In Cinemas - Hurry Hurry - John Snadden reports on screenings of DONT LOOK NOW (Nicholas Roeg) and MONKEY KING 3: KINGDOM OF WOMEN (Cheang Pou-soi)

Don't Look Now, Chinese Poster

Two films with short / shortish cinema engagements in Melb this week: one of the best films from 1970s British cinema was the macabre supernatural thriller DON'T LOOK NOW, set in a sunless, wintry Venice. An early feature from director Nic Roeg based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier and starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie...a pedigree to die for. It had only one screening regrettably, last night at 7 pm @ ACMI, courtesy of the Melb Cinematheque.

But there is still a chance to see MONKEY KING 3:KINGDOM OF WOMEN though it looks to be down to final sessions at the Chinatown Cinema. I wished I'd seen this film earlier as IMO it turns out to be the best in the series so far. This entry is more character driven as its focus is on the human and ethical dilemmas facing the priest Tanseng (William Feng). Beautiful Taiwanese locations and excellent CGI make this a thoroughly enjoyable cinema journey. I'm even starting to warm to Aaron Kwok as the movie's star Wutong.