WEEKEND PIC July 6 - 8 2007

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

Bruce Willis still going strong in Die Hard 4.0

1. DIE HARD 4.0 (action thriller with Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Maggie Q) Rated: * * * 1/2 (out of 4): It looks like the Die Hard franchise is getting a new lease on life with spectacular stunts and an engaging story. And don't you love those chippy lines?

2. TRANSFORMERS (sci-fi action with Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight and Megan Fox) Rated: * * * (3 stars): It's 'Bayhem' time and those who grew up on Transformers toys and the TV series would definitely relive their fantasies in this testosterone-fueled actioner that also transforms from one genre to another.

3. KIDNAP (crime thriller with Rene Liu, Karena Lam, Cheung Chilam and Cheung Siu Fai) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A kidnap thriller with the requisite twists and turns spoilt by lame dialogue and numerous plot gaps.

4. SURF'S UP (animated comedy with voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Masquerading as a 'mockumentary', this story about a young penguin's quest to be champion surfer offers a few laughs and references to real-life celebs. But not enough oomph, though.

5. DIVA (local drama with Ning Baizura, Jeremy Thomas and AC Mizal) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This drama, about the personal and professional challenges faced by a singer (Ning), gets a Bollywood touch with India's director Sharad Saran at the helm.