Worthwhile (or not) 2/27/09

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). To be frank, none of the new films looked in the least interesting to me. So, I'm not reviewing anything this week. But, here's what the national critics think:

39 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,
xx Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,
91 Waltz with Bashir

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review.

Here are the films scheduled for Friday, 3/6: Watchman.

Opening 2/27/09

For show times select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

JONAS BROTHERS: 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE [G] 1 hr. 15 min. Concert film Trailer Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift. Plot: the film blends excerpts from the Brothers' red-hot "Burning Up" concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song ("Love Is On Its Way"), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick. Showing at: Derby Plaza, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN LI [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Action Trailer Cast: Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neal McDonough, Taboo, Chris Klein, Moon Bloodgood, Edmund Chen, Cheng Pei Pei, Josie Ho, Robin Shou. Plot: powerful forces are converging on the streets of Bangkok. They are warriors, some of whom possess extraordinary abilities, all of whom are determined to see their side prevail. Some fight for us; the others for unlimited power. Now, they are preparing for the ultimate battle - of terror versus beauty, light versus darkness, and good versus evil. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

WALTZ WITH BASHIR [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Animation/Documentary Trailer Cast: Ron Ben-Yishai, Ronny Dayag, Ari Folman, Dror Harazi. Plot: one night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there's a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can't remember a thing anymore about that period of his life but as he delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to return in surreal images. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

Leaving 2/26/2009

Derby Plaza - Friday The 13th
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Push, Confessions Of A Shopaholic
Palace West - The Spirit, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Rachel Getting Married
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - New In Town, Revolutionary Road, Hotel For Dogs
Warren Old Town - The International
Warren West 21st - My Bloody Valentine 3D, Friday The 13th

FIRED UP **

First time director Will Gluck is responsible for this comedy starring: Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, and John Michael Higgins. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, partial nudity, language and some teen partying. Run time is one hour and forty minutes.

The two stars (D'Agosto and Christian) of the Gerald R. Ford High School football team, are dreading the prospect of another summer at football camp. When one hatches a scheme for the two to join their school's cheerleaders at cheer camp instead, they find themselves awash in a sea of gorgeous young women. It all goes great until one falls for the beautiful head cheerleader (Roemer) who sees right through them and the other falls for the cheerleading coach's (Higgins) wife (Sims).

This is not going to get good reviews and that's deserved. The film is predictable, like so many of the teen flicks you've seen before. But, it's well directed and paced and the competent cast seems to be having a very good time. I found it surprisingly enjoyable although I think most adults will find this more suitable for DVD viewing, if they choose to watch it at all. There are some out takes during the end credits and if you wait until the very end you'll get to see one of the Heroes cast members make an appearance.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/20/09

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). Tyler Perry's films have grossed over 300 million dollars so far and he's trying for even more. If you're a Perry fan, this should do fine although it appears he decided not to screen this film for the critics. FIRED UP is strictly for teen/20's. I think the distributors are thinking adults will be home watching the Oscars this weekend.

32 Fired Up,
00 Madea Goes To Jail

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review.

My review of FIRED UP will be on this site after 4:30 pm.

Here are the films scheduled for Friday, 2/27: JONAS BROTHERS: 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE, STREET FIGTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN LI.

Opening 2/20/09

For show times select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Family Trailer Cast: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann, Tamala Mann, Ronreaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, Viola Davis, Sophia Vergara, Robin Coleman, Bobbi Baker. Plot: after a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. But Madea's eccentric family members, the Browns, rally behind her, lending their special "country" brand of support. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

FIRED UP [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, Danneel Harris, Philip Baker Hall, Adhir Kalyan, Annalynne McCord, John Michael Higgins. Plot: the two stars of the Gerald R. Ford High School football team, are dreading the prospect of another summer at football camp. When one hatches a scheme for the two to join their school's cheerleaders at cheer camp instead, they find themselves awash in a sea of gorgeous young women. It all goes great until the other one falls for the beautiful head cheerleader who sees right through them. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 2/19/2009

Derby Plaza - The Uninvited
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Inkheart, Defiance
Palace West - Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - My Bloody Valentine
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - The Uninvited, Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

THE INTERNATIONAL ***

Tom Tykwer directed and partially scored this thriller starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen, and Brían F. O'Byrne. Rated R for some sequences of violence and language. Running time is one hour and fifty-eight minutes.

An Interpol Agent (Owen) and a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney (Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, they follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets (Mueller-Stahn, Thomsen, etc.) will stop at nothing – even murder (by O'Byrne) – to continue financing terror and war.

