WEEKEND PIC - Nov 26-28, 2010

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

a) RAPUNZEL: A TANGLED TALE 3D (animated fantasy with voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor, M.C. Gainey, Brad Garrett and Paul F. Tompkins) Rated * * * (3 stars): This revisionist version of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale comes with songs and dances and should be a delightful treat for the family during the school holidays. It comes with the usual Disney-type gutsy characters - plus some thought-provoking messages for parents. (Reviewed below)

b) THE NEXT THREE DAYS (drama with Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Jonathan Tucker, Brian Dennehy, Liam Neeson, Lennie James, Jason Beghe and Moran Atias) Rated * * * (3 stars): An Americanised remake of the 2008 French film Pour Elle, this one has Crowe back in his element as a desperate husband whose faith in his wife's innocence makes him go against the incredible odds and changing their lives. At two hours, it can be a bit plodding for the average action fan but the pay-off is worth it. (Reviewed below)


c) HAUNTED CHANGI (Singaporean mockumentary with Andrew Lau, Sheena Chung, Farid Azlam and Audi Khalis) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 stars): Copying the style of Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, this Singaporean indie effort is not only amateurish but also lacking in scares and thrills. Its shoot-anything-and-everything approach can be torturous on the viewers. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Pt 1 (fantasy adventure with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane and Imelda Staunton) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is a rather long build-up to the climax of the HP franchise and non-Potter fans may find it a bit like 'Sleepy Hollows'. It follows the book closely and despite its dreary and draggy ambience, it has some interesting moments even for Muggles. (Reviewed below)

2. UNSTOPPABLE (action thriller with Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee and Kevin Dunn) Rated * * * (3 stars): After The Taking of Pelham 123, director Tony Scott and Washington are back on track in this tensed actioner about a runaway train. Based on a real-life event in Ohio in 2001, the film has most of Scott's trademarks like fast-paced action, character build-up and realistic edge-of-the-seat visuals. (Reviewed below)

3. LET ME IN (horror fantasy with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Sasha Barrese and Elias Koteas) Rating * * * (3 stars): This English-language remake of the 2008 Swedish film, Let the Right One In, by Cloverfield's Matt Reeves is a vampire thriller involving a 12-year-old boy (Smit-McPhee) and a 'young' girl from the next-door apartment. It covers many pre-teen issues like bullying and parental problems and is more scary than Twilight. Well, at least the blood-feeders do not shimmer in the light!

4. SKYLINE (sci-fi thriller with Donald Faison, Eric Balfour, David Zayas, Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed, Neil Hopkins, J. Paul Boehmer, Tanya Newbould and Pam Levin) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 stars): From the trailer and online buzz, many people are going to be attracted to this film by its 'cool' images of alien warships and monsters. That's is about all that Skyline has to offer because everything else, from its dialogue, acting to its plot, sucks. (Reviewed below)