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ROGUE ASSASSIN

Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Chen, John Lone, Ryo Ishibashi
Director: Philip G. Atwell

When Rogue (Jet Li), an infamous and elusive assassin, killed and murdered FBI agent Tom Lone (Terry Chen) and his family, Lone’s partner John Crawford (Jason Statham) vows to find him to personally avenge his partner’s death. Three years later Rogue resurfaces to ignite a bloody war between Chinese Triad leader Chang (John Lone) and Japanese Yakuza head Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi). Crawford, eager to capture Rogue at all costs, leads his team of crime specialists to meddle into the conflict between the Chinese and Japanese mafias. But his thirst for vengeance conflicts with his interest of resolving the turf war for it affects his professional judgment, thereby jeopardizing his team’s operations. Meanwhile, Rogue starts to unveil as a complex and complicated assassin with the series of betrayals that he does with his bosses. When Crawford finally comes face to face with Rogue, he discovers that nothing about Rogue and his plans.

Dubbed as the ultimate martial arts duel movie of the year, Rogue fails as an action-thriller feature in more ways than one. The choreography seems to be uninspired and run-of-the-mill. The twists and turns of the story could have been interesting but they still appear cliché because of the rather slow moving treatment. The production design, cinematography and special effects actually worked although much of the milieu is left unexploited. The biggest disappointment of the movie is that the two big stars Jet Li and Jason Statham rarely have a scene together. The ones they have are dulled by Stantam doing the talking/confrontation and Li looking at him with that signature deadpan look. Stantam does what he does best – look unshaven, bloodshot, and speak in that clipped British accent. Jet Li, on the other hand, just stares at the camera, speaks a few lines in his broken English, and throws a few reluctant punches. Vengeance is the ultimate weapon and the entire movie runs with the central theme of revenge that is apparently not the best motivation for a human person. Vengeance is as evil as greed that eventually destroys the human spirit. Rogue only leaves disturbing and questionable moral judgments.

Top5

THE KINGDOM

The film kicks off with a brief and informative history of the Middle East. Despite the presence of heavily-armed guards, terrorists are able to attack an American compound, setting off bombs and killing hundreds of people in Saudi Arabia. A crackerjack team of FBI investigators begs to be given the opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia and assist in the investigation. Higher ups don’t want the four agents to go, but somehow they finagle their way into being allowed to help the Saudis track down the terrorists responsible for the killings. It’s not just a professional gig for these four, it’s also personal. They lost friends during the blasts and they want answers – and justice. Once on Saudi soil, agents Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman), Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner), and team leader Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) are paired up with a topnotch Saudi cop and given just five days to conduct their investigation. Complicating matters, the Saudi government doesn’t want the FBI agents to step outside the compound or actually conduct any useful tests. Citing fear for their safety, Saudi officials confine the team to very limited areas, basically handicapping their work. Fortunately for Fleury and his fellow agents, the high-ranking police official assigned to be their watchdog is extremely proficient at his job. Colonel Al-Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom, delivering the best performance of the film) and Agent Fleury have a lot more in common than either would have assumed, and the friendship they forge allows the agents to access sections of the bomb site and areas of the city that would otherwise have been off-limits. It’s highly dangerous for all involved, but neither the FBI agents nor their Saudi counterparts are willing to settle for anything less than the capture of those responsible.

Academy Award winners Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper play analytical tough guys who mean business. While Cooper does his good ‘ole boy best, Foxx takes a more muscular approach to his FBI character. He’s thoughtful and intellectual, but you know when push comes to shove he’ll be the first to step up and inflict damage. Foxx has done action films before but ‘The Kingdom’ is the first film where his action skills are fully tested, and he handles the job beautifully. Jason Bateman provides the film with a little comic relief when appropriate. Bateman’s experiencing a career resurgence and with ‘The Kingdom’ he’s officially back in the feature film game. And action veteran Jennifer Garner (Alias) totally fits the part of a female FBI agent who can handle herself as well, if not better, than her male cohorts. The film actually does a good job of taking a huge international story and making it into an intimate whodunit with a handful of central characters pursuing a very specific goal. Because of its narrow focus and because of the incredible action sequences it reigns as one of the best thrillers of 2007.

Top5

THE UGLY DUCKLING AND ME

Voice over by: Morgan Jones, Justin Gregg, Aileen Mythen, J. Drew Douglas
Directed by: Michael Hegner, Karsten Kiilerich.

Totally rethinking the set-up of old time fairy tale Hans Christian Anderson's ‘The Ugly Duckling’ this version sees shifty showman Ratso (Jones), a cross between Del Boy and Steve Buscemi. Our hero, Ratso, takes off across the countryside, all the time being tailed menacingly by Phyllis, the jilted lover, and her gang of beefy brothers. He tries to make it to a carnival with his only client, the worm Wesley (Paul Tylak). Along the way they come across an egg, which to Ratso's horror, hatches, and the ugliest duck in the world rolls out. Ratso, seeing his chance to make a mint, pretends he's Ugly's (Gregg) father and drags him to carnival-slash-freakshow on the far side of an ominous forest to parade 'The Ugliest Duck in the World'. Ratso and Ugly find much adventure along the way, as well as an unlikely love-interest. But what also happens, and what ultimately saves this from being little more than a rehashed, modernizing of a somewhat dubious fairytale, is that Ratso learns the value of friends and learns to not exploit the good nature and temporarily unpleasant exterior of his adopted offspring. Via a fight to save Ugly’s life, Ratso undergoes some much-needed personal development and the film avoids the inferior moral of the original fable.

The writers put a lot of hope into Ratso and its success with the audiences will be based on how they will react to him. They shouldn't have anything to worry because they've created a gem of a character and everyone else fades in his shadow. The film has a slick and cute animation, wrapped up with an important message that beauty isn't everything: "Beauty is a passing thing. They waste their lives on hand cream and early nights while guys like you and me have all the fun." It's got a few tuning problems and at times the dialogue could have done with a little finessing, but there's a lot of heart and it tries hard to make adults and kids laugh along to the same jokes. The Ugly Duckling And Me makes one thing clear - you don't need celebrity voices to make a funny kids cartoon.

Top5

BORDER TOWN

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, Maya Zapata
Directed by: Gregory Nava

Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez), an impassioned American news reporter for the "Chicago Sentinel" wants to be assigned to the Iraq front-lines to cover the war. Instead, her editor George Morgan (Martin Sheen) assigns her to investigate a series of slayings involving young maquiladora factory women in a Mexican bordertown. Worker Eva (Maya Zapata), originally from Oaxaca in the south, takes a bus to go back to her shanty-town home after work. After a while she is the last passenger still in the bus. The driver asks her if it is okay that he goes to a gas station to fill up, and Eva agrees. However, he takes her to a quiet place and assaults and rapes her together with another man, who then tries to strangle her. The two men, believing her dead, bury her alive. With the little energy she has left, Eva escapes. Adrian heads to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to investigate the murders, hoping that if she does well she'll be assigned to Iraq by Morgan. In Juárez, she meets up with Diaz (Antonio Banderas), with whom she has been working together six years ago, and who is the editor for the local newspaper "El Sol de Juárez." She also meets Eva. The three try to find the two killers and have them prosecuted. Adrian starts working in the factory, in order to act as bait on the bus ride. Indeed the driver tries to assault her in the same way as Eva, and while police assistance was arranged they are at the wrong place. She manages to escape her attacker. Later Diaz gets killed. Eva changes her mind and does not want to testify anymore against the second killer for fear of revenge, and tries to flee to the US, together with others in the trunk of a car. She gets caught and is sent back. Adrian convinces her to testify after all. For political reasons the Chicago Sentinel refuses to publish Adrian's story. Adrian quits and becomes the editor for "El Sol de Juárez."

Bordertown places the blame for the murders to the Mexican government, the United States, and to the maquiladora assembly plants that were accelerated by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Filming locations include: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States; Nogales, Sonora, and Ciudad Juárez, all in Mexico.

