Rumah Film

Film Reviews. "Joan of Arc" is a startling film that certainly tries to be a little different. But it sadly fails in an attempt to blend fantasy with reality, becoming slightly ridiculous instead.

The finger of blame has been pointed by many at Milla Jovovich and her personal relationship with director Besson. Such sniping may happily fill the celebrity pages of film magazines, but it is hardly reasoned debate as to the structural failure of a movie.

In fact she copes rather well in her role as the teenage girl, chosen by God to lead an army against the evil English (so what's new!) to liberate France. Unfortunately Jovovich doesn't possess a strong enough voice to punch through the important war cries. Her acting suffers too, not necessarily from a lack of talent, but almost certainly from the herds of supposed thespians gathered around her with their former careers stuck up their asses.

You can't expect someone to deliver barnstorming, revolution-inciting performances when fellow actors are giving such feeble portrayals. But even though some of the assembled cast should know better, they're burdened with a ham-fisted script that's clumsy in its telling of what should be an inspiring, classic tale.

Luc Besson must take the blame for co-scripting a movie that is unable to deliver any solid foundation of credibility. He wisely throws in a couple of good battles but when you neither care who wins or loses, then the spectacular quickly loses its impact. But while this film might not have worked out for Besson, he has a raft of fine movies to counterbalance it against.

Film Reviews. Is this the blockbuster to beat? With a budget of over $150 million - making it the most costly film ever financed by a single studio - Disney certainly hope so. Directed with zero subtlety by "Armageddon" 's Michael Bay, it's a great, bloated mess of a picture with a weak script and bland performances. But its saving grace is a recreation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that, for sheer eye-popping spectacle, makes "Titanic" look like a kiddies' bath toy.

In place of "Titanic" 's "Romeo + Juliet"-style romance, "Pearl Harbor" substitutes a ménage à trois comprising ace pilot Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck), his childhood buddy Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) and Rafe's girlfriend Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful army nurse stationed in Hawaii. After Rafe goes missing in action during the Battle of Britain, Danny falls for Evelyn and has some explaining to do when Rafe re-appears. But all differences are forgotten once the Japanese turn up to bomb the US fleet.

This 40-minute orgy of explosions, carnage, and special effects will bombard audiences into submission with the same devastating efficiency the Japanese brought to their surprise assault. But once the bombs stop falling the film returns to its mawkish central romance, and our sense of disappointment is not alleviated by a protracted and unnecessary third act set in Tokyo. By then, though, you'll have had more than your money's worth.

Film Reviews. Controversy surrounds this submarine action film because Hollywood has rewritten history again. Stay around for the credits and you will see an acknowledgement to the Royal Navy's 1941 feat in capturing an Enigma decoding machine from a Nazi U-boat, a coup that made the difference to the war in the North Atlantic and Britain's survival.

You can see the reasoning. Turning it into an American exploit makes for better box office. The fact that at the time in question American submarines weren't even on active duty in the Atlantic is glossed over. It's not the first time they have grabbed British glory, but then we are not so innocent either. Take Chuck Yeager. David Lean's 1952 film "The Sound Barrier" suggested that breaking it was not his achievement, but a British aviation triumph.

If "U-571" had been good this would have been forgivable. Alas, it's a noisy, cliche-ridden, incomprehensible mess. Matthew McConaughey, shaven-headed and sunken cheeked, plays a young officer denied command until he proves himself. He is given a mission to capture a U-boat by pretending to be a German supply crew.

It's one of those silly films where massive assaults from enemy torpedoes and depth charges always miss, but only one hasty American shot can produce a mini-nuclear explosion. Good actors like Bill Paxton and Harvey Keitel struggle with cardboard characters, and the action sequences are chaotic, with eardrum-bursting sound effects.

The best U-boat film was the German "Das Boot". This by comparison is a travesty.

Film Reviews. Not only is it a landmark in the advancement of special effects, but it is also one of the most effective science fiction films of recent decades. One can add that "The Terminator" established James Cameron's name in Hollywood. (His previous film was "Piranha II: Flying Killers"; his next was "Aliens".)

Opening in a post-apocalypse wasted world where humans have become subordinate to machines, it works on the premise that a time-travelling cyborg sent back to present-day (1984) Los Angeles can, by assassinating the mother of an unborn enemy, reshape the future. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the cyborg and Linda Hamilton his innocent prey, located after he has combed the phone book and eliminated other unfortunate women who bear the same name.

At the same time as the cyborg's trip back in time, Michael Biehn, a human survivor of the nuclear holocaust, makes the same journey with the intention of terminating the terminator before it can do its worst. It becomes a battle against time itself.

Although the sequel has more spectacular computer-generated effects, produced on greatly enhanced budgets, this first film is better-paced and dramatically more satisfying. James Cameron laces the action with ironic jokes, but never lets up on hinting that the terror may strike at any moment. Schwarzengger's lines are few, but he can be heard to say once, and once only: "I'll be back!".

Film Reviews. Fanboys the world over have been dreaming about it - the moment Wolverine grits his teeth and extends his adamantium claws. Many of you won't have the faintest idea what that means, but now's your chance. Because the X-Men are finally coming to the movies.

The film relies on one central conceit: that we live in a world where some people, called mutants, are born with genetic defects that give them superhuman powers. Unfortunately, with those powers comes loneliness, as mutants are shunned by society.

Director Singer ("The Usual Suspects") had a tough task picking from the massive pool of stories and characters that the comic provided. He has chosen to concentrate on two specific mutants - the fiery Wolverine (Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin), a tragic teenager whose very touch can be fatal.

After a car accident they stumble upon Professor X's 'School For Mutants', a place where the benevolent Charles Xavier (Stewart) teaches mutants to help mankind. However, they face a difficult foe. Xavier's old friend Magneto (Ian McKellen) has lost confidence in normal humans and assembled a team of evil mutants to destroy them.

So Xavier enlists Wolverine and Rogue into his team of X-Men - which includes the telekinetic Jean Grey (Janssen), Cyclops and weather-harnessing Storm - to defeat Magneto and his henchmen.

If "X-Men" does have a fault, it's that too often it feels like a prelude to the inevitable franchise. But as a film in its own right, there is plenty to enjoy. It's snappy, snazzy, witty, non-exclusive and there are some great performances, with newcomer Jackman - an Aussie stage performer - the standout.

With "X-Men II" already in pre-production, this is the start of a beautiful friendship with the big screen.

Film Reviews. Without a doubt "Men in Black" is the DVD release of the year. Continuing in the proud tradition of such amazing DVDs as "Ghostbusters", "The Matrix" and "The Mummy", here's a release that's even better. If you love the film you'll be staggered at how good it looks and sounds on this DVD supervised by director Barry Sonnenfeld. But this release is all about features here's a little taste of what to expect:

Character Animation
Here you can select one of three aliens and watch a scene through four layers that you work through using your angle button. As the short scene progresses you can build up from the preliminary background, then add the skin and texture, add lighting and then finish off with the final character composition.

Multi Angle Tunnel Scene
Dust off that little used multi-angle button of yours and let's go to town! With this feature you can watch the whole tunnel sequence in five separate layers. First you kick off with the storyboard which is weird to watch when you have the sound on. Then you revert to the actors and the blue screen, add in the blue screen composite effects, then lob in the animation and some lighting and then add that final veneer and hey presto you have the end result.

Conceptual Art and Storyboards
This is a huge section that can't be done justice here but highlights include a creature feature where you can select one of 5 aliens and then morph through the various layers of creation. Also included is a huge art gallery and storyboard comparisons for three key scenes.

There's More?
Yup, there's lots more but you'll have to unearth that yourself. But watch out for the teaser trailer for "Men in Black 2" buried in there. Overall though you can spend hours trawling through this all and it's surprisingly good fun, especially with the ultra cool animated menus. A full list of features is below and if that's not enough then check out the 2 disc "Limited Edition".

Film Reviews. Fanboys the world over have been dreaming about it - the moment Wolverine grits his teeth and extends his adamantium claws. Many of you won't have the faintest idea what that means, but now's your chance. Because the X-Men are finally coming to the movies.

The film relies on one central conceit: that we live in a world where some people, called mutants, are born with genetic defects that give them superhuman powers. Unfortunately, with those powers comes loneliness, as mutants are shunned by society.

Director Singer ("The Usual Suspects") had a tough task picking from the massive pool of stories and characters that the comic provided. He has chosen to concentrate on two specific mutants - the fiery Wolverine (Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin), a tragic teenager whose very touch can be fatal.

