This week's premieres
photo: Tatrafilm
I, Robot (Ja, Robot) - Sci-fi thriller by Alex Proyas. Would iconic sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov have approved of this adaptation of his work? Do the filmmakers really care? As is the case with any Will Smith movie, Smith is the focus here and, as usual, he's quite likeable in his role as a renegade cop out to prove to the rest of the world that robots are not necessarily as harmless as advertised. But the truth is that the movie really isn't as spectacular as advertised and, though it also tries to be funny in places, the true humour comes where it isn't supposed to. It also stars Bridget Moynahan, Chi McBride, and a whole lot of computer-generated images.
photo: Continental Film
Kill Bill Vol 2 - Action by Quentin Tarantino. Though it still revels in violence and trash, Volume 2 is quiet and contemplative where Volume 1 was loud and unabashedly shallow. Oh, it's still Tarantino and, as such, made for a very limited audience: himself. It remains brutal, irreverent, and full of too many references to fathom. But it's surprisingly relaxed at points; it seems that Quentin has taken note of the fact that so many of the westerns and samurai movies he loves are as much about silence and open space as they are about anything else. It's much more talky and full of information than the first installment. And, once again, Uma Thurman proves his perfect muse. Well worth seeing.
Other movies playing
phpto: SPI International
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (Hriešny tanec 2) - Romance by Guy Ferland. You'd think moving the Dirty Dancing scenario to Cuba would make things hotter, but it doesn't: Mostly, it just makes for shallow romanticising and some misplaced talk about The Revolution. Diego Luna and Romola Garai are perfectly pretty and likeable, but they're just not Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
The Chronicles of Riddick (Riddick: Kronika temna) - Sci-fi/Action by David N Twohy. In this sequel to 2000's Pitch Black, Vin Diesel plays the title character, a renegade running from the law and bounty hunters. He goes to the planet Helion, which was recently seized by Lord Marshall, who leads a nasty race known as the Necromongers. Riddick agrees to help Aeron (Judi Dench) defeat the Necromongers and recapture the planet. While planning the attack, he comes across Kyra (Alexa Davalos), a girl from his past who seems to have filled out quite nicely.
Out of Time (Prezumpcia viny) - Thriller by Carl Franklin. Denzel Washington plays Matt, the chief of police in a small Florida town. While getting a divorce from a fellow cop (Eva Mendes), Matt has an affair with an old flame, Anne (Sanaa Lathan). The problem is, Anne is married to a big, burly security guard (Dean Cain) who doesn't take too kindly to his wife's adulterous relationship. Things turn really sour when Matt becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation.
Prepared by Jonathan Knapp
