WEEKEND PIC - May 21 - 23, 2010

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

a) SHREK FOREVER AFTER (animated comedy with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Justin Timberlake, Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph and Amy Sedaris) Rated * * * (3 stars): With the franchise going into its 'mid-life' crisis after three instalments, it is time for Shrek, Fiona and friends to live happily Forever After. This swan song is a fitting goodbye to the inhabitants of Far Far Away, with a story about Shrek being cast into an alternate world where his existence is threatened. (Reviewed below)



b) LETTERS TO JULIET (love story with Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, Lidia Biondi and Daniel Baldock) Rating * * * (3 stars): An entertaining and engrossing romantic fantasy about an aspiring writer (Seyfried) helping to trace and reunite a pair of star-crossed lovers while she is in Verona. Of course, this sets off a chain of events that changes her life too.

c) THE BOUNTY HUNTER (Romantic comedy with Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston, Christine Baranski, Jason Sudeikis, Natalie Morales and Cathy Moriarty) Rated * * (2 stars): It is a one-gag movie that is not romantic, nor is it funny. However, to sustain viewer interest, director Andy Tennant throws in lots of action stunts and chases, and of course constant glimpses of Aniston's famous twin assets. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. ROBIN HOOD (adventure reboot with Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Eileen Atkins and Max von Sydow) Rated * * * (3 stars): Like Batman, Iron Man and Superman, this origin movie starts a new series of Sherwood Forest tales. It is not the comedic adventures we know but one steeped in English history with Crowe playing Gladiator in tights. (Reviewed below)

2. IRON MAN 2 (fantasy action with Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau and Kate Mara) Rated * * * (3 stars): Downey Jr is back as Tony Stark/Iron Man in another action-packed instalment with Rourke as the menacing Whiplash. Not as fun as the first, and the CGI sequences look a bit deja vu but the grand prix mayhem stands out as the best action piece of the film. And yes, Johansson rocks as she provide some nifty fight scenes and eye candy. (Reviewed below)

3. MOTHER AND CHILD (drama with Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, David Morse, Amy Brenneman, Tatyana Ali, Carla Gallo, Jimmy Smits and Samuel L. Jackson) Rated * * * (3 stars): This ensemble effort about three women involved in child adoption should be the most appropriate film for moms and daughters to catch on Mother's Day this weekend. Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia has opted for a touch of reality instead of a feel-good ending. (Reviewed below)

4. CROSSING HENNESSY (romance drama in Cantonese with Jacky Cheung, Tang Wei, Paw Hee Ching, Andy On, Maggie Ho Yee Cheung, Danny Lee and Mimi Chu) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Directed by Ivy Ho as a realistic film about a matched-made couple, this one turns out rather mundane and boring. The scenes are shot in the famous Wan Chai area of HK but we don't get enough insights into its uniqueness either. (Reviewed below)

5. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (horror thriller with Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy, Lia D. Mortensen, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz and Clancy Brown) Rating * * (2 stars): Another series reboot but after so many sequels and a TV series, Freddy Krueger is not so much the villain but a victim of exploitation. Leave this Nightmare alone.