BECAUSE I SAID SO: Keaton All The Way

BECAUSE I SAID SO (romantic comedy)
Cast: Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Gabriel Macht and Tom Everett Scott
Director: Michael Lehmann
Time: 102 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Keaton and Moore as Mummy Daphne and daughter Milly

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? This romantic comedy is unabashedly derivative, formulaic and predictable. It has B-grade effort written all over it, and maintains the ambience of a cheap chick flick, especially with Mandy Moore in the cast. Yet, despite all these setbacks, I had many good laughs (of the 'LOL' kind) - thanks primarily to Diane Keaton whose control over her material is nothing short of superb.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Keaton plays her usual movie mum character - the manipulative control freak whose good intentions invariably pave the way to the proverbial hell. Her Daphne Wilder has successful bundled off two elder daughters (Lauren Graham as Maggie and Piper Perabo as Mae) to matrimonial bliss and now she is working on Milly (Mandy Moore), a wedding caterer and an accomplished chef.
Milly has just broken off with her boyfriend but instead of just letting Cupid go about his business (every viewer knows a girl with Moore's looks absolutely needs no help with men), Daphne decides to take things into her own hands. She puts up an ad on the Internet for prospective beaus for her Milly. From her efforts, she manages to snare a rich yuppie architect named Jason (Tom Everett Scott) - and sets the stage for him to meet Milly. The plan works and they start dating. Milly, however, is also dating Johnny (Gabriel Macht), a musician living with his father (Stephen Collins) and a young son.

HIGHS & LOWS: This sets the stage for the classic rom-com dilemma: to go along with Mummy's choice, or settle for someone she can really be happy with? The outcome is so predictable that you can guess it the minute you catch the 'meet-cute' sequence between Milly and Johnny.
Mandy Moore is suitably giddy-headed as Milly although she scores no points playing the two men along. Still, she manages to embody the modern woman who wants her cake and eat it - and we root for her despite her flaws. Graham (of TV's "The Gilmore Girls") provides some light moments as Maggie the psychiatrist, but Perabo's role is mostly wall flower.
Director Michael Lehmann does not have the most original script to work with but he makes up for it by keeping the pace fast and the tone light-hearted. However, his biggest accomplishment here is making full use of Keaton's talents. The Oscar-winning veteran actress gets us laughing in almost all her scenes (especially that couch sequence with Collins) and we can even forgive her for repetitive gags like the scenes involving Internet porn on her computer.

THE LOWDOWN: Recycled gags or not, this is one comedy that every mother's child would definitely enjoy. Why? Well, because I...

WEEKEND PIC July 27 - 29

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. THE INVISIBLE (psychological thriller with Justin Chatwin, Margarita Levieva and Marcia Gay Harden) Rated * * * (out of 4): The plot about a spirit-in-limbo trying to solve a murder provides the suspense but coupled with its theme about the plight of today's 'invisible' youth, this thriller should be thought-provoking and satisfying. (Reviewed below)

2. THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (animated comedy with voices of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Homer gets chased out of town but somehow redeems himself in this rather tame big-screen rendition that seems to recycle the gags of the TV series. Mainly for Simpsons fans. (Reviewed below)

3. INVISIBLE TARGET (HK actioner with Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue and Jaycee Chan) Rated: * * * (3 stars): Hard, unrelenting action and spills in this cat-and-mouse caper between three cops and a vicious Vietnamese gang. Hong Kong's answer to "Die Hard 4.0". (Reviewed below)

4. VACANCY (psychological thriller with Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) Rated * * * (3 stars): A slasher-flick with a touch of "Psycho", this tale of a couple trapped in 'Snuff-movie Motel' fulfils its job of keeping us at the edge of the seat. Don't bother to think of the plot mechanics, though. (Reviewed below)

5. HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (with the usual cast and Imelda Staunton) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): As far as Potter's adventure goes, this sequel delivers. However, the charm and magical delights of the earlier films are missing in this dark tale about another clash with 'You-Know-Who'. (Reviewed below)

SIMPSONS MOVIE: Tame And Safe

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (animated comedy)
Voices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith
Director: David Silverman
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? When "The Simpsons" was introduced to America in 1987 (on the Tracey Ullman Show), its satire about a dysfunctional Middle-America family captured the fancy of viewers. Since the debut of the series in December 1989, the show has aired 400 episodes over 18 seasons.

