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Waz

Non-existent promotion is likely to sink the local box office for this film, which is sad because advance reviews from European festivals are well above average. Veteran Swedish actor and Lars von Trier regular Stellan Skarsgard (Breaking the Waves) plays a cop on the hunt for a different kind of serial killer. The torture scenes have been putting even jaded horror fans to the test - perhaps a useful distraction from a non-US cast that apes American accents as they flit around Belfast, er ... New York, anyone?

Saturno Contro

"Saturn in Opposition" in English, this Italian-French-Turkish production revolves around the lives of a disparate group of friends, some homosexual, some straight. Director Ferzan Ozpetek had another feature, Facing Windows, released here with some success. Saturno Contro adds to a growing list of films from around the world with a positive homosexual theme to find an audience among Taiwanese.

End Game

Before directing this straight-to-DVD effort, Andy Cheng (鄭繼宗) did stunts for Jackie Chan (成龍) when the Hong Kong legend started swapping his own famous stunts for mugging and bad comedy. Cheng also did work for some decent Hollywood pieces. He may have to return to stunts after this assassination thriller and a subsequent feature bombed. Presumably released in Taiwan on the strength of its cast (Cuba Gooding Jr, James Woods, Burt Reynolds, Anne Archer) and as a promo for the DVD release.

Catch a Wave

Claims to be the first Japanese surfing movie, which seems to overlook 2004's Bondi Tsunami, the "first Japanese surfing road movie in Australia." This flick aims squarely at youngsters. A high school student finds an endless summer of love courtesy of a semi-autobiographical screenplay written by a 16-year-old. More Beach Boys than Big Wednesday, then. Directed by Nobuyuki Takahashi, editor of the Ringu and Grudge horror series.

Garuda

This Thai flick turns the mythical titular creature into every Bangkok resident's nightmare as Godzilla gets a run for his money underground. A not-very-successful film featuring an unusual monster, but one not likely to frighten audiences as much as the killer mosquitoes at the Caesar theater (formally the "Oscar," one of two surviving grindhouses in Taipei) where it's playing.

March of Millions

Another offbeat release at the Caesar, this expensive made-for-TV film from Germany depicts the expulsion of German civilians from territories occupied by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. Its nationalism and timing are noteworthy, with Poland rejecting renewed claims by refugee families on property long forfeited. Originally three hours long, it's not clear how long the version in Taiwan will be. German title: Die Flucht.

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