WEEKEND PIC - Oct 9 - 11, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) REBELLION (HK crime thriller with Shawn Yue, Elanne Kwong, Ada Choi, Chapman To, Jun Kung and Conroy Chan) Rated: * * * (out of 4): This Herman Yau 'chop-chop suey' actioner is about the tussle for territory among five rival gangs in Hong Kong. It keeps you on the edge of your seat most of the time - with a few comic and romantic interludes. (Reviewed below)

b) SURROGATES (sci-fi thriller with Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames, Boris Kodjoe, Michael Cudlitz and James Cromwell) Rating * * * (3 stars): A better than average sci-fi movie that is both thought-provoking and engaging. Thankfully it's not about robots going berserk but about humans falling for an easier and prettier life - a'la WALL-E.

c) THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (drama with Robin Wright Penn, Blake Lively, Alan Arkin, Keanu Reeves, Maria Bello, Zoe Kazan, Winona Ryder, Monica Bellucci and Ryan McDonald) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): I like watching the performances of its cast of top stars in this film that aims for Oscar nods rather than ticket sales. But writer-director Rebecca Miller tends to be too quirky for her own good at times. (Reviewed below)

d) BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT (courtroom drama with Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Douglas, Joel David Moore, Orlando Jones, Lawrence Beron and Sewell Whitney) Rated * * (2 stars): This remake of the 1956 film noir stumbles and splutters because its lead, Metcalf, cannot deliver - and director Peter Hyams has failed to improve the narrative. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (romantic comedy with Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly, Matthew Gray Gubler and Rachel Boston) Rating * * * 1/2 (out of 4): A rather refreshing take on the rom-com genre, this one is about a break-up told in a 'shuffled card' style. For those who even dislike rom-coms.

2. THE UGLY TRUTH (romantic comedy with Gerard Butler, Katherine Heigl, Cheryl Hines, Bonnie Somerville, Bree Turner and Eric Winter) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): It's derivative and predictable but also hilarious and fun. Also the teaming of Butler and Heigl sparkles with screen chemistry. (Reviewed below)

3. ACCIDENT (crime thriller with Louis Koo, Richie Jen, Michelle Ye, Lam Suet and Fung Shui-Fan) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): The story about a team of hired assassins has no gunplay or kungfu fighting but it is thick with tension and intrigue. There are also a few flaws that strain credibility but not bad enough to affect the overall entertainment. (Reviewed below)

4. G-FORCE (animated fantasy with voices of Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penélope Cruz, Steve Buscemi and Tracy Morgan) Rating: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Basically an action flick for kids below 12, this furball fantasy about heroic guinea pigs boasts lots of stunts and explosive scenes. The plot is the usual rubbish but entertaining enough for little minds.

5. A PERFECT GETAWAY (mystery thriller with Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant, Marley Shelton, Steve Zahn, Kiele Sanchez, Katie Chonacas and Chris Hemsworth) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The first half of this adventure yarn is a big yawn. Instead of 'red herrings' we are thrown 'red snappers' in this 'big-reveal' flick about a pair of murderers among holidaying couples in scenic Hawaii.(Reviewed below)

6. FAR CRY (action adventure with Til Schweiger, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Natalia Avelon, Michael Paré, Craig Fairbrass and Udo Kier) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): Directed by the infamous Uwe Boll, this outing is an improvement on his earlier efforts. Still, the trademark Bollshit is there and it needs to be overlooked. (Reviewed below)

7. SORORITY ROW (Slasherpic with Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Margo Harshman, Audrina Patridge and Carrie Fisher) Rated * (1 star): A needless remake of the 1983 film, this one totally defies logic and accepted human behaviour. It is about how a bunch of sorority sisters are being hunted down over a prank-gone-wrong. (Reviewed below)