Top5

FLY BOYS

Starring: James Franco, Jean Reno, David Ellison, Martin Henderson, Jennifer Decker
Directed by: Tony Bill

In 1914, "The Great War" --WWI--began in Europe. By 1917, the Allied powers of France, England, Italy and others were on the ropes against the German juggernaut. Some altruistic young Americans disagreed with the war. They volunteered to fight alongside their counterparts in France; some in the infantry, some in the Ambulance Corps. A handful of others had a different idea: they decided to learn how to fly. The first of them--a squadron of only 38-- became known as the Lafayette Escadrille. This is their story. Forced to abandon his family's ranch, Blaine Rawlings (James Franco) finds his future in a newsreel chronicling the adventures of young aviators in France. At a small train station in rural Nebraska, William Jensen (Philip Winchester) promises to make his family proud. In New York, spoiled Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine) embarks on a trans-Atlantic passage. Meanwhile, in France, black expatriate boxer, Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis), vows to repay his debt to his adopted racially tolerant country. Together, these American boys arrive at an aerodrome in France, eager to learn how to fly. The young men gather in France and soon the aerial battles with the beastly Hun commence. Cynical, weathered American ace Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson) concentrates on downing his German nemesis, the Black Falcon, the villain who grins that beastly Hun grin before firing. Blaine, meantime, cozies up to one of the locals, Lucienne (Jennifer Decker), who fears her Yank is about to fulfill the grim three- to six-week life expectancy of the Lafayette pilots. What they didn't realize was that they were about to embark on a great, romantic adventure, becoming the world's first combat pilots.

Just about everything about "Flyboys" rings false, although the planes certainly are terrific. Director Tony Bill handles his aerial war well. The numerous dogfights, however, are so soaped up with digitally composite imagery that the thrills and the machines themselves end up diminished. And do we need such gimmicks as shots of bombs plummeting toward earth, photographed from the weapons' point of view? The film takes a strong subject, the Americans who volunteered for the French as aviators in the Lafayette Escadrille turn it into romantic slush.

Top5

THE CONDEMNED 

Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Max von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir, Hiroyuki Sanada
Directed by: Brett Ratner

Imagine a "Survivor"-style reality TV show where the contestants are condemned murderers who get to kill each other on camera--and where the winner is the last killer left alive. The WWE , a reality- TV producer wrangles together 10 people on death row from all over the world (terrorists, rapists, murderous bank robbers) to star on a show he's airing on the Internet from an undisclosed island. Viewers are expected to pay $49.95 to watch for 30 straight hours as these 10 kill each other. At the 30th hour, the last inmate standing goes free. The unlucky have been bludgeoned, shot, or detonated courtesy of a bracelet strapped to each contestant's ankle, which can be manually set off by other contestants. Austin disguised as Jack Conrad is actually a secret U.S. agent; his murders, like 007's, are part of his job description. The other contestants do violent or idiotic things, like stabbing each other on camera or adopting the buddy system-- Conrad, by contrast, does sensible things, like killing the really bad guys and delivering pithy messages of fair play. Meanwhile, the brutal Breckel vies for some kind of nastiness prize with the worst of his hired scum, British special agent/killer Ewan McStarley (the prodigious Vinnie Jones of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"). It's a dead heat.

Despite a slick production and good actors, "The Condemned," the latest fiction feature production of World Wrestling Entertainment Films and the first starring vehicle for WWE wrestling superstar Steve Austin (the wrestler formerly known as Stone Cold), is a real stinker. It doesn't have the courage of its own bad taste, or that of its villain. The movie lacks the intelligence to make a satire of reality television. It's a sadistic grindhouse flick that feels the need to justify its sadism by moralizing against it. Through it all, Austin's character, Conrad who's been scapegoated onto death row (by government), demonstrates relative indestructibility. Austin himself is more interesting on a big screen than John Cena and Kane, Austin's fellow WWE stars who've had movies come out in the last year. He has a tough but pliable Texas drawl that makes even the dumbest lines sound witty. "The Condemned" is done as a fairly straightforward, if extremely grisly, action movie. You might enjoy it if you're an Austin fanatic or reality TV hater.
 

Top5

RUSH HOUR 3

Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Max von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir, Hiroyuki Sanada
Directed by: Brett Ratner

In the heart of Paris lies a deadly secret. Half a world away in Los Angeles, Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma) is about to disclose it. In his possession is explosive new evidence about the inner workings of the Triads--the most powerful and notorious crime syndicate in the world. The Ambassador has discovered the identity of Shy Shen, the very crux of the wide-ranging crime ring, and he's about to reveal it to the World Criminal Court--until he is silenced by an assassin's bullet. The Triads will go to any lengths to make sure their secrets stay buried, and there's only one hope for stopping them. LAPD Detective Carter (Tucker) and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) are back. The unlikely duo is headed to the City of Lights to stop a global criminal conspiracy and save the life of an old friend, Ambassador Han's now-grown daughter, Soo Yung (Zhang Jingchu). They don't know the city, the language or even exactly what they're looking for, but their race will take them across the city, from the depths of the Paris underground to the breathtaking heights of the Eiffel Tower, as they fight to outrun the world's most deadly criminals and save the day.

Rush Hour 3 revisits everything that made the first two films commercially successful, only slightly tweaking the established buddy comedy format to include a message of brotherhood as well as a few jabs at USA. Foregoing a logical plot and any desire they might have had to cover new comic territory, Nathanson and Ratner settled for recycling gags and gimmicks that have worked in the past. You can definitely see signs of slowing down in Jackie Chan. Many of his actions scenes appear to have been accomplished at a much slower pace than previous Chan movies. Chan's 53-year-old body may not be able to make the moves look as effortless as he used to, but you've got to give him an A for effort. Plus, not many teens or young adults could keep up with Chan even at this stage of the game. Chris Tucker was apparently handed the task of picking up some of the action slack as his character's much more involved in altercations with the bad guys than in the two previous movies. Tucker's okay as an action guy, and fortunately the script and the staging of the stunts allowed the actor to maintain his status as the film’s comic relief. Disengage your brain and forget trying to make a coherent story out of why the guys go to Paris, who exactly they're after, and who's on their side. A completely forgettable popcorn flick meant only to serve fans of the team of Chan and Tucker.

Top5

ROB-B-HOOD

Starring: Jackie Chan, Teresa Carpio
Director: Benny Chan

Possibly as a response to never ending jokes about the increasing age gap between him and his co-stars, Jackie Chan’s latest film “Rob-B-Hood” sees him featured alongside a young baby in a typical action packed comedy caper. The film is directed by Benny Chan, a long time collaborator of the Hong Kong superstar, having worked with him previously on the likes of “Who am I?” and the recent “New Police Story”. But the results this time around are far superior to other recent Jackie vehicles such as “The Myth”. Once it gets going “Rob-B-Hood” does offer a solid mix of laughs and thrills. The plot is simple, and, yes, is reminiscent of Three Men and a Baby. Irresponsible burglars have to take care of a baby and grow up in the process. Between the action sequences, we have scenes of humor, romance, and drama. Some of these work quite well.

Thongs, (Jackie) is a thief who has an unfortunate habit of gambling away his ill-gotten earnings and who is deep in debt as a result. Along with his partner Octopus (Louis Koo), he accepts a job from their desperate landlord (Michael Hui) to kidnap a young baby, lured by the prospect of a massive reward. After wacky mishaps a-plenty, the cute toddler awakens strong paternal feelings in the two crooks, leading to complications when it comes to handing him over to his possibly crazy gang boss grandfather (mainland Chinese actor Chen Baoguo). Benny Chan employs a series of cheap attempts to build sympathy for the thieves by introducing a variety of subplots relating to Thongs’ poor family and Octopus’ neglected wife (Charlene Choi) which only serve to slow things down in a haphazard fashion. Since “Rob-B-Hood” is quite obviously a family oriented affair, with moral lessons and redemption very much the order of the day, there is not much in the way of fighting, with most of the action coming in the form of car chases. Some of these scenes are very well choreographed, and the film features a good few vertigo-inducing moments, especially during one which sees Chan leaping between air conditioning units at a dizzying height. Most of the humour is quite literally of the toilet variety, with a number of graphic moments involving dirty nappies in faces. There are a few mature jokes, including a great cameo scene with Nicholas Tse and Daniel Wu which hilariously references “Brokeback Mountain”. Jackie Chan goes through his usual face pulling antics, with Koo gamely taking on a vaguely effeminate role as the baby’s surrogate mother. All of this works well enough to give the film a pleasingly amiable air.

