What I loved most: Helen Mirren award worthy acting & the chance for a peek into the House of Windsor

What I really hated: Not much visuals on the People Princess (OK, this film is about The Queen anyway)

The film begin in May 1997 with TV news on Tony Blair's landslide victory for the general election. The modernist Tony Blair (MICHAEL SHEEN) then had an audience with Queen Elizabeth II (DAME HELEN MIRREN) for her consent to the newly elected (Labour) Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Cherie Blair (HELEN MCCRORY). This particular scene was nicely done with a crash course on the royal protocol (address her as "Mam" like in "ham", not "farm") and with a hint on how the film will be developed later on when the Queen talked about how she loves to spend her summer holiday in Balmoral castle in the country side. The film then moves forward to the summer of 1997, with tabloids & TV clippings on Lady Diana's erretic behaviours, culminating with the Paris tunnel accident and her death on 31 August 1997. From this point onward the film chronicale the 7 days after the accident, depicting the roller coster emotional ride for the Queen and her family. When the pressure on the Queen starts to mount - thanks to the tabloids & TVs - the Queen who initialy decided not to show any reactions on the death of the popular People Princess in line with the royal tradition now has to face the modern society without sacrifying the age old royal tradition and her dignity. The film realy succeed in showing the House of Windsor's side of the story on what hapened a decade ago. We can't help but to feel symphatic for the Queen even though at time she was potrayed as arrogant and ruthless in the film. Kudos to DAME HELEN MIRREN for her superb performance in the film. Other casts like MICHAEL SHEEN as Tony Blair, JAMES CROMWELL as the wicked Prince Philip, SYLVIA SIMMS as the motherly Queen Mother and ALEX JENNING as a good looking Prince Charles also delivered their respective roles very well. The lifestyle of the royal family was also depicted realistically in the film, making it an enjoyable opportunity to have a peek inside the House of Windsor. A recomended watch for all movie buffs.

What I loved most: Great, life like CGIs

What I really hated: Lack of human like expression

Based on an old English poem about Kings, dragons and monsters, the legend of Beowulf come to life albeit with the help of CGIs and performance-capture devices. In this modern interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon literature, the film begins with a feast at the Hearot - the function hall of Danish King Hrothgar (a CGI of ANTHONY HOPKINS). The noises created by drunken men at the feast awaken the monster Grendel (voiced by CRISPIN GLOVER) who gatecrashed the party and started a killing spree, only to stop when confronted by King Hrothgar when he was about to kill Queen Wealthow (a CGI of ROBIN WRIGHT PENN). The Hearot was closed after the attack but it was not for long until a young Viking warrior Beowulf (a CGI of RAY WINSTONE) came to the rescue and killed the monster. However, the death of Grendel lead to another nightmare when his mother - a seductress with lizard tail (a CGI of Angelina Jolie) - took revenge and silenly killing the revellers in the Hearot. Beowulf now has to confront this seductress at her watery dent but lost to his temptation instead. Nevertheless, he was hailed as a hero for killing the monsters and made the king of the nation when King Hrothgar committed suicide after telling him a dark secret. Years later, Beowulf is an aging king and history is repeating itself when a dragon wracked havoc in the Kingdom. King Beowulf now must face the consequences of his younger days sins. Being a production entirely using CGI, the film managed to entertain with its awesome graphic. The fighting scenes in the finale involving the flying dragon and burning castle were also interesting. However, being CGI images of the actors made their facial expression look fake and lifeless; up to the point that when Angelina Jolie emerged naked from the water, there was not much excitement about it. The theme song - 'A Hero Comes Home' - is a nicely written song and could make it to the final nominee of the Oscar next year. An entertaining watch for all.

What I loved most: The catchy Otai jinggle

What I really hated: The slapstick, stupid comedy & the overacting doctor.

In this film, Otai (Malay for old timer, experienced person) is the title of a talk show hosted by Aznil Nawawi (AZNIL NAWAWI as himself) and a forgetable female co-host. Aiman (SAIFUL APEK) and his 9 months pregnant wife Azura (NASHA AZIZ) were invited as guests for the show, to share their life experience in a polygamous marriage with the show's audiences. The film then revolves around the set of Otai and flashback scenes on the marriage life of Aiman and Azura. In the flashback scenes, Azura was preassured by Aiman's father Tan Sri Mansur (SALLEH YAKOB) to allow Aiman to take a second wife since she was unable to conceive after marrying Aiman for 3 years. After consulting her nosy mother (AZEAN IRDAWATY), Azura finaly agreed to let Aiman take a second wife but with some illogical conditions - one of which is she has to agree with Aiman's choice of new wife. With his cousin Sani (YASSIN) Aiman then set interview sessions to find a bride for him. However, the interview went hire wire and hillarious since Azura's approval is required for the new wife. Aiman then set a plan with Sani to marry his former girlfriend Mawarni (newcomer FEEZA) and finaly managed to marry her after disguising her as a plain looking kampung girl. However, the doctor declared Azura is few week pregnant on Aiman's wedding day after the solemnisation of his marriage to Mawarni. Now that she is pregnant, Mawarni is deemed no longer necessary in the polygamous marriange and treated like a house maid by Azura, much to the dislike of Aiman. With 2 wives statying under the same roof, it is up to Aiman to pecify them for a harmonoius polygamous marriage life between the 3 of them. Though the issue of polygamy is a heavy and sensitive issue, the film still managed to present this issue on a light hearted manner. However, being a comedy film doesn't mean extra care need not be taken in this sensitive issue. One of Azura's illogical and unfair condition for Aiman to spend most of the time with her instead of his new wife for instance is no laughing matter since this is not in the spirit of a polygamous marriage - a husband need to be fair to both of his wives. Most of the comedy in the film are also slapstick and stupid, courtessy of Saiful Apek and Yassin. Overall, this film is quite entertaining, thanks to the cathcy Otai jinggle and if you leave behind logical thinking outside the cinema hall.

