WEEKEND PIC - Aug 26 - 28, 2011

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

Wishing Muslim Readers Selamat Aidilfitri and drive safely

NEW THIS WEEK

a) CARS 2 (animated comedy with Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro and Bonnie Hunt) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Highly energetic and action-packed, this sequel is even better than its predecessor. This time around, we find tow truck Mater (Larry) and his buddy Lightning McQueen (Wilson) going to Japan, Italy and England on a World Grand Prix tourney during which Mater is mistaken for an American spy. What I like about the movie is that its 'car-acters' are nicely developed with their own personalities, especially British newcomers Agent Finn (Caine) and his sidekick Holley Shiftwell (Mortimer). (Reviewed below)

b) CONAN THE BARBARIAN (fantasy actioner with Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols, Rose McGowan, Ron Perlman and Leo Howard) Rated * * (2 stars): One thing to bear in mind is that there are lots of violence and nudity and a bit of sex in this movie, so you can expect our censors to have a field day with it. However, the much touted scene with Momoa's butt is uncut. Indeed, except for the gratuitous violence and a mundane mythical story, its strengths and weaknesses are similar to the 1982 film starring the Governator Arnie. (Reviewed below)

c) FINAL DESTINATION 5 (thriller with Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, David Koechner, Tony Todd, Courtney B. Vance, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, P.J. Byrne and Ellen Wroe) Rated * * (2 stars): The first 10 minutes of the movie, featuring its premonition sequence, is gripping and nail-biting. However, what follows are just more of the same stuff which details how Death claims its victims in the most melodramatic and incredulous ways. The 3D effects just make the CGI gimmicks more 'in-your-face'. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. GLEE THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE (concert musical with Dianna Agron, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Darren Criss, Chord Overstreet, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling and Gwyneth Palthrow) Rated * * * (3 stars): If you are a Gleek (or 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)

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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 clunky 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)

5. 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)