WEEKEND PIC - April 17 - 19, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a. PAUL BLART: MALL COP (comedy with Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi and Shirley Knight) Rated * * * (3 stars): Lightweight comedy by a heavyweight 'hero' makes a pleasant watch. It is actually a fun spoof on the Die Hard actioner. (Reviewed below)

b. PASSENGERS (psychological thriller with Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher and Dianne Wiest) Rated * * (2 stars): Obviously another star vehicle for Hathaway (like Rachel Getting Married) but with a badly-written story. The atmosphere is appropriately eerie and the acting is fine. However, the plot, including the twist at the end, is so full of holes. (Reviewed below)

c. NAAK (action thriller with Jesdaporn Pholdee, Ploy Jindachot, Passin Ruangvuth and Sakda Kaewbuadee) Rated * * (2 stars): This multi-genre effort by a first-time director combines ancient Naga myth with modern jungle warfare, science fiction and even romance. In short, a Thai rojak movie. (Reviewed below)

d. COMING SOON (horror thriller with Chantavit Dhanasevi, Vorakan Rojchanawat and Sakulrath Thomas) Rated * * (2 stars): Offering a movie-within-a-movie, this Thai horror is about a projectionist's attempt to videocopy a movie - with near fatal results. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. FAST & FURIOUS 4 (action thriller with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz and Laz Alonso) Rated * * * (3 stars): Right from the opening, we are plunged into the F&F world of fast cars, spectacular crashes and hot chicks. Plus, there's chemistry between Diesel and Walker as two fueding rivals caught on the same side of an FBI investigation. (Reviewed below)

2. SHINJUKU INCIDENT (action drama with Jackie Chan, Daniel Wu, Naoto Takenaka, Fan Bingbing, Jack Kao, Masaya Kato and Xu Jinglei) Rated * * * (3 stars): No longer the kungfu comedian, this is Jackie's first foray into a serious role in Derek Yee's story about the Chinese refugees in Japan. Contains some violent scenes. (Reviewed below)

3. CARAMEL (Lebanese dramedy with Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Masri, Joanna Moukarzel, Sihame Haddad, Adel Karam, Gisèle Aouad, Aziza Semaan and Fadia Stella) Rated * * * (3 stars out of 4): For a first-time effort, this ensemble film is surprisingly absorbing, with an exotic Middle-Eastern flavour centred around five women and a beauty salon in Beirut. At GSC International Screens only (Reviewed below)

4. SOUL MEN (musical comedy with Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Jennifer Coolidge, Sean Hayes, Ken Davitian, Sharon Leal and Isaac Hayes) Rating * * * (3 stars): A crude and brash take about two members of a 70s soul band. The many cuts many cuts may send viewers to get the DVD, though.

5. HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (romantic comedy with Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Kris Kristofferson and Justin Long) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Another ensemble effort about five women in pursuit of love. This one has a cast of top-liners but they are largeky wasted here. We are just not that into them either. (Reviewed below)

6. RIGHTEOUS KILL (cop thriller with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, 50 Cent, Carla Gugino, Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): With two fiery stars, De Niro and Pacino, in the cast, one would expect sparks to fly out of the screen. But no. It's just your regular thrilla and a letdown.

7. FRIDAY THE 13th (horror thriller with Jared Padalecki, Daneielle Panabaker, Aaron Yoo and Amanda Righetti) Rating * * (2 stars): Yet another remake of the 80s slasher horror that tries to outdo Saw. Only for horror fans who can't get enough of blood and gore.