Top5

RATATOUILLE

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn
Directed by: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Ratatouille is haute cuisine for the eyes, ears and heart. Young rat Remy (Patton Oswalt) stands out from his friends and family by virtue of his acute nose and palate. His father Django (Brian Dennehy) is delighted: his son can sniff out poisoned food but Remy wants more from life. Inspired by the great chef Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett) who says "Anyone can cook," Remy wants to try his hand in the kitchen. However, a rat in a kitchen is both death to the kitchen and the rat. When disaster lands Remy in Paris, he soon makes his pilgrimage to Gusteau's eponymous restaurant. Unfortunately, the chef has since died and the restaurant is a shambles, presided over by the profit-hungry Skinner (Ian Holm), who bears more than a slight resemblance to a certain lordly Shrek villain. Another disaster presents Remy with a chance to make it as a chef: he meets neurotic garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Pixar animator Lou Romano in his first leading role) and, by a curious chance, discovers how he can work in a kitchen. By pulling on Linguini's hair to control his movements, Remy can create the dishes he wants, and help save the restaurant from both Skinner and vampiric food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole). However, Remy and Linguini have help: both from Gusteau's ghost who dispenses advice, and assistant chef Collette (Janeane Garofalo) who discovers her tough exterior softening around Linguini.

Brad Bird, and story originator Jan Pinkava, took a huge risk with this flick but with huge risks comes huge rewards and it reaps big time. Remy is a brilliant hero, and we sympathize with every dip and bump on his way to cooking success. It also helps that, like in any great comedy, the gags come from the situation and aren't tacked on just for the cheap giggle. The visuals by Pixar are eye-popping. Ego's office is a perfect complement to his character, with its coffin-shaped interior and skull-shaped typewriter. And the kitchen is an incredible set piece, both as a backdrop for the action and as a source of fear and wonder. Ratatouille sets a new gold standard for Pixar, and is a movie that stands alongside anything from Walt Disney's Golden Age. Count on it.

Top5

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Director: Paul Greengrass

The film is third in the movie trilogy loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novels which is superior to its immediate predecessor but not quite as good as the original. The film moves so fast there's almost no time to breathe. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), as part of his ongoing quest to discover his true identity, once again becomes a danger to the CIA. So the department's black ops division, led by Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), targets him for elimination. Also conspiring against him is the agency's director, Ezra Kramer (Scott Glenn), but Bourne has allies as well: agents Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) and Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) endanger their careers and lives to help him.

The action is this movie is top-notch but the film doesn't have as much heart or emotional depth as The Bourne Identity. As with The Bourne Supremacy, this movie diverts so far from its "source material" that the only things retained from Ludlum's novel are the title and some of the character names. Ludlum's version of The Bourne Ultimatum is completely different from the one penned by Tony Gilroy and directed by Paul Greengrass. Matt Damon once again plays Bourne perfectly - it's a largely impassive, kick-ass performance that draws the viewer in. Bourne doesn't delight in killing, but he doesn't shy away from it, either. There's a kinship one can sense between him and the newest James Bond. Julia Stiles and Joan Allen get a chance to show softer sides of their hard-edged characters. In the past, both played Bourne's adversaries; here, they're his allies. David Strathairn, the excellent character actor who is favored by John Sayles, oozes white collar menace. Albert Finney's inclusion in the cast may confuse viewers with imperfect memories because he looks a lot like Brian Cox, who was in the other two movies. When it comes to action, The Bourne Ultimatum trumps the summer's other offerings. While its stunts are no less preposterous than those in Live Free or Die Hard, what The Bourne Ultimatum offers is grittier and more visceral. And, while there are fewer special effects here, The Bourne Ultimatum provides a lot more suspense and tension than Transformers could hope for.

Top5

THE LAST LEGION

Starring: Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai, Thomas Sangster, Peter Mullan
Directed by: Doug Lefler

In Rome, 476 AD, the Roman Empire, a mighty force for almost 500 years, is being threatened. On the eve of twelve-year-old Romulus Augustus' (Thomas Sangster) crowning ceremony to become the new emperor, Barbarian general Odoacer (Peter Mullan) arrives in Rome to make a deal with Orestes (Iain Glen). Odoacer makes demands of the Roman Empire in fair exchange for his decade-long support of the Roman legions in the east. But Orestes refuses. On Coronation day, as all of Rome gathers to watch the proceedings, Ambrosinus (Ben Kingsley), the shaman who is a mentor and tutor to Romulus, predicts danger. Orestes is worried about his son's safety and appoints Aurelius (Colin Firth) of the fourth legion to be his personal guard. That night, Aurelius and his legionnaires confront danger--Odoacer and his army has returned to Rome. With a deafening roar, the Barbarian army storms the city. With Orestes and his wife Julia slaughtered, Romulus is captured along with Ambrosinus and taken to the island fortress of Capri built by the emperor Tiberius.

It is there that Romulus finds the mythical sword of Caesar that holds the prophecy ‘One edge to defend, one to defeat; In Britannia was I forged…to fit the hand of he...who is destined to rule’. Not all the Roman legionnaires are dead. Aurelius is alive and when he learns that the Byzantine Empire will give Romulus sanctuary, he embarks on a journey to the coast accompanied by a small group of his men and a mysterious, black-clad Byzantine warrior. Later, Aurelius discovers what lies behind the black clothing--a beautiful, young woman named Mira (Aishwarya Rai). Thanks to the strategic cunning of Ambrosinus and the fighting skill of Aurelius and Mira, Romulus is freed. But, when the group arrives on shore, they learn that the Byzantines have joined forces with Odoacer's army of Goths. Faced with such betrayal, they must find the one legion still loyal to Rome--the ninth legion in Britannia. As they set off in search of the last legion, Romulus and Aurelius together embark on a new beginning.

Top5

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman
Directed by: David Yates

In "’Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community is in denial about the teenager's recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) preferring to turn a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned. Fearing that Hogwarts' venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), is lying about Voldemort's return in order to undermine his power and take his job, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), appoints a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores Umbridge's (Imelda Staunton) Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community, so at the prompting of his friends Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), Harry takes matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army," Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.

The most striking aspect of the film is its contrast between the hormonally and supernaturally tormented teenager at its center and the modestly well-made and easygoing picture unfolding all around him. No. 5 in the omnipresent global franchise, "Order of the Phoenix" lies at a no-nonsense halfway point between the best of the Potter films ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") and the most impersonal ("Sorcerer's Stone," which made just under a billion dollars worldwide). We have watched these young actors grow up on-screen and somewhere along the way Daniel, Emma and Rupert -- Harry, Hermione and Ron to millions -- turned into increasingly assured slightly older young actors. Directed by Potter newcomer David Yates, whose résumé includes the piquant HBO romance "The Girl in the Cafe," "Order of the Phoenix" cares little about bringing newcomers up to speed. Nor is the film trying to be the biggest dog on the block. It's gratifying to see a summer picture whose primary impulse is not to destroy the audience, even as Rowling's story line nearly destroys Harry by subjecting him to a fate worse than Voldemort: teen angst.

Top5

ENEXT

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Tory Kittles, Michael Trucco
Directed by: Lee Tamahori

‘‘Next’’ has been adapted from the 1954 Philip K. Dick story ‘‘The Golden Man,’’ to which the movie bears almost no resemblance. Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) is a Las Vegas magician who actually has the ability to look into the future. This super ability works well when playing poker or figuring out which slot machine to pop a coin into. It’s also useful in keeping Cris out of harm’s way. He can always change his next step to avoid the bullet headed his direction or turn left instead of right to avoid a collision. It’s a sweet deal, but it has its drawbacks. After playing a couple of hands of blackjack and netting a tidy sum of money, Cris knows it’s time to head out of the casino before the casino’s security personnel can haul him in for questioning. Cashing out, Cris stops an armed gunman who was just about to kill two casino workers, although he can’t explain how he knew that to the police. Cris finds himself hounded by the FBI. Counter-terrorist Agent Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore) is in charge of locating a nuclear bomb somewhere in California before it can detonate and kill millions. She believes Cage’s gift can be used to save Los Angeles. But he fears exploitation and takes off to Arizona, setting off a wild chase that does produce one silly yet exciting sequence in which trucks and boulders and logs go tumbling down a hill. Meanwhile, Cris has been plagued by visions of a young girl sitting in a coffee shop. He doesn’t know why she keeps popping up in his dreams, but his instincts tell him he has to meet her. She turns out to be Liz (Jessica Biel), a school teacher about to head out of Vegas to visit family in Flagstaff. Cris’ requests to hitch a ride with her, and says no to Agent Ferris’ request to stop terrorists. But circumstances change and Cris might just be the only person on the planet who can stop the destruction.