After a car accident they stumble upon Professor X's 'School For Mutants', a place where the benevolent Charles Xavier (Stewart) teaches mutants to help mankind. However, they face a difficult foe. Xavier's old friend Magneto (Ian McKellen) has lost confidence in normal humans and assembled a team of evil mutants to destroy them.

So Xavier enlists Wolverine and Rogue into his team of X-Men - which includes the telekinetic Jean Grey (Janssen), Cyclops and weather-harnessing Storm - to defeat Magneto and his henchmen.

If "X-Men" does have a fault, it's that too often it feels like a prelude to the inevitable franchise. But as a film in its own right, there is plenty to enjoy. It's snappy, snazzy, witty, non-exclusive and there are some great performances, with newcomer Jackman - an Aussie stage performer - the standout.

With "X-Men II" already in pre-production, this is the start of a beautiful friendship with the big screen.

Film Reviews. Whether letting Bruce Willis loose on terrorists who've hijacked an airport in "Die Hard 2", or capturing the antics of Sly dangling off huge mountains in "Cliffhanger", Renny Harlin has turned into the kind of all-action film director who has no trouble abandoning logic in favour of big thrills. He generally hopes that by leaping from tense scene to tense scene, no-one will notice the massive cracks in the script. And he's done it again.

In "Deep Blue Sea", medical scientists on a partially submerged facility far out to sea are using sharks as guinea pigs in a search for a cure to Alzheimer's disease. Their experiments have produced highly intelligent sharks, which are also very big. Keen to leave the confines of the facility, the sharks soon turn on the scientists, intiating chaos, destruction, and of course, feeding.

Thin characters spout idiotic lines, with only Samuel L Jackson having any real screen presence. LL Cool J gets what little witty dialogue there is and to his credit, makes the most of it. Harlin, taking his cue from all other action directors today, ensures that your skull shakes with noise as the research facility breaks apart and the sharks close in on the survivors.

And yet, despite scene after scene of mayhem, Harlin manages to create and and sustain extremely well-coiled tension. This is his real strength and he is consequently able to distract you from your first instinct, which is to laugh, and push you towards the edge of your seat. If he could only marry this strength with imaginative scripting and solid characterisation, not to mention the odd quiet moment, he would certainly move out of cartoon corner.

Film Reviews. No matter how many times you've seen "Planet of the Apes" (1967) on TV, get ready to be thrilled like never before courtesy of a restored and remastered DVD release.

Aside from the slightly scratchy opening titles and the odd grainy cutaway shot, the picture quality is excellent. Bright vivid sunshine-baked visuals sear the tremendous scenery into the screen. Now presented in 2.35:1 ratio, you can also appreciate the dynamic camerawork, which was previously compromised by older pan and scan video releases.

The 5.1 sound mix is primarily devoted to splitting Jerry Goldsmith's eerie music score around the front speakers, to considerable effect. In addition there are some treats in store for your subwoofer, like the opening crash landing and some ominous thunder rumbles before the great hunt.

Extra features consist of a trailer gallery and a small behind-the-scenes photo gallery. If you're buying the box-set, there's a whole disc entitled "Behind the Planet of the Apes" that covers in great detail the making of the movie series.

While this DVD release showcases "Planet of the Apes" like never before, there is one complaint. There's a whole generation out there that has never seen this film, yet the shock ending is given away on both the front, back and inside of the cover! Now what's the point in that?

Region: 2 and 4
Chapters: 28
Ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, photo gallery, "Planet of the Apes" film series trailer gallery, animated menus, multiple language subtitles, and English for the hearing impaired.

Film Reviews. Alongside the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water - the one the pop group forgot - there is a fifth element, embodied within a young woman (Milla Jovovich). And it's a good thing too because it and she are the key to preventing the end of the universe.

So she's the fifth element, she's the sum total of our hope for survival, but she's way down the cast list and she can't get around town without Bruce Willis. It's no surprise that Luc Besson thought this story up when he was a teenager: it's core is the teen film cliché of a rough hero, which the teen wants to be, having unattainable women fall into his arms.

You have to fight to ignore this but fortunately there is much to distract you. The visuals are jaw-dropping, especially an unexpectedly gigantic spaceship hovering over a desert and some stunning sequences in a future New York.

It's also very funny in parts with Chris Tucker along for (perhaps a little too much) comic relief and paradise sequences that are camp and witty.

Bruce Willis is good in an average role, Milla Jovovich is acceptable in a terrible role, but as ever Gary Oldman is terrific in how he seems to find just the right note for the film and threatens to take it over.

Ultimately you'll delight in the ride, but you won't care too much about the outcome. If the end of the universe can be stopped by tough guy Bruce Willis, it just doesn't seem like much of a problem anymore.

Film Reviews. Film adaptations of comics and comedy sci-fi movies are notorious for their legion of examples of poor entertainment. Yet "Men in Black" straddles both thorny mantles and rides onto the screen, awash with special effects and gloriously enjoyable humour.

As with most blockbusters, this film is crafted upon a feature-reduced plot 'lite'. Will Smith plays a cop whose attempts to chase a seemingly superhuman criminal impresses Tommy Lee Jones who turns out to be the mysterious agent 'K'. He invites Smith to join his intergalactic customs and immigration service as agent 'J' and together they fight the alien scum of the universe.

But built upon this flimsy premise are a lot of refreshingly simple visual gags and the dream pairing of Smith and Jones, who look like they're having a lot of fun. That enjoyment is very infectious and the scenes where Smith is initially joining the service are hilarious. The key theme there, as throughout the film, is the unbelievable amount of craziness that surrounds our two heroes who remain deliriously dead pan throughout. The effect works very well and while the aliens are funny and the effects are clever, the reactions or often lack of them from 'K' and 'J' provide the most laughs.

That is not to say that the effects aren't impressive because they are. And while every big movie has its gasp-inducing moments, this film concentrates on inventive and quirky. But while everything comes together so well, Sonnenfeld is to be congratulated for the snappy 94 minute running time which is short in blockbuster terms and leaves you wanting more. Thank God the sequel is in production.

"Men in Black" is out on DVD in a "Collector's Edition" and a "Limited Edition".

Beaufort, an ancient stone fortress atop a Lebanese mountain, is the setting for this muted war drama by director Joseph Cedar. He also wrote the script based on Ron Leshem's novel, recounting the last days of Israeli occupation in 2000. The end result is a meditative portrait of the soldiers' day-to-day battle, not just to stay alive, but to maintain a sense of purpose. There is sometimes a tendency to overplay the drama, but the talented cast is a grounding force.

Young officer Liraz (Oshri Cohen) commands a small band of soldiers posted at Beaufort, but finds it increasingly difficult to assert his authority when the Israeli government announces plans to withdraw from Southern Lebanon in a matter of weeks. Hezbollah responds with a salvo of missiles to claim a victory and amidst the chaos, Liraz makes a decision that has fatal consequences for one of his men. Unit medic Koris (Itay Tiran) pokes at the chink suddenly exposed in his armour, but Liraz's greatest struggle is always with his own conscience.

"AN IMPRESSIVE CAST OF YOUNG ACTORS"
Dialogue about the futility of war and scenes of gentle weeping mark the weak spots in a script littered with clichés. And although there is discussion between the soldiers about the whys and wherefores of the conflict, Cedar takes a myopic view. It's the idle banter and quieter moments that make a real impression. Grimy snapshots from the lookout post are contrasted with sweeping, sunny vistas from the mountain peak and more effectively convey the absurdity of the mission. Whether framed against this vast landscape or in the poky, subterranean living quarters, an impressive cast of young actors are able to express a growing sense of claustrophobia without words, and music rarely interrupts. Action scenes are few and fleeting; the tension is in the stillness and a worrying sense that the future is already set in stone.

Beaufort is out in the UK on 28th March 2008.

Film Reviews. Nine years on from her multi-award-winning debut Boys Don't Cry, Kimberly Pierce joins the ranks of US filmmakers writing America's war on terror large on the cinema screen whilst the real soldiers are still away fighting. With this intimate portrait of one war hero's unwelcome invitation straight back to the front, Pierce shows again her deep level of commitment to her subject, crafting an emotionally intense film which conveys the human toll of this war on terror.

Pierce sets up Sgt Brandon King (a standout Ryan Phillippe) and his squad as an affable, macho crew, before leading them down a nerve-shredding alley shoot-out in Tikrit, hooking us into their fates as they return home to Texas as heroes. The nightmares, violence and panic that accompanies returning home from war is familiar, but it's when King gets stop-lossed (denied the right to leave the army and sent straight back to the front) that Pierce uncovers the real nightmare facing thousands of American troops.

