THE HOUSE: Enter At Your Own Risk

THE HOUSE aka BANPEESINK (Thai horror)

Cast: Inthira Chaloenpura and Chamanun Wanwinwasara

Director: Monthon Arayangkoon

Time: 115 mins

Rating: * 1/2 (out of 4)

(Pic: Inthira, right, and a ghost)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? She has been warned not to enter The House but Shalinee (Inthira Chaloenpura) is a TV reporter assigned to make a documentary about a murder that happened six years ago. It is her duty to check out the crime scene even though a caretaker has refused to let her in. However, even from the outside, Shalinee gets the feeling that The House is haunted. She even manages to capture images of a female ghost on her video camera!

HITS & MISSES: No prizes for guessing what happens next, folks. Contrary to common sense or the need for self-preservation, Shalinee sneaks into the spooky shack at night - ALONE! My point, dear readers, is that Thai director Monthon Arayangkoon is so desperate to scare his viewers that he would conjure all sorts of nonsensical scenes to accomplish his aim. After a while, his attempts get very pathetic because the audience would be one step ahead of him. With all that Haunted House 101 stuff thrown in, you can guess what would happen next - and brace yourself for it.

"The House", also known by its Thai moniker, "Banpeesink", is based on three real-life murder cases that are all connected to a particular house near a hospital. The first case, on 18 Sept 1959, involved a nurse, Nuanchawee Patchara, who was raped, strangled and dumped in a river. The second, on 28 Sept 1999, had a woman named Jarmjuree knifed and cut up into pieces by her boyfriend; and the third, on 20 Feb 2001, involved a woman doctor whose body parts were found near a hotel in Bangkok. How the House is connected to all these cases is open to conjecture but Arayangkoon offers his own reason at the end of the movie. It is a lame one by any count.

Of course, a large part of the movie deals with reporter Shalinee's life, especially her problems with her husband Parnu, and a colleague named Shane who has the hots for her. There are elements of jealousy, spiritual possession and betrayal but these are poorly developed and they lack credibility. Many of the scenes shift so randomly that they are confusing.

Lead star Chaloenpura, who impressed Asian audiences in "Nang Nak", puts up a credible performance as an inquisitive and determined journalist. However, she is largely hampered by a weak script and poor direction that requires her to scream like a brainless schoolgirl. Still, she is the only bright spark in this horror thriller that is more to be tolerated than be thrilled about.

THE LOWDOWN: There isn't any good reason to go near this House. You have been warned.

ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE: Still Captivating

ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE (historical drama)
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish and Jordi Molla
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Time: 115 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

(pic: Blanchett and Owen as The Queen and Raleigh)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? When I first heard of this movie, the first thought that came to mind was why would they remake an epic like the 1998 "Elizabeth" which garnered seven Oscar nominations (and won one for Best Make-up)? The truth is that "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" is a sequel, but titling it "Elizabeth II" would be rather confusing as to its subject.

This movie brings director Shekhar Kapur back at the helm, together with Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush reprising their roles as Elizabeth and Sir Francis Walsingham. While the first explored Elizabeth's survival, her love life and the loss of innocence when the prize is absolute power, "The Golden Age" deals with what happens when that power is threatened, and how 'a mere woman' manages to survive pressures from within and outside her country to hold onto it.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? It is 1585 and England is in turmoil. The Pope has declared a holy war against the Protestant Queen and her country; Spain's King Philip II (Jordi Molla) is building an armada to invade England and return the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) to the English throne; and, domestically, Elizabeth has to contend with political conspiracies and pressures from her advisors, including Sir Francis, to find a suitor and get married.

The first half of the movie sees the queen deftly handling these problems in her usual pomp and grandeur. However, it is the problem of the heart that gets her riled up. This comes in the form of Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) who arrives at her court with two American natives and gifts of potato and tobacco (from Virginia, named after the virgin queen). Elizabeth is inevitably drawn to him, and Raleigh takes advantage of this, including impregnating - and later marrying - her favourite lady-in-waiting, Bess Throckmorton (Abbie Cornish).