Cage isn’t bad and Biel deserves her reputation as one of the hottest young actresses of her generation. But just about everything is wrong with Julianne Moore’s portrayal of a government agent, although it’s necessary to cut her some slack because, she’s forced to deliver horrible lines and that’s a major part of the problem. The other supporting actors are completely forgettable, with the exception of a tiny appearance by Peter Falk whose character seems to have wandered in from an earlier version of the script. Lee Tamahori knows action but that can’t save the irritatingly pointless Next from taking one disastrous misstep after another. Clever editing and an intriguing premise are wasted when on a film that's loaded with plot holes and loopy logic, and filled with incredibly bad dialogue. But the film does feature a couple of terrific action sequences that visually depict Cage’s character’s unique time-traveling ability.

Top5

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ziyi Zhang, Chris Evans, Mako
Directed by: Kevin Munroe

After the defeat of their old arch nemesis, The Shredder, the Turtles have grown apart as a family. Struggling to keep them together, their rat sensei, Master Splinter (voice of Mako), becomes worried when strange things begin to brew in New York City. Tech-industrialist Max Winters (Patrick Stewart) is amassing an army of ancient monsters to apparently take over the world. And only one super-ninja fighting team can stop them-those heroes in a half shell-Leonardo(voice of James Arnold, from left), Michelangelo (voice of Mikey Kelley), Donatello (voice of Mitchell Whitfield) and Raphael (voice of Nolan North)! With the help of old allies April O'Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Casey Jones (Chris Evans), the Turtles are in for the fight of their lives as they once again must face the mysterious Foot Clan, who have put their own ninja skills behind Winters' endeavours.

Even after two forgettable sequels in the 1990s that almost flipped them on their backs, it's hard to keep "TMNT" down. Writer-director Kevin Munroe has stripped away all the cheese that has been associated with the franchise to deliver a film that should appease fans of the original comic book. The beautiful-looking computer animated film employs a grittier and darker palette than previously seen in the first three live-action entries. It is also a movie more in tune with the original source material than previous cinematic attempts. This movie succeeds much in the same way the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises did: It simply takes the material seriously. And since we're talking about crime-fighting, mutated turtles who live in the sewers of New York and are all named after master Renaissance artists, that's no small feat. The Hong Kong-based animation studio's animated fight scenes, including a rooftop battle in the midst of a rainstorm, are both beautiful and realistic. You forget you're watching a computer-animated feature. In a film about ninja turtles, you couldn't really ask for anything more.

Top5

TRANSFORMERS

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Megan Fox
Directed by: Michael Bay

The Earth is caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between two races of robots, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations. Megatron is the most fearsome warrior of the evil Decepticons, enemies of the benevolent Transformers. Both races of robots fled the doomed planet Cybertron and have been drawn to Earth because Megatron crash-landed near the North Pole a century ago and possesses the Allspark. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) talks his dad into buying him one, and he ends up with an old beater, a yellow Camaro that is actually the Transformer named Bumblebee and gets so mad when his paint job is insulted that it transforms itself into a shiny new Camaro. This is more than a hot car. It plays the soundtrack to Sam's life. The Camaro unfolds into a hulking robot, helicopters become walking death monsters. It also helps Sam become visible to his sexy classmate Mikaela (Megan Fox).


The movie is inspired by the Transformer toys that twist and fold and double in upon themselves, like a Rubik's Cube crossed with a contortionist. Hot-shot director Michael Bay has a knack for masking ill-formed movie plots by piling on blistering action sequences. "Transformers" is his best cover-up yet. This remarkable CGI sledgehammer, a live-action takeoff on the animated TV series about battling alien robots on Earth that morph into gigantic mechanical beasts, packs a powerful punch. The movie full of through-the-roof special effects, often intentionally ridiculous, wildly uneven. Thankfully, it also has Shia LaBeouf, a kind of everykid actor who has the screen presence to glue the whole thing together.

Top5

MEET THE ROBINSONS

Starring: Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Harland Williams, Adam West, Tom Kenny, Ethan Sandler
Directed by Stephen Anderson

"Meet the Robinsons" is the first movie to come out of Walt Disney Feature Animation since Pixar head John Lasseter took last year, and, not surprisingly, it plays like Disney product with a shot of creative caffeine. Almost as funny as it is hyperactive, the new computer-animated family comedy is luscious to look at and as fizzy as a can of soda popped open in your face. In the reshaped story, a new character, Lewis (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry), is whisked from the present to the future by reckless boy time traveler Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman), who's pilfered one of dad Cornelius' (voiced by Tom Selleck) many inventions. Wilbur, among other things, is trying to protect 12-year-old Lewis' science fair invention, a memory scanner machine, from the wicked Bowler Hat Guy (director Anderson) whose villainy is indefatigable. So is Guy's head gizmo, the bowler hat itself, whose name is Doris and who is meaner than he is. Once in the future, Lewis meets a large ensemble, mostly Robinsons--including musical mom Franny (Nicole Sullivan); weirdo Grandpa Bud (Anderson again) who wears his clothes backward; super-pizza man Uncle Art (Adam West); and the spiffy house robot Carl (Harland Williams). And a battle royal simmers between the Robinsons and evil Guy.

The tale, set to a playful Danny Elfman score, has a couple of surprises in store, some involving Lewis' present-world people, his kindly orphanage caretaker Mildred (Angela Bassett) and fellow orphan "Goob" Yagoobian (Matthew Josten). Anderson gives us the fun of impossible or unlikely dreams and also a story with some deeper emotions--perhaps because the director himself was an adopted child. The movie, in its way, is a tribute to the imagination and, when it enters the future, it's a new-fangled, old-fashioned jim-dandy of a show.

Top5

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD

Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Jeffrey Wright, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Directed by: Len Wiseman

Twelve years after "Die Hard: With a Vengeance," New York detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is at it again. This time he's protecting a hacker (Justin Long) and America from Internet-based terrorist Thomas Gabriel ( Timothy Olyphant), a disgruntled former government security employee aided by various BWAs -- ranging from a cool Asian beauty (Hong Kong action star Maggie Q) to a Eurotrash muscleman (French action star Cyril Raffaelli). En route, McClane's daughter gets kidnapped, and the FBI's head honcho (Cliff Curtis) gets sidelined because all mobile phones cease to work.


The movie has almost nonstop stunts and action real with very little assistance from CGI. The early stunts involving gunfire and escape get the pulse racing. Then come flying cars, huge fireballs, collapsing freeways, leaping actors, a Harrier jet taking on a big rig and assorted hand-to-hand fights of increasing originality if not implausibility until one can only respond by laughing. And to think it all begins with a routine if not mundane assignment for the NYPD detective: pick up a young computer hacker in New Jersey and bring him to the FBI in Washington for questioning. You do notice that McClane is not the same perky fellow he once was. His wife has divorced him, his daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) won't talk to him, and he's none too thrilled with police work anymore. The hacker, Matt Farrell (Justin Long), starts to give him a hard time, which further exasperates McClane. Then a strange thing happens: Several heavy-duty assassins hit the hacker's apartment with all they've got. Somebody wants Matt dead real badly. McClane and Matt barely escape, thus setting the pattern for a movie that now becomes a continual chase -- though who is chasing whom sometimes changes. Director Len Wiseman firmly establishes an atmosphere of chaos and confusion with a graceful camera and superior location work. Willis and Long make a great odd couple as they rumble from city to country and state to state in an odyssey of sheer endurance and survival. Willis supplies the muscle and wit -- his lines are always funny but never really mock the action -- while Long is alternatively scared and determined as the geek turns into a force of vengeance. Their on-the-run character byplay gives each scene an added oomph.