"GROUNDED IN GREAT PERFORMANCES"
The film's second half becomes something of a road movie as King goes AWOL, initially rebuffing his orders ("Fuck the President!") then trying to decide whether the revisiting the warzone is actually that bad, considering the hellish mental aftermath of having been there once. Pierce's story loses some of its energy here but, grounded in great performances from Phillippe and Gordon-Levitt in particular, none of its humanity. Stop Loss takes some time out from the argument over the validity of the war to ask a question closer to home - whether the emotional battlefield America subjects its young soldiers to is actually worth it.

Stop-Loss is out in the UK on 25th April 2008.

Film Reviews. In a country of over a billion people, it's possible to bump into someone with the same name. And it's precisely India's over population that writer/director Ashwani Dhir relies on to bring together Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty and Tusshar Kapoor in One Two Three. The comic cohorts play three guys called Laxminarayan, whose lives get mixed up when they all check into the same hotel on personal business. While their missions may be poles apart, their general incompetence leads to chaos. Count yourself lucky by missing this unoriginal Carry On-style farce.

Laxminarayan number one (Kapoor) is a young hit man on a mission to earn his credentials by killing a fellow gangster and recovering a stolen diamond. But his target get mixed up with a fashion designer who Laxminarayan number two (Rawal), an underwear salesman, is scheduled to meet at the same tourist resort. Laxminarayan number three (Shetty), on the other hand, is on his way to buy a car for his boss's wife, only to end up at the mafia's den. In true Bollywood style it takes three hours, several songs, countless double entendres to unravel the contrived confusion.

"CRUDE ENTERTAINMENT"
With a host of hopeless men running after tarty-looking bimbos while engaging in sexual innuendo-filled slapstick, One Two Three is reminiscent of a bad Benny Hill episode. Chuck in a fistful of Chubby Brown-style jokes and you've got an idea of the type of crude entertainment on offer here. While teen boys may like what they find, there's little for mature Bollywood fans. Riddled with surplus characters, Ashwani Dhir's screenplay lacks a decent plot and instead relies on the interaction between the lead trio to keep it afloat. Sadly, even seasoned comedians like Rawal can't save this stinker.

One Two Three (2008) is out in the UK on 28th March 2008.

Film Reviews. Forgoing planes, trains and automobiles, actor Ajay Devgan scores a possible Bollywood first by setting his directorial debut, U, Me Aur Hum, on board a cruise ship. Pairing up with his wife and popular leading lady, Kajol, they play a young couple who fall in love on the high seas only to hit troubled waters once back on land. But what begins as a Titanic romance abruptly turns into an Away From Her-style drama when Alzheimer's wades into this split personality of a film.

It's anchors aweigh with an elderly Ajay (Devgan) narrating the story of how young psychiatrist Ajay (Devgan, again) met Piya (Kajol), a pretty waitress working on the Super Star Libra sea liner. Having rubbed her up the wrong way after one too many tequila shots, it's only a matter of time before Ajay charms his way into Piya's heart. By the time they have sailed into Mumbai port the two have predictably fallen in love and go on to marry. It's post-interval before the sinking feeling you've seen this all before gives way to interesting drama when Piya is struck with Alzheimer's disease.

"A WORTHY BUT MUSHY WATCH"
Devgan's ham-fisted direction results in U, Me Aur Hum being a film of two obvious halves. The opening rom-com frivolities bolted onto the emotional drama that suddenly kicks off in the second portion illustrates the A-listers' lack of experience behind the camera. Borrowing heavily from The Notebook starring James Garner, it also shows Devgan's paucity of originality in the screenplay department. However, what saves this from being a washout is the touching performance both he and Kajol deliver in the final moments of the movie. Exploring the slow mental corrosion linked with Alzheimer's (a medical condition that is poorly understood in India) makes this a worthy but mushy watch.

U, Me Aur Hum is out in the UK on 11th April 2008.

Film Reviews. Jaideep Sen gets his break as director with this mish-mash starring some famous names who regrettably fail to elevate proceedings above the mundane. Krazzy 4 sees an innocent psychiatrist (Juhi Chawla) get embroiled in a political game when she finds herself kidnapped and stashed away for reasons unknown. The quest falls on her motley batch of patients to rescue her, reclaim their own sanity and deliver a somewhat contrived and confusing lesson about our misconceptions about crazy folk. Sound interesting? It so isn't...

Dr Sonali (Chawla) is a sugar-sweet psychiatrist working in Mumbai. Her patients - four in total (what a surprise!) - are headed by Raja (Arshad Warsi), a hot-tempered and haphazard individual who you just shouldn't cross. Dr Sonali's compassion toward her patients leads her to organise a trip to the city. But when she suddenly gets abducted by a couple of unconvincing thugs, her patients begin to wonder where she may have gone. Before they realise it, they have expertly solved her missing-persons case by tactfully kidnapping a big government official and even single-handedly outwitting a notorious criminal - something even the sane-minded would have difficulty achieving.

"HINGES ON A PARADOX THAT BORDERS ON LUNACY"
While the movie takes inspiration from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, this one seems to fall out of the sky ahead of time. The ensemble cast is sincere enough, but a sluggishly drawn-out screenplay (which is as zany as the patients trying to keep it afloat), coupled with a wafer-thin plot and dreadful comedy, doesn't help sweeten the cake. The story hinges on a paradox that borders on lunacy itself, and even some A-list appearances aren't enough to electrocute this film into life.

Krazzy 4 is out in the UK on 11th April 2008.

Film Reviews. The background to "The Lost World" is as fascinating as the movie itself. It's taken eight different prints to put together the exciting new DVD release of this remarkable film. If you were thrilled by "King Kong", "Godzilla", or the "Jurassic Park" movies, this is a DVD that you must own. It's fascinating.

PICTURE

Picture quality is excellent. Of course, there are scratches galore, but as all prints were destroyed bar a few lucky exceptions, we're lucky to get to see it at all. The image has been tinted, as the original film would have been to represent night or day, and it works very well.

SOUND

You get two orchestral choices. Either you can have Robert Israel's slightly whimsical traditional score, or the horrible new synthesiser creation of the Alloy Orchestra. Both make good use of the speakers though, with surround sound throughout.

SPECIAL FEATURES

There's a commentary track by "The Lost World" expert, Roy Pilot. As his comments are few and far between, it's possible to have occasional interesting points in the background without it spoiling the film too much.

Other extra features include a stills gallery, an Arthur Conan Doyle biography and, best of all, 12 minutes of animation outtakes. In these excerpts you can actually see technical genius Willis O'Brien appear in some frames, as he adjusts the 50 model dinosaurs that populate the film.

Film Reviews. Alongside the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water - the one the pop group forgot - there is a fifth element, embodied within a young woman (Milla Jovovich). And it's a good thing too because it and she are the key to preventing the end of the universe.

So she's the fifth element, she's the sum total of our hope for survival, but she's way down the cast list and she can't get around town without Bruce Willis. It's no surprise that Luc Besson thought this story up when he was a teenager: it's core is the teen film cliché of a rough hero, which the teen wants to be, having unattainable women fall into his arms.

You have to fight to ignore this but fortunately there is much to distract you. The visuals are jaw-dropping, especially an unexpectedly gigantic spaceship hovering over a desert and some stunning sequences in a future New York.

It's also very funny in parts with Chris Tucker along for (perhaps a little too much) comic relief and paradise sequences that are camp and witty.

Bruce Willis is good in an average role, Milla Jovovich is acceptable in a terrible role, but as ever Gary Oldman is terrific in how he seems to find just the right note for the film and threatens to take it over.

Ultimately you'll delight in the ride, but you won't care too much about the outcome. If the end of the universe can be stopped by tough guy Bruce Willis, it just doesn't seem like much of a problem anymore.

Film Reviews. Universal set the standards back in 1932 with Karl Freund's "The Mummy", starring Boris Karloff. 67 years later and this all-new version blends old-fashioned scares with a hefty upgrade in the special effects department.

CGI technology is stretched to its limits in a veritable orgy of epic scenes. The problem is that director Stephen Sommers wants to create visions of grandeur that CGI cannot yet adequately realise. While some sequences like the sandstorm chasing the plane work well, others, like the opening pan over the city of Hamunaptra, are glaringly unconvincing.

