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.
posted by Lim Chang Moh @ 11:53 am
6 comments
6 Comments:
mr lim , i believe u miss another good hk film this week showing the mad detective by johny to n wa ka wai with lau ching wan .the movie just won me over with lau ching wan acting .
hi, Chang Moh, how come you didn't do a full review of The Golden Compass? were u at the preview? how's things with you?
Hi Jesscet & anonymous,
It had been a busy week for me last week as I went for a holiday in Bali with the missus to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. I missed the Press screenings of a number of movies, including Golden Compass and Mad Detective. Managed to catch GC but not Mad Detective yet. So I will have to do a lot of catching up this week. Pse bear with me and thanks a lot for your comments and visit.
Happy belated Anniversary! i'm sure you and your Mrs had a good time in Bali - such a lovely place!
try to catch Mad Detective, it's definitely one of the better HK movies this year!
oh, i went for I Am Legend preview last nite.. it was quite disappointing. boring and weird..
mr lim , i have seen the gc n mad detective n in my opinion next year lau ching wan is almost sure to get the best actor in golden horse.
he make the character alive , u feel sorry for his sick yet u will hope he is right in the end .anyway happy anniversary to you n i do enjoy your review here
samuel
Hi Jesscet and Samuel, Thanks for your wishes. We really had a great time in Bali, esp with the 2 hr spa treatment, the sunset dinner on the beach and partying at Sky Garden near the area of the bombing. Makes me wanna go back again.
Yes, it looks like I have a lot of catching up to do, esp with Mad Detective and Warlords. I am okay with 'I Am Legend' - more of an atmosphere movie than a zombie kind. And yes, I think lau ching wan is a great, understated actor and hope he gets the Horse. This year, Ang Lee swept all the major awards, though. He's Taiwan's native son, after all. Cheers and Happy Holidays.
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