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Mathew Scott

New Releases

About Love (Japanese and Putonghua) (IIA): Tokyo, Shanghai and Taipei play host to three love stories from the minds of directors Ten Shimoyama,  Yee Chih-yen and Zhang Yibai.  The international cast is led by Chen Bo-lin, Mavis Fan and Misaki Ito.  Not reviewed.

My Brother (Korean) (IIA): Heartthrob Won Bin  stars as the younger of two very different brothers. He's an up-and-coming boxer, while his elder brother (Shin Ha-gyun)  is the brains of the family. This leads to all sorts of problems between the two - especially when they fall for the same girl. Not reviewed.

The Pacifier (IIA): Vin Diesel  does a Schwarzenegger, playing his rugged charms off a bunch of pesky kids. Diesel plays an NAVY SEAL assigned to take care of the kids of an assassinated scientist. Not reviewed.

General Releases

Assault on Precinct 13 (IIB): Remake of John Carpenter's 1976 classic puts Ethan Hawke in charge of a cop shop that's closing down and Laurence Fishburne as the nasty criminal he has to protect when the station house comes under siege.

MS

AV (Cantonese) (IIB): Four university students (Tsui Tin-yau, Wong You-nam, Tsang Kwok-cheung and Lawrence Chou) come up with a crazy idea to produce their own porn flick.  They  invite Japanese AV actress Amamiya Manami to star in their movie. Pang Ho Cheung directs.

MS

Be Cool (IIA): Lacklustre sequel to 1994's Get Shorty has John Travolta returning in his role as  wise guy turned movie mogul Chili Palmer - but this time he turns his attention to the music business. Also stars Uma Thurman.

MS

Be With You (Japanese) (I): Whimsical fare from director Nobuhiro Doi that follows a widowed husband (Shidou Nakamura) who stumbles across a familiar looking woman (Yoko Takeuchi) while walking in the woods. As his wife had said she would return a year after her death, he thinks his dreams have been answered. Not Reviewed.

The Days of Noah (Cantonese) (I): Locally made documentary that traces the biblical story of Noah and the flood. Yeung Wing-cheung directs.

MS

Downfall (German) (IIB): Downfall makes for intense viewing as we are locked away in the dying days of the Third Reich as its leaders shelter in the Berlin bunker. Hitler (Bruno Ganz) is there, on the verge of being a beaten man as he shuffles around, occasionally erupting into a fury that's full of venom and spite.

MS

The Eye 10 (Cantonese) (IIB): The brothers Pang - Oxide and Danny  - return to the scene of their groundbreaking horror franchise, but with mixed results. There are again a bunch of scared young things (led by Isabella Leung) wanting a walk on the dark side as they set out to explore the 10 ways you can see a ghost.

MS

Howl's Moving Castle (Japanese and Cantonese voice over) (I): Master animator Hayao Miyazaki's  first  film since the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. A witch and a wizard prepare to battle to the death in one of his magical worlds, while the life of a little girl also hangs in the balance.

MS

Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events (IIA): Based  on the books of the  children's Unfortunate series, the story revolves around the three Baudelaire children - Violet the talented inventor (Emily Browning),  Klaus the avid reader (Liam Aiken) and Sunny the  adorable toddler (played by twins Kara and Shelby Hoffman). After the death of their parents, the children are left in the hands of  eccentric guardians, most notably the evil Count Olaf (Jim Carrey).

LKW

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (IIA): Sandra Bullock (left) reprises her role as the secret agent almost everybody loves. This time she goes undercover when her two friends (Heather Burns  and William Shatner) are abducted.

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Monster (III): First-time director Patty Jenkins presents the story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos  (Best actress Oscar-winner Charlize Theron),  an abused woman turned prostitute who was sentenced to death after going on a killing spree.

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Samara (IIB): Spooky goings-on see Naomi Watts (below) move to a small town and then uncover the truth behind a homicide - and a mysterious video tape that might hold all the answers.

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A Very Long Engagement (French) (IIB): Set amid the horrors  of the first world war, the film  follows the fate of five soldiers condemned to death for mutilating themselves rather than going back into battle. Central  to it all is the tale of Manech (Gaspard Ulliel)  who has left behind his lover, Mathilde (Audrey Tautou).  On hearing that Manech has been lost, Mathilde tries to find out the facts.

MS

Art House

Pearl River Delta: Film series showcasing films from 1898 to 2004 that highlight the land, lifestyle and folklore of the Pearl River Delta. Today-May 29, various times, HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, $30 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139 or www.filmarchive.gov.hk

A Japanese Tragedy (Nihon no Higeki): Zooming into the life of a war widow, director Kinoshita Keisuke  flashes back and forth between her sorrowful past and desperate present. A 1953 film in  'mother stories' style shown as a montage of newspapers and documentary footage. In Japanese with English subtitles. Sat, 4pm, HK Arts Centre, Agnes b. Cinema!, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, $50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2582 0200

Independent Vision of Pearl River Delta III: Cosplayers (2004, eight mins, no dialogue, above) is a role playing game on a big scale: in urban tunnels, bridges and unfinished buildings. A medicine salesman and hairstylist fall in love in Stranger's Street (2002-2003, 90 mins). Instead of a frog turning into a prince, filmmaker Wang Bang has an electrician turning into a cat in Magic (2004, 20 mins). Films in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Sat, 2.30pm, HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, $30 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139 or www.filmarchive.gov.hk

Amrita Sher-Gil: Director Patrick Canzals  retraces the contemporary Indian painter's  steps through letters. Subtitled in English. Apr 18, 8pm, Alliance Francaise, La Mediatheque, 52 Jordan Road, Kowloon, free. Inquiries: 2730 3257

Blossoming Port (Hana Saku Minato): Japan's legendary Kinoshita Keisuke's  debut film, Blossoming Port (1943, B/W) is  about a pair of misfit conmen.  In Japanese with English subtitles. Apr 22, 9.45, HK Arts Centre, Agnes b. Cinema, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, $50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2970 3300

Apostasy (Hakai): It's a 1947 Japanese version of Dead Poet's Society with a young teacher injecting the virtues of freedom and equality into his students. In Japanese with English subtitles. Apr 25, 7.15pm, HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, $50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2970 3300

Bellaria - As Long As We Live!: A  charming documentary (2001) centres around a group of ageing, eccentric filmgoers who  transport themselves back in time when they regularly meet at a local cinema.  In German with English subtitles. Apr 27, 7.30pm, HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, $40 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2802 0088

Bizarre Celestial Objects (I): In recent years, astronomers have discovered many new celestial objects, thanks to rapid developments in space science and technology.  Shows are in English and Cantonese. Wed-Mon, various times, Stanley Ho Space Theatre, HK Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, Kowloon. $12-$32 Urbtix. Inquiries:2721 0226. Until May 23

Forces of Nature (I): Experience the earth's fiercest volcanoes, earthquakes and tornadoes by following scientists from an active volcano on Montserrat, to fault lines in Turkey and to Tornado Alley in America's Midwest. In Cantonese and English. Wed-Sun, 1.30pm, 5pm and 8.30pm, Space Theatre, HK Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST. $24, $32 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226. Ends Jul 31

Island of the Sharks: Otherwise known as Costa Rica's Cocos Island, it boasts the world's highest concentration of large marine predators and its waters are teeming with sharks.  In Cantonese and English. Daily, 3.50pm, 7.20pm (Sat-Sun also at 12.20pm), Space Theatre, HK Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST. $24, $32 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226.



Film