SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN: One-Scare Flick

THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN (Japanese horor thriller)

a.k.a. CARVED: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (on DVD)

Cast: Eriko Sato, Haruhiko Katou, Chiharu Kawai, Rie Kuwana, Kazuyuki Matsuzawa and Miki Mizuno.

Director: Koji Shiraishi

Time: 90 mins

Rating: * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Looks like the producers of J-Horror have run out of ideas and are relying on just a graphically disturbing image to fan our curiosity. This will excite those who go for loud, cheap thrills - and dating couples, of course.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Based on a real-life Japanese legend about a slit-mouthed woman, this flick is about a woman ghost whose face has been disfigured by a jealous husband. After a 27-year respite, the town of Midoriyama is again plagued by a scissors-wielding ghost who dons a face mask to hide her 'slit mouth'. The demon's killing sprees (often preceeded by a cough) coincide with violent mothers, like the divorced teacher Ms. Yamashita (Eriko Sato), physically reprimanding their helpless children. Then there is Matsuzaki, a colleague who believes that the slit-mouthed woman may be the spirit of his own abusive mother.

HITS & MISSES: This is a rather disturbing film about child punishment and abuse. While most of the carnage involving children is played off screen, viewer imagination tend to run overtime here. Obviously, there is some sort of message against excessively strict moms, and even a suggested fear of a matriarchy. The direction looks rushed and most of the cast are stiff and unimpressive - except the lead star Sato who deserves her pay cheque.
Everything, especially the special effects, looks cheap and patchy.

THE LOWDOWN: Parents, keep the young kids away from this one!

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM: Yankee In Kungfu Land

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (kungfu fantasy)

Cast: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano and Liu Yifei

Director: Rob Minkoff

Time: 105 mins

Rating: * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? The first-ever pairing up of kungfu legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li (picture), of course. This is the main 'bait' to get fans of the two Asian superstars to the cinema. The movie is a fantasy road trip into the Sixties' world of martial arts flicks, loosely based on the Monkey King tales.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Jason (Michael Angarano) is a Boston teenager who is obsessed with old Chinese martial arts flicks. He gets his supply of such DVDs at a pawn shop operated by Old Hop (Jackie Chan). One day, a local gang bullies Jason into forcing Old Hop into opening the shop so that they can rob him. In the ensuing struggle, Hop is shot and Jason finds himself in possession of magical staff that belonged to the mythical Monkey King (Jet Li). "Return it to the owner," the old man tells Jason.

Yes, somehow the stick transports Jason into mythical China where he meets up with Lu Yan (Chan), the Drunken Kungfu Master, a gorgeous lass called Little Sparrow (Liu Yifei) and a 'Silent Monk' (Jet Li) in his quest to return the staff to the Monkey King.

HITS & MISSES: With the action sequences choreographed by the legendary Yuen Wo Ping, we had expected more gruelling duels and battles. However, what we get looks pretty tame compared to Yuen's earlier works. A lot of the fighting scenes are in a blur and the 'wire-fu' is obvious as the crew had not tried to hide it. Admittedly, it is fun watching Jackie and Jet in verbal banter, using 'mangled English' and fists. This culminates in a controversial scene where Jet Li pees on Jackie!

Now, if Minkoff had meant "Forbidden Kingdom" to be a 'Jason in Kungfuland'-type of tribute to the kungfu genre, then it succeeds. There is a sense of nostalgia in watching Jackie reprise (or did he ham out?) his Drunken Master role but the most painful part is listening to their lines in English. Much of Jet Li's lines sounds like gibberish and Minkoff and crew make no attempt to improve them.

THE LOWDOWN: A nostalgic trip into the old-style Monkey God fantasy but don't expect too much.

WEEKEND PIC: April 25 - 27 2008

Your Guide to the Weekend Viewing

1. THE KITE RUNNER (drama with Khalid Abdalla, Homayon Ershadi, Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) Rated * * * * (out of 4): This one gets my vote for the Best Movie of 2007. It does not have the eye candy power of "Atonement" or the cool brutality of "No Country For Old Men", but it gets us both on the emotional and intellectual level. (Reviewed below).

