Entertainment

Film guide

September 21, 2007 Edition 1

New releases

Disturbia: It's a fun, but forgettable thriller about a teen who is convinced his neighbour is a serial killer. *** ZH

Poena is Koning: Directed by Willie Esterhuizen and starring Robbie Wessels of Leeuloop fame, this one is not going to make a blip on the local movie radar. If you have to see what we put out there for our teenage boys, go ahead, but you've been warned. * DdB

Bratz: The movie: You go, girlz. Mom and Dad will rather wait in the car. * HR

Ratatouille: Eschewing the obvious animal jokes, Pixar returns to top form with this witty film about a rat who wants to be a chef. Funny, with gorgeously rendered images and a compelling little story, it shows just what can be achieved with a computer and some imagination. **** TS

Still on circuit

Are We Done Yet?: You will keep asking yourself that very same question as this cinematic travesty plays itself out. Rapper Ice Cube plays a hapless family man struggling to build his family's dream home. * ZH

Becoming Jane: Take it as a nice little period piece and not the definitive Jane Austen bio-pic and you will swoon. *** TS

The Bourne Ultimatum: Hits the ground running and never lets up on the action, thrills or spills. Tautly directed, well acted and frighten-ingly believable. **** TS

Dnevnoy Dozor (Daywatch): Russian sci-fi, but minus the shaky feel of the first film.The fight between good and evil is not what you think it is, in fact, nothing is. *** TS

Evan Almighty: Expensive mess of a movie that manages to trivialise religion, the environment and basically all comedy movies. While small children might be amused by the animals, the adults are just going to have to grit their teeth. ** TS

Footskating 101: A hilarious South African comedy about the unofficial extreme sport of skating with your feet. Has a great soundtrack. ****HH

Hairspray: Musical based on a stage play that brings back good memories of the hey-day of MGM's big numbers. Excellent costumes, good use of sets and kitsch entertainment which slyly pokes fun at the way movies candy-coat the 1960s. **** TS

Half Nelson: It's a powerful story (apart from the sell-out end) with a superb performance by Ryan Gosling as a crack-addicted teacher who is witnessed doing the drug by his young pupil (Shareeka Epps). The two lost souls find and support one another in a very unusual fashion. **** DdB

The Hitcher: It is an excruciating experience watching this. The so-called horrific content is absent and in its place are some badly done violent scenes with a poor plot. Take a hike. ** MV

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry: Adam Sandler and Kevin James play two firefighters forced to pretend to be gay. Puerile, offensive drivel that manages to offend anyone within a 1 000km radius. * ZH

I Think I Love My Wife: Chris Rock's comedic instincts are muted and the female characters are unsatisfactorily drawn in this uneven sex farce/domestic drama mash up. ** HR

Last Legion: A poor attempt at an epic about the fall of Rome and capture of a young Caesar. A-list names can't save this one. ** EN

License to Wed: Robin Williams is the prime offender in this rather puerile comedy about marriage, faith and puking baby robots. Shudder. * ZH

Nancy Drew: Nancy Drew now drives a stylish blue convertible and uses Google to research her mysteries.The lip-gloss-wearing brigade partial to the Veronica Mars TV series will revel in the new adventures of the evolved sleuth. ** DT

No Reservations: An average romantic drama about a perfectionist chef who learns about love when she has to adopt her niece and contend with some extra heat in the kitchen. *** EN

One Night With The King: An overwrought retelling of the biblical tale of Esther risking her life to save the Jews. Beautiful scenery, but an uneven cast and some clumsy dialogue make it one only for lovers of this story. ***EN

Rush Hour 3: Buddy cop movie that is past its sell-by date. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker reprise roles in unoriginal sequel. ** TS

Vacancy: Stalk-and-slash thriller toys with the audience's perception and keeps blood to a minimum. While its restraint is commendable, the B-grade characters and clichés are less so. ** LAT

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