Movie reel

By Chen Nan | China Daily | Updated: 2009-07-11 07:16

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs return to China this summer with the release of 20th Century Fox's Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. In the third sequel, the storytelling is cleverly blended with 3-D animation and a heavier emphasis is placed on action sequences.

The plot revolves around the extended family of Manny the mammoth, voiced by Ray Romano, who is nervously waiting for his partner Ellie to bear a child. Meanwhile, Sid, voiced by John Leguizamo, has inherited three dinosaur eggs which tiger Diego (Denis Leary) worries he will lose.

Movie reel

Director Carlos Saldanha, who returns after helming Ice Age 2, adds a new character to the cast in Buck, a swaggering weasel who provides most of the film's laughs (voiced by Simon Pegg).

This is the first of the Ice Age movies to be shown in 3-D. One scene in which this works to particularly devastating effect is when Sid rolls down a snow-covered mountain trying to save the eggs at the start of the movie. There are also cute baby dinosaurs and breathless chase sequences to add to the fun.

The film is the fifth 3-D movie imported by China, following previous box-office hits such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Bolt. The next release on China's 200-odd 3-D screens is likely to be Pixar's Up, the opening film for this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Other films now screening nationwide include

Looking for Jackie

This Chinese movie follows an adolescent boy as he struggles to find his identity amid the confusing adult world. Seventeen-year-old Zhang Yishan, famous for his role in a popular Chinese TV drama, plays the lead. Obsessed with martial arts, the boy goes to Beijing looking for his idol, action star Jackie Chan. Chan plays himself in this action-packed comedy.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Shia LaBeouf stars in this sci-fi sequel as a college student involved in a war between the Autobots and Decepticons. Also starring Megan Fox. Steven Spielberg produces and Michael Bay directs.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Ben Stiller plays the caretaker of a museum in which the exhibits come to life at night thanks to a magic tablet. Also stars Amy Adams and Robin Williams. Shawn Levy directs.