WEEKEND PIC - May 29 - 31, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

Moon Bloodgood and Sam Worthington in Terminator Salvation

a) TERMINATOR SALVATION (sci-fi thriller with Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood and Common) Rated * * * (3stars): This mix of Transformers and Mad Max will please action fans but Terminator dudes may feel shortchanged, especially when it comes to the plot about John Connor. (Reviewed below)

b) MONSTERS Vs ALIENS (animated thriller with voices of Reese Witherspoon, Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, and Stephen Colbert) Rated * * * (3 stars): It's action-packed fun for the family even if it does not quite match up to The Incredibles and WALL-E. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. STAR TREK (sci-fi adventure with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, and Zoë Saldana) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars out of 4): It's a new beginning for Start Trek franchise - just like it was for Batman Begins - and a must for every Trekkie and sci-fi fan. (Reviewed below)

2. ANGELS & DEMONS (mystery thriller with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Armin Mueller-Stahl) Rated: * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Director Ron Howard has learned from his mistakes in The Da Vinci Code and has made a much better 'sequel'. He has also made a few changes from Dan Brown's book, resulting in a tighter movie. (Reviewed below)

3. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (fantasy comedy with Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Luke Wilson, Jonah Hill and Christopher Guest) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars out of 4): We get more of the same CGI stuff in this sequel that has the action shifted to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. The plot and the dialogue are pedestrian and lame. (Reviewed below)

4. MONGOL (historical adventure with Tadanobu Asano, Sun Hong-lei, Khulan Chuluun and Aliya) Rating * * * (3 stars): An old-fashioned historical epic about the early life of Temudjin (Genghiz Khan) with fantastic scenery and realistic action. (Reviewed below)

5. I CORRUPT ALL COPS (cop drama with Eason Chan, Wong Jing, Tony Leung Ka-Fai (pic), Anthony Wong, Alex Fong, Bowie Lam, Wong Jing, Liu Yang and Kate Tsui) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Titled with the acronym ICAC (HK's anti-corruption commission), many would regard this one as the most ambitious of Wong Jing's works. At last, Wong Jing has come out with an entertaining movie that does not insult our intelligence. (Reviewed below)

6. PUSH (sci-fi thriller with Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell, Colin Ford and Nate Mooney) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Catch Evans and Fanning being chased by Govt goons all over Hong Kong if you can't get enough of Heroes and X-Men action. However, Push is rather mess and confusing, though. (Reviewed below)

Slumdog Child Stars Get Flats

British Film-Makers Fly To Mumbai to help the Homeless Kids

MAY 28, 2009 - It is really heartening to learn that British director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson will be buying a flat each for the two child stars of Slumdog Millionaire.

Reuters reported yesterday that the film-makers flew into Mumbai after pictures of Azharuddin Ismail (pictured) and Rubina Ali picking through the debris of their torn down shanty homes were splashed in the media.

Reuters quoted Boyle as saying that a flat had been bought for Azharuddin, 9, who played the character of Salim as a child. Boyle said they would soon buy one for Rubina as well, who plays the young Latika.

A “Jai Ho” trust, named after the film’s award-winning soundtrack, had also been set up to pay for the education and basic living costs of Azharuddin and Rubina until they turn 18.

If you are wondering, the flat costs 2 million rupees (about RM147,000). It is yet another happy ending to the real-life problem of a young star.

TERMINATOR SALVATION: A 'Nonquel'

TERMINATOR SALVATION (action thriller)
Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington (pictured), Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood and Common
Director: Joseph McGinty Nichol (McG)
Time: 114 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: Terminator Salvation, with its tagline "The End Begins", is set in the year 2018. However, the famous T-franchise has been time-travelling so much that it is difficult to gauge whether this one is a prequel or a sequel. This being so, I would prefer to call it a 'nonquel' just to match its 'reboot' status which has become the trend for recycled movies these days.

By way of rebooting, it is clear that the James Cameron formula has been ditched for a Michael Bay format...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? A prologue, set in 2003, shows Death Row inmate Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) being visited by Dr Serena Kogan (Helena Bonham Carter), who wants Marcus' body so that she can turn him into a cyborg. Marcus asks for something in return - and when she gives it, he quips: "So that's what death tastes like!"