Top5

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA

Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Josh Hutcherson, Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Clinton, Bailee Madison
Directed by: Gabor Csupo

The movie, based on the award-winning children's novel by Katherine Paterson, is all about the imaginary worlds inside our minds, specifically, the minds of young children, and those fabulous far-away places residing therein that are both irresistible and terrifying. Jess (Josh Hutcherson) is a 10-year-old loner, an artist of some means, constantly sketching fantastic creatures and mythological worlds in his notebook. It is his escape from the real world where he is picked on regularly at school, and on the school bus by the cool kids, and even at home by his older sisters. His parents (Robert Patrick and Kate Butler) are struggling to make ends meet, so much so that on the day of a big race, Jess (who fancies himself the fastest kid in school) is forced to wear hand-me-down pink sneakers from one of his sisters. Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) is a new girl in school who is incredibly intelligent. She is the daughter of fiction writers, who is blessed with an imagination that rivals Jess'. Her talent is storytelling -- writing aloud as she races with the wind, creating vivid stories of kings and princesses and ogres and giants. This is her escape from a real world that can't keep up with all she envisions. At the aforementioned school race Jess and Leslie set in motion the friendship that will change their lives forever. One day, as the two are racing through the woods, they come upon a dangling rope suspended over a creek. They grab it and swing across and enter the imaginary world of Terabithia, where they reign as king and queen. Here they battle mythical creatures, from giant armour-clad squirrels to hairy vultures to a she-giant who's brought down by a good dose of tickling. Dragonflies morph into an army of glistening gold warriors. Trees come to life as a menacing horde. An old abandoned tree house becomes their mighty fortress.

"Terabithia" works on so many levels because it never talks down to its intended child audience, while it maintains enough intelligence to ably pique the interest of adults. Hungarian director Gabor Csupo, known mostly for his animation work on "The Wild Thornberrys," "The Rugrats" and "The Simpsons," keeps the special effects smartly in check. The effects in "Terabithia" are highly stylized and quite potent. Ultimately, the film's heart and soul rests on the abilities of its young lead characters to make us really see the world through children's eyes. The dynamic duo of Hutcherson and Robb do not disappoint. Throughout the film, we feel Jess' pain, his joy, his sadness, thanks to a sensitive and believable performance by Hutcherson, whose credits include "Zathura" and "RV." Even Jess' innocent crush on the school's foxy young music teacher (Zooey Deschanel) is so genuine that our hearts can't help aching over what he's going through. As Leslie, Robb (the sweet Opal in "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the spoiled brat Violet in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") dazzles with her sparkling blue eyes and million-watt smile. She makes Leslie an outsider with a heart of gold, whose funky retro-metro wardrobe is something she wears quite well, but will never win her points with the cool girls in school. "Bridge to Terabithia" is all about meeting your first best friend, and holding on to that friendship with all your might. It's about childhood, about playing and running and just being a kid, with all the pitfalls and pratfalls, with all the joy and the pain.

Top5

FANTASTIC FOUR

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon
Directed by: Tim Story

Astronaut Dr. Reed Richards' (Ioan Gruffudd), lifelong dream is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space, to the center of a cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity. Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary's hopes of the historic flight, until Reed accepted a financing deal with his old college rival, Victor Von Doon (Julian McMahon), now a billionaire industrialist. Reed's crew for the mission includes his best friend, astronaut Benjamin Grimm (Michael Chiklis), Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Von Doom's director of genetic research and Reed's ex-girlfriend; and Sue's hot-headed younger brother, pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). With benefactor Von Doom in tow, the four set off for the exploration of a lifetime. The mission is uneventful--until Reed discovers a miscalculation of the speed of the approaching storm. The space station is engulfed by turbulent clouds of cosmic radiation which genetically transforms the crew. Their DNA is irrevocably altered--and so is their future. Back on earth, the effects on the exposure are quickly revealed. Reed gains the ability to stretch and contort his body into any shape he can imagine and, as leader of the group, is given the name Mr. Fantastic; Sue is able to render herself invisible and to create and project powerful force fields as Invisible Woman; Johnny becomes known as The Human Torch, as he can now engulf his body in flames and take flight at will; and Ben, whose freakish transmutation is the most shocking, becomes an orange-coloured, rock-like, superhumanly strong creature, The Thing. Together, they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into coalition, using their unique and formidable powers to thwart the evil plans of their now steely-eyed, iron-fisted nemesis Dr. Doom and to protect New York City against any threat that may arise.

The Fantastic Four are underwhelming. It's all setup and demonstration, naming, discussing and demonstrating, and it never digests the complications of the Fantastic Four and gets on to telling a compelling story. the really good superhero movies, like "Superman," "SpiderMan 2" and "Batman Begins," leave "Fantastic Four" so far behind that the movie should almost be ashamed to show itself in the same theaters.

Top5

HREK THE THIRD

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Rupert Everett, Amy Sedaris, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph
Directed by: Chris Miller, Raman Hui

Being king isn't for everyone--especially if you're a prickly ogre who smells like the shallow end of a swamp. When Shrek (Mike Myers) married Fiona, the last thing he wanted was to rule Far Far Away, but when his frogger-in-law, King Harold, (John Cleese) suddenly croaks, Shrek is quickly fitted for the crown. Now, unless the reluctant would-be king can find a suitable replacement, he'll be royally screwed for the rest of his days. As if Shrek didn't have enough on his plate, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) has another little surprise on the way. With his head spinning and his belly in knots, Shrek sets off on a quest to find the only other possible heir to the throne, Fiona's long-lost cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake), an underachieving medieval high schooler. While the ogre is away, his old nemesis Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) rears his handsome head and returns to the kingdom of Far Far Away with redemption on his shallow little mind. And he's amassed all the old fairy tale/fable/children's story villains he can find to aid him. Even with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and the ever-so-suave Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) by their side, it's going to take an ogre-sized effort--and a whole lot of help from Fiona and her band of princesses--for Shrek and Artie to save the day and find their own "Happily Ever After."

The notion of an army made up of Captain Hook, the Cyclops, Snow White's Evil Queen, etc. is reasonably amusing. The movie includes new additions of several princesses — Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, among them — who, in a tired late-movie nod to grrl power, transform themselves into kung fu babes. What gets lost in all the characters, action, comic bits and life lessons is the genuinely charming and often hilarious relationship between Shrek and Donkey (and, to a lesser extent, Puss in Boots). That's what made "Shrek 2" the best of the series, the growing connection between these lovable misfits. The animation is impeccable — the mane of Prince Charming's horse ruffles beautifully in the breeze. And the film is thankfully short. But the magic is gone. "Shrek the Third" is one big, to paraphrase the "Cinderella" lyric, bibbety-bobbity boo-boo.

Top5

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN

Starring: George Clooney, Ellen Barkin, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and the gang would have only one reason to pull off their most ambitious and riskiest casino heist--to defend one of their own. But they’re going to need more than luck on their side to break The Bank. Ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) never imagined that the odds were against him when he double-crossed Danny Ocean’s friend and mentor Reuben Tishkoff, putting the distraught Reuben in a hospital bed in critical condition. But Bank miscalculated--badly. He may have taken down one of the original Ocean’s eleven, but he left the others standing and, worse for him, gave them a shared purpose: to take Bank down on the night of what should be his greatest triumph--the grand opening of his new casino, appropriately named The Bank. Their strategy is twofold. First they will ruin him financially by turning the tables on the precept that the house always wins. But that’s just money. The knockout punch will be to Bank’s personal pride and joy: his reputation as the only hotelier who has earned the Royal Review Board’s Five Diamond Award on every single one of his hotels. The plan is elaborate, dangerous and damn near impossible--but there are no limits when it comes to one of their own.

Clooney and Brad Pitt set the job in motion, even without understanding what exactly they and the rest of the crew are up to. Don Cheadle hangs out way beneath the casino's bowels. Bernie Mac runs a sham gambling charity. Casey Affleck , wearing a great big moustache, infiltrates the Mexican factory where the casino's dice will be loaded. Eddie Jemison tries to rig the blackjack machines. Shaobo Qin impersonates a Chinese high roller. And Reiner impersonates the man responsible for rating the casino, while the actual reviewer (David Paymer) is put through a nonstop wringer of humiliating pranks. And Jimmy Olsen (Matt Damon) as the most hapless member of this crew, finally gets to spearhead his own very important assignment, while wearing a prosthetic beak of a nose.

Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's" movies are like silk-screens. A similar caper gets printed on a different casino. In the first movie, a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack vehicle, it was the Bellagio. For this third installment, the extravagantly entertaining "Ocean's Thirteen," it's a gaudy new, Gehrylite joint down the street. 