It is a criticism that may seem a little unfair, but this over-reliance on such a relatively new innovation is only likely to date this movie in coming years. What redeems it now, and possibly for later, are the distinctly old-fashioned thrills of a film that's all about high adventure.

Brendan Fraser leads in an Indiana-Jones-styled role that teams him up with the bookish Rachel Weisz and her chancer of a brother, John Hannah. On the search for the tomb of the legendary Imhotep (Vosloo), they manage to disturb the now severely grumpy mummy from his 3000-year slumber. His revenge is to bring about Biblical plagues to the people of Egypt, while he attempts to revive his mummified bit of crumpet (or 3000-year-old girlfriend).

Realising that this crusty menace plans to wreathe the world in pestilence and icky boil-based diseases, our intrepid group set out to stop him. It's all done with plenty of action set-pieces, some decidedly creepy thrills, and a hearty slice of cheesy humour that often hits the mark, due to the energy and timing of the cast.

Read about and rate "The Mummy Returns"

Film Reviews. Universal set the standards back in 1932 with Karl Freund's "The Mummy", starring Boris Karloff. 67 years later and this all-new version blends old-fashioned scares with a hefty upgrade in the special effects department.

CGI technology is stretched to its limits in a veritable orgy of epic scenes. The problem is that director Stephen Sommers wants to create visions of grandeur that CGI cannot yet adequately realise. While some sequences like the sandstorm chasing the plane work well, others, like the opening pan over the city of Hamunaptra, are glaringly unconvincing.

It is a criticism that may seem a little unfair, but this over-reliance on such a relatively new innovation is only likely to date this movie in coming years. What redeems it now, and possibly for later, are the distinctly old-fashioned thrills of a film that's all about high adventure.

Brendan Fraser leads in an Indiana-Jones-styled role that teams him up with the bookish Rachel Weisz and her chancer of a brother, John Hannah. On the search for the tomb of the legendary Imhotep (Vosloo), they manage to disturb the now severely grumpy mummy from his 3000-year slumber. His revenge is to bring about Biblical plagues to the people of Egypt, while he attempts to revive his mummified bit of crumpet (or 3000-year-old girlfriend).

Realising that this crusty menace plans to wreathe the world in pestilence and icky boil-based diseases, our intrepid group set out to stop him. It's all done with plenty of action set-pieces, some decidedly creepy thrills, and a hearty slice of cheesy humour that often hits the mark, due to the energy and timing of the cast.

Read about and rate "The Mummy Returns"

Tube driver Paul, having had two people fall under his train in a week, learns that a third will win him a handsome redundancy. Scouring the web and the streets for a suicidal volunteer, he peruades Tommy, an Irish down-and-out, to take the plunge, and the pair take off for one last weekend before seeing their deal through. Rare winning moments aside, Three and Out is unconvincing, uneven and unfunny: a severe points failure.

The film's bleak premise could have made for a decent black comedy but, the first few unsettling minutes apart, all that remains of note is a relieving patch of middle ground on the plod from witless comedy to please-let-it-end melodrama. There it finds some much needed warmth in note-perfect turns from Imelda Staunton and Annette Badland (the former as Tommy's estranged wife), while Bond-girl-in-waiting Gemma Arterton makes a decent fist of a thin role as Tommy's bitter daughter and Paul's improbable love-interest.

"STOPPED DEAD IN ITS TRACKS"

Mackenzie Crook - surely the only lead ever cast because he looks like a train driver - and Colm Meaney - suicidal tramp to cheery rogue in one fell shave - try hard to make unlikeable characters shine. Most of the gags, however, fall flat, while some dreary slapstick and the categorical refusal of either of them to think beyond the eye-stabbingly obvious means any momentum they generate is stopped dead in its tracks.

Three and Out is out in the UK on 25th April 2008.

Film Reviews. Members of the Knocked Up/Superbad crew reunite for another irreverent comedy in the comely shape of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Jason Segel is likeable as leading man/loser Peter, who's dumped by his gorgeous girlfriend Ms Marshall (Kristen Bell) in the opening scene. An initially agonising holiday ensues - she's there with her new guy (Russell Brand) - but life gradually looks up in this amiable and witty laughfest that only suffers slightly for its rambling moments.

This succeeds in creating sympathy for its hero from the off. Peter is stark naked when his girlfriend finishes with him - and then he's the object of ridicule when she spots him while holidaying with her rock star boyfriend Aldous. Russell Brand is, for once, well cast in the role of vague, vain singer Aldous, who's also the object of obsession for a waiter and aspiring musician in the Hawaiian resort. That this waiter is played by Superbad chubster Jonah Hill only makes the whole thing funnier.

"HEAVY SOBBING FITS CAN'T FAIL TO ENTERTAIN"
There are downsides. Mila Kunis may be noticeably prettier than Meg, the character she voices on Family Guy, but she feels too much like a token love interest - how many model girlfriends can one loser score, after all? Still, if Peter's imperfections are exaggerated, it's to amusing effect: his frequent heavy sobbing fits can't fail to entertain. And that's one of the genius touches of this comedy. It's prepared to expose the vulnerabilities of its hero and humiliate him completely - to the point where you've just got to love him and laugh at him in equal measure.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is out in the UK on 25th April 2008.

"You were always looking for beauty because it was such an ugly place", reflects Bernard Sumner, as images of rubble, grime and high rise flats of 1970s Manchester linger on screen during the opening minutes of Grant Gee's fascinating documentary. From the city's urban deprivation emerged an underground music revolution and one of the most seminal bands in musical history - Joy Division, a band that created a whole new musical landscape despite only releasing two studio albums ('Unknown Pleasures' and 'Closer') before lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide on May 18, 1980.

Thought-provoking and genuinely heartfelt, 'Joy Division' is a riveting watch whether you're a fan or not, primarily down to the frankness with which remaining band-members Sumner, Stephen Morris and Peter Hook recount their experiences and sense of helplessness as they witnessed their singer's epileptic fits and mental breakdown. Particularly poignant is the moment when Peter Hook's eyes glaze over as he confesses his regret at not going to Curtis's wake: "I just wanted to go to the pub with my mates, not see a dead body."

"INCREDIBLY MOVING"
Director Gee wisely keeps voiceover to a minimum, letting the band and those involved in their story do the talking, including the late Factory Records owner Tony Wilson, photographer/film-maker Anton Corbijn (director of the acclaimed Curtis biopic Control) and a revealing account from Belgian journalist Annik Honore speaking for first time about her relationship with the singer. Together with a mix of unseen archive gig footage, extracts from audio interviews and a spine-tingling soundtrack representing their musical legacy, 'Joy Division' is an incredibly moving and insightful document that captures the spirit and chemistry of a band whose music feels as fresh and exciting today as it did thirty years ago.

Joy Division is out in the UK on 2nd May 2008.

If you were stranded on a desert island, having Little Miss Sunshine for company might just save your life. Likewise this kiddies' adventure yarn is pulled from the depths of mediocrity by Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin who stars as the eponymous Nim. She isn't just a smiley face but a gutsy heroine who lives in the jungle, eats bugs for dinner and Australian tourists for breakfast. It's like a junior version of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, without the whining.

Concerns about hygiene and the high price of fame are left to Jodie Foster playing Alex Rover, the JK Rowling of adventure novelists - and OCD sufferer supreme. She is Nim's only hope for survival - or so she likes to believe - after the girl's father Jack (Gerard Butler) is lost at sea. After a brief exchange of emails (a wireless connection, we presume), Alex dares to venture beyond the city and embark on a rescue mission. In many ways, this is Alex's story of triumph over adversity while Nim makes do and Jack busies himself trying to mend his leaky boat.

"THERE IS FUN TO BE HAD"
If only co-directors Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin (Little Manhattan) had thought to jettison some of Butler's scenes, the story might've flowed a lot more easily and generated more tension. As it is, the intertwining of three points of view feels messy, and there is no real sense of jeopardy. On top of that, Butler has a second role as Alex Rover's storybook superman: the voice in her head that eggs her on. It's another bit of scrappy storytelling (he's also called Alex Rover) that leaves little doubt about Jack's fate. Thankfully he does make a good comic foil to Foster's twittering bundle of nerves, and there is fun to be had as Nim strives to protect her island from a cruise-line invasion. A performing sea-lion is thrown in to distract you from any other flaws, but it's the sunny, strong-willed Miss Breslin who truly keeps the film anchored.

Nim's Island is out in the UK on 2nd May 2008.

