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Vivienne Chow

NEW RELEASE

America's Sweethearts (IIA)

A stellar cast, the writing skills of Billy Crystal and Peter Tolan (from TV series The Larry Sanders Show), the direction of Joe Roth and an intriguing premise (a behind-the-scenes look at how a studio sells a blockbuster to the press). Unfortunately, rather than give us any biting insight into the world of film, or even cash in on the wealth of talent at its disposal, America's Sweethearts floats by without leaving an impression.

AMC Festival Walk, UA Cinemas, Broadway circuit, Chinachem, Imperial, GV circuit

Merry-Go-Round (IIB)

Based on characters created by radio DJ/author GC Goo-Bi, who also wrote the script, Merry-Go-Round tells of young love as an emotional and spiritual adventure, devoid of sex, drugs, and karaoke.

AMC Festival Walk, UA Cinemas, Broadway circuit, Chinachem, Imperial, GV circuit

GENERAL RELEASE

AI: Artificial Intelligence (IIA)

This dark fable about love and mortality stars Haley Joel Osment as a robot programmed to love. David is adopted by Henry Swinton (Sam Robards) and Monica (Frances O'Connor), whose real son has been frozen until a cure is found for his illness. When their son returns, David is let out in the big, bad world. Accompanying him on his quest to become real is Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), a sex-surrogate robot. Features Spielberg's most bravura film-making.

UA Sha Tin, AMC Festival Walk, Broadway circuit

La Belle (III)

Another tale of mysterious love from Korea, this time involving a model (Lee Ji-hyeon) being seduced by a writer (Oh Ji-ho). The writer falls for the model but he soon finds there's a lot more to her than expected. She is drawn away by phone calls at a moment's notice and he becomes determined to find out what's going on.

Broadway circuit, Cine-Art House

Bridget Jones's Diary (IIB)

Renee Zellweger shines as the lead and director Sharon Maguire pushes all the right buttons in the film adaptation of Helen Fielding's novel. The tale follows Bridget Jones as she bumbles and fumbles her way along in her search for love. Hugh Grant puts in an inspired effort as the cad Daniel. A rapid-fire attack on modern life that hits you square on the funnybone.

UA cinemas, the Broadway circuit, Cityplaza, AMC Festival Walk, JP, and the GV circuit

Dungeons & Dragons (IIB)

Based on the sword-and-sorcery role-playing game of the same name, it's Hollywood at its worst: borrowed ideas, atrocious acting and a confused plot.

UA Sha Tin, Broadway Kingswood Ginza, and GV cinemas

The Goddess Of 1967 (III)

Hong Kong-raised, Melbourne-based Clara Law combines digital film-making and the Australian outback to often stunning effect. A Japanese computer hacker JM (Rikiya Kurokawa) buys a Citroen DS on the Internet. When he heads Down Under to collect it, he links up with the blind BG (Rose Byrne). They set out on a journey of discovery, across the outback.

Broadway Cinematheque

Il Mare (Korean) (IIB)

A love story between a couple (Jeon Ji-Hyun and Lee Jung-Jae) separated by time. They communicate via a magic post box, fall in love and try to cheat the past so they can be together. The setting is a pretty little house surrounded by a blue sea, and it reeks of a virginal innocence. Director Lee Hyun-seung has produced a sweet, subtle masterpiece.

Broadway Cinematheque

Kairo (Japanese) (IIB)

Demons invade the Internet in director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's haunting tale that's more disturbing than terrifying. Student Rysouke (Haruhiko Kato) taps into a mysterious floppy disc and is asked if he wants to 'meet a ghost'. Soon he is drawn into a world where evil is slowly but surely taking charge.

Broadway Kingswood Ginza and UA Sha Tin

Moulin Rouge (IIB)

Director Baz Luhrmann presents a magical musical tour set in fin de siecle Paris. Star-crossed lovers Satine (Nicole Kidman) and Christian (Ewan McGregor) - one a courtesan, the other an aspiring writer - are drawn together at the outrageous club, presided over by brilliant owner Zidler (Jim Broadbent). But theirs, like many classic romances, is a love doomed from the start. It begins with a flourish and the spectacular dance sequences, views of Paris by night, and songs flow through you like some crazy dream. Moulin Rouge comes close to being a masterpiece.

UA cinemas, Broadway circuit, Chinachem, GV cinemas, AMC Festival Walk and CityPlaza

Rush Hour 2 (IIA)

Motormouth Chris Tucker and action king Jackie Chan join forces to solve crime - again.

UA Sha Tin, AMC Festival Walk

Scary Movie II (IIB)

Expect more of the same crude, crass, frat boy-style humour the Wayans brothers served up in the first instalment of this horror spoof. The plot has something to do with the survivors of the original film being drawn together at a haunted house by their college professor and it's all perfectly puerile.