That’s a lot of water under the proverbial bridge, considering that the ‘dysfunctional American family’ format has been copied by other animated TV series like "South Park", "The Family Guy" and "American Dad" which all compete among themselves to test the limits of decency with sexual innuendoes and gay themes. In America, many parents would not allow their children to watch these family cartoons.

Now, would such ‘sweet controversy’ dog "The Simpsons Movie" and give the other copycats a run for the money? Are we going to gasp in horror at the antics of Homer and Bart as they break another sacred American taboo? Well, not really, unless you consider a glimpse of a naked Bart’s weenie a major movie taboo! No sir, this big screen version is rather tame and kosher – as the producers seem to be playing it safe for the global market.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The plot opens with a ‘Save-the-Environment’ campaign being run in Springfield as Lisa Simpson (voice of Yeardley Smith) tries to rally support for her Green Earth beliefs. As usual, we can expect Daddy Homer (Dan Castellaneta) to foul things up by dumping a load of animal waste into the river. This sets the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) headed by Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks) to employ a radical solution to ‘contain’ the problem, which, in turn, sets off a lynch mob against the Simpson family. They escape to Alaska but before they can settle down to a fresh start, Mummy Marge (Julie Kavner) decides to return to Springfield to save the town from destruction.

THE HIGHS & LOWS: One of the problems with this comedy is that the gags are so typically American that many of them are lost on our audience. One has to be a Simpsons fan to appreciate its rebellious humour and root for its characters. Homer, for example, is such a failure of a father that he can only exist in extreme caricature. He has always to be redeemed by the other family members (notably, Marge) in almost every episode and especially in this movie. Yes, it has become that predictable.
Still, there are some ‘clever’ moments, like the spoof on US President (Arnold) Schwarzenegger (Harry Shearer) who claims his job is ‘to lead and not read’ government policies; a surprise ‘cameo’ by Tom Hanks, and a Russ Cargill who reminds us of a US politician-turned-bleeding heart environmentalist.
I also like the subplot about Bart’s relationship with his neighbour, Mr Flanders, and Lisa’s budding romance with an Irish kid. These help to develop the characters and lend credence to the story. However, that ‘touch of controversy’ – the compelling factor that makes us plonk out 10 bucks for the movie – is missing here.

THE LOWDOWN: Come to think of it, I had laughed more watching the TV episodes than I did at this movie.

(Note: Please stay back for the gags at the end credits – presumably an attempt by the film-makers to augment the comedy).

THE INVISIBLE: Insights into Bohsia kids

THE INVISIBLE (sci-fi thriller)

Cast: Justin Chatwin, Margarita Levieva, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher Marquette and Michelle Harrison

Director: David S. Goyer

Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Chatwin and Levieva in THE INVISIBLE

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? The "Invisible" of the title refers to what Malaysians call the 'Bohsia' (hokkien for 'no noise' or 'silent') generation. They are the so-called neglected children of busy parents who are so involved in their career and activities that they have no idea about what the kids are doing. The only time they get to interact with their kids is when tragedy strikes - like when the police arrive with news that their son or daughter has been arrested for taking drugs, or injured in street-racing.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "The Invisible", a remake of the 2002 Swedish film "Den Osynlige" (based on Mat Wahl's novel), deals with two such teenagers: Nick Powell (Justin Chatwin) and Annie Newton (Margarita Levieva). Nick is a bright and sensitive student who writes poetry and seems to be heading for a bright future. However, after the death of his father, he has a problem trying to connect with his control-freak of a mother (well played by Marsha Gay Harden) who cramps his style. Nick even plans to run away to London. Annie, on the other hand, is the high school thug who deals in drugs and terrorises her schoolmates with her own gang. Her mother has deserted the family and her domestic life is a nightmare. Her boyfriend (Alex O'Loughlin) is a paroled convict who makes use of her street-smarts to get by. One night, after stealing gems from a display cabinet, Annie is arrested. Somehow, she figures that Nick has snitched on her, and after beating him senseless, leaves him for dead in a ditch. However, Nick is not dead. His 'spirit-in-limbo' moves about the school and town, trying desperately to get someone to trace his body. Of course, no one can see or hear him, except perhaps for Annie. Or is it really just her conscience playing tricks on her?

