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SCMP Reporter

NEW RELEASE

My Life So Far (IIB)

Fraser (Robert Norman) is the child raised by an inventor father (Colin Firth). When Uncle Harris (Malcolm McDowell) comes to stay, along with his young wife (Irene Jacob), both Fraser and his father fall in love.

Cine-Metro.

GENERAL RELEASE

Buena Vista Social Club (I)

Wim Wenders directs this documentary about the aged Cuban musicians rediscovered by Ry Cooder in Havana (one, Ibrahim Ferrer, was shining shoes) and who went on to make a Grammy-winning record. Once they let rip, you just want to dance in the aisles along with them.

Broadway Cinematheque, Cine-Art House.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Mandarin) (IIB)

Set in the Qing dynasty during the 18th century, the swordfighting epic deals with two couples who profoundly influence one another's fate. Starring Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh.

Broadway circuit.

Fantasia 2000 (I)

In 1940, Walt Disney dug deep and found the inspiration for Fantasia - a marriage of animation and classical music, using the first version of surround sound (which he named Fantasound). But it was slammed as pretentious and the experiment was a commercial disaster. He had originally intended to constantly update the film, and his nephew Roy continues his vision more than 30 years after Disney's death with Fantasia 2000. Not just a movie - Fantasia 2000 is a true event. Special student and corporate ticket prices apply (tel: 2735 4633).

English version: UA Pacific Place; Cantonese version: UA Sha Tin

The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas (I)

Beware the sequel - or 'prequel' in this case - in which all the original stars are significantly absent. The Full Monty's Mark Addy bravely shoulders the part of Fred Flintstone opposite Stephen Baldwin as Barney Rubble, Kirsten Johnson as Wilma and Jane Krakowski as Betty. With Joan Collins replacing Elizabeth Taylor as Wilma's mother, Viva Rock Vegas boasts a yabba-dabba-B-list cast. And the budget for special effects seems to have shrunk at the same rate as cast salaries. This takes us back to when 'Bronto King' worker Wilma met Fred, involving a sidetrip to 'Rock Vegas' with her ex-boyfriend Chip Rockefeller (Thomas Gibson). Even the puns are looking weak.

UA cinemas, Broadway circuit, AMC Festival Walk, GV Tsing Yi, GV Mongkok, Ocean, GV Hollywood, New York, Chinachem Golden Plaza.

Help (Cantonese) (IIB)

Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan star in this hospital drama. Both play doctors who save a young woman's life. She returns years later to find them jaded about their lives and their careers.

Broadway circuit, Chinachem Golden Plaza, GV Tsing Yi, GV Hollywood, Golden Gateway, Golden Lee.

Kikujiro (Japanese) (IIA)

'Beat' Takeshi Kitano takes to the road again - although it's a far cry from Hana-Bi - with a sweet-natured story about a motherless child called Masao (Yusuke Sekiguchi) and his ill-tempered guardian 'Mister' (Kitano). Masao wants to find the woman who abandoned him, but Mister would rather gamble at the bicycle track. Eventually, small-time con-man Mister relents, and they embark on a trip through Japan, meeting odd-balls along the way (the best by far are two soft-hearted Hell's Angels). Deliberately framed and painterly in composition, it takes a long time for Kikujiro to come together emotionally. Finally, a demented summer camp sees the whimsy add up into something enjoyable.

Broadway circuit, Cine-Art House.

Marco (Cantonese) (I)

Animated action as Marco sets out from Genoa, Italy, in search of his lost mother. The poor lad faces discrimination and prejudice but discovers that friendship - and his pet monkey - can help conquer all.

UA cinemas, Broadway Kingswood Ginza, Miramar, GV Mongkok, GV Hollywood.

Needing You (Cantonese) (IIA)

Andy Lau is the star, but the spotlight is stolen by Sammi Cheng in arguably her best screen role. She plays Kinki, a dizzy office worker who comes across as Ally McBeal's poorer Hong Kong cousin. Like Ally, she searches for her knight in shining armour, but unlike Ally, Kinki gets her man.

AMC Festival Walk.

Okinawa Rendezvous (Cantonese) (IIA)

A star-studded cast that includes Faye Wong, Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung. The story follows officer Luen (Leung) and his holiday in Okinawa with his girlfriend. Things turn sour when he meets one of Hong Kong's most wanted (Cheung) and is drawn into his world.

AMC Festival Walk, UA Sha Tin, Broadway Kwai Fong & Kingswood Ginza, Miramar (two shows only).

The Perfect Storm (IIB)

Get out the sou'westers because The Perfect Storm really makes you feel as if you are there in the middle of three weather systems which collided off the coast of Massachusetts in October 1991. Sailing unsuspectingly into the worst storm in history is the Andrea Gail, a fishing boat captained by George Clooney with assistance from Mark Wahlberg. The dialogue may leave you high and dry - but the special effects are breath-taking.

UA cinemas, AMC Festival Walk, Chinachem, Golden Plaza, GV Mongkok.

X-Men (IIA)

Director Bryan Singer's (The Usual Suspects) adaptation of the Marvel series has enough murky edges for fans of the comic book while still being accessible to newcomers (although, with 10 major characters, there's too much exposition going on here). Hopefully, time spent establishing the mutants will pay off in the two planned sequels. Set in the near future, some humans have mutated to the point where they possess superpowers. A team led by Professor Francis Xavier (Patrick Stewart, back from the Enterprise) try to harness their powers peacefully while battling the politicians who call for their demise - and a sinister threat from the evil Magneto (Ian McKellen). Attention soon turns to Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and the power-stealing Rogue (Anna Paquin).

UA cinemas, AMC Festival Walk, JP cinema, Broadway circuit.

From the arthouse

Crazy English: Li Yang is an unconventional teacher in China - he gives lectures in huge stadiums and wants to make the study of English a patriotic duty. In Putonghua; Chinese and English subtitles. Dir: Zhang Yuan. Aug 18, 21, 23-25 and 28-31, 7.30pm; Aug 19 and 26, 2.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm; Aug 27, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. LPY. $50 Urbtix.

Hong Kong Film Forum: Double Tap (pictured) - a gritty urban thriller starring Leslie Cheung as a professional killer. Dir: Law Chi-cheung. In Cantonese; Chinese and English subtitles. Aug 20, 2.30pm. LPY. $50 Urbtix.

British Animation Video Show: Claymations and 3D animations. All in English, no subtitles. Not suitable for children under six. Aug 20, 2.30pm. Room 701, The British Council, Admiralty. Reservations: 2913 5220, inquiries: 2913 5215.

Omnimax Shows: Galapagos - explores the fascinating geography, flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. Enigma Of The Sun - explains the latest research into the mysteries of the Sun. In Cantonese, English, Putonghua and Japanese. Daily (except Tue). Space Museum Theatre, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST. $24-$32 ($12-$16) per show, Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 2722.

LPY is the Lim Por Yen Film Theatre, Arts Centre

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Cinema Contacts

UA (City Line) 2317 666

www.cityline.com.hk

Broadway Circuit 2388 3188

www.cinema.com.hk

ChinaChem 2311 3000

CineArt House 2827 4820

Golden Harvest 2186 1313

AMC Festival Walk 2265 8545

JP Cinema, Causeway Bay

2881 5005

Miramar 2992 0250

New Imperial 2893 9612

Cinema Categories

(I) Suitable for all ages

(IIA) Not suitable for children

(IIB) Not suitable for young

adults and children

(III) Over-18s only

Please note that

this information

was correct at the

time of going to press. For the

latest updates check the South China Morning Post and totallyhk.com daily.



Cinema