2. NO COUNTRY OF OLD MEN (action thriller with Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Catch it if you want to know how this brutal kill-'em-all movie was picked Best Movie at the Oscars. Typical Coen Brothers pic with its signature unsatisfying ending. (Reviewed here in March).

3. RUN PAPA RUN (crime drama with Louis Koo, Rene Liu, Nora Mioa and Ti Lung) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Writer-director Sylvia Chang gets whimsical and derivative in this tale about a HK triad boss who has a change of heart over his criminal ways when he has a new role as father to his little girl. (Reviewed below)

4. FOOL'S GOLD (adventure comedy with Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena and Ewan Bremmer) Rated * * (2 stars): A dim-witted romp about a treasure hunter and his soon to be ex-wife mucking around in the Caribbean in search of sunken gold. Really, it makes us feel like fools after watching this lame comedy. (Reviewed below).

5. FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (kungfu fantasy with Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Michael Angarano) Rating * * (2 stars): The main attraction for this movie is the first-time teaming up of Jet Li and Jackie Chan. And if you feel you must catch this, you have swallowed the bait. The stunts are familiar with lots of wire-fu and nods to the Drunken Master days. The dialogue (in English) and the acting suck.

6. CONGKAK (local horror thriller with Nanu Baharudin, Riezman Khuzaimi, M. Rajoli, Erin Malek and Erynne Erynna) Rating * 1/2 (1.5 stars): This one is billed as 'scarier than 'Jangan Pandang Belakang' but the real horror is its illogical plot, irritating effects, amateur acting... and even a makcik with a moustache(?).

7. STREET KINGS (cop thriller with Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans) Rating: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A rather confusing saga of a 'dirty cop' made worse by foul language cuts. The twist at the ending is supposed to explain the incongruities but it turns out ridiculous and compromising. (Reviewed below)

8. OVER HER DEAD BODY (comedy with Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Jason Biggs and Lindsay Sloane) Rating * * (2 stars): Longoria plays a bride who gets killed on her wedding day and returns to haunt her groom. Let's let her RIP and stay away from this mediocre fare fit only for TV.

FOOL'S GOLD: A Romp For Fools

FOOL'S GOLD (romantic comedy)

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena and Ewan Bremmer

Director: Andy Tennant

Time: 110 mins

Rating: * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Consider "Fool's Gold" as "Romancing The Mighy Dollar". This teaming up of Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson is another attempt at milking the box-office - after their successful pairing in "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" five years ago. Everything in this effort smacks of a rip-off, with recycled themes and scenes.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Treasure hunter Ben ‘Finn’ Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey) unearths a map which, he believes, will lead him to a shipwreck loaded with gold. It is said to be a 'Queen's Dowry', circa 1715. His soon-to-be ex-wife Tess (Kate Hudson) thinks he’s a screw missing in his brain. Throw in Donald Sutherland as an English tycoon who lives aboard his yacht with his bubble-headed daughter (Alexis Dziena) and you have a plot that reads like a silly episode of TV's "Relic Hunter".

HITS & MISSES: Just like what we see on the movie poster, "Fool's Gold" seems more interested in showing off Hudson and McConaughey's bronzed bodies than in telling a credible story. The chemistry that they have shown in "How To Lose A Guy" is absent here. The 'action' in the first half of the movie consist of showing how Finn gets his ass kicked, usually by Tess. The closing sequences are reminiscent of a James Bond flick and they are watchable enough. The trouble is that we have to tolerate a great deal of nonsense to get there.

THE LOWDOWN: A dimwitted excuse for a romantic romp probably aimed at fools.