HIGHS & LOWS: The movie is all about alienation and Nick's out-of-body experience is just a medium to emphasise the problem. We see Nick throwing books and stuff in his need to get attention, but nothing changes. Is this a reflection of his previous, real-life situation too? Annie, meanwhile, struggles alone to find redemption and provide a future for her little brother - the only person she ever loves.
However, it is too little and too late as director David S. Goyer has not bothered to provide enough details of her background for us to understand her.Instead, Goyer continues with a "Ghost"-styled story that intimates that victim and culprit are falling in love! Of course, this follows a scene where Nick's spirit spies on Annie when she is in the shower. A cinematic fodder sequence for voyeurs in the audience, no doubt, but nonetheless effective in suggesting a romantic connection in the midst of a frantic rush to save a life.
Levieva is effective as the good-girl-turned-bad Annie, and Harden, as usual, is a godsend among the cast. Chatwin, as the protagonist, however, does not seem to relate well with the audience. Perhaps, it is his droopy-eyed looks and lack of screen presence, but we don't root for him as much as we do for Levieva, or even Chris Marquette (as Nick's hopeless friend, Pete).


THE LOWDOWN: Coming back to the 'Bohsia' phenomenon, let me add that children of every generation are somehow alienated from their parents. This applies to the Baby Boomers of the 50s and 60s too - only that they did not have time to feel alienated as many had to help support their families with errands and chores. 'Invisibility' becomes more apparent in this age of easier global communications.

WEEKEND PIC July 20 - 22

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. INVISIBLE TARGET (HK actioner with Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue and Jaycee Chan) Rated: * * * (out of 4): Hard, unrelenting action and spills in this cat-and-mouse caper between three cops and a Vietnamese gang. Hong Kong's answer to "Die Hard 4.0".

2. VACANCY (psychological thriller with Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) Rated * * * (3 stars): A slasher-flick with a touch of "Psycho", this tale of a couple trapped in 'Snuff-movie Motel' fulfils its job of keeping us at the edge of the seat. Don't bother to think of the plot mechanics, though.

3. DIE HARD 4.0 (action thriller with Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Maggie Q) Rated: * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): It looks like the Die Hard franchise is getting a new lease on life with spectacular stunts and an engaging story. And don't you just love those chippy lines?

4. HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (with the usual cast and Imelda Staunton) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): As far as Potter's adventure goes, this sequel delivers. However, the charm and magical delights of the earlier films are missing in this dark tale about another clash with 'You-Know-Who'.

5. TRANSFORMERS (sci-fi action with Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight and Megan Fox) Rated: * * * (3 stars): It's 'Bayhem' time and those who grew up on Transformers toys and the TV series would definitely relive their fantasies in this testosterone-fueled actioner that also transforms from one genre to another. And if you haven't caught this one yet, you must be from another planet!

INVISIBLE TARGET: Hard Knock Action

INVISIBLE TARGET (action thriller)
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Jaycee Chan, Wu Jing and Andy On
Director: Benny Chan
Time: 128 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Shawn Yue and Nicholas Tse

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? As far as action thrillers are concerned, Hollywood's forte seems to be in 'computer-assisted' stunts while Hong Kong film-makers still rely on hard knocks and physical visuals. While Benny Chan's "Invisible Target" has as many explosions and car crashes as, say, "Die Hard 4.0", it is the physical stunts like jumping over buildings and
plunging a few floors to the ground, that keep our adrenaline pumping overtime. Could the 'Target' of the title refer to the competition from Hollywood?

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? As expected, director Chan opens right smack in the action - a gang of Vietnamese siblings stages an armoured truck robbery outside a jewellery shop where a young woman is busy selecting her engagement ring. The robbery goes awry, the armoured vehicle is blown up and many are killed - including the woman in the gems shop.Six months later, HK cop Chan Chun (Nicholas Tse) is still feeling the effects of that US$100 million heist - that woman in the jewellery shop was his fiancee. Need we say he vows revenge? Need we say that the Viet gang is also back - to settle a score with those who betrayed them and took off with the loot?Before we get down to unravelling the plot, some introductions are in order and we meet Fong Yik-Wei (Shawn Yue), an experienced detective whose working style is 'hit first, ask questions later', and Wai King-Ho (Jaycee Chan), a police constable who still believes in upholding the law, no matter what happens. Somehow, Chan Chun teams up with these two cops to hunt down the gang led by the vicious Tien Yeng-seng (Wu Jing) who discovers that someone 'very high up the social ladder' has sold him out.