Yeah, with this type of opener, T-S is off to a great start. Fast-forward to 2018, we find John Connor (Christian Bale) hot at war against Skynet and its army of killer machines. Using audio-tapes from his late mother Sarah (Linda Hamilton), Connor tries to piece together his future, which, we are told, is tied to his past. But then something weird shows up in this time-travel plot: Connor discovers that his father, Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), is a teenager trying to join the Resistance movement that he leads!

Meanwhile, Marcus from 2003 enters the fray, befriends Kyle and his mute sidekick Star (Jadagrace) and teams up with them to look for Connor.

HITS & MISSES: Who bothers about the plot, really? T-flicks are known for their action and director McG has not only 'refreshed' the chase-and-crash sequences, he has also added new machines like 'Robobikes', mechanical centipedes with Wolverine claws, and - best of all - a half-man, half-machine who does not quite know which is which. And with a little love interest (Moon Bloodgood as fighter-pilot Blair) thrown into the Marcus subplot, it is a lot more engaging than the main Man-Vs-Machine war.

Indeed, Worthington's Marcus seems to upstage Bale's Connor as the hero of the piece - just as Heath Ledger's Joker stole the thunder from his Dark Knight. Talk about bad luck! Other cast members who seem to provide cameos include Bryce Dallas Howard as Connor's pregnant wife; Michael Ironside as Connor's boss; and someone who looks like Arnie Schwarzenegger (in the buff) reprising his role as a Terminator.

THE LOWDOWN: This mix of Transformers and Mad Max equals a whole lot of thrills and spills.

'Night At Museum 2' Tops Over 'Terminator S' at US B-O

NIGHT At The Museum 2 gave Terminator Salvation a walloping at the US box-office last Memorial Day weekend (May 22-24, 2009), collecting an estimated US$10 million more on opening. However, Terminator Salvation grossed US$56.4 million with its Thursday opening included.

Terminator Salvation opens this Thursday (May 28) in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Star Trek is still cruising high at Number 3, collecting more than US$183 million in its third week. while Angels & Demons dropped from Number One the previous weekend to Number 4.

Here is the TOP 5 Studio estimates, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.com.

Rank. Movie (Distributor) Weekend $ | Theatres | Total Gross | Week #

1. Night at the Museum 2 (Fox) US$53.5 million | 4,096 | US$53.5 mil | 1

2. Terminator Salvation (Warner Bros.) US$43.0 million | 3,530 | US$56.4 mil | 1

3. Star Trek (Paramount) US$22.0 million | 4,053 | US$183.6 mil | 3

4. Angels & Demons (Sony) US$21.4 million | 3,527 | US$81.5 mil | 2

5. Dance Flick (Paramount) US$11.1 million | 2,450 | US$11.1 mil | 1

MONSTERS Vs ALIENS: Fun Ride For Kids

MONSTERS VS ALIENS 3D (animated fantasy comedy)
Voice cast: Reese Witherspoon, Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, and Stephen Colbert
Directors: Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon
Time: 95 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Monster bunch: Missing Link, Ginormica, Insectosaurus, BOB and Dr Cockroach PhD

PREAMBLE: When outer space aliens invade Earth, and the US President has to change his pants, who are you gonna call?

When cyborgs hit the Golden Gate Bridge, and major cities face destruction, who are you gonna call? Monsters! Our own top-secret bunch of Monsters, of course.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Monsters Vs Aliens is the latest of Dreamworks' kiddie fare right after the highly successful Kung Fu Panda. The main plot is about California girl Susan Murphy (voice of Reese Witherspoon), who is zapped by a size-transforming element called 'quantonium' that crashes on to Earth - right smack on her wedding day.

Just as she is about to say "I do" to her bridegroom Derek (Paul Rudd), Susan starts turning into a 50-foot platinum-blonde giant nicknamed Ginormica! The Feds bundle her off to a top-secret establishment where other 'monsters' are kept and trained for combat.

Who are these monsters? Well, there's B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), an indestructible, one-eyed glob of blue jelly that gobbles up anything in its way; Dr Cockroach, Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie), a scientist with the head of a ..... (you guessed it!); the Missing Link (Will Arnett), a human-amphibian hybrid; and Insectosaurus, another blob many times larger than Susan.

When the vile, octopus-like Galaxhar (Rainn Wilson) comes to invade Earth, President Hathaway (Stephen Colbert) sets the monster squad on the alien robots.

