THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

In amongst the the dross there’s a couple of potentially good movies to see this week…

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the list to see this week is NIGHT MOVES. Three radical environmentalists look to execute the protest of their lives: the explosion of a hydroelectric dam. According to the New York Observer, You will take pleasure in the performances of three top-notch actors - Dakota Fanning, who has matured into a fine young film star, Jesse Eisenberg, frighteningly brooding, and the always excellent Peter Sarsgaard. Let’s hope that the story is as good!

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

The best-selling YA book, THE GIVER, first published in 2002, finally comes to the screen to continue the plethora of post-apocalyptic dystopias we’ve seen recently. In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world. The general viewer likes this more than the critics who don’t think it’s all that great. The New York Daily News’s Joe Neumaier suggests that, The Giver was ahead of its time as a book. But as a movie, it's too late. I saw it this afternoon and enjoyed it. I’ll post my review shortly.

When I was young, I didn’t have anything to do with teenage ninja turtles, but many did. And I suspect it will be those who loved these creatures in their childhood will be the ones who will be off to see the latest TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES movie. A group of mutated warriors face off against an evil kingpin who wants to take over New York. The general public and critics are truly divided on this one. According to Film.com, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn't a movie; it's a brand re-launch that's going to satisfy stockholders far more than it's going to entertain the people who paid to watch it. Go see it if you dare!

If dancing is your scene then maybe check out STEP UP ALL IN in which all-stars from the previous Step Up installments come together in glittering Las Vegas, battling for a victory that could define their dreams and their careers. The Wrap’s Alonso Duralde says that, Even if the big numbers in Step Up All In don't always hit the heights of its immediate predecessors, there are enough exultant moments - during the crew battles or Sean and Andie's pas de deux on a carnival ride - to tide you over until the inevitable Part Six.

ONE TO AVOID

You may have been looking for a movie to take the kids to, but the latest TARZAN movie isn’t it. According to general audiences, it’s only rating around ** to **1/2 stars. Give it a miss.

That's it for this week. See you at the movies!

NB: synopses of movies are adapted from IMDB. Opinions are mine unless quoted from cited sources.