original ``Phantasm,'' and even more poorly written. Don Coscarelli directed from his own screenplay. (Rated R)