WEEKEND PIC - Nov 6 - 8, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) RAGING PHOENIX (Thai martial arts flick with Jija Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Sandang and Sompong Lertwimonkasem) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 out of 4 stars): This female Ong Bak actioner with a touch of Drunken Master and 'capoeira' has superb stunts and fight choreography but a silly, laughable story. Action fans will lap it up, though and that's all it aims for.

b) PHOBIA 2 (Thai horror anthology with Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The directors who gave us Phobia are back with another bunch of 'scary' tales. There are actually five here, ranging from novice monks to film crew capers. They don't start off well but end up nicely with a funny horror-comedy short called In The End. (Reviewed below)


STILL GOING STRONG

1. THIS IS IT! (Michael Jackson's concert rehearsals & clips) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): This is one of the best pop musical concerts I have seen in a long time and wow, what a show. If these were just rehearsals, I can't imagine what the real thing would be like! Makes me wanna see it again. A must for all music lovers. (Reviewed below)

2. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (war adventure with Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Samm Levine and Til Schweiger) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 out of 4): This is 'Pulp World War 2 History' according to Quentin Tarantino - set in the template of spaghetti westerns. It is at times funny, outrageous and loquacious but entertaining, especially for fans of Tarantino and 'pulp cinema'. (Reviewed below)

3. THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (sci-fi rom-com with Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Jane McLean, Ron Livingston and Stephen Tobolowsky) Rated * * * (3 stars): A sentimental and intriguing look at a love story that transcends time. Somewhat like the Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. (Reviewed below)

4. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (crime thriller with Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney, Leslie Bibb, Michael Irby, Regina Hall and Viola Davis) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Director F. Gary Gray's tale of one-man against the city's justice system is far-fetched and whimsical, if at all ingenious. Still, Foxx and Butler make it watchable as they pit their wits against each other. (Reviewed below)

5. NINJA (action thriller with Scott Atkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Todd Jensen and Miles Anderson) Rating * * (2 stars): A B-grade effort about an American ninja student trying to protect a cache of weapons. Lots of stunts but lacks sense.

6. JENNIFER'S BODY (horror comedy with Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris and Chris Pratt) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): It's actually Megan Fox's luscious body on parade here - plus a bit of Seyfried's. Those are the main attractions and not the silly story about how a 'college-evil' girl turns into real evil. (Reviewed below)