What I loved most: Great cinematography and countryside scenes

What I really hated: Victoria...

Though not a big budget novel-to-film adaption like the LOTR thriologies or Narnia, Stardust really shines on its own. Adopted from a novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, this fairy tale fantasy film is set in an English countryside village called Wall which is saparated from a fantastical realm known as Stormhold by a cobbled wall. When a young English shop boy Tristan Thorne (newcomer CHARLIE COX) promised his love interest Victoria (SIENNA MILLER) that he'll brings her a shooting star fallen to the earth to prove his love, he got more than what he bargained for. With the help of a magical babylon candle, his adventure took him to Stormhold and to his suprise, the fallen star is actually a dimsell in distress Yvaine (CLAIRE DANES in a literally glowing role). The two strangers then made a pact - Tristan promised to send Yvaine back to the sky if she agrees to follow her to meet Victoria. Unknown to them, there are also others racing for Yvaine for different reasons - Lamia the witch (MICHELLE PFEIFFER in a great performance) wants her heart for an eternal youth spell and Prince Septimus of Stormhold (MARK STRONG) together with his brothers are fighting for the diamond necklace that Yvaine wears to be the next King of the kingdom - a condition set by their dying father (PETER O'TOOLE) on his death bed. The couple managed to evade Lania and the princes on their journey to Wall and subsequently befriended Captain Shake-Speare (ROBERT DE NIRO in a comical gay chic role, ala Capt Jack Sparrows), the macho looking yet soft hearted captain of a flying ship that collects electrical power from lightning. As their journey continues, Tristan and Yvaine started to develop feelings toward each others. Tristan subsequently uncover the secret key to his own identity, but not before confronting the wicked Lamia and a sword fighting zombie-vodoo doll. Stardust has all of the elements of a fairy tale fantasy story - underdog hero, dimsell in distress, prince, sword fighting, witch, magic etc, from once upon a time up to happily ever after. Fairy tale aside, there are also some comdey thrown in to make the film an enjoyable watch for all in the family, young or old.

What I loved most: Great acting by the new comers

What I really hated: The unnecessary love story melodrama

Suhaimi Baba and her entourage (Maya Karin, Rusdi Ramli, Kavita Kaur, Ida Nerina, Aida Fitri Buyong, Liza Othman etc) return to the big screen with this based-on-historical-facts-patriotic-independant-love-strory-movie. The film move back and forth between present day Malaysia and Malaya prior to the independant day in 1957, with the main actors playing dual role as present day youths in metropolitan KL and pre-independant youths in Kg Baru, KL. While the present day youths were on assignment to complete their pictorial book "1957 Hati Malaya", the pre-independant youths were part of the independant movement, taking part in the various historical events. In between their struggle, there was a subplot on love triangle between the main actors (Maya & Rusdi) which is unnecessary and at time over dramatic. However, the newcomers Zaefrul Nordin (Dato' Onn Ja'afar) and Kamarulzaman Taib (Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj) outshine the other actors in this film with their award worthy performance. The recreation of the hsitorical events at the actual venue (Majestic Hotel, Station Hotel, King House, Selangor Club Field etc) were done partly with the help of CGI but it still looks fake to me, with the exception of scenes in the well preserved King House (present day Carcossa seri Negara). The cameo apperances by the veteran actors - Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin, Dato' Rahim Razali, Dato' Mustapha Maaroof, Dato' Jalaluddin Hassan and Kuswadinata)

What I loved most: The strange out of town visitor

What I really hated: Plot-holes & cliche sceenes

Set in Barrow, Alaska; a remote US town that never sees the sun for 30 days each year. The premise behind this movie looks promising - vampires terrorising a remote American town in 30 days without any sunlight. However, the excitement ended when the vampires emerged. The film begins with the town folks getting ready to usher the long night amidst some strange things happening within the town. While some of the town folks are leaving the town, others have to stay behind, including the town's Sheriff Eben Olsen (Josh Hartnett). Coincidently, his enstranged wife Stella (Melissa George) was also stranded in the town since she missed the last flight out of the town. When the sun set, the vampires emerged and started to terrorise the town. The terror end quickly within a night, leaving behind a group of survivors (including Eben and Stella) to face the vampires in a cat and mouse game. Hiding in an attic, the survivor have to stay put until the sun rise again in 30 days time. The story line of this film was not well developed, leaving behind few plot holes and cliche sceenes throughout the film. Acting wise, Josh Hartnett and Melissa George were wrongly cast for the film since they do not have the chemistry with each other. The film has nothing to shout about, watch it if you don't have any better movie to watch.