HITS & MISSES: The history books has nothing about the 52-year-old queen's romantic designs for the 32-year-old Raleigh, but Kapur takes dramatic licence to suggest that Elizabeth had wanted the dashing Raleigh for herself, culminating in an awesome fit of regal jealousy against Bess. Kapur also rewrites history, having Raleigh lead England's defence against the Spanish Armada, swinging on ropes from ship to ship, and even diving in the Channel. In reality, Raleigh played no role in that famous 1588 battle. Still, the battle scenes offer a welcome respite from the court intrigues and provide the movie with its much-needed action sequences in the second half.
Owen earns his keep as the hero of the sequel while Cornish deserves our sympathy as the suffering Bess who has sacrificed a lot to serve her queen. Blanchett, of course, is as regal and credible as Her Majesty, looking a lot younger than the 52-year-old woman she is playing. Rush has less screen time here. Like in the first movie, the costumes and set designs are a sight to behold - and would surely be considered, come Oscar time.

I am also impressed with Kapur's handling of the Queen Mary saga, according her with royal composure even as she is about to be beheaded, and showing the personal anguish in Elizabeth who is forced to make a decision that would threaten her kingdom. These are some of the performances that would stay in our memories.

THE LOWDOWN: This "Golden Age" will probably not spell box-office gold like the first one did, but it should satisfy the curiosity of History Channel fans. Also, there is enough material in Elizabeth's life for a third instalment - as we have seen in "Shakespeare In Love".

Your New Year Holiday Pick: Dec 28 - Jan 1, 2008

Your Guide To The Weekend and New Year Holiday Viewing:

1. ATONEMENT (romance drama with Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai and Saoirse Ronan) Rated: * * * (out of 4): Adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan, this searing love story is timeless and universal, a romantic tragedy that will tug at your heartstrings. A Golden Globes favourite, too. (Reviewed below)

2. THE WARLORDS (Actioner in Mandarin with Andy Lau, Jet Li and Takeshi Kaneshiro) Rating * * * (3 stars): This is an engaging tale of brotherly betrayal, revenge and murder set in China's Taiping rebellion (1851-64). The story has been told before, in Chang Cheh's "The Blood Brothers" (1973) but not in such an epic scale as this.

3. GOLDEN COMPASS (fantasy adventure with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards and Eva Green) Rating * * * (3 stars): While not as popular as "Lord Of The Rings" or the Harry Potter series, this adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel, His Dark Materials, is visually captivating. Forget the religious controversies and see it as a satire on political constraint. And enjoy the ensemble cast, especially Kidman and young Richards. (Reviewed below)

4. I AM LEGEND (psychological thriller with Will Smith) Rated * * * (3 stars): Smith plays a military scientist left alone in a devastated NY City to battle the zombie population. The images of a deserted Manhattan are eerie enough and the story passable as the best adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel. (Reviewed below)

5. NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (adventure with Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight & Helen Mirren) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Like its predecessor, this sequel offers the same rollercoaster ride with a mix of fun and thrills. However, it is somehow devoid of any sense of danger... (Reviewed below)

6. ALIENS VS PREDATOR 2 (Action sequel with Reiko Aylesworth, Steven Pasquale, Gina Holden & David Hornsby) Rating * * (2 stars): Predictable and unavoidable, this vidgame-to-movie franchise is mainly for fans of the game. Somehow, it gets stupider as it goes along...

Once again, here's To A Happy and Entertaining 2008!

THE WARLORDS: An Asian '300'

THE WARLORDS (historical drama)

Cast: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Xu Jing-lei

Director: Peter Chan

Time: 125 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

(pic: The blood brothers taking their oath)
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Arguably, “The Warlords” is what acclaimed director Zhang Yimou must have tried to do with his 2002 “Hero” – and failed. Director Peter Chan has apparently learnt from Zhang’s mistakes and concentrated on the storyline, grounding his film on realistic warfare instead of fanciful stunts and ‘wire-fu’ gimmicks. “The Warlords” may not have the box-office lure for Westerners but it should give blockbusters like “300” a run for the money, especially with Asian crowds..

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The movie, adapted from a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) tale about the Assassination of Ma Xinyi, deals with three ‘blood brothers’ during the Taiping Rebellion of the 1860s. When the movie opens, we see General Pang (Jet Li as the legendary General Ma) emerging from a pile of corpses in the battlefield. Pang has played dead while his army is massacred after being betrayed by the Kiu forces. He is rescued by a runaway courtesan Lian (Wu Jing-lei), and he joins a band of bandits led by Er Hu (Andy Lau) and Wu Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro).