Film Reviews. An inoffensive but bland romantic comedy, Made Of Honor is a safe bet for a Friday night if you consider My Best Friend's Wedding the best film ever made. More demanding viewers are likely to be bored by the join-the-dots story of a womanising New Yorker (Patrick Dempsey) who falls for his best friend (Michelle Monahan) just as she gets engaged - and then has to win her back, while acting as her - you guessed it - maid of honour.

Dempsey is currently housewives' choice for his turn as Dr Derek Shepherd in TV's Grey's Anatomy, and it's easy to see why his safe, designer-stubble charm holds an appeal. But as a devil-may-care commitment-phobe, he doesn't really convince - you never believe he has the selfish streak necessary to be a serial date-'n'-dumper. Michelle Monahan, so spiky and sexy in the little-seen but superb Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, has little more to do than bounce around looking cute, while the usually reliable Kevin McKidd (check out his turns in the tender Afterlife or raucous Dog Soldiers) has a desperately dull time as her Scottish fiance.

"THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FORGETTABLE GAGS"
The Caledonian connection leads to an excruciating third act, when everyone hops over the Atlantic for - och, aye - a good old Celtic wedding, replete with kilts and caber-tossing. There are a couple of amusing but forgettable gags (such us... oh, um, can't remember), but for all but the most dedicated fans of soppy, sloppy romance, Made Of Honor deserves to be jilted.

Made Of Honor is out in the UK on 2nd May 2008.

Film Reviews. Is it summer already? The first of the big budget superhero blockbusters has arrived, and it's a roaring success, thanks to a combination of superb special effects and canny casting. Robert Downey Jr is Tony Stark, an amoral weapons manufacturer who acquires a conscience and a suit of power armour when he is kidnapped by generic middle eastern baddies. Back home, he rebuilds his suit and takes to the skies, to rain fiery justice on warmongers foreign and domestic.

Put in such simple terms, Iron Man sounds like just another gung ho wet dream of American militarism: Rambo with an exoskeleton. But while Iron Man is undoubtedly simplistic, a light and larky tone carries the movie easily over potential political pitfalls. Stark, a humming dynamo of energy and humour in Downey Jr's delightful performance, is far more appealing that the stodgy, guilt-ridden heroes of Batman and Spider-Man. While he operates on his own steely moral code, there's none of that tiresome bitching about the burden of responsibility. Iron Man understands that being a superhero is supposed to be fun.

"LOOKS LIKE A MUSCLE CAR ON LEGS"
Downey is well supported by Gwyneth Paltrow, giving it loads of sass as Stark's unfazeable PA Pepper Potts, and by Jeff Bridges, playing it nasty for once as our hero's manipulative corporate boss. Jon Favreau shoots the plentiful action with elan, and the production design of the Iron Man suits is top notch - he looks like a muscle car on legs. Iron Man's only real fault is an underwhelming climax, but by then it has amassed enough goodwill to keep audiences happy. Roll on the sequel.

Iron Man is out in the UK on 2nd May 2008.

Film Reviews. Michael Haneke has been tormenting art-house audiences for years, but the recent success of Hidden has allowed him a chance to test his confrontational thrillers on the masses. The result is this English language remake of his 1997 anti-exploitation film Funny Games, complete with an A-list cast and major studio backing. Although the film's ideas remain as strong as they were first time around, Funny Games is probably too disorienting and disturbing to gain the word-of-mouth approval necessary for mainstream acceptance.

Naomi Watts and Tim Roth play the comfortable couple whose yachting holiday is interrupted by Paul (Michael Pitt) and Peter (Brady Corbet), two young nihilists on a sadistic mission to destroy the family's smug sense of security. The intruders' sinister and excruciating mind games eventually develop into a gruelling spree of humiliation and degradation. But Peter and Paul aren't the only ones playing games, as Haneke has his own tricks to play: characters address the audience directly, scenes are 'rewound' in front of us and key moments of violence take place off-screen. Haneke's intention is to awaken his audience to the irresponsible power of mainstream cinema by jolting us out of our complicit, media-induced stupefaction.

"TIM ROTH AND NAOMI WATTS DEBASE THEMSELVES"
While the original film toyed with oMempublikasikan Postingur expectations of genre convention, this one makes us examine our assumptions about actors. It's fascinating to watch Tim Roth and Naomi Watts debase themselves so thoroughly and unexpectedly, but their familiarity also lessens the unsettling, alien atmosphere that the first film achieved. It's unlikely that Funny Games will prompt the mass rejection of commoditised violence that Haneke ultimately desires, but you get the feeling he'll be satisfied just to have terrorised a few wandering multiplex innocents.

Funny Games is out in the UK on 4th April 2008.

Film Reviews. sking for trouble from its title onwards, Botched makes a valiant stab at combining knockabout comedy and grisly horror, but misses both by a mile. Starring not one, but two patron saints of the bad movie - box-office kiss-of-death Stephen Dorff and serial flop-maker Sean Pertwee - it's a lumbering slice of gory farce that lacks the resources to achieve a fraction of its ambitions. The result feels like a cut-price Severance, with far fewer laughs and no Danny Dyer.

When a diamond heist he organised goes disastrously awry, professional thief Ritchie Donovan (Dorff) is packed off to Russia by his angry boss (Pertwee) to steal a jewel-encrusted cross from a Moscow penthouse. Thanks to the incompetence of unhinged accomplice Peter (Jamie Foreman), he soon finds himself trapped on the 13th floor with a bunch of hostages. To make matters worse, they are all at the mercy of a murderous descendant of Ivan the Terrible who takes a sadistic pleasure in impaling, decapitating and dismembering.

"GRUESOME DETAIL"
"This is getting out of hand!" sighs Dorff with a sense of world-weary resignation that will be all too familiar to any punter who decides to give Kit Ryan's caper the benefit of the doubt. Okay, so the sheer quantity of gruesome detail (an amputated hand here, a fridge full of human innards there) ensures we are seldom bored. In the end, though, there's only so much slack you can give a film that wears its cheapness and ineptitude like badges of honour.

Botched is out in the UK on 18th April 2008.

Film Reviews . Second sight takes on a creepy new meaning in The Eye, which sees a blind violinist (Jessica Alba) plagued by spooky apparitions after a double cornea transplant. Is she seeing dead people? Or could these shadowy spectres be warning of some disaster in the making? You'll be hard pressed to care in this remake of the Pang brothers' 2002 original which, despite having another duo behind the camera (Them's David Moreau and Xavier Palud), struggles to generate half its chills.

"I've never been so scared in my entire life!" says Sydney Wells (Alba) on the eve of her surgery. It is what happens afterwards, though, that really gives her the willies, as her donated peepers begin to make out enough grisly ghouls and shrieking demons to keep Haley Joel Osment busy for months. Is she losing her marbles? Neural specialist Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola) certainly thinks so, though he is obliged to change his tune as Sydney's visions increase in number and unpleasantness. Might they have something to do with her pupils' previous owner (Fernanda Romero), a Mexican Cassandra who went loopy after bearing witness to an unspeakable tragedy she was powerless to prevent?

"DREARILY DERIVATIVE"
With every twist of the second-hand plot telegraphed far in advance, you don't need to be clairvoyant to see where this is going. Throw in Alba's bland performance (is there any other kind?) and a damp squib of a finale and you're left with a drearily derivative thriller that will have most punters eyeing their watches.

The Eye is out in the UK on 24th April 2008.

Film Reviews. While Hollywood horror producers seem content to turn Asian horror into a set of cliched scares involving ghost girls and paranormal curses, Eastern filmmakers themselves are experimenting with new directions. That's certainly the case in Death Note, an enjoyable J-horror reboot. It's based on a popular manga about a notebook that allows idealistic law student Light (Tatsuya Fujiwara) to kill people simply by writing their names in its pages. Fiendishly unusual, it's an offbeat time-waster that genre fans will definitely want to make a note of.

Banish all thoughts of Ring, The Grudge or any other Japanese horror movie of the last ten years. Directed by Shusuke Kaneko - who was once responsible for the giant monster chaos of Gamera - this is less a scare-machine than a goofily entertaining thriller. Like the manga original, it follows power-crazed Light as he goes from using his notebook to kill deserving criminals to murdering the innocent. Light's goaded into his kill spree by the God of Death; a lolloping CGI ghoul in rock star clothes, who appears out of nowhere and offers advice while munching on apples. Weird, huh?

