WEEKEND PIC Jan 26 -- 28

1. BLOOD DIAMOND (adventure thriller with Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly) Rated: * * * (out of 4): A gory but exciting actioner about the hunt for a pink diamond which would change the lives of those involved in it. Also, interesting insights into 'child soldiers' and 'conflict diamonds'.

2. EPIC MOVIE (comedy spoof with Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays, Faune Chambers and Kal Penn) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Using the 2005 "Chronicles Of Narnia" format, this spoofs on the franchise blockbusters has a few hits but mostly misses. Mostly for nostalgia value.

3. PATHFINDER (adventure thriller with Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means & Clancy Brown) Rated: * * * (3 stars): Based on the Nature vs Nurture theme, this one is about an adopted Viking warrior having to choose between fighting for his Nordic kinsmen and for his adoptive native tribe in pre-Columbus America. Gory at times.

4. HIT & BLAST (Action thriller with Jason Statham, Ryan Phillippe and Wesley Snipes) Rated: * * (2 stars): This 'bank heist gone awry' plot offers lots of twists but it is ultimately a cliched movie with lapses in logic.

5. THE RETURN: (psychological thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Adam Scott & Sam Shepard) Rated: * * (2 stars): Plot about a yuppie (Gellar) with recurring visions (what else?) takes a whole lot of footage in its build-up but the payback is disappointing. Very few scares too.