NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK

Jan 14 2007 By Mickey Mcmonagle

BABEL (15)

Another of those oh-so-fashionable films featuring interwoven stories, this time on a massive global scale with events veering from Morocco to Japan, Mexico and America. Brad Pitt is on dazzling form as a devastated husband .

Rating: ****

BLACK BOOK (15)

Noted for the return of maverick director Paul Verhoeven, it's the story of Dutch Jew Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten) who pretends to be Aryan and embarks on a fling with a Nazi while working for the Resistance. Darkly comic and brilliant.

Rating: ****

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS (15)

The directorial feature debut of Ryan Murphy - the creator of Sky's waaaay out there plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck - is a huge disappointment. A dull take on the Augusten Burroughs book with all traces of humour removed.

Rating: *

THE RETURN (15)

Formulaic tale of wandering spirits that doesn't go anywhere fast. Sarah Michelle Gellar - now a horror staple - does the usual regular loud screaming and not much else. Not much on offer here other than cheap scares.

Rating: **

ROCKY BALBOA (12A)

The now vintage boxer returns to battle for the heavyweight crown. Sly Stallone has somehow got himself in good enough shape to carry off the role convincingly again. The story is pure cheese as always - great fun.

Rating: *****