"MORE DAFT THAN DEADLY"
Meanwhile, the cops on Light's tail are being helped by teenage slacker genius L (Kenichi Matsuyama), who embarks on a chess-like battle of wits with our anti-hero. More daft than deadly, Death Note is executed with bags of cult flair, Kaneko nailing the manga's hyperstylised visuals in live-action, while lead actors Fujiwara and Matsuyama effortlessly exude teen cool. Despite clocking in at over two hours it ends with a gob-smacking cliffhanger that'll either frustrate or completely intrigue. Tie-in videogames, novels, an anime series and a movie sequel are already out in Japan – so if it hooks you, there's plenty more to come.

Death Note is out in the UK on 25th April 2008.

Film Reviews. Lock yourself in a basement car park and smack yourself in the face for two hours: it's probably more enjoyable than P2. A cute gimmick - city girl Rachel Nichols is trapped in a parking lot, at the whim of Wes Bentley's nutty security guard - is undone by witless direction, flat dialogue and ropey acting, particularly from Bentley, who has drifted a long way from his breakthrough role in American Beauty.

Nichols (who will be seen in 2009's action extravaganza GI Joe) has spirit and charisma and just about retains her self-respect, despite being mostly required to breathlessly run around in skimpy underwear - signalling just who P2 is aimed at: hormone-drenched, teenage gore-hounds. Which is fine - but even the most hard-core and desperate of genre fans are advised to wait for the DVD release. And possibly watch with some alcohol to hand.

"P2 CRASHES AND BURNS"
There is one inventive, daftly enjoyable sequence, involving a fire-hose, a lift and gallons of water - but you suspect that's merely an excuse to ensure poor Nichols has to wear damp, clingy clothes. Wes Craven's Red Eye was a more effective, if equally silly, claustrophobic woman-in-peril picture (with Rachel McAdams trapped on plane), while co-writer and producer Alexandre Aja's High Tension is the gripping, scary horror thriller this desperately wants - and fails - to be. Not a total, total write off, but P2 still crashes and burns.

P2 is out in the UK on 2nd May 2008.

Film Reviews. From the moment those first doomy organ chords shake the theatre, it's clear that Sweeney Todd is no ordinary movie musical. Tim Burton's film, his best for a good while, is an eye-popping feast of gore underscored with disturbing, dissonant ballads. It opens with a rain of blood and ends with a subterranean slaughter that would make Freddy Krueger wince. It's a grimy concoction from Hell's own kitchen, laced with black humour and seasoned with hauntingly beautiful music. Tuck in.

Release Date: July 18th

Preview Film. Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" was one of the best films of 2005, commercial or otherwise. Stark, tightly wound and dramatically involving, it's simply one of the finest comic-book-to-film-adaptations ever made. Needless to say, its sequel, "The Dark Knight," is the most anticipated film of the season, even more so than the new "Indiana Jones" film. Boosted even further by some interesting casting choices, including the late Heath Ledger as the Joker - whose unexpected death in January has sparked even more interest and will give the film some unexpectedly tragic undertones - this is easily the film to watch out for this summer.

Release Date: July 11th

Preview Film. If there's one thing Guillermo del Toro has proven over the years, it's that, thanks to his immense talent, he can give legitimacy to virtually any film, from monster movies like "Mimic" (1997) to blockbuster sequels like "Blade II" (2002). Only del Toro would follow up a critically lauded masterpiece like "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006) with a sequel to an action movie, but "The Golden Army" could very well be just as impressive. Surely, it'll be bigger, louder and better than the previous installment, but may get lost in the shuffle amidst this season's surprisingly diverse and equally action-heavy releases.

Release date: July 2nd

Preview Film. When Will Smith makes a movie, people see it. It doesn't really matter what it is - he took the touchy/feely weeper "The Pursuit of Happyness" to the top spot in the box office, for crying out loud. Smith's streak of consecutive number one openings stretched to seven films with "I Am Legend" last year, making him the undisputed biggest movie star in the world today. With "Hancock," a parody about the downside of being a superhero, the stars align to make this the film everyone will see. It's a comedy, it's family-friendly, it has superheroes and it stars Smith - what's not to pay $9.50 for? Additionally, by the time the film's release rolls around, audiences will already have seen "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" and will likely welcome a film that is the antithesis to the often silly level of self-righteous introspection found in superhero movies. It all adds up to "Hancock" being the dark horse candidate to become the biggest film of the biggest summer ever for movies.

Release Date: May 22nd

Preview Film. Some things just never get old. While Harrison Ford is not among them, the widely beloved "Indiana Jones" franchise certainly is. Perhaps the most pure embodiment of the hero archetype in American film today, even the salt-and-peppered Indy can fill theaters with fans who remember his heroic exploits against Nazis, villainous cults and snakes. What remains to be seen, however, is whether the film will be any good. Several years of rewrites led to a pigeonholed script that producer George Lucas loved, but is that really a good thing? (This is the man who wrote "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, after all.) Steven Spielberg returns as director and newcomer Shia LeBoeuf fits perfectly as a period player - let's just hope this revival doesn't tarnish the nostalgia we feel for the original trilogy.

Release date: May 2nd

Preview Film. Based on the popular Marvel comic series, "Iron Man" tells the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., "Zodiac") and his transformation from rich industrialist to iron-suited superhero. Since it's directed by Jon Favreau, who previously helmed the box office smash "Elf" starring Will Ferrell, it's not surprising that the trailer plays up the humor almost as much as the action. That, along with its penchant for colorful visuals and bubbly characters, could make it a refreshing alternative to its main competitor, the somber and more artistically ambitious "The Dark Knight." But the casting of sarcastic, loud-mouthed Downey Jr. as the hero (huh?) is almost as flinch-inducing as casting … well, Heath Ledger as the Joker in "Knight." It has potential, but only time will tell.

GENRE : Drama Komedi Roman/Percintaan
PEMAIN : Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, Michelle Krusiec, Dennis Farina, Krysten Ritter, Jason Sudeikis, Queen Latifah, Zach Galifianakis, Treat Williams
SUTRADARA : Tom Vaughan
PENULIS NASKAH : Dana Fox
PRODUSER : DEAN GEORGARIS, MICHAEL AGUILAR
RUMAH PRODUKSI : 20th Century Fox
DURASI : 99 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : 9 Mei 2008 (Int)


SINOPSIS :
Sepasang pria dan wanita menemukan diri mereka telah menikah di malam sebelumnya di Vegas, dan salah satu dari mereka memenangkan hadiah utama dengan menggunakan koin milik yang lain

Pasangan tersebut berusaha saling menjatuhkan untuk memiliki uang tersebut...dan pada masa itu mereka benar-benar saling jatuh cinta.

GENRE : Drama
PEMAIN : Jenny Chang, Yama Carlos, Jajang C. Noer, Lukman Sardi, Niniek L. Kariem, Tutie Kirana, Ria Irawan
SUTRADARA : Viva Westi
PENULIS NASKAH : Dirmawan Hatta
PRODUSER : Heru Winanto
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Flix Pictures
DURASI : -
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : Mei 2008


SINOPSIS :

Mengatasi perbedaan kulit diantara mereka, Antares dan May saling mencintai. Pada suatu hari di bulan Mei 1998, mereka terpisah dan tidak pernah lagi bertemu. May berpikir Antares meninggalkannya, dan dengan pikiran itu, ia menjalani hidup. May keluar dari Indonesia untuk melupakan kepedihannya. Suatu ketika ia diperkosa sekelompok orang. Jika saja Antares tidak sedang meliput kerusahan Mei saat itu, May pasti tidak mengalami kejadian pahit tersebut

May tidak saja terpisah dari Antares namun juga dengan Ibunya. Bermodalkan sertifikat rumahnya, Ibu May membeli tiket pesawat dan pindah ke Malaysia. Adalah Gandang yang membeli rumah tersebut

Sejumlah peristiwa mempertemukan May, Gamang, Antares dan Ibunya. Apakah mereka menemukan jalan keluar bagi masalah mereka masing-masing? Sanggupkah Antares meyakinkan May bahwa ia masih mencintainya seperti yang pernah ia berikan?

GENRE : Drama Thriller
PEMAIN : Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Nicky Katt, Naveen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen
SUTRADARA : Neil Jordan
PENULIS NASKAH : Roderick Taylor dan Bruce A. Taylor
PRODUSER : -
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Warner Bros Pictures
DURASI : 122 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : Dewasa (18+)
TANGGAL RILIS : September 2007

SINOPSIS :

Bangkit dari sebuah trauma yang menyakitkan terlebih jika peristiwa tersebut membuat kita harus kehilangan sesuatu yang sangat dicintai tidaklah mudah. Setiap kehilangan akan menimbulkan kekosongan yang seringnya tidak tergantikan.