HITS & MISSES: The plot is simplistic, kid's stuff but the action, in all its 3-D glory, is something else altogether. The battles, shown in Transformers-styled spectacle and seat-gripping stunts, are imbued with a keen sense of humour as the dumb glob BOB goes into warrior-mode.

The tone of the story is slanted towards the feminists as the males are shown to be cowards, slime-balls and cads (especially the self-centred Derek). Susan, the heroine of the piece, aided by the other freaks, hold sway. However, it is BOB who gets all the best lines (and laughs) and he is set to be the favourite of the kids.

I also like the inside-jokes aimed at the adults - like the musical nod to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and references to Star Trek, Star Wars and King Kong. Monsters Vs Aliens is basically a fun outing that pokes fun at apocalypse (or Doomsday).

THE LOWDOWN: It is not as memorable as The Incredibles or Monster Inc. or as awe-inspiring as WALL-E but it is still great fun for the family during the school holidays.

WEEKEND PIC - May 22 - 24, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (fantasy comedy with Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Luke Wilson, Jonah Hill and Christopher Guest) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars out of 4): We get more of the same CGI stuff in this sequel that has the action shifted to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. The plot and the dialogue are pedestrian and lame. (Reviewed below)

b) I CORRUPT ALL COPS (cop drama with Eason Chan, Wong Jing, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Anthony Wong, Alex Fong, Bowie Lam, Wong Jing, Liu Yang and Kate Tsui) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Titled with the acronym ICAC (HK's anti-corruption commission), many would regard this one as the most ambitious of Wong Jing's works. At last, Wong Jing has come out with an entertaining movie that does not insult our intelligence. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. STAR TREK (sci-fi adventure with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, and Zoë Saldana) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): It's a new beginning for Start Trek franchise - just like it was for Batman Begins - and a must for every Trekkie and sci-fi fan. (Reviewed below)

2. ANGELS & DEMONS (mystery thriller with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Armin Mueller-Stahl) Rated: * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Director Ron Howard has learned from his mistakes in The Da Vinci Code and has made a much better 'sequel'. He has also made a few changes from Dan Brown's book, resulting in a tighter movie. (Reviewed below)

3. SELL OUT! (Malaysian comedy with Jerrica Lai, Peter Davis, Hannah Lo, Kee Thuan Chye and Lim Teik Leong) Rated * * * (3 stars): Newcomer Yeo Joon Han's black comedy offers some refreshing insights into Malaysian foibles. There should be enough laughs for your money. (Reviewed below)

4. MONGOL (historical adventure with Tadanobu Asano, Sun Hong-lei, Khulan Chuluun and Aliya) Rating * * * (3 stars): An old-fashioned historical epic about the early life of Temudjin (Genghiz Khan) with fantastic scenery and realistic action. (Reviewed below)

5. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Fantasy actioner with Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan and Lynn Collins) Rated * * * (3 stars): This action-packed tale about the origins and relationship between Wolverine and Sabretooth should please Marvel comics fans. (Reviewed below)

6. I LOVE YOU, MAN (comedy with Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly) Rated * * * (3 stars): This 'bromantic' comedy about guy-bonding may not be as laugh-out-loud funny as it should be but there are enough crazy incidents and lessons for today's yuppie couples. Trust me. (Reviewed below)

7. PUSH (sci-fi thriller with Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell, Colin Ford and Nate Mooney) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Catch Evans and Fanning being chased by Govt goons all over Hong Kong if you can't get enough of Heroes and X-Men action. However, Push is rather mess and confusing, though. (Reviewed below)

8. POWER KIDS (Thai action fantasy with Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Sasisa Jindamanee, and Johnny Nguyen) Rating: * * (2 stars): Greasy kids' stuff about four martial-arts-trained children and their bid to save a child with heart problems.

I CORRUPT ALL COPS: Wong Jing's Best So Far

I CORRUPT ALL COPS (HK police drama in Cantonese)
Cast: Eason Chan Yik-Shun, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Alex Fong Lik-Sun, Bowie Lam Bo-Yi, Wong Jing, Liu Yang, Natalie Meng Yao and Kate Tsui
Writer/Director: Wong Jing
Time: 115 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

Tony Leung, Natalie Meng and Anthony Wong in ICAC

PREAMBLE: I never thought that I would say this but here it is: this is probably the most satisfying Wong Jing movie I have seen so far. Before you think that I am trying to get my foot out of my mouth, let me clarify that I have always considered the prolific Wong Jing one of the most unoriginal (read: copycat) and crass film-makers. He is, hands down, the 'B-movie King' and 'Ed Wood' of Hong Kong.