RUN PAPA RUN: Sylvia Gets Whimsical

RUN PAPA RUN (crime drama)

Cast: Louis Koo, Rene Liu, Nora Mioa and Ti Lung

Director: Sylvia Chang

Time: 115 mins

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

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? As writer-director, Sylvia Chang has given us some of the most touching movies like the 1995 "Siao Yu", "Tempting Heart" (1999) and "20,30,40" in 2004. The themes of her movies combine serious social issues (like gay affairs) with comical touches that often tug at our heart-strings. In "Run Papa Run", Chang seems to adopt a whimsical, campy approach, like having the characters speak directly to the audience and breaking into song. It is enjoyable enough as a popcorn movie but certainly not one of Chang's best works.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "Run Papa Run" reunites Louis Koo and Rene Liu after their lead roles in last year's "Happy Birthday". Koo is Lee Tin-Yun, a young and brash triad boss who aims to muscle into Hong Kong's lucrative underworld. Liu is Mabel Chan, a buidding lawyer who dumps her career for marriage to Tin-Yun after getting herself pregnant by him. They have a daughter, Haiyi, on whom Tin-Yun dotes. Soon Tin-Yun gets so protective of his daughter that he decides to keep his triad activities a secret from the child.

For this, he even goes to the extent of getting baptised as a Catholic (despite worshipping the diety Guan Gong), starting a tuition centre to mask his gangland dealings, and saving up so that he can get out of the grip of the underworld. The rest of the movie shows the multitude of problems Tin-Yun faces trying to keep his secret and start a new life.

HITS & MISSES: The earlier part of the movie feels like its was trying to emulate Bollywood. When the characters break into song, we kind of expect extras to join them for some dance routines. This does not happen but it serves to lend a nostalgic, fairy-tale touch to the quicky love story between Mabel and Tin-Yun. As the leads, Liu and Koo are just passable but not impressive enough to get us rooting for them. Those who have followed the TV series "The Sopranos" will be able to see how 'watered-down' the crime sequences look here.

Still, the message about a father's love remains relevant and intact, and almost every scene with Tin-Yun and Haiyi is effective. The supporting cast, especially Nora Miao as Tin-Yun long-suffering mother, helps to lend colour to the story. Veteran kungfu star Ti Lung, however, seems to ham his way through as Mabel's father.

Director Chang seems to pander to the demands of Asian censors (that crime does not pay) by ending the movie with a 'question mark'. But she has provided enough clues as to how the ending should have been.

THE LOWDOWN: Let's write this off as one of the few 'commercial efforts' of Sylvia Chang's career.

WEEKEND PIC - April 18 - 20 2008

Your Guide to the Weekend Viewing

1. THE KITE RUNNER (drama with Khalid Abdalla, Homayon Ershadi, Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) Rated * * * * (out of 4): This one gets my vote for the Best Movie of 2007. It does not have the eye candy power of "Atonement" or the cool brutality of "No Country For Old Men", but it gets us both on the emotional and intellectual levels. (Reviewed below).

2. NO COUNTRY OF OLD MEN (action thriller with Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Catch it if you want to know how this brutal kill-'em-all movie was picked Best Movie at the Oscars. Typical Coen Brothers pic with its signature unsatisfying ending. (Reviewed here in March).

3. DEFINITELY, MAYBE (romantic comedy with Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Derek Luke and Kevin Kline) Rated * * * (3 stars): A funny and witty treat for die-hard romantics and fans of Breslin who steals the show here. (Reviewed below)

4. FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (kungfu fantasy with Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Michael Angarano) Rating * * (2 stars): The main attraction for this movie is the first-time teaming up of Jet Li and Jackie Chan (picture). And if you feel you must catch this, you have swallowed the publicity bait. The stunts are familiar with lots of wire-fu and nods to Jackie's Drunken Master days.

5. NIM'S ISLAND (fantasy adventure with Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster and Gerald Butler) Ratig * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Another Breslin vehicle based on the novel by Wendy Orr. It is whimsical but uninspiring. There's an attempt at charming the audience but no real sense of peril or suspense.

6. FEAST OF LOVE (romantic comedy with Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Toby Hemingway and Jane Alexander) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Again, Freeman is in the sage role, dispensing advice and concern to a couple of lovers in this passable rom-com that's more of a snack than a feast. (Reviewed below).

7. STREET KINGS (cop thriller with Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans) Rating: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A rather confusing saga of a 'dirty cop' made worse by foul language cuts. The twist at the ending is supposed to explain the incongruities but it turns out ridiculous and compromising. (Reviewed below).