THE HIGHS & LOWS: I am happy to note that with so much action and stunts in the works, Benny Chan still takes time to develop his characters and even throw in the little details (like a caring but suspicious grandma). Yes, some of the action sequences, especially the brawl in the cafetaria, are rather unnecessary, but Chan manages to utilise them for comic relief and to show how the three get to bond with one another. Gradually, in between the seat-gripping action, we get to learn more about the cops and even the robbers. Indeed, one of the gangsters explains to King-Ho that he does what he does because he was brought up that way - in a dog-eat-dog world. And he even gets to die like a hero!
The one big flaw of the movie is its preoccupation with brutal scenes of punishment. Jaycee's role here reminds me of his father, Jackie Chan, in the 80s when his characters always got thrashed relentlessly. Now the son seems to be in the same school of hard knocks and broken noses.Like in most action movies, logic gaps abound, and don't bother to think about the mechanics of the plot. They don't may much sense.

THE LOWDOWN: Just enjoy the action and look forward to the next Benny Chan effort.

VACANCY: Full of Tension, Lacks Logic

VACANCY (thriller)
Cast: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley & Andrew Fiscella
Director: Nimrod Antal
Time: 85 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

Terror outside: Beckinsale and Wilson
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? A tired, quarrelsome couple are driving down a lonely road at night. Their car breaks down just a mile away from a seedy roadside motel and gas station. They trudge back to the establishments to call for help but discover that they have no choice but to stay the night there.
The motel manager (Frank Whaley) looks a bit dodgy but harmless. David Fox (Luke Wilson) decides to watch TV rather than continue fighting with his wife, Amy (Kate Beckinsale). He cannot get any reception on the telly, but there's a cache of videotapes lying around conveniently. He slips one of them into the player and, to his horror, discovers that the scenes of a couple being brutally slashed are shot in the room they are staying in.
Soon David and Amy find hidden cameras in their room and from the noises outside, they realise that they are about to be the next stars of Pinewood Motel's home-made snuff movies! Can the bickering Foxes lay down their differences and work together to get out alive?

HIGHS AND LOWS: "Vacancy" is a slasher-flick with a touch of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". Okay, it makes the notorious Bates Motel look like a unit at Club Med but under the direction of Nimrod Antal, a maker of Hungarian films, "Vacancy" is so filled with tension and suspense that you will be kept at the edge of your seat throughout the movie.
The plot, by Mark L. Smith, generates conflict and tension on two levels. The first, of course, is the husband-wife rift that any married couple in the audience can relate with. The relationship between Amy and David are so much on the rocks that we can almost see the verbal sparks flying. We keep expecting David to fly off his handle any time. The other level is the external threat of getting 'snuffed' by the villains. Here, the thrills are delivered thick and fast as the couple engage in a cat-and-mouse game with the killers. Antal gives us little time to catch our breath as he takes us through rat-infested underground tunnels, trapdoors and even up in an attic.
It is only when the movie resorts to its 'generic' ending that we start questioning the loose ends in the script. Like, why would the video-graphers leave incriminating tapes lying around for their would-be victims to view them? Why did David not think of arming himself throughout his bid to escape this Killer Motel? How come Amy, who had been shown as the scared, nagging wife, suddenly learn to take things into her own hands?

THE LOWDOWN: However, it is rather obvious that "Vacancy" has accomplished what it sets out to do: provide audiences with 80 minutes of cheap, unmitigated escapist thrills and spills. If this is primarily what you want, then you would have gotten what you pay for - and the objective of "Vacancy" is fulfilled.

Harry Potter sets new Wednesday Opening Record

Jul 13 – "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" has set a new industry record for a Wednesday opening with US$44.2 million (RM154 million) in the U.S. The previous best for a Harry Potter debut was the US$40.1 million set by 2005's "Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire".