However, if you consider his Kung Fu Mahjong series and My Wife Is A Gambling Maestro among his comedy gems, then we are on very different wavelengths.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? 'I Corrupt All Cops' or ICAC is about Hong Kong Police's anti-corruption force, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (or ICAC!). So clever of Wong Jing for this acronym, eh? The writer-director also plays the title role as 'Gold' - the middleman for the criminals and the corrupt cops led by chief inspector Lak (Tony Leung Ka-fai).

The movie, told in three parallel plot threads, documents the rampant corruption in the British colony in the 1960s and 70s, and the formation of the ICAC. One of the threads involves Lak's loyal henchman, Gale (Eason Chan, pic, with Liu Yang), a morally-conflicted cop who has to marry nine mistresses (including rape victims) of Lak and the other crime bosses - all in the line of 'duty'. With so many wives, Gale has absolutely no idea about what love is all about - until it is too late.

Then there is the foul-mouthed detective, Unicorn (Anthony Wong), who frames innocent people with serious crimes to keep his boss, Lak, happy. Not unlike Gale, Unicorn finds that he has been so deep in crime and debt that he has nothing left to lose.

The last thread, which is very loosely woven, involves Bong (Alex Fong), one of Unicorn's victims who vows to put the corrupt cops behind bars one day. His chance arrives when he joins the ICAC under Inspector Yin (Bowie Lam).

HITS & MISSES: I would not go so far as to say that Wong Jing has discarded his crude gags and slapstick style of film-making. However, he balances these with some watchable narrative, character development and plot twists (which are commonplace with most other directors but rare with WJ).

Another promising subplot is the 'romantic triangle' among Eason's Gale, his fourth wife May (Kate Tsui) and drug dealer Rose (Liu Yang) which could have been developed further. Wong Jing also squanders the chance to provide a proper backgrounder for the ICAC. With so many repetitive scenes on police corruption, intrigues and violence, the main plot about the ICAC seems to have been given the short shrift.

Of course, a lot of the credit goes to the top-notch cast, especially Anthony Wong (for the laughs), Bowie Lam (for the serious build-up), Kate Tsui (for the tender moments) and Tony Leung for the sadistic violence. As for Wong Jing, he goes about the movie with a perpetual smirk on his face like the fat cat that's got the milk.

THE LOWDOWN: OK, it is safe to catch a Wong Jing film now.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 - More Of The Same

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (fantasy comedy)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams (pictured), Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Luke Wilson, Jonah Hill and Christopher Guest
Director: Shawn Levy
Time: 105 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: The 2006 original was a fun-filled fantasy trip to the Museum of Natural History in New York. It was a blast for both the kids and the adults when the exhibits, especially the T-Rex and President Teddy Roosevelt, come to life that Night At The Museum.

This sequel basically shifts the action to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC where we get more of the same Jumanji-type action - without much cerebral input into the plot. In fact, the whole second instalment looks uninspired and uninspiring. We don't feel for the characters, not even Ben Stiller's Larry Daley as he tries stir up another frenzy among the animated artifacts. The action remains a comic book adventure - and the mandatory twist at the end merely helps to ease our way out of this juvenile treat.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The Museum of Natural History is closed for renovations and some of the pieces are moved into storage at the Smithsonian. Soon, however, former security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets a call from miniature cowboy Jedediah (Luke Wilson) at the Smithsonian about some trouble there - and Larry takes the next flight to check it out.

'Infiltrating' into the Institute, Larry meets icons like Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), Abe Lincoln, General Custer (Bill Hader) and some nasties like Kahmunrah the Pharoah (Hank Azaria), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) and gangster Al Capone (Jon Bernthal) who are bent on ganging up and taking over the world. Amelia insists on joining Larry in his quest to set things right.

HITS & MISSES: Parents get the DVD of Night At The Museum for their kids because it provokes their curiosity and interest in American and natural history. This sequel does the same - introducing even more interesting characters and events, not only from history but also from television and the movies (like the Muppet Grouch and Darth Vader). There are also grand set pieces like biplanes flying out of the museums and stuff coming out of paintings.

For the adults, however, Number Two is rather stale because it does not have a plot that is engaging enough for its stunts. The gags are mostly repetitive - like Kahmunrah's lisping, Amelia's gungho attitude, etc. There is never a sense of danger in the proceedings - and Larry's presence in the story seems superfluous.