If your thoughts about the banking business have been rather negative of late this isn't going to make them any more positive. Basically, it's about a rapacious Swiss bank that will let nothing get in the way of their lust for power and wealth. Owen and Watts spend the movie trying to get the goods on the bank only to be thwarted at every turn. The story is fast paced, the scenery is interesting and the cast is fine. I don't think you'll be as happy as you'd like when you leave the theatre but this is an entertaining, solid film for action fans.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/13/09

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). SHOPAHOLIC and 13th are getting critically panned while INTERNATIONAL comes out a little better. Again, we have a woman's pic, a teen pic and an adult action film. I'd go with the action pic if I were you.

39 Confessions of a Shopaholic,
35 Friday the 13th,
52 International, The

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review.

My review of THE INTERNATIONAL will be on this site after 4:30 pm.

Here are the films scheduled for Friday, 2/20: TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL and FIRED UP.

Opening 2/13/09

For show times select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Fred Armisen, Julie Hagerty, Krysten Ritter, Robert Stanton, Christine Ebersole, Clea Lewis, Wendie Malick, Stephanie March. Plot: a fun-loving girl who is so good at shopping she's seriously in debt, snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

FRIDAY THE 13th [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Aaron Yoo, Amanda Righetti, Travis Van Winkle, Derek Mears. Plot: searching for his missing sister, a man heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, he pursues what few leads he has, with the help of a young woman he meets among a group of college kids. Little do they know, they've entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history—Jason Voorhees. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Oldtown, 21st Street Warren.

THE INTERNATIONAL [R] 2 hrs. Thriller Trailer Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brían F. O'Byrne. Plot: an Interpol Agent and a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, they follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Oldtown, 21st Street Warren.

What's Leaving 2/12/09

Derby Plaza - New In Town
Movie Machine - Taken
Northrock 14 - Inkheart, Not Easily Broken, New In Town, Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans
Palace West - Punisher: War Zone, Four Christmases, Role Models, Fireproof
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Inkheart, Defiance, Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Bride Wars
Warren Old Town - Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans, Slumdog Millionaire
Warren West 21st - Revolutionary Road, Bride Wars, Inkheart, Twilight, Last Chance Harvey

PUSH **½

Paul McGuigan directed this sci-fi thriller starring: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, and Djimon Hounsou. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking. Run time is one hour and fifty-one minutes.

A tale set in the near future about the deadly world of psychic espionage where artificially enhanced paranormal operatives have the ability to move objects with their minds, see the future, create new realities and kill without ever touching their victims. Against this setting, a young man (Evans), his girl friend (Belle) and a teenage girl (Fanning) take on a clandestine agency (led by Hounsou) in a race against time that will determine the future of civilization.

As I've said before, I like sci-fi so I was partial to this film before it ever started. While the plotting could have used some work, especially the ending, I was pleased with what I saw. Evans, Belle and especially Fanning are fine in their roles with Fanning putting everyone on notice she will be an acting talent to be reckoned with in the future. The pacing is excellent, with the protagonists constantly on the move, and the production values and special effects are quite impressive. This is never going to win any awards but if you're looking for an action "fix" this will do the job nicely. Due to the special effects this film will be enjoyed best in a large theatre with good sound.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/6/09

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). The PG rated CORALINE seems to be the critics favorite this week. I find it hard to believe it will be the #1 pic, however. PANTHER is also PG so families and younger teens have some choice. NOT INTO YOU definitely looks like the proverbial "chick flick" while PUSH is clearly for males and sci-fi fans.

80 Coraline,
46 He's Just Not That Into You,
36 Pink Panther 2,
40 Push

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review.

My review of PUSH will be on this site after 4:30 pm.

Here are the films scheduled for Friday, 2/13: CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, FRIDAY THE 13th, THE INTERNATIONAL.

Opening 2/6/09

For show times select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

CORALINE [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Animated Trailer Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ian McShane. Plot: a young girl is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar – only much better. But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, she must escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren (3D), 21st St. Warren (3D).

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU [PG-13] 2 hrs. 10 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Kris Kristofferson, Justin Long. Plot: the stories of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty-and thirtysomethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

THE PINK PANTHER 2 [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin, John Cleese. Plot: when legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

PUSH [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell. Plot: futuristic tale about the deadly world of psychic espionage where artificially enhanced paranormal operatives have the ability to move objects with their minds, see the future, create new realities and kill without ever touching their victims. Against this setting, a young man and a teenage girl take on a clandestine agency in a race against time that will determine the future of civilization. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

What's Leaving 2/5/09

Derby Plaza - Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans, Gran Torino
Movie Machine - Inkheart, Hotel For Dogs, Bride Wars
Northrock 14 - Notorious, The Unborn, Valkyrie
Palace West - Transporter 3, Quantum Of Solace
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Doubt, Marley And Me, Valkyrie, Twilight, Bedtime Stories, The Unborn
Warren Old Town - Milk, The Reader
Warren West 21st - The Unborn, Marley And Me, Defiance, Valkyrie