According to Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures. this gross includes the film's US$12 million collection from its midnight shows, which was also an industry record.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" also stormed the international box office, taking in an estimated $29.2 million for Wednesday, 11 July, from 29 countries. The film garnered the biggest industry opening day in both Holland and Belgium, and the second-highest opening in France, Italy and Brazil. Additionally, it had the biggest opening for the "Harry Potter" franchise in 22 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Korea and Brazil. The international figure does not include the U.K. and Mexico, both of which opened the film on Thursday, 12 July, and Japan, which goes into sneaks on July 14 (Saturday).

However, "Order of the Phoenix" didn't come close to surpassing Spider-Man's single-day and opening-day records of US$59.8 million, posted just last May by "Spider-Man 3".

On the local front, an industry source said "Order Of The Phoenix" collected about 12 per cent higher in Malaysia than the previous Harry Potter movie on its opening day on 11 July. The actual figures could not be ascertained at the time of writing.

WEEKEND PIC July 13-15

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

1. DIE HARD 4.0 (action thriller with Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Maggie Q) Rated: * * * 1/2 (out of 4): It looks like the Die Hard franchise is getting a new lease on life with spectacular stunts and an engaging story. And don't you just love those chippy lines?

2. HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (with the usual cast and Imelda Staunton) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): As far as Potter's adventure goes, this sequel delivers. However, the charm and magical delights of the earlier films are missing in this equally dark tale about another clash with 'You-Know-Who'.

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry; and a scene from 'For Your Consideration'

3. TRANSFORMERS (sci-fi action with Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight and Megan Fox) Rated: * * * (3 stars): It's 'Bayhem' time and those who grew up on Transformers toys and the TV series would definitely relive their fantasies in this testosterone-fueled actioner that also transforms from one genre to another.

4. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION (satirical comedy with Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy) Rated: * * * (3 stars): This is probably one of the best of Christopher Guest's 'mockumentaries' - about how rumours of an award-winning performance rattle a movie's cast and crew. Many nice touches and witty lines. (Only at Cathay's PictureHouse in Damansara).

5. KIDNAP (crime thriller with Rene Liu, Karena Lam, Cheung Chilam and Cheung Siu Fai) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A kidnap thriller with the requisite twists and turns but spoilt by lame dialogue and numerous plot gaps.

Pirated discs of 'Transformers' Selling Like Hot Cakes

July 12 – Pirated VCDs and DVDs of Hollywood blockbuster “Transformers” are selling like hot cakes in the Klang Valley and other major cities and towns.

Checks at some of the popular haunts of illegal disc pedlars in Petaling Jaya yesterday revealed that all copies of “Transformers” were sold out in the two or three days since they were available. Customers were told that supply would only be forthcoming in one or two days’ time. One pedlar even had a ‘reserve list’ in which regular customers would be entertained on a first-come-first-served basis.

“Everybody is asking for ‘Transformers’,” one of the disc sellers said. “My stock of VCDs and DVDs of ‘Transformers’ were sold out in just one night at the pasar malam. Almost every customer who came to me asked for ‘Transformers’. The DVDs sold out faster because people prefer DVDs (which sell for RM10 each). I have tried to get more from my agent and friends but they too said that their stocks are either sold out or that they are selling fast and could not accommodate my request. I hope to get fresh supply in one or two days.”

The pedlars claimed that the pirated DVDs and VCDs of the blockbuster are “clear copies”. Asked how the discs of the movie were made (or copied), the sellers said they came from a ‘master copy’ - which usually meant that the movie was illegally copied overseas from a ‘sample’ version for movie buyers and cinema owners.

Another pedlar in SS2 Petaling Jaya said his stock of ‘Transformers’ ran out in just two nights. “Many of my customers had booked the movie weeks ago, way ahead of its release in the cinema. Even those who had seen the movie in the cinema wanted to get the DVD, just for their collection,” he said. “I am also waiting for new supply.”

A DVD-seller who operated from Cheras said such a ‘mad rush’ for a certain popular movie is not uncommon. “When ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End’ was released, it was also sold out and we had to get fresh supply. However, I think the demand for ‘Transformers’ is greater as stocks ran out faster,” he said. “We get this sort of thing when the major blockbusters are released. After two or three weeks, or sometimes a month, the movie is forgotten and customers go for the latest hits.”