THE LOWDOWN: Mostly kiddie-level fun.

WEEKEND PIC - May 15 - 17, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a. ANGELS & DEMONS (mystery thriller with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Armin Mueller-Stahl) Rated: * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Director Ron Howard has learned from his mistakes in The Da Vinci Code and has made a much better 'sequel'. He has also made a few changes from Dan Brown's book, resulting in a tighter movie. (Reviewed below)

b. I LOVE YOU, MAN (comedy with Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly) Rated * * * (3 stars): This 'bromantic' comedy about guy-bonding may not be as laugh-out-loud funny as it should be but there are enough crazy incidents and lessons for today's yuppie couples. Trust me. (Reviewed below)

c. PUSH (sci-fi thriller with Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell, Colin Ford and Nate Mooney) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Catch Evans and Fanning being chased by Govt goons all over Hong Kong if you can't get enough of Heroes and X-Men action. However, Push is rather mess and confusing, though. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. STAR TREK (sci-fi adventure with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, and Zoë Saldana) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars out of 4): It's a new beginning for Start Trek franchise - just like it was for Batman Begins - and a must for every Trekkie and sci-fi fan. (Reviewed below)

2. SELL OUT! (Malaysian comedy with Jerrica Lai, Peter Davis, Hannah Lo, Kee Thuan Chye and Lim Teik Leong) Rated * * * (3 stars): Newcomer Yeo Joon Han's black comedy offers some refreshing insights into Malaysian foibles. There should be enough laughs for your money. (Reviewed below)

3. MONGOL (historical adventure with Tadanobu Asano, Sun Hong-lei, Khulan Chuluun and Aliya) Rating * * * (3 stars): An old-fashioned historical epic about the early life of Temudjin (Genghiz Khan) with fantastic scenery and realistic action. (Reviewed below)

4. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Fantasy actioner with Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan and Lynn Collins) Rated * * * (3 stars): This action-packed tale about the origins and relationship bewteen Wolverine and Sabretooth should please Marvel comics fans. (Reviewed below)

5. THE SNIPER (actioner with Richie Jen, Edison Chen, Huang Xiaoming, Jack Kao and Bowie Lam) Rated * * * (3 stars): Testosterone-filled thriller about a sniper out for revenge. The movie was delayed due to the Edison Chen sex pix scandal. Mainly for action fans. (Reviewed below)

6. POWER KIDS (Thai action fantasy with Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Sasisa Jindamanee, and Johnny Nguyen) Rating: * * (2 stars): Greasy kids' stuff about four martial-arts-trained children and their bid to save a child with heart problems.

ANGELS & DEMONS: Howard's Redemption

ANGELS & DEMONS (mystery thriller)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl, David Pasquesi and Cosimo Fusco
Director: Ron Howard
Time: 140 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: Redemption. For me, Angels & Demons is all about redemption. Ron Howard's redemption. After the dismal outing that was The Da Vinci Code, Howard seems to have learnt from his mistakes and atoned for his sins with this 'sequel'.

Angels & Demons (which is actually based on Dan Brown's second book published in 2000 while The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003) is a 'leaner' and more engaging movie. What's more, Tom Hanks has discarded that ridiculous bouffant hairstyle which, many believed, must have helped to sink the Da Vinci Code.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) is interrupted from his regular swim by a Vatican inspector (Piefrancesco Favino) with news that Vatican City is under siege and that his help is needed to unravel some mysteries.

The incumbent Pope has mysteriously died and four cardinals, who are the most likely papal candidates, have been kidnapped, reportedly by an ancient, pro-science sect known as the Illuminati. The cardinals are marked to die at hourly intervals and an anti-matter bomb, stolen from a Swiss lab is set to destroy the Vatican at midnight. And to make matters more sweaty, a conclave is meeting behind locked doors to elect a new pontiff, and they seem to be having problems making their decision.

At the Vatican, Langdon teams up with anti-matter scientist Vittoria Vetra (Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer) to find the cardinals - and the bomb.

HITS & MISSES: Angels & Demons is basically a hostage film and a murder mystery. For the most part of the movie, we are offered the 'usual' suspects and the customary red herrings. There is Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgard), the head of the Swiss Guard, who resents Langdon poking around his domain; there is the Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor), the temporary head of Vatican City, who may have something to hide; or is it the ambitious-looking Cardinal Strauss (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who is the mastermind?