8. OVER HER DEAD BODY (comedy with Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Jason Biggs and Lindsay Sloane) Rating * * (2 stars): Longoria plays a bride who gets killed on her wedding day and returns to haunt her groom. Let's let her Rest In Peace and stay away from this mediocre fare fit only for TV.

STREET KINGS: L.A. Un-Confidential?

STREET KINGS (police thriller)

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans

Director: David Ayer

Time: 105 mins

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

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? With James Ellroy doing the screenplay, who can complain if "Street Kings" looks suspiciously like his 1997 hit, "L.A. Confidential"? However, while "L.A. Confidential" piles up on tension and suspense, this one becomes more and more contrived and implausible as it gets along - culminating in an ending that goes out of synch with the overall film. And to make matters worse, the censorship cuts of its foul words make the movie more confusing and irritating than it is.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The title applies to 'dirty cops' like Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves) of the Los Angeles Police Department. No, he is not on the take but he disregards the law so blatantly that he plays judge, jury and executioner with his suspects. When four Korean drug-dealers are added to his body count, Tom finds himself under probe by Captain Biggs (Hugh Laurie) of Internal Affairs. Things get worse when Tom's former partner and current IA witness, Terence Washington (Terry Crews), is gunned down in a convenience story robbery and Tom 'happens' to be there. Police chief (Forest Whitaker) tells him to forget about it and move on, but Tom persuades a homicide detective (Chris Evans) to follow the evidence and pursue the case. What follows reads like 'pulp fiction' of cop thrillers.

HITS & MISSES: For action fans, there are enough shootouts and nasty confrontations to sustain them. Women, however, may find it rather 'boring', especially when female characters in this movie seem to deliver only platitudes and sermons. As for the cast, Reeves is surprisingly effective as a guy who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. We may
not warm up to his character but he makes Tom credible enough. And then there are Whitaker and Laurie who, as expected, run rings around sophomore director David Ayer.

THE LOWDOWN: More like "L. A. UnConfidential".

THE KITE RUNNER: It's Worth At Least An Oscar!

THE KITE RUNNER (drama)
Cast: Khalid Abdalla, Homayon Ershadi, Zekeria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, Shaun Toub and Nabi
Director: Marc Forster
Time: 120 mins
Rating: * * * * (out of 4)

Pic: Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada and Zekeria Ebrahimi

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? This is the movie that should have won the Best Film of 2007 award! Like Ian McEwan's "Atonement", this one is also adapted from a bestseller - by Khaled Hosseini. However, while both deal with a person's bid to seek redemption for a sin committed in childhood, "The Kite Runner" is more powerful in terms of emotional and spiritual depth. It is a more satisfying movie than the Oscar-winning film, "No Country For Old Men".

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The story begins in Kabul in 1978 before the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Despite their class differences, Amir (Zekeria Ebrahimi) and Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) are childhood buddies. Amir is the son of Baba (Homayon Ershadi), a rich landowner, while Hassan is the son of the family servant, Ali (Nabi Tanha). The boys spend their free time flying kites and 'duelling' with the other kite-flyers, trying to cut other kite strings with their own. Soon, Hassan makes a name for himself as the best 'kite runner' in the neighbourhood. This attracts the jealousy of a local bully who sexually attacks Hassan - an act that is witnessed by Amir. Later, Amir seeks to relieve his guilt not by seeking forgiveness from his friend but by getting Hassan and Ali dismissed from his father's service.

Some 20 years later, Amir (now played by Khalid Abdalla) is living in California with his wife, Soraya (Atossa Leoni). Amir receives a call from an old friend, Rahim Kahn (Shaun Toub), who urges him to return to Afghanistan to help his friend Hassan. When he arrives in war-torn Kabul, Amir is forced to undertake a risky mission as a way of repaying his debt to Hassan, who never once blamed Amir for turning his back on him.

HITS & MISSES: One of the greatest strengths of the movie is absorbing tale of a friendship gone wrong. For this, we must credit Ebrahimi and Mahmidzada for their performances. Our hearts, especially, go out to the mounful-looking Mahmidzada as a boy who stands up for his rights against great odds. (The boy has been relocated from Afghanistan by the producers for fear of reprisals for appearing in the rape scene).

