WEEKEND PIC - July 3 - 5, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) 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 out of 4): 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)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (fantasy thriller with Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Matthew Marsden, Rainn Wilson, Josh Duhamel and John Turturro) Rated * * * (3 stars out of 4): 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)

2. STATE OF PLAY (mystery drama with Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright Penn and Helen Mirren) Rated: * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Adapted from a BBC series, this American version is a well-made film with compelling performances. (Reviewed below)

3. 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. (Reviewed below)

4. DRAG ME TO HELL (suspense thriller with Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao and David Paymer) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars) This Sam Raimi thriller recalls his Evil Dead days but it is more yucky than scary with lots of gooey stuff being stuffed into Lohman's mouth. (Reviewed below)

5. LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (thriller with Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Garret Dillahunt, Sara Paxton, Martha MacIsaac and Riki Lindhome) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This remake of Wes Craven's 1972 flick ups the ante on graphic violence and blood and gore. Not for the squeamish. (Reviewed below)

6. DANCE, SUBARU! (dance drama in Japanese with Meisa Kuroki, Miku Sano, Yuta Haraoka, Kaori Momoi, Toshio Kakei and Ara) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Art-film biopic type about the challenges facing a dancer. Nothing impressive but watchable. (Reviewed below)

7. BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (fantasy thriller with Gianna Jeon Ji-Hyun, Allison Miller, Liam Cunningham, Michael Byrne and Koyuki) Rated * * (2 stars): There are lots of slicing and slashing with 'Sassy Girl' Jeon playing the title character. But this gets boring very quickly and the triller feels anaemic and derivative. (Reviewed below)