YOUR WEEKEND PIC (June 9 - 11)

(A new posting to help you plan your cinema-going)

1. CARS (Animated fun-tasy with endearing car-acters voiced by Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Paul Newman) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Lightning McQueen, a novice racing car, learns about friends and family when he gets stuck in a small town on the legendary Route 66.

2. OVER THE HEDGE (Animated comedy with voices of Bruce Willis and Gary Shandling) Rated * * * (3 stars): A bunch of woodland animals wake up from hibernation to find a hedge in their way – and lots of food on the other side. Wacky fun for the kids during the school holidays.

3. THE OMEN (remake of the 1976 horror classic, with Liev Schriber and Julia Stiles) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Another faithful remake of the 70s original with no ‘value’ added except more thunder and lightning.

4. 16 BLOCKS Ra(cop thriller with Bruce Willis, Mos Def & David Morse) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Willis has to match wits with his fellow cops to deliver a witness to court. Cliched odd-couple flick for Willis diehards.

5. X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (Comic book fantasy sequel starring Hugh Jackson, Halle Berry & Patrick Stewart) Rated * * * (3 stars): A cure for mutation splits the ‘gifted people’ right down the middle – and the X-Men (and women) have a tough time saving the day. X-travagant action.