Erika Bain (Jodie Foster) adalah seorang penyiar radio yang hidup dijalanan kota New York. Tempat ia mendapatkan inspirasi untuk acara radio Street Walks yang diasuhnya. Merekam kesibukan kota, kemacetan, lalu lalang kendaraan, teriakan anak-anak yang bermain, kesunyian dibawah kolong jembatan, dan sudut-sudut kota yang terlewatkan dari hingar-bingar masyarakat, menjadi kegiatan rutinnya. Menyusun semua hal tersebut menjadi sebuah renungan bermakna membuat acara yang ia bawakan mendapat respon yang positif dan meraih banyak pendengar setia. Diluar rutinitas, ia menghabiskan waktu dengan sahabat dan tunangan yang sangat dicintainya, David Kirmani (Naveen Andrews).

Semua hal tersebut harus terenggut paksa dari Erika, ia terkapar koma di Rumah Sakit akibat penganiayaan dan perampokan yang dilakukan sekelompok pemuda brandal. Lebih mengenaskan lagi ketika ia harus menerima kenyataan kehilangan David karena peristiwa tersebut. Kehilangan seseorang yang menjadi sandaran hidupnya, cintanya. Erika menghadapi babak baru dalam hidup, saat ia mengalami ketakutan dan ketidakpercayaan pada semua orang, tergambar dari ketidak mampuannya untuk menghadapi dunia luar dengan mengurung diri dalam apartemen, tempat yang dipandangnya paling aman.

Tahap demi tahap post trauma syndhrome yang dilaluinya membawanya pada keyakinan bahwa hanya ada satu cara untuk tetap bertahan hidup, yaitu menghadapi ketakutan terbesarnya. Berhasilkah Erika bangkit dari trauma yang terus menghantuinya? The Brave One, menceritakannya dengan detail untuk anda.

GENRE : Drama Thriller
PEMAIN : Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Wade
SUTRADARA : Scott Hicks
PENULIS NASKAH : Carol Fuchs/Sandra Nettlebeck
PRODUSER : -
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Warner Bros Pictures
DURASI : 103 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : Dewasa (18+)
TANGGAL RILIS : September 2007

SINOPSIS :
Koki kepala, Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) adalah seorang yang sempurna dalam melakukan pekerjaannya. Menguasai berbagai menu masakan dan memiliki resep khusus yang sangat diminati oleh pelanggan. Dapur restoran 22 Bleecker menjadi kantor resmi bagi Kate sekaligus tempat dimana seluruh emosinya tertuang. Menyiapkan ratusan menu dan menyajikan dalam hitungan menit membuat Kate dan karyawannya menjadi seperti mesin yang bekerja sangat sistematis. Dengan semua itu, hidup Kate cukup bahagia, karena masak memasak memang dunianya.

Tampaknya semua hal itu tidak cukup memuaskan bagi sang boss, Paula (Patricia Clarkson) karena Kate sempat emosi menghadapi seorang pelanggan yang memang rewel dalam mengomentari masakannya, Paula meminta Kate untuk mendatangi psikiater karena menganggapnya mengalami stress dalam pekerjaan. Rencana kedatangan kakaknya bersama Zoe (Abigail Breslin), keponakannya sebenarnya sedikit melegakan Kate. Tapi kecelakaan yang menimpa kakaknya membuat ia harus merawat Zoe sebagai satu-satunya keluarga yang dimiliki. Tinggal bersama Zoe, seorang anak gadis ternyata menjadi hal baru yang membingungkan bagi Kate, ketika segala usahanya untuk membuat Zoe mau memaka masakannya harus berakhir dengan kekecewaan. Kondisi diperparah dengan keputusan Paula untuk merekrut Nick (Aaron Eckhart) seorang asisten kepala Koki yang menggantikan Kate saat ia cuti. Kehadiran Nick dianggap oleh Kate sebagai saingan, sebagai orang yang akan merebut posisi Chef Master. Disisi lain suasana dapur yang berubah menjadi riang akibat ulah Nick yang selalu bersikap santai dan memutar lagu-lagu klasik yang mengiringi selama ia bekerja, membuat Kate semakin tidak bersahabat.

No Reservations, Ketika kenyataan hidup terkadang memang tidak berjalan sesuai dengan keinginan Kate.

GENRE : Drama
PEMAIN : Andhika Pratama, Poppy Sovia, Debby Kristi
SUTRADARA : Nayato Fio Nuala
PENULIS NASKAH : Titien Wattimena
PRODUSER : Ody M. Hidayat
RUMAH PRODUKSI : MAXIMA PICTURES
DURASI : 85 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : 6 Desember 2007

SINOPSIS :
Film ini berkisah tentang tiga orang sahabat: Vano (Andhika Pratama), Tia (Poppy Sovia), dan Desi (Debby Kristi) dalam pencarian jati diri dan makna kehidupan
Hubungan Tia dan Desi sangat dekat hingga sikap Tia sangat protektif dan membuat Desi tergantung padanya. Permasalahan mulai timbul saat Vano jatuh hati pada Desi. Sedangkan, Desi tahu Tia sangat menyukai Vano. Akhirnya Desi dan Tia sepakat hanya menjadikan Vano sebagai sahabat

Desi merencanakan sebuah perjalanan panjang bersama Tia dan Vano di ulang tahunnya yang ke 20. Ditengah-tengah perjalanan, tiba-tiba Desi sakit. Tia dan Vano memutuskan untuk kembali ke Jakarta, tapi Desi menolak dan tetap ingin melanjutkan perjalanan. Disini mereka belajar banyak tentang cinta, persahabatan dan tentang kehilangan… keduanya

REKOMENDASI :
Poppy Sofia telah bermain ciamik dan menunjukkan kualitas akting dalam Mengejar Mas-Mas (2007) film komedi yang mengangkat ironi kelas sosial dalam masyarakat garapan Rudy Soedjarwo. Kini mampukah ia mempertahankan kualitasnya ?.

Dengan kembali menggaet Melly Goeslaw dan Anto Hoed sebagai penggarap soundtrack film, maka Maxima Pictures tampaknya ingin mengulang kesuksesan BBB (Bukan Bintang Biasa - 2007) di pasaran. Meski mendapat banyak kritik, namun BBB tetap laris manis ditonton oleh para kawula muda.

GENRE : Drama Komedi Musikal
PEMAIN : Nova Eliza, Restu Sinaga, Tio Pakusadewo, Al Fathir, Julia Perez, Andra, Olga Syahputra, Emmi Lemmu
SUTRADARA : Mirwan Suwarso
PENULIS NASKAH : Mirwan Suwarso, Nova Eliza
PRODUSER : Nova Eliza, Mirwan Suwarso, Anang Hermansyah
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Destiny Films
DURASI : -
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : -


SINOPSIS :
Sebuah drama komedi mengenai seorang waitress yang mencari kejujuran dari pria – pria metropolitan. Halle (Nova Eliza), seorang waitress di V Bar memiliki bakat menulis lagu dan bernyanyi. Meski demikian bakatnya hanya dapat disalurkan dengan bernyanyi ditempat kerja saja. Suatu saat Kevin Purba (Restu Sinaga) seorang pengunjung bar, menawarkan kesempatan pada Helle untuk masuk ke dunia musik, sehingga timbul di hasratnya untuk menekuni profesi itu. Bahkan ia sempat bertemu dengan Andra Ramadhan (Dewa, Andra & The Backbone) dan Rama (Al Fathir), penyanyi tenar Indonesia yang kebetulan juga idolanya. Akankah harapan Halle tercapai ? atau ia hanya menjadi mainan para lelaki metropolitan ?

REKOMENDASI :
Nova Eliza mencoba peruntungan barunya didunia film. Lewat Susahnya Jadi Perawan, karir baru sebagai sekaligus produser film pun dirintis bersama dengan Anang Hermansyah dan Mirwan Santoso. Jabatan penulis skenario bersama Mirwan Santoso, sutradara film tersebut, juga dijalani oleh Nova.

Aktor kondang Tio Pakusadewo, Restu Sinaga, Al Fathir dan Nova Eliza yang sudah akrab di layar lebar maupun layar kaca sedikit menjadi jaminan kualitas. Tambahan lagi penampilan band yang sedang naik daun Andra & The Backbone, Julia Perez dan iringan musik Saykoji turut menjadi nilai plus dari film yang diproduksi oleh Destiny Production ini.