When the village is attacked by soldiers, Pang suggests to Er Hu and Wu Yang that they join the Qing army and fight for a cause instead. The three then take an oath to become ‘blood brothers’, pledging loyalty to one another to the death. Inevitably, this pact is threatened when Pang gets embroiled in a web of political deceit orchestrated by the Empress’ advisors. And to make things worse, Pang is also involved in a love triangle with Lian who happens to be Er Hu’s lover.

HITS & MISSES: Director Chan colours all his shots with an earthy sepia hue, giving the movie its gritty 19th Century ambience and mood. The fighting scenes are brutally realistic, with blood and limbs flying all over the place. Like Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart”, the carnage and bloodlust are a sight to behold and some may even shock viewers. For example, the scene of Jet Li’s duel with a spear embedded in his shoulder will be etched in our minds for a long time.

A hefty portion of the movie’s US$40 million budget was reportedly paid as Jet Li’s salary. Whether this is justified is open to debate but there is no doubt that he is the main attraction here, headlining the action with able co-stars Lau and Kaneshiro. Director Chan does not provide much dialogue for his cast, he just focuses the camera on their faces and their reactions. With this technique, we get to see more ‘acting’ from Li and Kaneshiro. Indeed, we would never see Kaneshiro shedding more tears anywhere else than in this movie. Andy Lau acquits himself well as the roguish bandit who can’t see eye to eye with General Pang. However, the most touching performance comes from Wu Jing-lei as the centre of the love triangle. Wu is no beauty but she makes us feel for her whenever she appears.

Still, “The Warlords” is not what we can call a ‘well-balanced’ helming by Chan. He has emphasised too much on the battle scenes and left a lot of character interactions undeveloped or underdeveloped. Pang’s character remains an enigma and much of the love tangle between Er Hu and Pang is left to our imagination.

THE LOWDOWN: “The Warlords”, however, may be considered Hong Kong’s answer to “300” as it deals with how a ragtag bunch of 180 warriors go against 5,000 trained soldiers. It is as much a seat-gripper as that Spartan movie.

The Top 10 Movies of 2007

1. Love & Honor (Japanese: Like a breath of fresh air, this old 60s style Samurai flick is so captivating and refreshing, sans special effects and eye-candy. It harks back to the days of how action movies should be made.

2. Across The Universe: A nostalgic trip back to the 60s bouyed by catchy, revisionist Beatles tunes. Makes us wanna tap our feet and sing along.

3. Die Hard 4.0: Wow, Bruce Willis shows that he still has it as action hero despite his age and the stunts just blow us away.

4. Babel: Engaging and intelligent look at how modern (mis)communication can affect major countries withjust one minor incident in a remote part of the world.

5. Beowulf: Artistic and absorbing rendition of an Ole English poem, fully explained for modern audiences.

6. 1408: Now this is a really scary film, both psychologically and visually. Comes with alternate endings too.

7. Dream Girls: This unofficial insight into the lives and times of The Supremes offers many surprises, lively songs and fantastic performances.

8. Bourne Ultimatum: Despite its shaky camerawork, this third instalment of the Bourne trilogy is even better than the book.

9. Hula Girls (Japanese): A formulaic tear-jerker, this is the Japanese version of 'The Full Monty' with touching cultural insights.

10. 300: Artistic, pulsating and energetic CGI-enhanced remake of 'The 300 Spartans' gives us a surrealistic trip into history.

COMMENTS: In selecting my Top 10 Movies for 2007, I try to include a wide range of genres, from actioners and dramas to thrillers and musicals. The main criteria are their entertainment value, the impact of the plot, the performances and technical achievements. However, 2007 gave us nothing spectacular in terms of cinematic innovation or creativity. Here's hoping 2008 will really surprise us!

WEEKEND & CHRISTMAS Pic: Dec 20 - 25 2007

I wish Everyone a Merry, Blessed Christmas and

A Happy New Year!

Here's your Guide To The Weekend & Christmas Viewing:

1. THE WARLORDS (Actioner in Mandarin with Andy Lau, Jet Li and Takeshi Kaneshiro) Rating * * * (out of 4): This is an engaging tale of brotherly betrayal, revenge and murder set in China's Taiping rebellion (1851-64). The story has been told before, in Chang Cheh's "The Blood Brothers" (1973) but not in such an epic scale as this.

