Casino Royale

The latest James Bond movie premiered in Beijing last week. The 21st film in the James Bond series. Based on the 1953 novel by Ian Fleming, it was adapted by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Academy award-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and directed by Martin Campbell. At cinemas citywide.

Arthur and the Minimoys

An adaptation of French director Luc Besson's best selling novel of the same title. It is a family adventure about a boy who, after his grandfather disappears, sets out to save his family home from expansionist real estate developers. Besson said he wanted to express that what you learn in your childhood benefits your whole life. Its budget was 65 million Euros, the highest in French filmmaking history. At cinemas citywide.

Kekexili: Mountain Patrol

The mountains that rise from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau make a suitably dramatic backdrop for this story about the murderous cost we humans exact on the natural world. Based on depressingly true events, the movie tracks the heroic efforts of a small group of Tibetans struggling to keep the Tibetan antelope from extinction. Written and directed by Lu Chuan. In Chinese with English subtitles. 50 yuan. 8 pm, Feb 9. Cherry Lane Movies, inside Kent Center, Anjialou, Chaoyang District.

Mondays in the Sun

Oscar-nominated Spanish actor Javier Bardem is Santa, an embittered, unemployed shipyard worker. Borrowing beer money and hanging out with his deadbeat pals, Santa is articulate and angry about how globalisation has ruined his life, but he cannot do anything about it. Directed by Fernando Len de Aranoa. Free. In Spanish with English subtitles. 7pm, Feb 9. Instituto Cervantes De Pekin, A1 Gongti Nanlu.

Annie Hall

Romantic adventures of neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer and his equally neurotic girlfriend Annie Hall. The film traces the course of their relationship from their first meeting, and serves as an interesting historical document about love in the 1970s. Directed, scripted and acted by Woody Allen. In English. 7pm, Feb 14. D22 Club, 242 Chengfu Lu. 6265-3177.

Toro of Night

A young bullfighter leaves his village at moonlight to secretly combat the "Toro" a dreamlike confrontation in which shadows and silhouettes enhance the gestures of bullfighting mythology. Directed by Philippe Archer. As well as this film, there are 11 other short French animal fables to be shown including At the End of the World, The Adventures of Leon, The Apartment Cat, A Steeple Chasing Cow, Seduction, Guano and Zob de Moor. In French with English subtitles. 3pm, Feb 11; 7:30pm, Feb 13. French Cultural Center, 16 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. 6553-2627.

(China Daily 02/07/2007 page7)