Well… there aren’t really any very compelling new releases this week. Which means, there is now officially no excuse to not watch today’s inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the USA. The choice is yours — history in the making, and the conclusion of one of America’s most intense and spectacular dramas, or pretty-boy Jonathan Rhys Meyer (who I find strangely ugly) saving foreign children in The Children of Huang Shi, yet another film with the philosphy that “a story about non-Caucasians is alright as long as a white Westerner is the star who saves them”. Blech. Choose Obama.

Max Payne – 172 Rankings – Average Tier 3.02
Coming together to solve a series of murders in New York City are a DEA agent (Wahlberg) whose family was slain as part of a conspiracy and an assassin (Kunis) out to avenge her sister’s death. The duo will be hunted by the police, the mob, and a ruthless corporation. Max Payne @ Amazon

Saw V – 125 Rankings – Average Tier 3.23
Forensics expert Hoffman (Mandylor) goes on the hunt in order to protect the secret that he is the newest person to carry on Jigsaw’s legacy Saw V @ Amazon

City of Ember – 52 Rankings – Average Tier 4.87
For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember’s once powerful generator is failing … and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. City of Ember @ Amazon

Cold Prey (Fritt vilt) – 20 Rankings – Average Tier 4.55
Its midwinter. Five youngsters are heading for the Jotunheimen mountain area to go snowboarding. On the slope, one of them has a bad fall and breaks a leg. There is no sign of any other people around, and their mobile phones are out of range. They catch sight of a mountain hotel in the distance, and decide to find shelter there. The hotel lies emtpy and silent, obviously closed down years ago. The phone lines are dead, and the youngsters realize they have to spend the night in the hotel. But it turns out theyre not alone. (Norwegian Film Institute via Twitchfilm.net) Fritt vilt @ Amazon

Children of Huang Shi, The – 15 Rankings – Average Tier 4.93
Inspired by true events, THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI is a portrayal both sweeping and intimate of people who, thrown into an unexpected and desperate situation, discover their capacity for love and responsibility… Children of Huang Shi, The @ Amazon

Other New Releases This Week
Igor
Henry Poole Is Here
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Elsa y Fred
The Express
Sputnik Mania
Save Me
Amusement