2. GOLDEN COMPASS (fantasy adventure with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards and Eva Green) Rating * * * (3 stars): While not as popular as "Lord Of The Rings" or the Harry Potter series, this adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel, His Dark Materials, is visually captivating. Forget the religious controversies and see it as a satire on political constraint. And enjoy the ensemble cast, especially Kidman and young Richards. (Reviewed below)

3. I AM LEGEND (psychological thriller with Will Smith) Rated * * * (3 stars): Smith plays a military scientist left alone in a devastated NY City to battle the zombie population. The images of a deserted Manhattan are eerie enough and the story passable as the best adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel. (Reviewed below)

4. NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (adventure with Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight & Helen Mirren) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Like its predecessor, this sequel offers the same rollercoaster ride with a mix of fun and thrills. However, it is somehow devoid of any sense of danger... (Reviewed below)

5. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy with Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan and Malin Akerman) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): It is obvious that the Farrelly Brothers are trying to repeat the success of their "There's Something About Mary" here, even to the extent of having a Cameron Diaz lookalike in Akerman. But no, there're more misses than hits in its weak comedy department.

6. ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS (live comedy with Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson and Justin Long) Rated * * (2 stars): While it may be a novelty to see the Chipmunks in live action, this comedy is only intermittently funny. The action can be ridiculous and some gross-out scenes are painful to watch.

7. THE FERRYMAN (horror thriller with John Rhys-Davies, Kerry Foxx and Tamer Hassan) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This made-in-NZ slasherpic makes little sense of its plot but delivers enough blood and gore to satisfy viewers. Title refers to the Greek myth of Charon, the Ferryman who delivers the souls of the dead across the River Styx. (Reviewed below)

8. ENCHANTED (Fantasy romance with Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is an account of what happens when animated fairytale clashes with reality in New York City. A fun outing for the family during the school holidays. (Reviewed below)

ATONEMENT: A Tragic Love Story

ATONEMENT (romantic drama)

Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy (pic), Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Saoirse Ronan and Brenda Blethyn

Director: Joe Wright

Time: 125 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? "Atonement" is about a writer's bid to put right a heinous lie that wrecked the lives of two of the people she loved most. Adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan, it is a searing love story that is timeless and universal, a romantic tragedy that can plague anyone at anytime...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? It is 1935 and the world is on the brink of war. In the picturesque English countryside however, a well-to-do family and their friends are enjoying life as usual. Briony Tallis, 13, (Saoirse Ronan) is watching a developing relationship between her older sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley), and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the son of their servant. Briony is jealous over the relationship as she has a crush on Robbie. However, the young girl also views Robbie as a seducer and wants to keep her sister safe from his advances. When a young guest who is staying with the family is raped, Briony comes up with a lie that will forever alter the lives of the lovers - as well as her own.

HITS & MISSES: Like his 2005 "Pride & Prejudice" (which also starred Knightley), director Joe Wright captures the English countryside and its residents' behaviour in all their glory. The air is thick with class tension and sexual anxiety as the precocious Briony tries to comprehend her own complex emotions regarding the dashing Robbie, and those of Cecilia's. In one scene, in which Briony witnesses what seems to be a row between Cecilia and Robbie, Wright also presents the 'truth' of what really happened. The director does the same for another scene in which Briony sees her sister being 'attacked' by Robbie in the library. Still, it all boils down to the feelings of a young girl scorned when Briony bears false witness against Robbie, shattering the future of all three of them.

The scene then shifts to Dunkirk, France, during the First World War where the convicted Robbie is drafted as a soldier. Here, we see the poor man stumbling through the horrors of the battlefield, trying hard to survive so that he can return to his beloved. Cecilia, meanwhile, has become a nurse to the injured soldiers in London. So has Briony, now 18 (and played by Romola Garai), in a bid to atone for what she realises was a tragic error.

Wright's images of war, although bloody and sometimes brutal, are rather detached and uninteresting. They lack the drama and character interaction of the first half of the movie where the young Saoirse Ronan shines as the spiteful schemer. Knightley, however, is convincing as the beautiful and light-headed Cecilia, but the role is not as meaty as her Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride & Prejudice". McAvoy exudes the requisite screen chemistry with Knightley, and he manages to get our sympathy as the victim of social prejudice. Here, he should be making many female hearts a-flutter, especially with that pathetic hound-dog look in his eyes. Complementing the tragic story is the soundtrack, which uses the typewriter as a percussion instrument, lending a dissonant tone and keeping the viewers on edge.