GENRE : Aksi/Laga
PEMAIN : Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Li Bing Bing
SUTRADARA : Rob Minkoff
PENULIS NASKAH : John Fusco, Ch'eng-En Wu
PRODUSER : RYAN KAVANAUGH, CASEY SILVER, RAFFAELLA DE LAURENT
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Lionsgate
DURASI : 113 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : 18 April 2008


SINOPSIS :
Saat memburu DVD bajakan kung-fu di rumah penggadaian Chinatown, Jason (Michael Angarano) membuat penemuan luar biasa yang membawanya kembali ke Cina masa lampau. Di sana, Jason ditugaskan atas tugas yang menumental: ia harus membebaskan prajurit Raja Kera seperti diceritakan dalam dongeng, yang dipenjarakan oleh Panglima Perang Batu Giok yang jahat

Bergabung bersama Jason, ahli kung fu bijaksana, Tuan Lu Yan (Jackie Chan) dan segerombolan prajurit termasuk Silent Monk (Jet Li). Harapan Jason untuk berhasil hanya dengan mempelajari prinsip kung fu yang sebenarnya -- dan menemukan cara untuk kembali ke masanya.

GENRE : Drama Komedi
PEMAIN : Deddy Mizwar, Nurul Arifin, Afrizal Anoda, Wawan Wanisar, Piet Pagau, Roldiah Matulesy, Yetty Mustafa, Nico Plemonia, Kaharuddin Syah
SUTRADARA : MT Risyaf
PENULIS NASKAH : Asrul Sani
PRODUSER : Bustal Nawawi
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Prasidi Teta And Citra Sinema
DURASI : 95 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : Segala Umur
TANGGAL RILIS : 8 Mei 2008


SINOPSIS :
Nagabonar (Deddy Mizwar), adalah seorang pencopet yang mendapatkan kesempatan menyebut dirinya seorang Jenderal di pasukan kemerdekaan Indonesia di Sumatera Utara

Pada awalnya Nagabonar melakukan ini hanya sekedar untuk mendapatkan kemewahan hidup sebagai seorang Jenderal, akan tetapi pada akhirnya dia menjadi tentara yang sesungguhnya, dan memimpin Indonesia dalam peperangan bersama pasukannya termasuk Kirana (Nurul Arifin), Bujang (Afrizal Anoda) dan Mak (Roldyah Matulessy)

“Mari menoleh sejenak ke belakang agar kita tahu sudah sejauh mana Bangsa ini melangkah”

GENRE : Drama Keluarga Musikal
PEMAIN : Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams, Mykelti Williamson
SUTRADARA : Kirsten Sheridan
PENULIS NASKAH : Kirsten Sheridan, Richard Barton Lewis, Nick Castle, Jim Hart
PRODUSER : Louise Goodsill, Robert Greenhut, Ralph Kamp, Miky Lee, Richard Barton Lewis
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Warner Bros
DURASI : 100 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : 13 Tahun Keatas (13+)
TANGGAL RILIS : 21 November 2007 (USA), Januari 2008 (Blitz Megaplex)


SINOPSIS :
Lyla (Keri Russell), pemain cello handal bertemu dengan gitaris muda karismatik dari Irlandia, Jonathan Rhys (Meyer) pada suatu malam di kota New York. Namun, pertemuan singkat tersebut harus berakhir dengan perpisahan. Janji pertemuan kembali tidak kunjung terpenuhi, hingga akhirnya lahir seorang anak, Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore), buah cinta mereka. Besar tanpa asuhan orangtua, Evan harus hidup berteman musisi jalanan, (Robin Wiliams) dan pekerja sosial (Terrence Howard).

Evan adalah pemain musik jenius, karena dari keturunan genetik orang tuanya. Masalahnya, ia belum pernah bertemu dan melihat wajah mereka. Dengan berbekal keahlian bermain musik, Evan mencari orang tuanya yang terpisah sejak lahir.

REKOMENDASI :
Layaknya kisah novel "Oliver Twist" dalam versi lebih modern, August Rush mencoba menyajikan drama musikal yang berbobot. Selain kualitas para aktornya, film yang di set minim dialog tersebut mengisi ruang-ruang kosong dalam film dengan akting, mimik dan musik.

GENRE : Aksi/Laga Drama Kriminal
PEMAIN : Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Sinéad Cusack, Donald Sumpter, Jerzy Skolimowski
SUTRADARA : David Cronenberg
PENULIS NASKAH : Steve Knight
PRODUSER : Robert Lantos, Paul Webster
RUMAH PRODUKSI : Focus Features
DURASI : 110 menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : Dewasa (18+)
TANGGAL RILIS : 14 September 2007 (USA - limited)


SINOPSIS :
Cerita dengan seting kota London, tentang Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen) pria Rusia dengan tampang misterius sekaligus karismatik, seorang sopir yang bekerja pada sebuah keluarga pemimpin organisasi kriminal terbesar di daerah yang dulu termasuk kawasan Eropa Timur. Keluarga tersebut merupakan bagian dari kelompok Vory V Zakone.
Pertemuan secara tidak sengaja Nikolai dengan Anna (Naomi Watts), seorang suster sebuah Rumah Sakit di utara kota London, membuat keyakinannya selama ini goyah. Usaha Anna untuk mencari tahu riwayat pasiennya yang meninggal setelah melahirkan seorang bayi ternyata membuat ia mengetahui rahasia terbesar dari keluarga tersebut. Peristiwa yang kemudian membuat loyalitas dan sikap Nikolai menjadi terbelah, karena Anna kini merupakan ancaman terbesar bagi keluarga tersebut.
Akankah Nikolai mempertaruhkan karir dan kesetiannya untuk Anna? dan bagaimana sikap keluarga sang mafia ketika mengetahui apa yang dicari oleh Anna?

REKOMENDASI :
Duet A History of Violence, sutradara David Cronenberg dan actor Viggo Mortensen kembali menghadirkan sebuah film dengan genre yang sama, Eastern Promises.
Cronenberg tampaknya ingin menegaskan bahwa ia adalah “jago” nya membuat film yang berisi kekerasan dan kali ini disertai dengan adegan seks serta nudity (Viggo tampil telanjang dalam salah satu adegan perkelahian). Hal ini ternyata tidak membuat film yang mengangkat cerita menarik karya Steve Knight (mendapat nominasi Oscar untuk skenario Dirty Pretty Things) tersebut menjadi sebuah film murahan. Penghargaan sutradara terbaik versi Toronto Film Festival yang diraihnya dari film ini dan raihan top 10 box office di Amerika bisa menjadi gambaran kualitas film. Jika di Amerika saja Eastern Promises hanya dirilis terbatas, mungkin kita hanya bisa menunggu versi DVD atau VCD film ini segera beredar, dan yang jelas berdo’a agar tidak banyak disensor LSF.

GENRE : Drama Fantasi Keluarga
PEMAIN : Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, dan Zachary Mills
SUTRADARA : Zach Helm
PENULIS NASKAH : Zach Helm
PRODUSER : Joseph Drake, James Garavente, Richard N. Gladstein, Barbara A. Hall, Nathan Kahane, Jim Miller
RUMAH PRODUKSI : 20th Century Fox
DURASI : 94 Menit
KLASIFIKASI PENONTON : Segala Umur
TANGGAL RILIS : 16 November 2007 (A.S)

SINOPSIS :
Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), selama 243 tahun tidak pernah meninggalkan toko mainan miliknya. Toko mainan tersebut sepintas terlihat seperti toko lain (Toys 'R' Us misalnya) namun ajaibnya semua mainan bahkan toko yang bernama Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium tersebut “hidup”. Ada legos yang dapat menyusun sendiri, mainan ikan yang dibuat dari ikan beneran, boneka naga yang menyemburkan api dll.

Suatu hari Mr. Magorium merasa ingin berhenti dan bermaksud menyerahkan tokonya kepada Mahoney (Natalie Portman). Untuk itu ia merekrut seorang akuntan (Jason Bateman) untuk mengurus segala sesuatunya. Akankah Mr. Magorium benar-benar menunaikan niatnya, bagaimana dengan keajaiban yang dimiliki oleh mainan yang dijual? Dan bagaimana dengan akuntan yang tidak percaya sama sekali dengan keajaiban dari mainan tersebut?

REKOMENDASI :
Sebuah film keluarga yang cukup menarik dan akan membawa kita kembali ke masa kecil.Dengan segala macam mainan yang ditampilkan.

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