UA cinemas, the Broadway circuit, GV cinemas, AMC Festival Walk and CityPlaza

Series 7 (III)

First-time director Daniel Minahan takes aim at the small screen's latest fad, and blows all its pretences apart. Series 7 is the ultimate reality show, where six contestants must kill or be killed. Shot on digital to give it that TV feel, the film pulls no punches; it is ultra-violent and makes you want to watch and close your eyes at the same time.

AMC Festival Walk, New York, Golden Gateway, GV circuit

You Can Count On Me (IIB)

A warm, touching tale of siblings Sammy and Terry (Laura Linney, who won an Oscar nomination for her part, and Mark Ruffalo) whose lives take travel down different paths after their parents die in a car accident. Terry ends up a free spirit, Sammy an over-protective single mother. When they meet again years later, they find they can learn from each other. An impressive debut for director Kenneth Lonergan, and the film shared the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

UA Pacific Place, Golden Gateway Multiplex

ARTHOUSE

German Film Forum: No More Mister Nice Guy - an understated comedy about two brothers who travel to East Germany to claim an inheritance. Dir: Detlev Buck. In German; English subtitles. Sept 28, 7.30pm. Space Museum Lecture Hall. $40 Urbtix.

Indies Channel: Hong Kong independent films. LPY. $50 Ticketek.

Leaving In Sorrow - focuses on a group of thirty-somethings and the moral fall-out of the Asian financial crisis. Dir: Vincent Chui. In Cantonese; Chinese and English subtitles. Sept 28, 7.30pm.

Ge Ge - a young man goes to a remote region of China to look for his missing brother. Dir: Mak Yuen-yan. In Putonghua and Cantonese; English subtitles. Sept 29, 2.30pm.

The Garden In The Air - a third-rate comedian steals ideas from a woman's diary. Dir: Simon Sin. In Cantonese; English subtitles. Sept 29, 5.30pm.

Drift - Ryan meets Leo and breaks up with Joel, and experiences three possible endings to his love triangle. Dir: Quentin Lee. In English; Chinese subtitles. Sept 30, 4.30pm.

mi-Generations: Local video-makers re-interpret and comment on the works of their favourite film directors. Most films in Cantonese; no subtitles. Sept 28-Nov 4, various dates and times. HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho. $20 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139.

British Film Week: Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz star in the film of the novel by Louis de Bernieres. Dir: John Madden. In English (Chinese subtitles). Oct 4, 7.30pm. City Hall Theatre. $50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2913 5220.

Omnimax And Sky Shows: Solarmax - explores man's quest for knowledge about the sun (until Sept 30). Ocean Oasis - a look at the geography, animal life and marine life of Mexico's Sea of Cortes and the California Baja desert (Oct 1-Mar 31). New Frontiers Of Space Exploration - explains the developments in space technology over the past 40 years (until Nov 5). Journey Of Man - takes a mystical journey through the stages of human life, from birth to maturity, with world-renowned circus troupe Cirque du Soleil (until Nov 30). In Cantonese, English, Putonghua and Japanese. Daily (except Tue). Space Museum Theatre, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST. $24-$32 ($12-$16) per show, Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226. Permanent, closed Tue contact Mimi Chung: 2724 8182.

Art Videos: Videos about the visual arts and art history (different programmes every week). 4.45pm every Sat and Sun. Lecture Hall, HK Museum of Art. $10 ($5) for admission to the museum. Tel: 2734 2167. Also 1.30pm weekdays (except Tue); 4pm Sat, and 2pm and 3pm Sun and public holidays. Lecture Theatre, 4/F HK Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road. Free. Tel: 2521 3008. See HK Museum of Art newsletter.

LPY is the Lim Por Yen Film Theatre, Arts Centre

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Ticketek: 3128 8288

6ixtynin9

Starring Lalita Panyopas, Black Phomtong, Sirisin Siripornsmathikul, Tasanawalai Ongarittichai

Director Pen-ek Ratanaruang

Category IIB

There's a recession; you've been laid off from your job and you're contemplating suicide. Then, one day, you unearth a box containing US$1 million. What do you do?

This is the scenario facing Tum (Lalita Panyopas) in the latest outing from Thai director Pen-ek Rantanaruang. Don't be confused by the title, this is not a sex film but a black comedy about the misunderstandings that arise between people of different backgrounds during an economic crisis.

Hong Kong audiences have become increasingly receptive to Thai films. Despite its slow pace and obvious plot, the director has fun satirising Thai attitudes to superstition, drug trafficking and prostitution. 6ixtynin9 is fun, especially in the current economic climate - and laughter, as they say, is the best medicine.

6ixtynin9 is screening at Cine-Art House and Broadway Cinematheque, with English and Chinese subtitles.



CINEMA