THE LOWDOWN: "Atonement" ends on a high note with Vanessa Redgrave as the aged Briony, now a famous writer who wants to atone for her sins in her 'last' book. Yes, Redgrave's performance is so believable and touching that we can even forgive Briony for that evil lie.

"Atonement" has apparently gotten the Hollywood Foreign Press Association excited, earning seven Golden Globe nominations including Best Drama and Best Director. It should be worth a watch for love story fans.

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS - Same Fun Ride

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (adventure)

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel and Justin Bartha

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Time: 116 mins

Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

(pic: Cage & Kruger examining a clue)
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? When I learnt that Helen Mirren would join the cast of this sequel to “National Treasure” and that the plot would include a break-in into Buckingham Palace, can you blame me for presuming that Mirren would reprise her role as The Queen of England here? Maybe Mirren, as Queen E, would have an interesting encounter with Benjamin Gates (played by Nicolas Cage), I had thought.

Well, I was wrong. Mirren’s role, as it turns out, is much meatier than a cameo as Queen E, although you can’t fault me for associating her with that famous role which had won her so many prestigious acting awards and even an invitation to dine with Her Majesty herself! Incidentally, Mirren had to turn down that royal dinner because she was busy filming this movie. I will not spoil your enjoyment by revealing the role she plays here, except to say that she lends a brand new dimension to this story about the famous treasure hunters of America.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? “Book Of Secrets” opens with new information about John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abe Lincoln, and the 18 pages missing from Booth's diary. When one of the pages is made public by Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), it is found that Thomas Gates, Benjamin's great-grandfather, is mentioned in the page. This suggests that Ben's great-grandfather could have been involved with Lincoln's murder whereas Ben and his father Patrick (Jon Voight) had always thought that their ancestor was a hero during those Civil War years.

HITS & MISSES: Yes, you guessed it: This sets Ben and his dad on a quest to clear the blemish on the Gates’ history. Teaming up with researcher Riley Poole (Justin Batha) and his estranged wife Abigail (Diane Kruger), the treasure hunters have to break into Buckingham Palace and the White House to obtain vital clues and even steal a page from the Presidential Book Of Secrets! In other words, we get the same incredible stunts that Ben and Company must pull off to find a 'legendary' City of Gold!

Like in the first (2004) movie, director Jon Turteltaub takes great pains to provide a mix of comedy, adventure and suspense in the proceedings. The fun part mainly deals with Ben’s supposedly rocky relationship with Abigail, and Riley’s snide remarks about Ben’s crazy schemes. The adventure and suspense come along with Ed Harris’ Wilkinson as the villain, chasing Ben through the gritty streets of London – just to get his hands on Ben’s find. And just when we recover from that seat-gripping car chase scene, we get more Indy Jones-type thrills in the watery caves near Mount Rushmore.

Also, like in the first movie, Turteltaub still could not shake off that tongue-in-cheek contrived feeling that audiences have over the plot and action. We still do not get the sense of real danger in Ben’s exploits, just the feeling that they are like elaborate roller-coaster rides. Cage, who often gets our sympathy as the conscience-stricken or suffering hero, displays none of such complex emotions here, just gung ho smarts and cockiness. Batha provides comic relief; Voight overacts as usual, while Kruger is the prerequisite female distraction.

THE LOWDOWN: It is no secret that this sequel is just another predictable fun ride – the type you get at theme parks where you are forced to accompany the kids.

WEEKEND PIC: Dec 14 - 16 2007

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. THE WARLORDS (Actioner in Mandarin with Andy Lau, Jet Li and Takeshi Kaneshiro) Rating * * * (out of 4): This is an engaging tale of brotherly betrayal, revenge and murder set in China's Taiping rebellion (1851-64). The story has been told before, in Chang Cheh's "The Blood Brothers" (1973) but not in such an epic scale as this.

2. GOLDEN COMPASS (fantasy adventure with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards and Eva Green) Rating * * * (3 stars): While not as popular as "Lord Of The Rings" or the Harry Potter series, this adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel, His Dark Materials, is visually captivating. Forget the religious controversies and see it as a satire on political constraint. And enjoy the ensemble cast, especially Kidman and young Richards. (Reviewed below)

3. I AM LEGEND (psychological thriller with Will Smith) Rated * * * (3 stars): Smith plays a military scientist left alone in a devastated NY City to battle the zombie population. The images of a deserted Manhattan are eerie enough and the story passable as the best adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel. (Reviewed below)

4. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy with Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan and Malin Akerman) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): It is obvious that the Farrelly Brothers are trying to repeat the success of their "There's Something About Mary" here, even to the extent of having a Cameron Diaz lookalike in Akerman. But no, there're more misses than hits in its weak comedy department.

5. ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS (live comedy with Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson and Justin Long) Rated * * (2 stars): While it may be a novelty to see the Chipmunks in live action, this comedy is only intermittently funny. The action can be ridiculous and some gross-out scenes are painful to watch.

6. THE FERRYMAN (on sneaks, horror thriller with John Rhys-Davies, Kerry Foxx and Tamer Hassan) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This made-in-NZ slasherpic makes little sense of its plot but delivers enough blood and gore to satisfy viewers. Title refers to the Greek myth of Charon, the Ferryman who delivers the souls of the dead across the River Styx. (Reviewed below)

7. ENCHANTED (Fantasy romance with Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is an account of what happens when animated fairytale clashes with reality in New York City. A fun outing for the family during the school holidays. (Reviewed below)

THE GOLDEN COMPASS: Trip To A Parallel World

THE GOLDEN COMPASS (fantasy adventure)

Cast: Dakota Blue Richards (pic), Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Ian McKellen

Director: Chris Weitz

Time: 113 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? We would have thought that by now, the so-called guardians of public morality would have learnt their lesson and leave blockbuster movies alone. But no. They feel the need to take on another crusade against this film to prevent the world from turning into heathens. If anything, the protests by religious groups would only provide the curiosity
factor to boost its box-office takings. Based on David Pullman's book, 'His Dark Materials', this movie was seen as anti-Christianity by many organisations and even Nicole Kidman had come out to refute this claim. However, its opening in the US had been lacklustre despite the publicity hype but the movie did much better elsewhere in the world, especially in Malaysia.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Well, "Golden Compass" is partly an attack on 'authorities' who try to impose their will on others, just like the organisations who tried to have this movie banned or boycotted. In the movie, they are called the Magisterium, a bunch of old men who want to control the minds of the people, especially children. Mainly, however, it is the story of Lyra
Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards), an orphan whose only living relative is the respected Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig). She is picked by the beautiful Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) to accompany her on a trip to the north where she hopes to meet the Ice Bears. However, before she can depart, her best friend, Roger (Ben Walker), disappears, captured by a squad of goons known as The Gobblers. Lyra is given an alethiometer (which looks like a golden compass) by the Master of Jordan College. This is the device that will reveal the truth of things to her, but she must not let Mrs Coulter know that she has it.

The trip with Mrs Coulter is not what Lyra had thought it would be, and she escapes her clutches, setting out on a quest to find and rescue Roger. For this endeavour, she needs some extraordinary companions, including the armoured ice bear Iorek Byrnison (voice of Ian McKellan), an aeronaut named Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott), the Gyptian king John Faa (Jim Carter), and the witch queen Serafina Pekkala (Eva Green). Their goal sets them at odds against the forces of the Magisterium.

HITS & MISSES: The plot lures of this fantasy flick are the concepts of Daemons and Dust in a universe parallel to Earth. Characters here do not have souls but are accompanied by animal embodiments of their souls. 'Dust' is the stuff that makes travel between universes possible. It's the thing most feared by the Magisterium. These new concepts take a bit of getting used to and the first half of the film expounds on them. The second half gives us duels between the Ice Bears, and rousing mid-air battles that recall the clashes of the "Chronicles Of Narnia". Why, even Kidman looks like the Snow Queen of Narnia, only more ravishing and seductive.
The other star who stands out as much as Kidman is young Dakota Blue Richards who seems to have to carry the movie on her own much of the time. She has the requisite screen chemistry and pluckiness but viewers need to warm up to her a bit more. Other big names in the cast have little screen time in this first instalment. Unlike "Lord Of The RIngs" and the Harry
Potter films, there are no spectacular creatures like dragons and trolls to wow the audience, only talking grizzlies and cute daemon creatures. However, director Chris Weitz makes up for it with enegetic plot development and distractions.

THE LOWDOWN: Don't expect to walk away from "Golden Compass" feeling 'totally satisfied'. This is only the first of its trilogy, so it ends in a cliffhanger. Keeps you in anticipation...

