REMAKES of classic movies are familiar territory but this is a remake with a difference.

Because The Italian Job 2003 bears almost no relation to the original whatsoever.

This is what the two films have in common - Minis, a couple of character names, the theft of a lot of gold and the same title.

In fact, the new film is so far from the original that one suspects that the only reason that it was given the same name was to irritate British film fans and get us all complaining about how you shouldn't mess with the classics, particularly not our ones.

And many of those people who've been grumbling about the 'remake' will probably be disappointed to hear that it's actually OK.

This is never going to become a classic itself, but it's actually quite a watchable film with a few good car chases, a decent script and some charismatic actors with good chemistry.

Indeed, if you're not a Mini aficionado, the cast are probably the best thing about the movie.

The jury's still out on whether or not Mark Wahlberg can carry a film as a leading man, but luckily here he doesn't have to. His fairly charismatic gang leader has plenty of support. Jason Statham is charming as Handsome Rob, the good-looking driver who's a big hit with the ladies, while Seth Green provides light relief as Lyle, the computer geek.

And Charlize Theron's Stella breaths a breath of fresh air into the somewhat tired heist mould, getting into the thick of the action, including driving one of the Minis in the lengthy chase sequence, rather than being left on the sidelines as female characters so often are in such films.

And the car chase sequences are good. They combine the usual screeching round corners and mounting pavements without hurting anyone sequences with some clever and exciting stunts, including

driving the cars onto an underground track in front of a train and a face-off with a helicopter.

And the chase sequences are integral to the heist plot, rather than just being part of the getaway, meaning that they keep your brain more engaged than lengthy driving sequences sometimes do.

The biggest downside to this film is that we've seen it all before. It's not so much a remake of the 1969 The Italian Job movie, but of all heist films ever made.

I give it: 6/10

SALLY CHURCHWARD