the spirit is reeling

Poltergeist

WHY? Why remake a fondly remembered spook story if a) you have nothing new to add to it, and b) you’re going to remove so much of what made the original so good?

I wonder how the pitch went. Was it something like this:

“Hey, guys, we’re going to re- do that 1980s family- friendly horror movie that Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg did, only we’re going to, um, rip out its heart and guts.”

“Wow, sounds terrific – here’s sixty million dollars.”

Apart from one goosebump- raising closet scene and a bigger population of creepy clown dolls, this version of Poltergeist is largely forgettable ( OK, if you watch it in 3D, there’s also a neat scene with a drill and a gormless paranormal researcher). The family unit is the same as the original – father, mother, teenage daughter, son and little daughter – and as usual it’s the youngest one who becomes a target for the spirits lurking in their new home.

Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie De Witt are the parents, Jared Harris is the TV psychic who shows up to cleanse the house. They don’t even get a chance to give it the old college try, because the script distracts us with pointless sidetracking – skimming over the family’s financial troubles and playing Harris’ character for ill- timed comic relief.

Director Gil Kenan also did the much better 2006 animated romp Monster House, which at least sent me out of the cinema grinning, and not feeling dispirited. – Davin Arul

Jurassic World

I HAVE three memories of watching Jurassic Park 22 years ago as a kid.

The first is lining up for two hours at the old Rex cinema to buy tickets for my entire family. Second, the goosebumps I felt when John Williams’ majestic score came on and we got our first glimpse of the brontosaurus in all its glory. And lastly, I remember leaving the cinema thinking, “Man, wouldn’t it be great if the park was actually opened?”

Jurassic World finally fulfils that last wish. Now THIS is a real Jurassic Park sequel, not that insipid Jurassic Park III, or even the Spielberg- directed The Lost World. Sure, the plot isn’t too great, and the characters are one- dimension- al, but the minute that familiar theme music came on, I was a kid again, eagerly awaiting that first glimpse of a dinosaur, and having the time of my life. – Michael

Cheang

Man Up

HEARTWARMING and hilariously mushy are perfect words to describe the story about desperate divorcee Jack ( Simon Pegg), who mistakes 34- year- old misfit Nancy ( Lake Bell) for his blind date Jessica ( Ophelia Lovibond). Director Ben Palmer takes the audience on a chaotic adventure that includes encounters with the ex and the guy no one remembers from high school, Sean ( Rory Kinnear) – who, by the way, is the cherry on the cake in this movie! Trying her best to convince Jack that she is Jessica, Nancy takes a chance and “puts herself out there”, as she keeps telling herself she has to do, to impress him. Both Pegg and Bell are perfect for their roles, convincing and relatable on so many levels!

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. – Naveena

MARVEL’S upcoming Ant- Man is the final film in Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps to commemorate this ending and the start of Phase Three ( with 2016’ s Captain

America: Civil War), the studio has released three interesting poster designs. You don’t even have to look closely to see AntMan with other members of Avengers – there he is standing on the shoulder of Iron Man, on Thor’s hammer and Captain America’s shield. Ant- Man opens in cinemas nationwide on July 16.

Crimson Peak has recently released character posters featuring actors Mia Wasikowska, Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston in their creepy roles. While these posters are actually quite straightforward, all of them standing at the same doorway, the thing to look out for is what’s happening in the background. Perhaps the creepiest poster is Wasikowska’s – there is a skeletal face looking down on her.

Crimson Peak is scheduled to open nationwide on Oct 15.