Another plus for the engaging simplicity in Forster's adaptation of the book - something that was missing in director Joe Wright's "Atonement". The depiction of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule is realistic and horrifying - and this is juxtaposed against the fun and excitement of kite-flying in the days before Taliban rule. And then, there's the story of Amir's atonement, which should play as a triumph for the human heart. "Kite Runner" is mostly film in English, with a few scenes in a Farsi dialect.

THE LOWDOWN: For me, as well as many who have caught the movie, "Kite Runner" should have won an Oscar. I close with a quote from the adult Hassan: "I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I dream that someday (he) will return to revisit the land of our childhood. I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again... and kites will fly in the skies!"

Old Frees Meet April 11 2008

Some Klang Valley members of the Old Frees Class of 1968 had an impromptu meeting at Devi's Corner in Taman Tun last night. It was convened by Wanman Ibrahim (standing, second from left) and attendees include Abdul Wahab Rejab (left), Rahmat Ameen (standing, 3rd from right) Md Ismail Ahmad (seated right), Anwar Tajuddin, Yeoh Geat Kim, Chan Hon Thiam (seated centre), Leong Ah Hon and yours truly (right).

Missing in action were Adi Satria (with apologies, after watching a movie about Kite Runner), Tan Seang Hock and Benny Gan.

It was decided that such meetings be held regularly each month and Wanman was unanimously voted chairman. We would love to have the others in the Klang Valleyarea join us in future meetings and those who can make it can call Wanman at 03-77260488 or yours truly at 012-3510250.

WEEKEND PIC April 11 - 13 2008

Your Guide to the Weekend Viewing

1. NO COUNTRY OF OLD MEN (action thriller with Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson) Rated * * * 1/2 (out of 4): Catch it if you want to know how this brutal kill-'em-all movie was picked Best Movie at the Oscars. Typical Coen Brothers pic with its signature unsatisfying ending. (Reviewed here in March)

2. DEFINITELY, MAYBE (romantic comedy with Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Derek Luke and Kevin Kline) Rated * * * (3 stars): A funny and witty treat for die-hard romantics and fans of Breslin who manages to steal the show from the adults. (See Review below)

3. NIM'S ISLAND (fantasy adventure with Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster and Gerald Butler) Ratig * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Another Breslin vehicle based on the novel by Wendy Orr. It is whimsical but uninspiring. There's an attempt at charming the audience but no real sense of peril or suspense.

4. FEAST OF LOVE (romantic comedy with Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Toby Hemingway and Jane Alexander) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Again, Freeman is in the sage role, dispensing advice and concern to a couple of lovers in this passable rom-com that's more of a snack than a feast. (Reviewed below)

5. STREET KINGS (cop thriller with Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans) Rating: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A rather confusing saga of a 'dirty cop' made worse by foul language cuts. The twist at the ending is supposed to explain the incongruities but it turns out ridiculous and compromising.

6. THREE KINGDOMS: Resurrection Of The Dragon (war epic with Andy Lau, Maggie Q, Sammo Hung and Vanness Wu) Rated * * 1/2 (out of 4): Another disappointment by director Daniel Lee who spent so much effort and money to make an 'epic' that is so devoid of emotion and audience involvement. (Reviewed below)

7. DEATH SENTENCE (action thriller with Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garrett and Aisha Tyler) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Highly derivative revenge movie (a'la 'Death Wish') from James Wan the guy who did the "Saw" flicks. Looks like a mish-mash actioner with conflicting tones and touches.

8. THE WATER HORSE (fantasy adventure with Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson and Brian Cox) Rated * * * (out of 4): This 'Free Willy'-type tale about the 'origin' of Loch Ness monster Nessie should delight kids under 10. For the older folks, it is still a passable flick for the family. (Reviewed below)

ESCAPE FROM HUANG SHI: An Old Man's Tale

ESCAPE FROM HUANG SHI (adventure)

Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Time: 118 mins

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

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? This movie is titled "Children Of Huang Shi" for international release but it was changed here (and in Singapore) to give it more commercial appeal, rather than having it sould like a family movie. Its main attractions are of course Chow Yun-Fat and our own Michelle Yeoh who plays a 'war entreprenuer' and drug-dealer.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Inspired by real events, this is the story of a British reporter George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers of "Bend It Like Beckham") who was in China during the Japanese invasion of in 1937. He rescues 60 war orphans by leading them on a perilous thousand-mile journey across the snow-bound Liu Pan Shan mountains to a village near the end of China's Great Wall with the help of a local leader of a partisan group (Chow), an aristocrat-turned drug dealer (Yeoh) and an Aussie nurse (Radha Mitchell) he falls in love with.

