The old-robot new-robot theme is amongst the oldest chestnuts in Hollywood sci-fi noir. Arnold Schwarznegger faced off Robert Patrick in Terminator 2, Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren in Universal Soldier and more recently Sylvester Stallone-Armand Assante in Judge Dredd.

Continuing the tireless exploitation of this genre, Kurt Russell is a raised-from-the-cradle soldier in the year 2036, `retired' from service after the induction of a batch of meaner DNA cloned warriors led by Jason Scott Lee.

Shane meets Mad Max:Beyond Thunderdome when Russell, abandoned on a lonely planet amongst a group of kindly settlers, protects the denizens from Jason Scott Lee's marauding warriors in a gore-infested slam-bam climax.The film has about as much character and script development as a Diwali firecracker, but is watchable for its brilliant sets, designed by Bladerunner visualist David Snyder.

Russell's character is an ode to Schwarznegger, Stallone and every one of those monosyllabic testosteorone actors- he utters his first lines 30 minutes into the film and growls lines like ``I'm going to kill them all.''. With its explosiona-a-minute scenes and high body count, this film is strictly for action freaks.

Stepmom

After a wave of high grossing comedies like Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire, director Chris Columbus dishes out radically different fare - a real mushy three-hankie film.

Susan Sarandon is a lonely divorcee with two kids who has to contend for her children's affection with ex-husband Ed Harris' young fiancee and soon to be stepmom, Julia Roberts. But, bring out the hankies, Sarandon is also in the terminal stage of cancer.

A rock-solid script showcases two of Hollywood's best women actors and virtually everyone else including Harris is relegated to the sidelines. The confrontation scenes between the duo are well shot. ``You're Mother Earth for them,'' Roberts confesses. ``You're hip,'' Sarandon tells Roberts' fashion photographer character. Sarandon puts in a emotive performance of awoman who moves from spring to autumn, with a little help from the weather. Columbus meticulously etches in familiar kiddie-ambience, the parties and fancy dress competitions.

Though the film drags on to the two-hour mark, it makes for pleasant viewing.

--SANDEEP UNNITHAN