Top5

BLACK SNAKE MOAN

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, John Cothran Jr, Michael Raymond-James
Directed by: Craig Brewer

Bitter and broken from a cheating wife and a shattered marriage, Lazarus' soul (Jackson) is lost in spent dreams and betrayal's contempt--until Rae (Christina Ricci) comes along. Half naked and beaten unconscious, Rae is left for dead on the side of the road when Lazarus discovers her. The God-fearing, middle-aged black man quickly learns that the young white woman he's nursing back to health is none other than the town tramp from the small Tennessee town where they live. Worse, she has a peculiar anxiety disorder. He realizes when the fever hits, Rae's affliction has more to do with love lost than any found. Abused as a child and abandoned by her mother, Rae is used by every man. She tethers her only hope to Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), but escape to a better life is short-lived when Ronnie ships off for boot camp. Desperation kicks in, as a drug-induced Rae reverts to surviving the only way she knows how, by giving any man what he wants to get what she needs--until Lazarus. Refusing to know her in the biblical sense, Lazarus decides to cure Rae of her wicked ways--and vent some unresolved male vengeance of his own. He chains her to his radiator, justifying his unorthodox methods with quoted scripture. Preacher R.L. intervenes, but it is Lazarus and Rae who redeem themselves. Unleashing Rae emotionally, Lazarus unchains his heart, finding love again in Angela. By saving Rae, he frees himself.

Written and directed by Craig Brewer, this follow-up to his phenomenal ‘Hustle & Flow’. Lacking its predecessor's jivey energy and house-afire star turn by Terrence Howard, the movie is actually a rather sweet story of redemption and having faith in people - minus the rough language, the explicit sex and Ricci's ready-to-rut physicality. While Brewer doesn't ignore inherent racial issues that seem to come with the territory every time a movie is set in the South, he certainly lets them slide. Jackson does a respectable job, but he doesn't really get a chance to cut loose as Howard did. He simply doesn't have the material to support him. Everything about Ricci is pungent.

Top5

PATHFINDER

Starring: Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means, Clancy Brown, Nathaniel Arcand
Directed by: Marcus Nispel


A thousand years in the past, a young Norse boy is left behind after his clan shipwrecks on the Eastern shores. Despite his lineage, the boy is raised by Native American Wampanoag tribe - the very Indians his kinsmen set out to destroy. Now, as the Vikings return to stage another barbaric raid on his village, the 25 year-old Norse warrior Ghost (Karl Urban) wages a personal war to stop the Vikings' trail of death and destruction. Aware of his Viking relatives' propensity for butchery, he leaps in to protect the wise old shaman Pathfinder (Russell Means) and Pathfinder's beauteous, two-fisted daughter Starfire (Moon Bloodgood) supplanting the would-be Wampanoag hero Blackwing (Jay Tavare) forging his own path, his destiny is revealed and his identity re-claimed. Led by the snarling Gunnar (Clancy Brown), the Vikings are into slavery, slaughter and drawing and quartering, and they have the technological advantage of armor and broadswords. But they haven't reckoned with Ghost, who winds up following wise old Pathfinder's advice to "turn the bear's strength against himself" and begins exploiting a vein of Viking stupidity that makes you wonder how they were ever able to cross the ocean or learn how to disembowel their victims.

‘Pathfinder’ is a bizarre, bloody adventure movie that hurls us back to the 9th Century, straight into a clash between noble Native Americans and fierce Vikings--two groups that spend much of the movie swinging weapons at each other's heads. Urban sometimes looks like a shaggier version of Brad Pitt, but he doesn't get enough time for seduction or levity. Director Marcus Nispel has a gaudy visual style, and he likes to shove us into the violence headfirst. There's very little setup for the story at the beginning; fairly soon, we're up to our necks in massacre. the script by Laeta Kalogridis isn't strong on dialogue: The Vikings speak Icelandic (with subtitles) and the Indians speak largely in aphorisms, clichés and mini-sermons. The movie is at its best with the action scenes, like the astounding cliffhanger at the end, a CGI-free scene in which the Vikings and Ghost swing on a huge rope on the mountainside in the midst of a snowy landslide. But it doesn't really balance the action with humanity, drama or humor. The gnarly decor of Pathfinder's treehouse, with its wind chimes, is about as humanly eccentric and warm as "Pathfinder" gets. The film is based vaguely on Nils Gaup's excellent 1987 Norwegian epic (set in Lapland), doesn't lack for talent.

Top5

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard, Geoffrey Rush
Directed by: Gore Verbinski, George Marshall Ruge

Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones' (Bill Nighy) locker, while the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones, under the control of the East India Trading Company, wreaks havoc across the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, they must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Chinese Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very end of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final, titanic battle, as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way, hangs in the balance.

Director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have packed "World's End" with so much explosive action, opulent decor and surreal scenes of mayhem and madness -- that sometimes it's overwhelming. This sequel is frenziedly imaginative, where the first "Pirates" was sunny, fey and friendly (like Sparrow) and the second a rollicking romp. "Dead Man's Chest" and "World's End" were conceived together by the original writers, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (who also co-wrote the first "Shrek"). But "Dead Man's Chest" is mostly buildup and "World's End" is mostly payoff. Fortunately Depp is around to keep Capt. Jack and the movie subversively off-track and delightfully imaginative. The most characteristic scenes are not so much the ferocious sea battles but moments such as Capt. Jack's wordplay or the way Davy Jones uses a tentacle-tip to flick away a tear. Verbinski is far more interested in acting and performance than most high-tech blockbuster-makers, and the supporting roles, especially by Rush, Chow, Nighy and Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma, give Depp a tasty backdrop. The movie, extravagant, amusing and exciting, may be only a ride, but it's a ride that dazzles.

Top5

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Starring: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, Alec Baldwin, John Turturro
Directed by: Robert De Niro

Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) was lucky enough to be born with a blue-blooded WASP lineage. As a consequence, he was not only able to follow in his fathers footsteps to Yale, but to join Skull and Bones, the colleges secret society which has for generations, served as a breeding ground for captains of industry, presidents and other powerful leaders. While still in college, Edward was quietly recruited to serve his country overseas undercover, in order to monitor the rise of the Nazis in the late Thirties. However, he had mixed emotions about accepting the offer, primarily because his dad had also been a spy for the government, and had ended up committing suicide under mysterious circumstances while he was just an adolescent. But due to the not so subtle pressure from his fraternity brothers, Edward capitulated. He even dumped the deaf girl (Tammy Blanchard) he was dating to marry Clover (Angelina Jolie), the well-connected daughter of a senator (Keir Dullea), and sister of a fellow Bonesman (Gabriel Macht). A week after their ostensibly arranged wedding, Edward was whisked away from her to Germany to begin a career of espionage. Almost never in the U.S, he persevered out of a blind sense of patriotism, despite the fact that the price for that loyalty is a loveless marriage and a resentful son (Eddie Redmayne).

Its prevailing theme is strikingly reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Munich’ which, a year ago, examined the emotional toll tracking down Palestinian terrorists exacted on the Israeli agents assigned the task. This flashback flick opens in 1961 during the badly-botched Bay of Pigs operation in Cuba, and alternates frequently between that pivotal moment in American history and assorted critical touchstones in Edward’s life. What is ultimately of most interest is that Ed Jr. eventually also attends Yale, joins Skull and Bones, and appears poised to embark on his own career as a CIA. Thus, the question becomes whether Ed Sr. will intervene or allow his boy to make the same mistake as his father and grandfather.

Top5

Blades of Glory

Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer
Directed by: Will Speck, Josh Gordon

Brash, cocky womanizing figure skater Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) takes to the rink, he is the rock star of the arena, leaving a trail of thrashed ice and shrieking female fans in his wake. The only competitor who can match Michaels scores is the driven former child prodigy, Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder). Spotted as a youth executing triple lutzes on the frozen pond of an orphanage, MacElroy was whisked away to days of endless training, and now stands as the picture of poise, the personification of the highest ideals of the men’s sport. Michaels and MacElroy have met in finals rounds before, but their latest head-to-head at the World Championships--when they tie for first--is more than either one can bear, and their longstanding rivalry erupts into a no-holds-barred fight. The ensuing brawl not only sets fire to the World Championship’s helpless mascot, but lands both athletes in hot water: Chazz and Jimmy are called before the sports governing board, stripped of their gold medals and banned from the sport for life.