HITS & MISSES: For actions fans, the first half-hour is captivating, with scenes of atrocities and mass murders committed in Nanjing by the Japanese. Things soon settle down when protagonist George meets the orphans holed up in a deserted village and is persuaded by Lee Pearson (Mitchell as the 'Aussie knight' on a horse) to help run the orphanage and even conduct English lessons. We get to learn more about do-gooder Lee later on.

However, the same cannot be said about Chow's and Michelle Lee's characters. It is a mystery why Chow's communist agent Chen Han-sheng is roaming around Lanzhou, when all the fighting was in central and eastern China. Why is he spending so much time with the kids? Yeoh's Mrs Wang is even more of an enigma. Imagine a 'war trader' like her playing 'philanthropist' to a bunch of orphans when there are thousands dying in the midst. There are other disturbing questions too, like, where did George get fuel to run the power-generator for the orphanage? Why would the authorities of a war-torn town give away four trucks and scarce fuel to help the kids' journey? Were these documented, or just poetic licence on the part of Spottiswoode? Yes, "Escape From Huang Shi" has that exaggerated 'glossed-over' sheen that makes it more of an old man's tale than a real gritty adventure.

THE LOWDOWN: For those in need of a feel-good tale from a brutal, nightmarish war.

DEFINITELY, MAYBE - Fun & Witty Treat

DEFINITELY, MAYBE (romantic comedy)

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Derek Luke and Kevin Kline

Writer-Director: Adam Brooks

Time: 110 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

(Pic: Abigail Breslin and Ryan Reynolds)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? One thing we can be sure of is that Little Miss Sunshine Abigail Breslin would Definitely have you eating out of her hand. And as for lead star Ryan Reynolds, well, Maybe you will grow to like him as the movie progresses.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Primary school pupil Maya (Abigail Breslin) is having a tough time coming to terms with her parents' pending divorce. Convinced she needs to get to the bottom of their crumbling relationship, Maya asks her father, Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), to tell her the story of how he and her mother met. "It's complicated," he says, trying to avoid the 'bedtime story'. However, he is not exaggerating. Will's love story has more levels than a New York skyscraper but there's emotional depth and touches of comedy in each level.

As Will recalls his old flames (under disguised names), Maya tries to guess which one is her mother: Is she Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Will's college sweetheart whom he leaves her behind in Wisconsin in 1992 so he can go to New York and work for Bill Clinton's campaign? Is she Summer (Rachel Weisz), Emily's friend who is also having an affair with her thesis advisor (Kevin Kline), or campaign co-worker April (Isla Fisher), who doesn't think much of marriage but makes a big deal of friendship?

HITS & MISSES: Like Maya, we will also be kept guessing as to which of the three women would turn out to be Maya's mom. This may be fun as we join cute little Breslin in ticking up the similarities. However, what I definitely like about Adam Brooks' work is his attention to detail in the Nineties' sets, locations and especially the music. The characters are likeable, witty and definitely fun to watch. Well, Reynolds' brand of comedy may take a bit of getting used to, especially for those who are not familiar with his TV roles (like Van Wilder) but he is passable here.

The scene-stealers are of course, Breslin as the little girl who is shocked that Daddy smoked and behaved like 'what's the boy word for slut?', and Kevin Kline as a tutor who goes after his students. Die-hard romantics would definitely like the ending which helps to tie up all the loose ends to give them the warm fuzzy feeling.

THE LOWDOWN: Just like 'Feast Of Love' (reviewed below), it is a great date movie that will definitely provide a few laughs.