I AM LEGEND: Alone in Manhattan

I AM LEGEND (psychological thriller)

Cast: Will Smith (pic), Alice Braga and Salli Richardson

Director: Francis Lawrence

Time: 100 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The movie's premise is eerie and haunting enough to give you the goose bumps: New York City in 2012 is desolate and deserted. Rotting cars and weeds line the streets, broken bridges hang precariously over rivers, and herds of deer roam Manhattan, hunted by marauding lions - and one man and his dog.

The man's name is Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith) and the dog's name is Sam. Neville is reportedly the last man on Manhattan - after an outbreak of a man-made virus devastated the whole population and turned them into vampires. The virus was supposed to be a cure for cancer (as announced by an uncredited Emma Thompson as the virus creator) but it mutated into something George A. Romero would have imagined for his "Living Dead" movies.

Of course, Neville believes he is not alone. The former military scientist, who is now immune to the virus, blames himself for this debacle, especially the death of his wife and daughter, and is earnestly trying to find a way to reverse the mutation. Everyday, he sends out a message on AM radio, urging survivors to meet him near the bombed out Brooklyn Bridge. When night falls, Neville returns to his heavily padlocked apartment alone, with Sam. They must hide from the flesh-eating creatures of the night! Is there any human survivor who will give him hope and restore his failing sanity?

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? "I Am Legend" is the latest screen adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel about what it is like to be alone in a world populated by cannibalistic zombies. It was first screened in 1964, with Vincent Price playing "The Last Man On Earth", and later in 1971 with Charlton Heston as "The Omega Man". There is also a direct-to-DVD (2007) version titled "I Am Omega" starring Mark Dacascos which was apparently a rip-off of this Will Smith version.

However, this official third adaptation had a long development history. Planned as far back as 10 years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger was slated to star in it, with Ridley Scott as director. However, the project continued to be kicked around for so long that even Tom Cruise and Michael Douglas had been considered and declined, as was Michael Bay as its director. It was only when producer-screenwriter Akiva Goldsman came on board that the movie got under way.

HITS & MISSES: We should have no complaints about Smith's portrayal of Neville - or Francis Lawrence's helming of the movie, for that matter. The prolonged introductory sequences, especially of deserted NY City and of Neville hitting golf balls off the wing of a military plane, will etch on our minds for a long time. Unlike Tom Hanks in "Cast Away", who has only a volleyball for a friend, Smith has an easier time relating his feelings to his German Shepherd. Still, it is painful and even scary seeing him talking to mannequins at a DVD store and putting all his hopes on his quest for a 'cure'. Lawrence cleverly alternates these lonely scenes with flashbacks of Neville's bid to save his family (Salli Richardson and Willow Smith) and the zombie attacks which provide the fear and tension factors. The one nagging question that viewers may have is how on earth is electricity still available in a city that is essentially dead?

THE LOWDOWN: I am glad that Lawrence has not fashioned "I Am Legend" as a zombie movie a' la Romero but as a study on man's loneliness in a once busy city. Why, the CGI images of an uninhabited New York City is worth the price of admission and for that we have to thank production designer Naomi Shohan and cinematographer Andrew Lesnie. They are the real legends in cinema technology!

THE FERRYMAN: Gory Enough For Thrill-Seekers

THE FERRYMAN (horror thriller)

Cast: John Rhys Davies, Kerry Fox, Tamer Hassan, Craig Hall and Julian Arahanga

Director: Chris Graham

Time: 101 mins

Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? This horror thriller is roughly based on the Greek legend of the Ferryman Charon who demands payment for taking souls of the dead across the River Styx. The legend, however, is being 'bastardised' for the purpose of the movie - with a magic dagger thrown in as a device for its body-transfer plot.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "The Ferryman" opens with a fishing boat being tossed about on a stormy sea at night. On board, the captain and his passenger are fighting, resulting in one of them being brutally hacked with a machete. Next, it is a sunny day at a New Zealand coast where a bunch of holidaymakers are getting ready for their five-day yacht trip to the Fiji islands. Cheery tour guide Suze (Kerry Fox) introduces her skipper hubby Dave (Tamer Hassan) to her guests: Chris (Craig Hall) and his demanding girlfriend Tate (Sally Stockwell), and Maori Zane (Julian Arahanga) and his fiancee Kathy (Amber Sainsbury), a former nurse who blames herself for the death of a young girl.