Now, 3-and-a-half years later, both men are still trying to find their way in a world without competitive skating. Michaels has devolved into a drunken party machine, skating as a costumed evil wizard in a kiddie ice review, and MacElroy has been banished to the shoe department of a chain sporting goods store. To skate again, all Chazz and Jimmy have to do is set aside their long festering hatred of one another and join forces--as the first male/male figure skating pair to compete in the history of the sport. Jenna Fischer is amusing as Jimmy's crush, deployed by her skating-fiend brother (Will Arnett) and sister (Amy Poehler) to break up the man/man act. Some of the ruthless rivalry business grows a bit tiresome. Ferrell is outrageous and over-the-top in his delivery and actions. The homophobic looks he gives when training for the doubles competition alone make the movie worth seeing. What is unexpected however is the great performance by Heder. He actually outshines the outrageousness of Ferrell. While there are indeed some laugh-out-loud moments overall the movie feels forced.

Top5

THE HILLS HAVE EYES II

Starring: Jessica Stroup, Reshad Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella Alonso, Lee Thompson Young
Directed by: Martin Weisz

The sequel to 1977 cult classic, "The Hills Have Eyes," which grossed over $41 million at the domestic box office, is written by horror legend Wes Craven and Jonathan Craven and directed by Martin Weisz. Last time it was a vacationing American family that saw their numbers seriously diminished. This time, in the script written by Craven and his son Jonathan, it's a group of National Guard soldiers at the Yuma Flats Training and Testing Facility in New Mexico who come up against the bloodthirsty clan. Sent on a routine mission to deliver equipment to scientists working in a top secret area known as Sector 16, the soldiers, with names like Amber (Jessica Stroup), Crank (Jacob Vargas) and Napoleon (Michael McMillian), arrive to discover that the research camp is deserted. What they don't know is that after the surviving members of the hapless Carter family alerted the authorities, the U.S. military swept in and supposedly blasted away all traces of the nasty element. Turns out that they missed a few, and the remaining mutants are hell-bent on repopulating and more determined to even the score for the nuclear test fallout that made them what they are today.

But while those irradiated, cannibalistic hillbillies are back to prey upon more unsuspecting visitors, "The Hills Have Eyes 2" proves that even grisly, gory violence can be awfully boring. Where French director Alexandre Aja instilled last year's remake with a certain amount of retro '70s style and sweaty dread, the new arrival is a poorly paced, blandly executed body count picture that stands around a lot marking time between the bloody onslaughts.

Top5

RENO 911! MIAMI

Starring: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Niecy Nash, Mary Birdsong, Cedric Yarbrough
Directed by: Robert Ben Garant

Based on a successful US TV show - which is itself a parody of fly-on-the-wall documentary series Cops - Reno brings the lo-fi shakycam feel of Spinal Tap to police comedy. Unusual for this misfit crew, the shot pretty much hits its intended target. The assorted Reno deputies and their boss, Lt. Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon, a Chicago native who also gets a writer credit for the movie), head to the bright lights of Miami for a police convention--by bus. Upon arrival, a registration mishap turns them away from the convention center and puts them in a sleazy motel.

A biological weapon is loosed on the convention, quarantining thousands of police officers and Miami's political leadership, leaving the Reno bunch to prove themselves as the law in town. They must overcome an overzealous SWAT team member (The Rock), a beached whale corpse, drug dealers, a petty bureaucrat (elevated to acting mayor) in their pursuit of the antidote to the bio-weapon--all this while keeping the streets of Miami safe from everyday crime. A documentary film crew is on hand to record every gaffe.

Top5

SPIDER-MAN 3

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, James Franco
Directed by: Sam Raimi

Peter (Tobey Maguire) has fully embraced his role as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and he’s got his priorities in order with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) at his side. Uncle Ben would be proud. Of course things can’t stay rosy for long; Peter is still on a journey after all. Harry Osborne (James Franco) is still dealing with his feelings towards Peter over his father’s death becoming the New Goblin. Then there’s the Flint Marko (Thomas Hadden Church) who is a convict and has recently escaped from prison, driven to help his ailing daughter he’s caught up in an experiment transforming into the villain that is Sandman. Next up is Eddie Brock (Topher Grace); he’s new at the Daily Bugle, barging in as the new Spidey photographer rivaling Peter. Adding to the love triangle, as Harry still likes MJ, there’s also Gwen Stacy, classmate of Peter who has got a crush on SpiderMan after he saved her life. But the biggest and most anticipated addition of all is the Symbiote, which gives Spider-Man his black outfit thus leading up to the creation of super-villain Venom, embodied by Eddie Brock. When the symbiote first takes over the suit Peter has more strength and his emotions are amplified, specifically hate and vengeance. Peter must overcome his personal demons as Sandman and Venom gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution to threaten Peter and everyone he loves.

Between the battles, there are a lot of character driven moments that give the film a different tone and pace compared to the previous films. As we watch these characters grow, director Sam Raimi enjoys taking that time to reveal each persons inner motives.

Tobey still captures and delivers. Peter has a wild-eyed enthusiasm of being Spidey with a sweet charm. It is fun to see him accept a darker side when the symbiote takes full control. Each villain has unique style & abilities have been shown off quite well. The effects continue to amaze whether it’s Spider-Man swinging through city or Sandman pounding anyone who gets in his way, it was amazing to see the origin of each villain come to life.

Top5

HANNIBAL RISING

Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Ivan Marevich, Aaron Thomas (II), Rhys Ifans
Directed by: Peter Webber, Michel Pascal (II)

In 1944, Hannibal Lecter and his family escape from their castle in Lithuania, Eastern Europe to a remote shack. However, his parents are killed in an attack by the Germans, and a group of mercenaries take Hannibal and his sister Mischa captive. Running out of food, the men kill Mischa and eat her before running off and leaving Hannibal for dead. Many years later, a teenage Hannibal moves to Paris to study medicine and lives with his Japanese aunt, Lady Shikibu (Gong). He also manages to discover the identities of those who killed Mischa, and tracks them down in order to enact revenge. If you take Hannibal Rising as separate from the Hannibal Lecter saga, it’s a pretty ordinary vendetta/slasher film. But if you find it impossible to do so the film is arguably even worse because it takes one of the most complex and captivating villains in cinematic history and reduces him to a psychological archetype - the product of a horrific childhood.

One reason why you will fine it easy to disassociate the Hannibal in this film from his other appearances on celluloid is that the character looks and behaves so differently. For one thing, Ulliel looks nothing like Anthony Hopkins (or Brian Cox for that matter), but the character is missing something. Hannibal has always been as eloquent as he is monstrous, but here he’s almost monosyllabic. There’s no wit, no psychological mind games; he’s just out for bloody revenge. It doesn’t help matters that Ulliel’s performance often verges on camp, and his endless grinning is more annoying than it is disconcerting.

Gong provides a welcome presence. In many ways her character is creepier than Hannibal because it’s never clear how far she will go in protecting Hannibal from the police, whose suspicions he has aroused. Hannibal Rising is certainly a stylish film. The cinematography is nice to look at, there’s a certain amount of atmosphere in places, and the musical score is good. But unlike in Ridley Scott’s vastly underrated Hannibal, these cosmetic elements seem to exist only to make up for the rather weak plot, rather than to accentuate it. The film is never actually scary or unnerving either, and in places it’s also rather sluggish.

Top5

HAPPILY N’EVER AFTER

Starring: Voice over by Sigourney Weaver, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick
Directed by: Paul Bolger, Yvette Kaplan

"Happily N'Ever After" is an animated feature about a fairy-tale kingdom taken over by a gang of villains, trolls and ogres headed by Cinderella's evil stepmother (voiced by Sigourney Weaver). Bad stepmom Frieda is determined to keep dreamy, put-upon Ella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) from any happy endings--and, while she's at it, to mess things up for Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood too. Unfortunately, as Ella scampers around the kingdom with her friends and allies, trying to elude Frieda and somehow find her addled Prince Charming (Patrick Warburton), the action gets wild but the laughs and the magic never really kick in.

