YOUR WEEKEND PIC (Dec 9 - 10)

Hi folks, it is great to be back after a month-long stint in the US last month where I caught some of the latest movies, including the banned Borat. (Reviews of the other films will follow later). The jet lag is devastating, hence this late entry. Also, my sincere apologies to those who have been inconvenienced in one way or another.

1. HAPPY FEET (Animated feature with the voices of Robin Williams, Elijah Wood and Hugh Jackman) Rated * * * (out of 4): This tale, about a penguin who can’t sing but can dance like the blazes, is bound to set you tapping your feet and singing along with the catchy numbers. Just the family movie you need for the school holidays.

2. CASINO ROYALE (James Bond franchise with new lead Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen) Rated * * * : Whaddaya know? The new Bond has real blood instead of shaken vodka in his veins! Yeah, this is a gritty and more human version of the British superspy – and one that 007 fans should thrill to.

3. AFTER THIS OUR EXILE (Shot in Malaysia HK movie with Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young and Gouw Ian Iskandar) Rated * * * : A touching and engaging drama of a nine-year-old boy who is caught between an abusive, gambling-addict father (Kwok) and a runaway mom. He learns to steal for his dad and faces life the hard way.

4. DEJA VU (Action thriller with Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer and Paula Patton) Rated * * * : For a time-travel movie by Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott, Déjà vu has enough plot and action to sustain it. And it has one of the most nail-biting car chase scenes to date!

5. POSSESSED (Local thriller in Cantonese starring Amber Chia, Harisu and Sharifah Amani) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): With a bigger budget and more attractive stars, all we get from director Bjarne Wong is a terribly cliched thriller that is way more laughable than scary. (I am including this in the pick just for those who like a taste of local efforts).