Also, the first half of the movie feels like a frantic tour of the churches of Rome as we follow Langdon around from one chapel to another - and to the reverred Vatican Archives and through secret passages. Unlike in the earlier movie, Langdon's job and motives are clearer and easier to understand. Also, director Howard keeps the pace fast, the tension taut and the bodies piling up. Well, you can't go wrong on these counts.

Howard has been criticised for the lack of sexual chemistry between Hanks and his co-star Audrey Tatou in The Da Vinci Code (read the review here). Here, he simply refuses to suggest any kind of romance between Langdon and Vetra. For the two, it is strictly business - and this helps to keep the plot in focus.

THE LOWDOWN: Forget the religious stuff. Angels & Demons Equals a Potboiler of a Thriller!

I LOVE YOU, MAN - A 'Bromantic' Comedy

I LOVE YOU, MAN ('bromantic' comedy)
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly
Director: John Hamburg
Time: 110 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Paul Rudd and Jason Segel in I LOVE YOU, MAN

PREAMBLE: Hey guys, ever heard of a 'bromantic' comedy? It is a lot like a romantic comedy but it involves two men. No, I Love You, Man is not about gay love. It is about male bonding taken to the level of desperation. Like in someone desperately seeking a best friend just so that he has someone to be his best man at his wedding.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Real estate agent Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a guy who is more comfortable with women than men. When his fiancee, Zooey (Rashida Jones), asks him who's going to be his best man at their wedding, Peter is in a bind. He can ask his brother Robbie (Andy Samberg), but he is gay and it doesn't seem right to him.

So Peter embarks on a plan to acquire a buddy the way many people find sexual partners - by "man-dating" in a platonic way. This, however, does not work as he has wanted it to. Just when Peter has given up, a chance encounter brings him into contact with Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), and it's male bonding at first sight. Sydney takes Peter to his 'man cave' where they spend hours on end jamming to songs of their favourite band Rush; they go to a Rush concert, they make up pet names for each other, and they cut work to hang out.

Soon, Peter is spending so much time with Sydney that Zooey feels neglected and the wedding may have to be called off.

HITS & MISSES: This may not be a 'guy movie' (women, I believe, will form the majority of the viewers) but it is a movie about guys and guy stuff and so we have 'insight gags' on farting, masturbation, oral sex, etc.

Surprisingly, these are not crude, sophomore jokes. They may even teach us a thing or two about these private things which we take for granted. Director John Hamburg, working from a story idea by Larry Levin (with whom he co-wrote the script), sets a nice, easygoing pace for the stars. And Rudd and Segel (last seen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall) click off right from the start. Rudd, ever the charming leading man, has us rooting for him while Segel provides the laughs. The supporting cast, including Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly and Lou Ferrigno (as himself, spoofing his Incredible Hulk role) do a commendable job, too.

THE LOWDOWN: Here's a nice change: a 'bromantic comedy' the guys and gals can enjoy together.

PUSH: A Messy Puzzle Set In Hong Kong

PUSH (sci-fi thriller)
Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell, Colin Ford and Nate Mooney
Director: Paul McGuigan
Time: 110 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning in Hong Kong

PREAMBLE: If you can't get enough of superhuman exploits from X-Men Origins: Wolverine or TV's Heroes, you may want to give Push a try. However, unlike the aforementioned series, Push is rather messy and awkward in terms of its narrative. It tries to bend logic a bit...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Nazi medical experiments get out of control and a race of superhumans is born. These include 'movers' who move objects with their mind; 'watchers' who can predict the future; 'pushers' who can control other people's thoughts; 'sniffers' who can trace your history simply by touching objects you leave behind; 'shifters' who can change the appearance of things; 'wipers', who can delete one's memories; and 'stitchers' who have the ability to heal others.

The Government is aware of these weirdos and has set up a Division to train them as 'weapons'. The Division is also working on a drug to enhance their mental powers but, all the test subjects die after being injected with the serum, except for Kira (Camilla Belle), a pusher who flees to Hong Kong and is pursued by the Division's agent, Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou).

Also in Hong Kong are two other fugitives: Nick (Chris Evans), a mover who is also Kira's former lover, and Cassie (Dakota Fanning), a 13-year-old pusher who sketches scenes of the future in her notebook. All these 'special people' want to get their hands on Kira because she holds the key to what they want for themselves or their mission.