Besides “Transformers”, he said that discs of “Die Hard 4.0” are also selling well as the copy is also ‘clear’. Copies of “Die Hard 4.0” had been in the market for more than two weeks although the movie only opened in Malaysia on 5 July.

“We also have ‘Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix’ but I had to warn my customers that the copy is not clear. If they are in a hurry to see it, then they may buy it. I don’t like having my customers returning to me and complain that the discs are not clear or the sound is no good. Then I would be forced to exchange another disc for them,” he said.

The pedlar from Cheras also agreed that these days, people preferred DVDs to VCDs as the picture and sound are much clearer than those of VCDs. “I think VCDs are slowly being phased out. Malaysia seems to be the only country where people are still watching VCDs. I have stopped selling them.”

The sellers said other popular titles in the market are “Shrek 3”, “Surf’s Up”, “My Wife Is A Gangster 3”, “Eye In The Sky” and “200 Pounds Beauty”. They said “Shrek 3” has now been compiled into a three-in-one package together with the two earlier titles and are selling at ‘half the price’ (RM15). This also applies to Clint Eastwood’s war series, “Flags Of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima” which are combined with the Korean “Brotherhood” (or “Tae Guk Gi”).

WEEKEND PIC July 6 - 8 2007

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing:

Bruce Willis still going strong in Die Hard 4.0

1. DIE HARD 4.0 (action thriller with Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Maggie Q) Rated: * * * 1/2 (out of 4): It looks like the Die Hard franchise is getting a new lease on life with spectacular stunts and an engaging story. And don't you love those chippy lines?

2. TRANSFORMERS (sci-fi action with Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight and Megan Fox) Rated: * * * (3 stars): It's 'Bayhem' time and those who grew up on Transformers toys and the TV series would definitely relive their fantasies in this testosterone-fueled actioner that also transforms from one genre to another.

3. KIDNAP (crime thriller with Rene Liu, Karena Lam, Cheung Chilam and Cheung Siu Fai) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A kidnap thriller with the requisite twists and turns spoilt by lame dialogue and numerous plot gaps.

4. SURF'S UP (animated comedy with voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Masquerading as a 'mockumentary', this story about a young penguin's quest to be champion surfer offers a few laughs and references to real-life celebs. But not enough oomph, though.

5. DIVA (local drama with Ning Baizura, Jeremy Thomas and AC Mizal) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This drama, about the personal and professional challenges faced by a singer (Ning), gets a Bollywood touch with India's director Sharad Saran at the helm.

HARRY POTTER And The Order Of The Phoenix: Watchable But Not Great

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (fantasy)
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman and Imelda Staunton
Director: David Yates
Time: 138 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

Awkward age: Grint, Radcliffe and Watson

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? The first impression one gets of this Harry Potter Movie No. 5 is that Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends look awfully awkward in their transition from child actors to adolescent stars. Their boyish – and girlish – charms and demeanour are gone, and we have a difficult time trying to imagine the over-17-year-olds passing off as 15-year-olds.
However, these are not the only problems that plague "Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix". Fans who expect to be carried away by the magic (like they had been in the previous movies) would be sorely disappointed. Director David Yates merely succeeds in telling the story – but he supplies precious little in terms of ‘wow factors’ or uproarious humour and wit.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "Order Of The Phoenix" sees Harry and friends returning to Hogwarts for their fifth year of study. Harry soon discovers that the authorities, including the Ministry of Magic, are in denial about Lord Voldemort's return. The Order of the Phoenix, a group sworn against Voldemort, is using its magical forces to combat Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) but Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), the Minister for Magic, suspects that headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is using claims of the Dark Lord's return as a means to overthrow Fudge as Minister.
In retaliation, Fudge appoints a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Prof Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), to keep an eye on Hogwarts and Dumbledore. When it becomes obvious to Harry and his pals, Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), that Umbridge is not about to teach them anything about defending themselves against Voldemort, they form a secret club called ‘Dumbledore’s Army’ to prepare for the battle with the Dark Lord.

