WEEKEND PIC - July 24 - 26, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (hostage drama with Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli and James Gandolfini) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): An updated remake of the 1974 movie by Tony Scott, this one is a seat-gripper right from the start. Thanks to top class performances from Washington, Travolta and Gandolfini. (Reviewed below)

b) LAND OF THE LOST (comedy with Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone, Raymond Ochoa, Pollyanna McIntosh and Logan Manus) Rated * * (2 stars): Another remake, this time from a 70s TV series. However, unlike Pelham, this misguided effort really gets lost in the land of Trite, Mediocrity and Ridicule. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1) HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (fantasy adventure with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent and Maggie Smith) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): I wouldn't say this is the best HP instalment, but director David Yates does a serviceable job of it by dishing out delicious dollops of humour, awe, twists and surprises - and young love. (Reviewed below)

2. PUBLIC ENEMIES (crime drama with Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Dorff, Billy Crudup and Stephen Lang) Rated * * * (3 out of 4): An engaging and sometimes fascinating story of 1930s bank robber John Dillinger and his girlfriend Billie Frechette, topped with a fine performance by Cotillard. (Reviewed below)

3. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (fantasy thriller with Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Matthew Marsden, Rainn Wilson, Josh Duhamel and John Turturro) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is the summer blockbuster of the year that has been drawing record box-office crowds. It has more of what the fans want, never mind that it is still flawed and goes on for too long. (Reviewed below)

4. ICE AGE 3: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (animated adventure with voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Simon Pegg, Queen Latifah and Chris Wedge) Rated * * * (3 stars): More fun and laughter with Manny and the gang, and of course, Scratt the squirrel, in this sequel which also introduces the rascally weasel Buck and the dinosaurs. Again, a family treat. (Reviewed below)

5. OBSESSED (Psychological thriller with Idris Elba, Ali Larter, Beyoncé Knowles, Bruce McGill, Jerry O'Connell and Christine Lahti) Rated * * (2 stars): It looks like someone is trying to make another Fatal Attraction flick but it is such a lame attempt that it just plain sucks. (Reviewed below)

6. KAMBAKKHT ISHQ (Bollywood rom-com with Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani, Amrita Arora, Kiron Kher, Javed Jaffrey and Vindu Dara Singh) Rated * * (2 stars): Typical and uninspired love story about a stuntman and model with special guest appearances by Sly Stallone and Denise Richards. It also boast a hit, Om Mangalam, but it is basically ho-hum. (Reviewed below)