HITS & MISSES: Screenwriter David Bourla seems to throw us into his murky world (Hong Kong, actually) of powerful freaks without the necessary backgrounder to clarify what's really happening in this hide-and-seek game. We have to figure them out for ourselves and then discover that most of the plot mechanics are badly contrived.

Director McGuigan tries to fashion an epic tale of mental warfare with a narrative that teems with unfamiliar terms, unexplained powers, and undefined allegiances. All these result in confusion and absurdity. I have no major issues with the cast, of which Dakota Fanning must be the 'darling'. She seems to be having fun with her role, dressed in miniskirt, boots and multi-coloured hair. (Never mind if she knows what is happening herself).

Hounsou and Neil Jackson (as his sidekick, Victor) are hissable enough as the relentless captors, while Camilla Belle is as wooden as usual in what must be an eye-candy role as the prey.

THE LOWDOWN: A messy puzzle not worth piecing together.

MONGOL: A Grand, Old-Fashioned Epic

MONGOL (historical epic)
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Channing Tatum, Khulan Chuluun, Amadu Mamadakov, Odnyam Odsuren and Amarbold Tuvshinbayar
Director:Sergei Bodrov
Time: 120 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Khulan Chuluun and Tadanobu Asano in MONGOL

PREAMBLE: Russian director Sergei Bodrov has always been fascinated with Mongolian history and culture. This is evident in his 2005 movie, Nomad: The Warrior which was purportedly about a descendant of Genghis Khan. However, 'Nomad' did not do well in the US and was relegated to DVD.

Mongol, however, is a different cup of tea. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2008 Academy Awards, it is the first of a biographical trilogy on Genghis Khan based on historical facts and tribal folklore and myth.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Mongol is a grand-scale epic made in the style of yesteryear classics like Spartacus, Ben Hur and Dr Zhivago. It does not have any CGI (computer-generated imagery), 'wire-fu' stunts or high-tech special effects. Instead, it boasts of spectacular landscapes and sceneries of the Mongolian steppes, scenes of bloody and brutal battles and an enduring love story.

The movie opens in 1172 when Temudgin (Odnyam Odsuren) is nine. Tradition decrees that he must choose a bride and his father Esugai (Ba Sen), a tribal leader, takes him to the Merkits tribe where he selects the spirited Borte.

The next few years of Temudgin's life are traumatic. After the death of his father, the boy is captured by the usurper Targutai (Amadu Mamadakov), who vows to kill Temudgin when he is grown up (as the Mongol code of honour does not allow him to kill children). Temudgin manages to escape and he befriends a tribal prince, Jamukha (Amarbold Tuvinbayar). The two become blood brothers.

Fast forward to a few years and we find Temudgin (now played by Tadanobu Asano) going to the Merkits tribe to claim Borte (Khulan Chuluun) as his bride. But more turmoil is in store for our hero.

First, an old enemy of his father kidnaps Borte - and Temudgin seeks Jamukha's (Sun Honglei in the adult role) help to rescue her - earning the dubious honour of being the first Mongol chief to go to war over a woman. Next, Temudjin's relationship with Jamukha turns sour when the former refuses to become second-in-command and the blood brothers become bitter enemies.

Finally, when he is captured and sold as a slave in the city of Tangut, Borte comes to his rescue. From here on, Temudgin starts building up his army for his dream of uniting all the Mongolian tribes.

HITS & MISSES: It is very easy for audiences to get involved with the plot. Bodrov balances the spectacular battle sequences with details of Temudgin's life and Mongolian customs, keeping us rivetted, if not enthralled, throughout the movie. Asano, a Japanese, does not look like the right man to play Genghis Khan, although he gets our sympathy.

Sun Honglei, however, seems to have the best role. He has the most memorable lines, and he is both the charmer and the joker. Khulan Chuluun is suitably endearing and gutsy as the pillar of Temudgin's life while the younger cast are credible enough.

THE LOWDOWN: Mongol should delight most viewers and make them look forward to the sequels.

