Movies out today

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There are 4 high profile new releases in South African cinemas today. And after the past few weeks, I'm pleased to report that this batch is pretty critically acclaimed on the whole.

Race to Witch Mountain - This latest family film from Disney stars Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson as a cynical taxi driver who gets roped into a race against time - and the government - when he picks up 2 teenage runaways, who also just so happen to be aliens. Race to Witch Mountain is based on the hit 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain, also from Disney. According to critics the remake lacks the magic of the original, but having never seen that film, I can't compare. To me, Race looks pretty solid, as well as, most importantly, a safe, wholesome option for parents to take their kids to.

39% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.


Underworld: Rise of the Lycans - I've profiled this action-horror film before as part of the Trailer Tuesday feature. Basically this third movie in the (surprisingly) popular vampires-vs.werewolves series shifts the action back to Medieval times to explore the origins of the feud. Naturally then, Kate Beckinsale's latex-wearing Selene is missing, but she's replaced instead by fellow Brit, and Doomsday star, Rhona Mitra. Franchise veterans Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy are both back as well. Some say Rise of the Lycans is utterly mediocre; others consider it to be the best of the Underworlds. Much like my reaction to the first 2 films I'm pretty indifferent.

31% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.


The Reader - Based on Bernhard Schlink's highly acclaimed bestseller, this film adaptation won Kate Winslet her first Oscar at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. The Reader focuses on a lawyer (Ralph Fiennes) who discovers that the older woman (Winslet) he had an affair with in his teens in post-WWII Germany has finally been hauled into court on horrific war crimes charges. Having read the book, the material was somber and thought provoking. I'm expecting the film to be much the same, even if its Holocaust focus has seen it labelled shameless Oscar bait by a number of critics.

61% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.


Gran Torino - Probably your best movie bet of the weekend is this drama, directed by, produced by, and starring Clint Eastwood. Channelling the spirit of Dirty Harry and assorted other badasses he's played over the years, here Eastwood is a retired Korean War veteran, and shameless racist, who becomes the unlikely protector of an Asian family in his rough neighborhood. Not only powerful and touching, Gran Torino apparently doesn't skimp on the entertainment factor either - which probably explains why the film is one of the biggest box office successes of Eastwood's career.

80% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.

Comments

MJenks said…
Everything that I've heard about Gran Turino merits the 80% rating it's getting. In fact, I've heard it should be a higher rating.
3:30 PM
Pfangirl said…
It's really excellent MJenks. Why it was snubbed by the Academy Awards I don't know - perhaps it was its non-arty simplicity and lack of showboating.
9:51 AM
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