Opening Soon

Quantum of Solace
(UK) Daniel Craig returns as the most badass Bond in the franchise, this time out to avenge the death of old romantic interest Vesper Lynd, and somehow ends up getting naked with Olga Kurylenko along the way. Directed by Marc Forster. Also starring Judi Dench. Opens Nov 6.

Scar
(USA) See review, p.34. Opens Nov 6.

The Women
(USA) Annette Bening, Meg Ryan and Candice Bergen lock talons in this update of George Cukor’s 1939 bitchfest, about how upscale New York gossip gals are awesome and men are pigs. Directed by Diane English. Opens Nov 6.

Opening

HK Picks
Detroit Metal City
(Japan) It’s not a sequel to the Kiss tribute film, but look out for Gene Simmons as the American villain in this ear-shattering adventure about a wannabe pop star who shoots to fame as the frontman of a Tokyo death metal band. Directed by Lee Toshio. Starring Kenichi Matsuyama, Yasuko Matsuyuki. Opened Oct 30. BC, MCL, UA

City of Ember
(USA) Two high school kids set out to solve the mystery of a glittering underground city ruled by Bill Murray, in this adaptation of the kiddie sci-fi book by Jeanne DuPrau. Directed by Gil Kenan. Opened Oct 30. BC, MCL, UA

Happiness
(South Korea) In director Hur Jin-ho’s fourth love story, a chronically ill former bar owner sees his life turn around when he meets a fellow patient at a sanatorium. Starring Hwang Jung-min, Jun Ji-hyun. Opened Oct 30. BC, MCL, UA

The Magic Hour
(Japan) Director Koki Mitani takes on the mob in his latest comedy about a crime boss who hires a small-time actor to be his hitman. Starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, Toshiyuki Nishida. Opened Oct 30. BC, MCL, UA

Saw V
(USA) For anyone who still has a hard-on for torture porn, the fifth round of the gross-out marathon series sees Detective Hoffman as the last person left to carry out Jigsaw’s sick bastard legacy. Directed by David Hackl. Starring Tobin Bell. Opened Oct 30. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Continuing

Awake
(USA) Hayden Christensen (or Anakin Skywalker) wakes up during surgery to find himself conscious but still paralyzed in this debut by director Joby Harold. Critics say it’s minute-to-minute agony. Also starring Jessica Alba, Lena Olin. PP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

The Black Swindler
(Japan) Adapted from the popular manga better known as Kurosagi, this live-action adventure follows a young con artist as he cheats other thieves out of their money to return it to their victims. PPP BC, MCL

Body of Lies
(USA) Just when you thought Hollywood’s obsession with big Middle East pics was over, Ridley Scott brings us this political thriller in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays a CIA agent hunting an elusive terrorist in Jordan. Also starring Russell Crowe. PPPP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

The Duchess
(UK) Keira Knightley plays Georgiana Spencer, an 18th-century English aristocrat with a penchant for drinking, gambling and other cheerful vices in this period melodrama. Also starring Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Saul Dibb. PPP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

High School Musical 3: Senior Year
(USA) In the final installment of the Disney trilogy, the main characters express their hopes and fears in more delirious sing-song as they prepare to embark for university. Directed by Kenny Ortega. PP AMC, BC, MCL

Mirrors
(USA) Kiefer Sutherland stars in this new horror flick from “The Hills Have Eyes” director Alexandre Aja, about an alcoholic ex-cop— quite plausibly Jack Bauer a few years down the road—who starts seeing creepy reflections in the mirror. P AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Sweet Rain
(Japan) Appearing in his first Japanese role in six years, Takeshi Kaneshiro plays a grim reaper who drops in on people for a week before deciding whether to bump them off. Directed by Masaya Kakei. BC, MCL

Ticket
(China) Nicholas Wu and Cecilia Yip star in this drama about a journalist on a mission to find her biological mother. Directed by Jacob Chang. Starring Zuo Xiaoqing. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Tropic Thunder
(USA) In a big-budget satire of big-budget films, Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. play three actors in a Vietnam War epic accidentally left behind to fight their way out of a jungle. Watch Hollywood’s most notorious egos get mercilessly napalmed. Directed by Ben Stiller. PPPPP AMC, BC, MCL

Wushu
(China) See review, p.32. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Arthouse

BC Sunday
Weekly Sunday films at Broadway Cinematheque. Tickets $45 from Urbtix.

HK Picks
Tokyo Tower
(Japan, 2007) Based on Japanese author Lily Franky’s popular autobiography, this poignant drama tells the story of an underachieving illustrator who turns his life around after discovering that his mother is terminally ill. Directed by Joji Matsuoka. Starring Jo Odagiri, Kirin Kiki. Sun, Nov 2, 11:45am.

Chinese Film Panorama
Films commemorating the 30th anniversary of China’s opening-up policy. Through Nov 9. Tickets $45 from Urbtix. Full listings at www.lcsd.gov.hk.

The Longest Night in Shanghai
(2007) “Lost Indulgence” director Zhang Yibai’s tale of city dwellers adrift in the search for love features a broad cast spanning Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China. Starring Zhao Wei, Nishida Naomi, Dylan Kuo, Sam Lee. Fri, Oct 31, 7:30pm. Science Museum.

Way of the Snowstorm
(2007) Filmed on location, this adventure tale follows a group of fortune-seekers across the plateaus of Xinjiang in search of a mythical “golden baby.” Directed by Gao Feng. Sun, Nov 2, 2pm. Space Museum

Kino 2008
The Goethe-Institut presents the best new German films of the year. Ends Nov 2. Tickets $40-$60 from Urbtix. Full listings at www.goethe.de/hongkong. Screenings at Broadway Cinematheque

HK Picks
Absurdistan
(2008) This quirky romantic comedy takes place in a fictional desert village between Europe and Asia, where the men’s refusal to do anything about a sudden water shortage prompts the women to go on strike by refusing to have sex. Directed by Veit Helmer. Sun, Nov 2, 9:50pm.

Cherry Blossoms
(2008) In director Doris Dorrie’s exploration of love and the meaning of life, a terminally ill cancer patient goes to Japan after his wife suddenly dies, discovering an alternate life that she really wanted to lead. Fri, Oct 31, 9:45pm.

The Wave
(2008) Inspired by a real-life experiment in 1960s California, this intelligent drama depicts one high-school teacher’s frighteningly successful attempt to turn his classroom into a full-on fascist state. Sun, Nov 2, 5:30pm.