WEEKEND PIC Aug 24 - 26 2007

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. RATATOUILLE (animated comedy with voices of Brad Garrett, Patton Oswalt and John Ratzenberger) Rated * * * (out of 4): A lip-smacking comedy about a rat who wants to be a chef in the city of Paris. Great animation and an engaging story are a plus to this effort by Brad Bird of "The Incredibles". (See review below)

2. EVAN ALMIGHTY (comedy sequel with Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham and John Goodman) Rating: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars, 18PL): This story about a guy manipulated by God to build an Ark is not very funny. It even borders on the ridiculous but the message about faith can be inspiring. (See review below)

3. FEBRUARY 29 (psychological thriller with Park Eun-hye, Lee Myeong-jin and Baek Eun-jin) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars, 18PL): The plot, about a toll-gate girl who suspects that someone is out to kill her on Feb 29, is more of a thriller than a horror flick. At least it is more intelligent than many other Asian thrillers. (See review below)

4. PERFECT STRANGER (murder thriller with Halle Berry and Bruce Willis) Rating: * * (2 stars, 18PL): Here is one perfect build-up to a huge letdown. The desperate need for a surprise twist at the end turns this movie into a bomb despite its able cast. (See review below)

5. CONTRACT LOVER (romantic comedy with Richie Jen, Fan Bingbing and Yuen Wah) Rated * * (2 stars): A formulaic outing that is neither romantic nor funny. The story, about a guy hiring a gal to pose as his fiancee to his conservative parents, is so predictable that it is cliched. (See review below)

6. SUSTER NGESOT (Indon horror with Nia Ramadhani, Mike Lewis, Donita and Lia Waode) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 stars, 18PL): The movie appears like a rip-off of the Japanese "Ringu" and "Death Note" combined and there's only loud sudden noises and creaking doors to try and jolt us. (See review below)

7. TRAIN OF THE DEAD (a Thai 'attempt at horror' with Kett Thantup, Savika Chaiyadej, Sura Theerakon and Yarichada Wattanawongsri) Rated * (1 star, 18PL): With a giveaway title, a predictable plot and horrible acting, this pathetic excuse for a horror flick crashes even before it can leave the station. (See review below)