WEEKEND PIC - May 8 - 10, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a. STAR TREK (sci-fi adventure with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, and Zoë Saldana) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars out of 4): It's a new beginning for Start Trek franchise - just like it was for Batman Begins - and a must for every Trekkie and sci-fi fan. (Reviewed below)

b. SELL OUT! (Malaysian comedy with Jerrica Lai, Peter Davis, Hannah Lo, Kee Thuan Chye and Lim Teik Leong) Rated * * * (3 stars): Newcomer Yeo Joon Han's black comedy offers some refreshing insights into Malaysian life and foibles. There should be enough laughs for your money.

c. MONGOL (historical adventure with Tadanobu Asano, pic below, Sun Hong-lei, Khulan Chuluun and Aliya) Rating * * * (3 stars): An old-fashioned historical epic about the early life of Temudjin (Genghis Khan) with fantastic scenery and realistic action.


d. POWER KIDS (Thai action fantasy with Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Sasisa Jindamanee, and Johnny Nguyen) Rating: * * (2 stars): Greasy kids' stuff about four martial-arts-trained children and their bid to save a child with heart problems.

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Fantasy actioner with Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan and Lynn Collins) Rated * * * (3 stars): This action-packed tale about the origins and relationship between Wolverine and Sabretooth should please Marvel comics fans. (Reviewed below)

2. THE UNINVITED (psychological thriller remake with Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks, Arielle Kebbel, David Strathairn, Jesse Moss and Dean Paul Gibson) Rated * * * (3 stars): This Hollywood version of Korean horror, A Tale of Two Sisters, is not as scary as the original but it is engaging, nevertheless. (Reviewed below)

3. THE SNIPER (actioner with Richie Jen, Edison Chen, Huang Xiaoming, Jack Kao and Bowie Lam) Rated * * * (3 stars): Testosterone-filled thriller about a sniper out for revenge. The movie was delayed due to the Edison Chen sex pix scandal. Mainly for action fans. (Reviewed below)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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 film - with near fatal results. (Reviewed below)

STAR TREK: It's A New Beginning

STAR TREK (sci-fi fantasy)
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban and Anton Yelchin
Director: J.J. Abrams
Time: 125 mins
Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 4)

Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine as Spock and James T. Kirk respectively

PREAMBLE: Let's face it, the last instalment, Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), was deemed the last nail in the coffin of the tired sci-fi franchise. Since then, most Trekkies have kissed the space opera goodbye.

Now, however, J.J. Abrams has boldly taken the franchise back to where many other franchises have been before - into Reboot territory. With it, we have promises of more outer space capers with the 'new' USS Enterprise and its crew. They look set to "live long and prosper".

And if that does not excite the legions of Trekkies all over the world, I don't know what will...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The movie is an account of the birth of James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine), his wild, rebellious childhood, his recruitment into the Starfleet Academy and his first trip on board the spanking new USS Enterprise under Capt Pike (Bruce Greenwood). Sure, we get to meet the other crew members, namely Spock (Zachary Quinto), troubled half-human, half-Vulcan, and members of his family; the reluctant doctor Leonard 'Bones' McCoy (Karl Urban); the sexy linguist Uhura (Zoe Saldana), the gungho Sulu (John Cho) and a 17-year-old Russian named Chekov (Anton Yelchin). Later, Scotty (Simon Pegg) comes aboard as chief engineer - and you would want to 'roll out the barrel, cos the gang's all here!'

The villain here is the vengeful Romulan Nero (played with gusto by Eric Bana) - and there are lots of twists and surprises. These include a love interest for the 'emotion-deficit' Spock and an appearance by a famous original member of the Star Trek cast.

HITS & MISSES: Director Abrams brings intelligence, inventiveness and definitely, a new beginning to the franchise. He is mindful of its traditions, its history and its nostalgic appeal - and he treats them with reverence. Together with his scripters (Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) he fleshes out Gene Roddenberry's iconic young characters, including the USS Enterprise, and gives them a 'history'. As such, we get to sympathise with them.

More importantly, he understands that the franchise is about fantasy and imagination - and he energises the prequel with state-of-the-art special effects, thrills and stunts (from Industrial Light + Magic). Indeed, Abrams brings new meaning to the famous phrase "Beam me up, Scotty!" when Chekov does it when his subjects are in motion. Other wonders include a time-travel subplot but it is more confusing than awe-inspiring.

However, it is the young and vibrant cast that help to make the movie work. Pine and Quinto (who plays Sylar on TV's Heroes) are ideal as leads in this space opera - and the others like Urban, Saldana, Cho and Yelchin not only look like their original players, they also provide humour and a few laughs as well.

THE LOWDOWN: Time to boldly go back to the cinema for new Star Trek thrills, folks.