Our first June 2012 Fridae Movie Club newsletter coincides happily with the beginning of the school holidays, the transit of Venus, and a very loud bang that begins this year's summer movie season.

Now of course, that loud bang — and your scream — is something that you can't hear in space. Ridley Scott has finally returned to the Alien franchise with Prometheus, a sort of prequel to that space horror film he made in 1979. Taking up Sigourney Weaver's mantle of the action heroine is Noomi Rapace, who must dodge nefarious xenomorphs, amoral androids, and murderous corporations as she leads an archaeological survey to investigate the alien beginnings of humanity.

It's too bad that you won't be able to bring your favourite nephews and nieces to watch the NC16-rated Prometheus but I'm happy to report that Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is one of the funniest, creative, and at points surreal trips in animation at this point of time. The third instalment of the Madagascar franchise is certainly the best so far — both in terms of animation and comedy writing.

Till next week,

Vernon Chan