Written without much humor and visualized without much pizzazz, "Happily" mostly has to rely on its snazzy big-star voice cast--including Gellar's hubby Freddie Prinze Jr. as her love interest Rick, along with George Carlin, Andy Dick and Wallace Shawn--to generate interest. Part of the problem lies with its script written is by Rob Moreland, with the mysterious credit "additional writing" assigned to Doug Langdale. Their story dubiously suggests that the classic fairy tales, unspooling simultaneously, are all under the quality control of a hip Wizard (Carlin) who unwisely takes off for a golfing vacation, leaving everything in the hands of his wise-acre, bumbling assistants Munk (Shawn) and Mambo (Dick). Since the Wiz departs on the day of Charming's great ball, that leaves an opening for Frieda, who steals the Wizard's magic staff, commandeers his crystal ball and invites the dregs of fairy-tale land to invade the castle and back her take over. All this is narrated by Rick, who, as a dishwasher in the palace kitchen, is Ella's equivalent underdog and worthier of her affection than the official prince, Warburton's Humperdink, with his golden tresses, empty head and granite jaw. The film looks like had begun as an old-fashioned 2-D "flat" cartoon and then switched by producer John Williams (of "Shrek") and director Paul J. Bolger to 3-D during production.

Top5

DISTURBIA

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo
Directed by: D.J. Caruso

Versatile star Shia LaBeouf (Holes) plays Kale, a high-school student sentenced to three months' house arrest after socking a teacher when he makes an inappropriate comment about his recently deceased father. His mother, Julie, works night and day to support herself and her son, only to be met with indifference and lethargy. While killing time in his suburban prison, Kale spies on his neighbors with binoculars, à la James Stewart in "Rear Window." He develops a crush on the frequently bikini-clad girl next door, Ashley (Sarah Roemer) and discovers evidence that another nearby resident (David Morse) may be a brutal killer. With the police hesitant to trust a delinquent, Kale turns to Ashley and best bud Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) to help bring the psycho to justice. But, are his suspicions merely the product of cabin fever and his overactive imagination?

There's so much to like about "Disturbia" that, in the end, it feels a tad overstuffed. Director D.J. Caruso creates an edge-of-your-seat atmosphere for the intense third act, and Kale's courtship of Ashley yields several irresistibly sweet moments. Though most easily classified as a creepy serial-killer flick, the film packs '80s-style teen comedy, puppy-love romance and a moody study of post-traumatic adolescent stress into its tight 104-minute running time. This combination of genres ensures that no one will be bored, and to its credit, the movie succeeds when judged by its individual parts. The film aims to provide solid entertainment but it's just too bad it tries so hard.

Top5

PROVOKED

Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson, Nandita Das, Rebecca Pidgeon, Robbie Coltraine
Director: Jagmohan Mundhra
Background Score: A.R. Rahman

Set in London, PROVOKED is the traumatic story of a battered Punjabi housewife and mother of two, Kiranjit Ahluwalia [Aishwarya Rai]. Unable to bear the brutality of her alcoholic husband Deepak Ahluwalia [Naveen Andrews], she takes revenge by setting him on fire. Charged with first-degree murder, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, where she befriends her cell-mate, a white woman named Veronica Scott [Miranda Richardson], from whom she learns English. Her cell-mate is so moved by her story that she asks her step-brother Lord Edward Foster [Robbie Coltrane], a highly respected queen's counsel to file her appeal. Her case comes to the notice of a motley group of South Asian social workers running an under-funded organization called Southall Black Sisters. They bring her plight to the attention of the media by organizing rallies to gather public support for her freedom. She is freed by the judiciary in a landmark judgment and reunited with her children.

Director Jagmohan Mundhra's choice of the subject is right, but the film lacks a captivating drama. The story had the ingredients to work as a cinematic interpretation, but the writers [Carl Austin, Rahila Gupta] haven't utilized the opportunity to the optimum. What you carry home are flashes, not the film in entirety. In fact, you don't feel euphoric when the protagonist is pronounced 'non-guilty' and is set free in the end. The narrative seems stretched at places. A few sequences come across as repetitive. Besides the writing, the execution of the material doesn't touch your heart or move you to tears. Madhu Ambat's cinematography captures the mood of the film well. A.R. Rahman's background score is appropriate. Aishwarya Rai’s performance in the film is stunning. Her work in the film easily ranks amongst her best. Naveen Andrews leaves a mark, but there was scope to develop his character better. Miranda Richardson is topnotch. Nandita Das doesn't work. Rebecca Pidgeon is okay, while Robbie Coltraine is effective.

Top5

MR. BEAN’S HOLIDAY

Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Emma De Caunes, Jean Rochefort
Directed by: Steve Bendelack

The film is basically a series of TV sketches strung together on a larger budget, and as such it's very easy to take without being particularly distinguished. In rainy London, Mr. Bean Rowan Atkinson wins a raffle at a church bazaar. First prize is a trip to Cannes, South of France and a video camera. The accident-prone Bean sets off. After a series of mishaps, involving the small son of a Russian member of the Cannes Film Festival Jury, Mr. Bean stumbles onto a film set where pretentious cineaste Carson Clay, (Willem Dafoe), is directing a yoghurt commercial.

Mr. Bean is in the rich tradition of silent screen comedy. There are elements of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and, especially, Harold Lloyd in the character, which is also inspired by the great French comic, Jacques Tati, whose M. Hulot like Mr. Bean went on a holiday by the sea. But Bean never quite reaches the heights of the illustrious clowns who preceded him. In this comedy of frustration, there's a certain amount of predictability; we just know he's going to lose his bus ticket, or leave his wallet behind and cause people who have tried to help him endless grief.

Top5

PERFECT STRANGER

Starring: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Gary Dourdan, Nicki Lynn Aycox
Directed by: James Foley

When investigative reporter Rowena Price (Berry) learns that her friend's murder might be connected to powerful ad executive Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis), she goes undercover with the help of her associate, Miles Hailey (Giovanni Ribisi). Posing as Katherine, a 'temp' at Hill's ad agency, and Veronica, a girl Hill flirts with online, Rowena surrounds her prey from all sides, only to discover that she isn't the only one changing identities. The closer Rowena gets to finding the truth, the more we see how far people will go to protect it. It is an intimate, thought-provoking story about a troubled woman who comes face to face with the most unforgettable man she will ever meet.

Top5

NORBIT

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding Jr, Eddie Griffin, Terry Crews
Directed by: Brian Robbins

Norbit mirrors Nutty Professor Sherman Klump -- and his rotund family members. Nutty as it once again showcases Murphy and Baker's incomparable skills at turning Murphy into a fat guy (or gal). A sensitive, sympathetic wallflower (played by Murphy) must find the strength to stand up to a grotesque counterpart (also played by Murphy) so that he can fulfill a destiny and be with the picture-perfect princess of his dreams – here, Thandie Newton assumes the always-underwritten love interest role that belonged to Jada Pinkett Smith and Janet Jackson in Professor parts one and two. Orphaned as a baby, the awkward Norbit (Murphy) is destined for failure. He falls in love with young Kate as they struggle to survive the hard-knocked life at a roadside adoption establishment run by racist Mr. Wong (Murphy). But when Kate is adopted by loving parents, Norbit is claimed by pushy Rasputia, and the two become a match made in Hades. Right around the time grown-up Kate (Newton) back into the fold. Now a successful businesswoman, she wants to purchase and run the orphanage. Norbit sees this as an escape clause to his pathetic marriage until he learns Kate is accompanied by a slimy fiancée (Cuba Gooding Jr.).

The Nutty movies did more than fatten Murphy's bank account. They also taught the gifted comedian how to handle excess prosthetics. He’s beyond comfortable with his artificial girth, which allows Norbit to master a number of amusing physical stunts. As Rasputia, Murphy bounds through an aerobics class, wrestles to squeeze behind a steering wheel, catapults kids out of an inflatable castle and -- in the film's funniest scene -- tackles a water slide at the town's amusement park. Rasputia is another impressive creation of Baker's and Murphy once again injects her with sarcasm, bitterness, and comedic fury. It's a testament to Murphy's acting chops that the same performer can nail Norbit's meek demeanor and massive hope whenever he's around Kate. Newton, for her part, maintains an artificial sweetness that doesn't distract from Murphy's three-ring circus. There's a formula to these Murphy-in-makeup comedies, which Norbit closely follows. It overstays its welcome a bit and relies too heavily on toilet humor.

Top5

GHOST RIDER