Movies out today

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For the second week in a row South African moviegoers have a wide selection of new film releases to choose from, with 5 biggies out as of today.

Defiance - I profiled this World War II action-drama earlier this year. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as Jewish brothers who fight back against the Nazis in Eastern Europe. Based on a true story, the film is directed by Blood Diamond, Glory and The Last Samurai's Edward Zwick, who knows how to make rousing films. 55% at Rotten Tomatoes.


Marley and Me - Once again I've already profiled this family film about a disobedient labrador who changes the lives of couple of yuppie reporters (Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston). Based on a bestselling memoir. I think I'll be too emotionally affected by this film adaptation to watch it, but for the record it scored 60% at Rotten Tomatoes.


Fanboys - Finally released after a very long delay, Fanboys is a comedy-drama celebrating Star Wars geeks. A group of buddies trek cross-country in 1998 to help their terminally ill friend achieve his dying wish - to watch Episode 1: The Phantom Menace at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch. Non Star Wars fans apparently won't get it. Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, provides the babe factor. 31% at Rotten Tomatoes.


Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li - If that original 1994 movie based on the arcade fighter, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia, wasn't bad enough, now there's a new film starring Smallville's Kristin Kreuk. Instead of focusing on a fighting tournament, as gamers would expect, this new Z-grade action flick centres on one of the characters, female fighter Chun-Li as she seeks justice. Or vengeance. Or something. 4% at Rotten Tomatoes. Ow!


Hond Se Dinges - And finally for some local flavour there's this madcap Afrikaans comedy with English subtitles. A bunch of oddball characters in a small rural town get caught up some frantic misadventures involving a dog and a stolen diamond. Local acting legend Frank Opperman stars. There's a healthy tradition of these kinds of comedies in SA, especially in recent years, but they aren't my cup of tea of all.

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