FEAST OF LOVE: More Of A Snack

FEAST OF LOVE (romantic drama)

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Toby Hemingway, Fred Ward and Jane Alexander

Director: Robert Benton

Time: 102 mins

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

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Forget 'Feast'. This romantic drama, based on Charles Baxter's novel, only qualifies as 'fast food' snack (as in hamburger), especially after going through the snips by our censorship board. However, for the 'hopelessly romantic', this 'compilation' of love stories can be filling enough, especially with its feel-good themes and something about Greek gods trying to have fun with humans...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The story is centred around college professor Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman in his usual 'God-like' role) who befriends and dispenses advice to some lovers in the town of Portland, Oregon. One is coffee shop owner Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear) who thinks that he has found his perfect mate in Kathryn (Selma Blair) until she leaves him for a woman. Still Bradley believes in love and he falls for Diana (Radha Mitchell), a real estate agent.

Then there are the youngsters, Oscar (Toby Hemingway) and Chloe (Alexa Davalos) who work for Bradley and are so passionately in love that we know they would invite 'mischief' from the envious gods of love.

HITS & MISSES: Director Robert Benton's (of Kramer Vs Kramer) forte is in unveiling his characters and here every one of them is well developed and interesting. Benton seems to have worked well with his cast, especially Freeman (who also doubles as narrator) and Kinnear, who seems to be in another of his loser-in-love roles. Freeman, as the sage-like Harry, also have problems that he shares with his wife Esther (Jane Alexander). However, the one character that stands out like a sore thumb in this otherwise believable tale is Fred Ward's bully of a father. he seems to have wandered in the set from another movie.

Benton has a number of nude scenes (I caught this movie in the US) which would obviously have been cut here, depriving us of the 'dessert'. These, however, should not make a total wreck of the movie.

THE LOWDOWN: Great as a date movie, but for those who want the whole 'feast', get the DVD.

WEEKEND PIC: April 4 - 6 2008

Your Guide to the Weekend Viewing

1. THREE KINGDOMS: Resurrection Of The Dragon (war epic with Andy Lau, Maggie Q, Sammo Hung and Vanness Wu) Rated * * 1/2 (out of 4): Another disappointment by director Daniel Lee who spent so much effort and money to make an 'epic' that is so devoid of emotion and audience involvement. (Reviewed below)

2. DEATH SENTENCE (action thriller with Kevin Bacon (pic), Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garrett and Aisha Tyler) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Highly derivative revenge movie (a'la 'Death Wish') from James Wan the guy who did the "Saw" flicks. Looks like a mish-mash actioner with conflicting tones and touches.

3. THE WATER HORSE (fantasy adventure with Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson and Brian Cox) Rated * * * (out of 4): This 'Free Willy'-type tale about the 'origin' of Loch Ness monster Nessie should delight kids under 10. For the older folks, it is still a passable flick for the family. (Reviewed below)
4. GONE BABY GONE (mystery thriller with Casey Affleck, Amy Ryan, Morgan Freeman dna Ed Harris) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): A mentally and emotionally provoking movie by first-time director Ben Affleck. The missing girl tale will grab us and take us through a rollercoaster ride of intensed emotions. (Reviewed below).

5. SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (fantasy thriller with Freddie Highmore (right), Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker and David Strathairn) Rating * * * (3 stars): Just like the Chronicles of Narnia, this one takes us to the fantasy realm of goblins, hobgoblins, trolls, and an ogre. More 'meaty' than "The Golden Compass" although not as stylish. (Reviewed below)

6. AWAKE (drama with Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin and Christopher McDonald) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This tale about being awake while under the knife offers nightmarish terror but it soon deviates into Hitchcock territory with its twist about a conspiracy. (Reviewed below)

7. BE KIND REWIND (comedy with Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz) Rating * * 1/2: This comedy about some video store guys reshooting their own version of blockbuster movies is rather funny. However, its appeal is limited to movie fans and those who can stand Jack Black's schtick.

8. 27 DRESSES (romantic comedy with Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns and Malin Akerman) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A very predictable romantic comedy about a 'serial bridesmaid' (Heigl) who finally realises her loved one only to lose him to her sister. Good show by Heigl too.