THE HIGHS & LOWS: Other than moving the story forward, this instalment offers nothing new to awe its legions of fans. Like "The Prisoner of Azkaban" (arguably, the best of the series), the tone is still ‘dark and dank’ but there is an aura of familiarity pervading this movie. Sure, we get to meet an intellectually-challenged Giant named Grawp, but his antics would only tickle the fancy of little children. The earlier sequences of the dreadful Dementors fare better, though.
Also, the much-touted kissing scene between Harry and his love-interest Cho Chang (Katie Leung) has as much sizzle as a damp firecracker. Romantic relationships are utmost on the minds of adolescents but the film-makers fail to capitalise on them. Instead, Yates squanders the footage on repetitive story build-up sequences. Compared to the previous efforts, the special effects here look lame and uninspired.
I have nothing to complain about the supporting cast. Most of them are comfortable reprising their roles. However, newcomer Staunton gives ruthlessness a new and gleeful look, not to mention a new colour, pink, instead of the standard black. Yeah, she is deliciously evil as the conspiratorial Prof Umbridge who giggles as she dishes out punishment.

THE LOWDOWN: On the whole, this movie is watchable, but not as great as the previous outings. Ironically, those who have not read J.K. Rowling’s books would probably enjoy it more than those who had.

KIDNAP: A Taut but Uneven Thriller

KIDNAP (crime thriller in Cantonese)
Cast: Rene Liu, Karena Lam, Cheung Chilam and Cheung Siu Fai
Director: Law Chi-Leung
Time: 102 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

Karena Lam and Cheung Siu Fai in KIDNAP

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? If your loved one is kidnapped, with instructions not to inform the police, would still go to the cops and risk the life of the victim? After all, the police are supposed to the ones most qualified to handle such cases. But are they really?

Now, what if you were a police inspector yourself and it is your own child who is kidnapped? Would you trust your colleagues to put your best interest at heart and rescue your child from the kidnappers? These are the moral and professional dilemmas covered in "Kidnap", a crime thriller scripted by Cheung Chi-Kwong, based on an original story by Mathew Tang.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The opening sequences introduce us to Hong Kong police Inspector Ho Yuan-chun (Rene Liu) as she is working on a kidnap case involving the brother of Yang (Karena Lam). The ransom drop goes awry – and the victim is killed. Three years later, we find Yang facing another predicament: her husband is suffering from cancer and is in dire need of surgery that would cost HK$10 million.
With her knowledge of police procedures in abduction cases, Yang decides to get the money by kidnapping the seven-year-old son of tycoon Wang Sam (Tao Guo). However, her henchmen foul up the job and capture the son of Inspector Ho instead.
This sets off a heart-rending cat-and-mouse game among Yang, Inspector Ho and her dedicated assistant Chi (Cheung Siu Fai). All Yang wants is the ransom money so that she can take her hubby overseas for treatment. For Madam Ho, however, the tables have turned as she is related to the victim of a kidnap, and police procedure demands that she is taken off the case. Of course, the distraught mother and her estranged ex-husband (Cheung Chi-Lam) contrived to ignore procedures and race against time to find their son.

HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS: There are some nice twists and turns in this taut thriller directed by Law Chi-Leung (who gave us "Double Tap" in 2000) but most parts of the movie are spoilt by gaping logic lapses and a very poor dialogue that impedes the performances of the cast.
Also, the direction appears uneven. Director Law does a great job portraying the tumultuous relationship between Ho and her ex-hubby but fails to convince us about Yang’s relationship with her ailing husband. Indeed, her friendship with Chi has more screen chemistry and sexual undercurrents, making us suspect if she is really in love with the cop.
One of the most glaring plot holes appears when we realise that the wrong boy is kidnapped but the action on the screen continues with the boy’s tycoon father still in the dark about the safety of his son. In real-life, the police would have been sued for all they are worth!
Other logic lapses involve questionable feats by the woman mastermind who seems to have the ability to be in two places at the same time.

THE LOWDOWN: Well, Hong Kong movies are not known for convincing plots but a properly written script would have made this thriller a lot more engaging. As it is, we have to suspend disbelief and overlook plot-gaps in order to enjoy the movie. In other words, they kidnap your brain so that you can get to the heart of the action!