WEEKEND PIC - June 11 - 13, 2010

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

a) THE KARATE KID (kungfu drama with Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Han Wenwen and Wang Zhenwei) Rated * * * (3 stars): Consider this remake as a warm-hearted but lightweight tribute to Jackie Chan and you will enjoy the movie which sort of updates the original, taking the venue to China and showing kungfu instead of karate. Jaden Smith may not act like a pro but he still has his boyish Happyness charm that clicks well with Jackie's. (Reviewed below)

b) THE A-TEAM (action drama with Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, Maury Sterling, Gerald McRaney) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): As can be expected, this one is a loud, mindless and uninspired adaptation of the TV series (that was also loud and mindless). After an initial hurrah, the A-Team is likely to go into C-minus territory at the box-office.

STILL GOING STRONG

1. 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)

3. PRINCE OF PERSIA: The Sands Of Time (fantasy adventure with Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton and Alfred Molina) Rated * * * (3 stars): Typical Bruckheimer actioner with almost non-stop stunts and chases to satisfy the adrenalin addict. After milking the Pirates of the Caribbean theme, it is now the Sands Of Time videogame franchise and the going looks good. (Reviewed below)

4. 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.

5. KILLERS (romantic comedy with Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara, Katheryn Winnick, Rob Riggle and Lisa Ann Walter) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This mix of 'Mr & Mrs Smith' and 'The Ugly Truth' is packed with crazy chases and ridiculous fights. The plot, about an ex-CIA guy getting hunted down by the baddies, is a one-idea story stretched to feature-length film. Its main attraction is a shirtless Kutcher and Heigl playing Izzie Stevens all over again.

6. MARMADUKE (comedy with Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Steve Coogan, Fergie, et al) Rating * 1/2 (1.5 stars): The film-makers probably thought that with Wilson voicing the title character, the movie will probably do as well as Marley & Me. It doesn't. It is mainly about dog havoc, trite gags and a silly CGI scene of hundreds of dogs dancing in the park. Adapted from a comic strip that is not even funny.