WEEKEND PIC - Aug 19-21, 2011

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

a) GLEE THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE (concert musical with Diana Agron, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Darren Criss, Chord Overstreet, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling and Gwyneth Paltrow) Rated * * * (3 stars): If you are a Gleek (Glee fan) you are gonna rock to this movie. The performances, filmed over two days at the Glee Live! In Concert! events at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, include some of the show’s most memorable numbers, like I’m a Slave 4 U, Raise Your Glass, Teenage Dream, and Lucky, as well as the original songs that became chart-toppers such as “Loser Like Me,” and of course, the show’s anthem, Don’t Stop Believin’. And if you don't know what the hell is Glee, you will come to understand how the TV show has changed the lives of some of its fans. (Reviewed below)

b) SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (kiddie comedy in 3D with Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 stars): When Spy Kids 3 was released in 3D in 2003, it did not do so well and many people complained about the 3D effects giving them a headache. Worse, Sylvester Stallone earned a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his performance. This one is proffered in 4D - with a scratch-and-smell card to provide the sensation of scent by the number. This is a childish gimmick and it helps to distract us from the silly kids' stuff suitable only for those under five. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (fantasy adventure with Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Dominic Cooper and Toby Jones) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Coming after The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, Captain America is a lot more entertaining than Green Lantern and even the critically-acclaimed Thor! Thanks to the wonderful performances by the leads, as well as Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci; to a gradually built up romance between Chris Evans' Steve Rogers and Hayley Atwell's agent Peggy Carter; and to the old-style Saturday matinee look and feel that director Joe Johnston provides. Remember to stay back during the closing credits for a glimpse of what The Avengers has to offer next year. (Reviewed below)

2. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (sci-fi thriller with James Franco, Tom Felton, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, David Hewlett, Tyler Labine, Leah Gibson and Jamie Harris) Rated * * * (3 stars): This is not a remake but a reboot of the Planet Of The Apes franchise based on the 1963 French novel by Pierre Boulle. Set in modern-day 'Frisco, the movie follows the adventures of Caesar (played by Serkis), a highly intelligent primate brought up by a genetic scientist (Franco). As an origin film, it details the start of the Ape Revolution and the roles Caesar and his friends play in transforming the face of our planet. (Reviewed below)

3. COWBOYS & ALIENS (western and sci-fi thriller with Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford,Sam Rockwell, Clancy Brown, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, Abigail Spencer, Ana de la Reguera and Noah Ringer) Rated * * * (3 stars): Aliens invade a cowboy town in New Mexico! That's all there is to the plot but the fun is in the blend of these two genres that stir up our curiosity and wonder. Craig is back in his silent hero/gunslinger mode; Wilde is still smouldering hot but Ford appears to be past his prime, sporting his standard sneer throughout the film. (Reviewed below)

4. HORRIBLE BOSSES (comedy with Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Donald Sutherland and Jamie Foxx) Rated * * (2 stars): This comedy, about three guys who come up with an idea to have their horrible bosses killed, leans too much on the illogical and sometimes even insulting our imagination. It is fun watching A-list stars like Spacey, Farrell, Aniston and Foxx playing offbeat characters but many of the scenes are just too ridiculous to stomach. And the situation is made worse by the many censorship cuts. (Reviewed below)

5. ZOOKEEPER (romantic comedy with Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Ken Jeong, Donnie Wahlberg and Joe Rogan and voices of Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Judd Apatow and Jon Favreau) Rated * * (2 stars): Written by no less than five guys, this cluncky comedy seems to have been the result of the proverbial 'too many cooks'. The main plot about the relationship between a zookeeper (James) and a sexy model (Bibb) is highly implausible to start with, and sequences of talking animals are just not as hilarious as they should be. Throw in a clownish Ken Jeong and the movie goes further south. (Reviewed below)