WEEKEND PIC: Jan 4 - 6 2008

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. RENDITION (drama with Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep) Rated * * * (out of 4): A rivetting and thought-provoking political drama about the controversial torture of terror suspects in foreign countries by the CIA. With interesting insights into a terror network. (Reviewed below; Pic: Streep & Alan Arkin)

2. ATONEMENT (romance drama with Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai and Saoirse Ronan) Rated: * * * (3 stars): Adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan, this searing love story is timeless and universal, a romantic tragedy that will tug at your heartstrings. (Reviewed below)

3. THE 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. It gets stupider as it goes along...

7. CODENAME THE CLEANER (Comedy with Cedric The Entertainer, Nicollette Sheridan and Lucy Lui) Rated: * 1/2 (1.5 stars): A mindless, ridiculous 'spy' comedy evidently aimed at the DVD market. Only for those with time to waste. (Picture: Lucy & Cedric)