With the crew and passengers looking forward to partying during the trip, they all try to ignore the first signs of trouble: a severed hand found in the stomach of the shark they caught, a gloomy shroud of fog on the horizon - and a disturbing distress call from a boat nearby. Well, they could not simply ignore the call for help but when they respond, they manage to rescue a gruffy Greek man (John Rhys-Davies) whose presence on the boat soon turns menacing. Apparently, the Greek is carrying the spirit that owes the Ferryman his coin - and he will be moving from body to body to avoid paying up.

HITS & MISSES: The good news (for those who like blood and gore, that is) is that there are seven healthy bodies (including a dog) on board to facilitate the ensuing slasher-pic mayhem, but the bad news is that the plot doesn't make any sense. Director Chris Graham takes the classic plot of putting six people in a confined situation and then introducing a killer in their midst. He provides enough tension and eye candy shots, the usual relationship betrayal schtick, and lots of spurting blood to energise the screen.

As a slasher movie, this one works because of the cast and well-defined characters. We do not demand much from the B-list cast (except for Rhys-Davies) but they manage to surprise us with their performances. Stockwell and Hall provide enough sparkle and sparks to sustain our interest while Sainsbury has our sympathy as the nurse with a skeleton in her closet.

THE LOWDOWN: I particularly like the ending which provides a clever twist to the body-transfer plot and narrative hook for a sequel. If anything, it helps us to forget the senseless mayhem of a story.

WEEKEND PIC Dec 7 - 9 2007

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. THE GOLDEN COMPASS (fantasy adventure with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards and Eva Green) Rating * * * (out of 4): While not as popular as "Lord Of The Rings" or the Harry Potter series, this adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel, His Dark Materials, is visually captivating. Forget the religious controversies and see it as a satire on political constraint. And enjoy the ensemble cast, especially Kidman and young Richards.

2. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (musical with Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood and Joe Anderson) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): This love story told through Beatles' songs will take fans on a nostalgic trip to the Sixties. Don't be shy, sing along with it and have a great time.

3. THE KINGDOM (war thriller with Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Chris Cooper) Rated * * * (3 strs): Unlike "Lions For Lambs", this actioner about the FBI probing into terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia is much more engaging. This ain't no US propaganda as it does not take sides in the War on Terror. (Reviewed below)

4. ENCHANTED (Fantasy romance with Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is an account of what happens when animated fairytale clashes with reality in New York City. A fun outing for the family during the school holidays. (Reviewed below)

5. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy with Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan and Malin Akerman) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): It is obvious that the Farrelly Brothers are trying to repeat the success of their "There's Something About Mary" here, even to the extent of having a Cameron Diaz lookalike in Akerman. But no, there're more misses than hits in its weak comedy department.

6. THE FERRYMAN (on sneaks, horror thriller with John Rhys-Davies, Kerry Foxx and Tamer Hassan) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This made-in-NZ slasherpic makes little sense of its plot but delivers enough blood and gore to satisfy viewers. Title refers to the Greek myth of Charon, the Ferryman who delivers the souls of the dead across the River Styx.

7. HITMAN (Actioner with Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko and Robert Knepper) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Adapted from a video-game, this one offers the usual brainless action about a hitman called Agent 47. Keep expectations low, if you must go for it.

S'KALI to be Screened at 2nd London Film Makers Convention

Dec 6 2007 – Indie movie, S'kali, will be screening at the Portobello Film Festival's 2nd London Film Makers Convention on Dec 7, at the Westbourne Studios, 242 Acklam Road, London W10 5JJ. Its director, Arivind Abraham, will introduce the film to audiences at 6pm. Malaysians who are in London are invited to the screening, which is free of charge and uncensored.

The movie, produced by Perantauan Entertainment, was first screened locally at Cathay Cineplex Damansara's PictureHouse on 14 Sept 2006 – the first local effort to be shown in E-cinema format at the cineplex. S'kali was also shown at the Towson University, Maryland, USA, on 9 March 2007 – with Arivind and cameraman Benji Lim in attendance.

The second London Film Makers Convention, from 7 to 20 Dec, is a platform for all London film makers, from top independent production houses to DIY efforts, to show their latest works. There will be Q&A sessions and seminars where the filmmakers and the public can meet and plot the future of the British film industry. Like all Portobello Film Festival events, admission to the London Film Makers Convention is free.

Arivind, who is based in London, considers England his second home. It is learnt that Perantauan Entertainment will be shooting two movies in the middle of 2008, both of which are fully funded and approved. One of them is a horror-thriller expected to star Samantha Tan.