THREE KINGDOMS: Resurrection Of The Dragon - Un-Epic Effort

THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (war drama)

Cast: Andy Lau, Maggie Q (pic), Sammo Hung, Ti Lung and Vanness

Director: Daniel Lee

Time: 100 mins

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

WELL, THE BIG DEAL is that the fears of Asian movie watchers had about this production seem to have come true: Daniel Lee is not the guy to direct such an epic as 'Three Kingdoms'. And even if he has not really botched up the job, he certainly was not inspired enough to engage his viewers and get them involved in the story. Despite the stylish sets and artistic photography, the touted action sequences are a blurry letdown.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The war epic, set in the era of the Three Kingdoms (AD 220), is the story of commoner Zhao Zilong (Andy Lau) whose courage in battle transforms him into a hero and an army general who dreams of uniting the three kingdoms. Twenty years and more victorious battles later, Zhao, one of the five Tiger Generals of Shu kingdom, still finds his dreams unfulfilled. However, he has made an enemy of Cao Ying (Maggie Q), granddaughter of Cao Cao, one of the warlords he had defeated. Now she is ready for a showdown with the elderly Zhao. Zilong's exploits are juxtaposed against those of his former mentor Luo Pingan (Sammo Hung), a career soldier who is somehow jealous of Zhao's successes.

HITS & MISSES: When a movie relies so heavily on voice-over narrative as this one (mostly by Pingan), it usually means that the director is at a loss over how to tell the story properly. No doubt the biography of Zhao is expansive but Lee fails to delve deeper into Zhao's love life with a village beauty or give us insights into Zhao's life away from the battlefield. Indeed, the movie sorely lacks the emotional thread that links us to the characters.

Lee delights in showing off his huge cast of veteran stars like Ti Lung and Yueh Hua and young heart-throbs like Vanness Wu. Sure, the film boasts of thousands of extras that colour the battle scenes but the fighting sequences are pretty much a blur of movement. The much-touted action choreography by Hung looks pretty tame and confusing. Like many directors before him, Lee engages his characters in posturing and making pretty poses. Maggie Q's Cao Ying goes to battle playing the pippa, supposedly trying to bore her enemies to death! Anyway, Maggie's pan-Asian looks make her seem out-of-place in a movie about old China.

As for the acting, the main cast acquit themselves reasonably well, with Hung stealing many scenes. Also it is a treat for the older generation to see Shaw Brothers icons like Ti Lung and Yueh Hua back in action on the screen.

THE LOWDOWN: Another disappointment by Lee, spending so much effort and money to make an 'epic' that is so devoid of emotion connection and audience involvement.

SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES: More Hijinks With Highmore

SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (fantasy adventure)

Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn and Joan Plowright

Director: Mark Waters

Time: 90 mins

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Like "The Chronicles Of Narnia" series, this one also deals with a bunch of children encountering a world of goblins, gnomes and an ogre. Twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddy Highmore) and sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger) arrive at the old Spiderwick Estate - a decrepit mansion their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) inherited from her dotty old aunt, Lucinda (Joan Plowright). The house has a secret. Eighty years ago, explorer Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) wrote a Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You and, in doing so, unleashed some terrible forces. Now, an army of goblins led by the demonic ogre Mulgrath (Nick Nolte) is going all out to take the book away from Jared and use its secrets to take over the world. However, before the kids can thwart Mulgrath, they have their mother they're not crazy.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Unlike other fantasy adaptations, like "Golden Compass" and "Narnia", this one condenses the entire five-book series (by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black) into a single movie so we're not left waiting to discover how things will turn out. It is unabashedly a kiddie fantasy that compells us to root for the child heroes right from the start.

HITS & MISSES: Although the performances by Highmore and Bolger are passable enough, it is the little CGI creatures that are a hit with the audience, especially the youngsters. Voiced by Martin Short (as Thimbletack) and Seth Rogan (Hogasqueal), the mythical creatures are both cute and realistic. I also like the subplot about Jared missing his father and having to come to terms with his parents' separation. This is something many children of today can relate to.

THE LOWDOWN: On the whole, "The Spiderwick Chronicles" is more meaty and compact than "The Golden Compass" and it is certainly a wholesome family treat.