WEEKEND PIC - June 1 - 3, 2012

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (fantasy adventure with Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Sam Spruell, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone and Eddie Marsan) Rated * * * (3 stars): With the classic Grimm tale set more in Mordor and Game Of Thrones territories than Disneyland, this version seems to be aimed at the young adults rather than family. The sets, landscapes and costumes are spectacular; the subplots are a bit derivative (of LOTR and Princess Mononoke) and there is a little love triangle to interest the females in the audience. However, Stewart's acting (or rather non-acting) is distracting as well as annoying. On the whole, this alternate version is still watchable. (Reviewed below)

b) PIRANHA 3DD (horror movie spoof with Danielle Panabaker, Matt Bush, Chris Zylka, David Koechner, David Hasselhoff, Katrina Bowden, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Meagan Tandy, Paul James Jordan, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, Paul Scheer and Gary Busey) Rating * 1/2 (1.5 stars): If you think that the Piranha movie franchise is about those pesky little flesh-eating fish, you probably have not seen any of the films. The franchise is an unabashed frat-boy's lure with boobs, bikinis and bloody mayhem as bait. This one, arguably the third in the series, offers more of the same in 3D. Well, throw in Ving Rhames and The Hoff and we get some inside-Hollywood jokes that not all that funny. Expect some raunchy scenes to be cut.

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. MEN IN BLACK 3 (sci-fi comedy with Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma Thompson, Alice Eve and Nicole Scherzinger) Rated * * * (3 stars): Returning after going MiA for 10 years, this third MiB instalment does not offer anything new in terms of plot. In fact it takes us Back To The Future - with Agent J (Smith) travelling back to the Sixties to rescue Agent K (Jones and Brolin as his younger version) and saving the world from a mad alien called Boris The Animal (Clement). Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld at US$215-million, this halted production is still fun and funny at times. (Reviewed below)

2. DARK SHADOWS (comedy spoof with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Moretz, Eva Green, Gulliver McGrath, Bella Heathcote, Ray Shirley, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer and Thomas McDonell) Rated * * * (3 stars): Tim Burton's re-imagination of the Sixties TV series is both inventive and entertaining. Depp is delightful as Barnabas Collins, a 200-year-old vampire who finds himself 'resurrected' in the hip Seventies. He is supported by Eva Green's sexy witch Angelique as well as the Burton regular, Carter. Indeed, Depp and Green spice up the Gothic-styled love triangle with a violent tryst that forms the highlight of the film. (Reviewed below)

3. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (comedy with Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Brooklyn Decker and Anna Kendrick) Rated * * (2 stars): Despite its cast of A-list stars, this 'mom-com' is largely uninspired and unfunny. The characters are stereotypical and often blandly portrayed. A better way to put it is 'Don't Expect Too Much From This Expectant Moms' Film'.