Body of Lies
(USA) Just when you thought Hollywood’s hard-on for Middle East shoot-‘em-ups was over, Ridley Scott brings us this action-thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a CIA agent hunting an elusive terrorist in Jordan. Also starring Russell Crowe. Opens Oct 9.

Butterfly Lovers
(Hong Kong) A change of pace from his recent “Playboy Cops,” Jingle Ma’s adaptation of this classic Chinese romance tale stars Chun Wu from Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit and good Twin Charlene Choi. Opens Oct 9.

Vicky Christina Barcelona
(USA) Starring Javier Bardem as a heartthrob painter torn between Penelope Cruz, Scarlettt Johansson and Rebecca Hall, Woody Allen’s first film in Spain has been called his sexiest so far. Opens Oct 9.

Opening

HK Picks
Lost Indulgence
(China) Up and coming mainland director Zhang Yibai’s most artsy release yet stars Karen Mok (right) as a crippled stranger who enters the shattered lives of a grieving family. Look out for Eason Chan’s side role. Also starring Eric Tsang, Jiang Wenli, Tian Jian-ci. Opened Oct 2. AMC, BC, UA
 

The Duchess
(UK) See review, above. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Storm Rider Clash of Evils
(China) Richie Ren and Nicholas Tse lend their voices to some slicin’ and dicin’ swordplay scenes in this animated adaptation of Hong Kong’s number one comic book series, “Fung Wan.” Directed by Dante Lam. Opened Oct 1. BC, MCL, UA

Continuing

A Decade of Love
(Hong Kong) Ten affectionate short films by ten different directors, devoted to Hong Kong since the handover. PPPP AMC, BC,
MCL, UA

20th Century Boys
(Japan) The first live-action adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s sci-fi manga, about a convenience store clerk who discovers that a sudden global wave of death is linked to his early childhood. Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Starring Toshiaka Karasawa, Takako Tokiwa. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

4BIA
(Thailand) Four horrific short films from some of the most established directors in Thailand, each involving a different psychological fear. Directed by Youngyooth Thongkonthun, Paween Purikitpanya, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoon. PPPP AMC, BC,
MCL, UA

10 Promises To My Dog
(Japan) A 14-year-old girl living in Hokkaido struggles with her grueling life, until one day a golden retriever wanders into her yard. Directed by Katsuhide Motoki. Starring Mayuko Fukuda, Reiko Takashima, Etsushi Toyokawa. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Bangkok Dangerous
(USA/Hong Kong) Nicolas Cage plays the assassin in this big-budget Hollywood remake from the Pang Brothers. Also starring Charlie Young and Shahkrit Yamnarm. PP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Bottle Shock
(USA) A Sundance favorite tracing the early days of winemaking in California in the 70s, when an American wine won a French tasting contest and brought about a landmark change in the history of the industry. Starring Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman. AMC, BC

Chaser
(South Korea) A badass detective turned pimp goes on the hunt for a serial prostitute killer in this brutal action-thriller from director Na Hong-jin. Starring Kim Yoon-suk, Ha Jung-woo. BC, MCL

Connected
(Hong Kong) Director Benny Chan promises that his remake of the Hollywood thriller “Cellular” is better because it’s got more guns. That’s good enough for us. AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Cyborg She
(Japan) A college loner meets the girl of his dreams only to discover she’s a cyborg he invented in the future in this sci-fi romantic comedy from popular Korean director Kwak Jae-young. PPP BC, MCL, UA

Disaster Movie
(USA) Another misfiring stoner comedy from the bozos who brought you “Scary Movie” and “Epic Movie.” Don’t expect “Funny Movie” any time soon. Directed by Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer. P BC

Eagle Eye
(USA) Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan find themselves framed as terrorists and embroiled in an assassination plot in this action thriller from “Disturbia” director D.J. Caruso. AMC, BEA IMAX, MCL, UA

The Forbidden Legend: Sex and Chopsticks
(Hong Kong) A remake of the Chinese erotic classic about infidelity. Some critics call it straight-out porn. Directed by Chin Man-kei. Starring Kaera Uehara, Hikaru Wakana. BC, MCL, UA

Mamma Mia!
(USA) Missed it on Broadway? Catch the big-screen version of the hit ABBA musical. How they ever convinced an 11-time Oscar nominee, a former James Bond and a couple highly acclaimed European actors to star, we’ll never know. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan. PPPP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

Meet Dave
(USA) Eddie Murphy’s rapid decline is hastened with this ridiculous tale of a group of small aliens who operate a spaceship that looks just like a black dude with a silly face. Directed by Brian Robbins. P AMC, BC, MCL, UA

The Strangers
(USA) Hot on the heels of the “Funny Games” remake, this similar horror about a couple being tormented in their vacation home ditches the intellectual pretexts of the former in favor of a balls-to-the-wall fright orgy. Directed by Bryan Bertino. Starring Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman. PP

Under The Same Moon
(Mexico/USA) Tearjerker about a mother and son on opposite sides of the American-Mexican border trying to find one another. Directed by Patricia Riggen. Starring Kate de Castillo, Eugenio Derbez. PP BC, MCL

Painted Skin
(Hong Kong/China) See review, p.40. AMC, BC, MCL

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
(USA) The annual Adam Sandler laughfest, this time from Judd Apatow (“40 Year Old Virgin”). Sandler stars as a former Mossad agent who fakes his own death to become a hairdresser in New York. PP AMC, BC, MCL, UA

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

HK Picks
And Your Mother Too
(Mexico, 2001) Teenagers in Mexico protested naked outside cinemas when they weren’t allowed to see Alfonso Cuaron’s erotically adventurous road movie about growing up. Starring Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna. Sun, Oct 5, 12:15pm.

e-wave: The TV Films of Patrick Tam
The New Wave director’s TVB films from the 70s. Tickets $30 from Urbtix. Full listings at www.lcsd.gov.hk. Screenings at Film Archive.

Mui Kam-Fung/A Saintly Girl
(1976/1979) Two films involving two very different women—one a married actress who suddenly discovers her life is empty, the other a young devout Catholic whose repressed emotions boil over into extreme anger. Sat, Oct 4, 4pm.

HK Picks
Missing Girl/Two Teddy Girls
(1976/1976) Two films about bad girls, the first on the trail of a runaway turned prostitute, the second about a pair of thieving delinquents. Sun, Oct 5, 2:30pm.

Wai Chai/To Murder Father/Flower Calamity
(1976/1977/1977) Three crime films, each centered on a grisly murder. Sun, Oct 5, 4:30pm.