Opening 6/1/12

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Bernie [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Rip Torn. Plot: the assistant funeral director (Black) of a tiny Texas town was one of it's most beloved residents. Then he was charged with murdering a wealthy widow and creating the illusion she was still alive. Showing at: Warren East.

For Greater Glory [R] 2 hrs. 23 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O'Toole, Oscar Isaac, Ruben Blades, Bruce Greenwood, Nestor Carbonell, Bruce McGill, Santiago Cabrera, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eduardo Verastegui. Plot: an impassioned group of men and women each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as General Gorostieta (Andy Garcia) and his wife (Eva Longoria) watch Mexico fall into a violent civil war. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Snow White And The Huntsman [PG-13] 2 hrs. 7 min. Action/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham, Ray Winstone, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Liberty Ross, Noah Huntley. Plot: Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Charlize Theron), who is out to destroy her. What the wicked ruler doesn't know is the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) dispatched to kill her. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 5/31/12

Derby Plaza - The Dictator
Movie Machine - What To Expect When You're Expecting
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Five-Year Engagement
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Chimpanzee
Warren Old Town - Battleship
Warren West 21st - Think Like A Man

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel **½

John Madden directed this Comedy/Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language. Running time is two hours and four minutes.

Seven British retirees in need of a transformation find themselves on the front steps of a not-quite-ready resort in India.

 Fans of BBC dramas are in for a treat as this cast of stalwarts once again shows us how quality acting can make even a minor tale entertaining. The actors all portray British retirees who find themselves without the means to enjoy their final act in the manner they had hoped for. The hotel in India where they end up is way past its prime but the situations do provide for plenty of laughs and an ending that will satisfy most.

 There are  no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size and sound are relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Men In Black III ***

Barry Sonnenfeld directed this Sci-Fi Comedy. Watch Preview Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger, Alice Eve, Michael Stuhlbarg. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive content. Running time is one hour and forty-three minutes.

Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. When K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J travels back in time to team up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner's life, the agency, and the future of humankind.

The sequel to the original was so disappointing I didn't have much hope for this one. But, this is a much better film  and quite enjoyable. You don't get to see much of Jones since most of the film takes place when he's a much younger man and portrayed by Brolin. I don't know whether Brolin is great at voices or if his voice was dubbed but Brolin sounds just like Jones, which gives the character more continuity. There are a few interesting aliens to look at, although not as many as in past films, but this time around we actually have an interesting plot and one that eventually adds some information about the relationship between J and K. I watched the 2D version but I'm hearing very good reports about the 3D quality.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen with good sound will be a definite plus for maximum enjoyment. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Chernobyl Diaries ½

Bradley Parker directed this Horror film. Watch Preview. Cast: Devin Kelley, Jonathan Sadowski, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Philips, Dimitri Diatchenko. Rated R for violence, some bloody images and pervasive language. Running time is one hour and thirty minutes.

A  group of six young tourists hire a guide who takes them to the former home of the workers at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, the group soon discovers they are not alone...

This is on my list of worst films ever seen. It's one of those horror films where every thing you could do wrong is done, and where you hope the leads don't make it out alive so they won't become part of the gene pool. It was filmed in Serbia and Hungary and has an amateurish look, and the leads are actors I'm basically unfamiliar with. On top of every thing else I didn't like, it also has English subtitles which are a distraction and completely unnecessary since the film is in English. The reason for the ½ star is it is scarey at times so young dating couples will at least get to grab hold of each other and concentrate on something else beside how bad the film is.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size and great sound are unimportant...nothing can save this mess. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 5/25/12

MetaCritic indicates The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (62) is the best movie this week, followed by Men in Black III (59) and Chernobyl Diaries (0)  The producers of the last film were obviously smart enough not to let any critics see it and you would be wise to follow suit. I saw all three and enjoyed two of them and thought the third one of the worst films I've ever seen (guess which). Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My reviews of Men in Black III (***), Chernobyl Diaries (½) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (**½)  will be on the site at 4:30 p.m. Here are national reviews of this week's new films:

James Berardinelli review of  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
TORONTO SUN  review of Chernobyl Diaries.
NEW YORK POST  review of Men in Black III.

Opening 5/25/12

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [PG-13] 2 hrs. 4 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith. Plot: seven British retirees in need of a transformation find themselves on the front steps of a not-quite-ready resort in India. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Chernobyl Diaries [R] 1 hr. 26 min.  Horror Watch Preview Cast: Devin Kelley, Jonathan Sadowski, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Philips, Dimitri Diatchenko. Plot: a group of six young tourists hire a guide who takes them to the former home of the workers at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, the group soon discovers they are not alone... Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Men In Black III [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 1 hr. 46 min. Sci-Fi Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger, Alice Eve, Michael Stuhlbarg. Plot: Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. When K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J travels back in time to team up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 5/24/12

Derby Plaza - The Lucky One, The Pirates: Band Of Misfits
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - American Reunion, Act Of Valor, A Thousand Words, The Vow, This Means War
Starlite Drive-In - Open Friday-Saturday
Warren East 13th - The Five-Year Engagement, Mirror Mirror, The Raven
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - The Five-Year Engagement, Mirror Mirror, The Raven, Dark Shadows IMAX

What To Expect When You're Expecting **½

Kirk Jones directed this Romance/Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone, Joe Manganiello, Thomas Lennon. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language. Running time is one hour and fifty minutes.

Five couples intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood. Inspired by the perennial New York Times bestseller of the same name.

Normally, a film like this with a large cast and multiple stories turns out badly. This isn't the best or funniest film I've seen but it does have a few laughs and some well-known stars doing a reasonable job.  The previews would have you believe this is all about the fathers and their Saturday Dad's Club, but that isn't the case. Those scenes are a relatively small part of this film. More time is spent with the couples and their attempts to have or adopt a child or figure out the consequences from an unplanned pregnancy. And, the female cast carries most of the load in these scenes. Chris Rock isn't on screen for much time at all if he's who you're going to see.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen and great sound aren't really necessary but seeing it with a large crowd will make it funnier. Theatres/Times.

Battleship **

Peter Berg directed this. Sci-Fi Action film. Watch Preview Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Asano Tadanobu, Liam Neeson. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language. Running time is two hours and eleven minutes.

An epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior alien force.A junior Naval officer (Kitsch) is forced into a command position after his brother (Skarsgard) and commanding officer are killed.

You have to be willing to ignore the absence of a believable plot for this to work. The action scenes are intense and look good but are  highly repetitive and boring after awhile. You can skip the first half hour which is a back story about Kitsch's girlfriend (Decker) and which adds absolutely nothing to the story. Had they trimmed out all of the fluff and given us a ninety minute film, I'd have thought more highly of it. Action fans should be satisfied once the film gets going and Navy veterans may well appreciate the final sequences which supposedly involve the battleship Missouri.

There is an additional sequence after all the credits that may imply a sequel is possible. A large screen and good sound are absolutely essential if you are to have any chance to forget all the glaring plot errors. Theatres/Times.

The Dictator **

Larry Charles directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly, J.B. Smoove. Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language and some violent images. Running time is one hour and twenty-three minutes.

The heroic story of a dictator (Cohen) who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. When an attempted assassination fails while he is in New York, he finds himself penniless and unrecognizable in an area of the city populated by people he thought he'd had executed.

This film does have some funny bits that will cause some to laugh. But, others will be offended. Those of the conservative persuasion are likely to fall in that latter group. There is a sketchy plot but the sight gags and one liners are all you'll enjoy. As much as I laughed throughout the film, it's one I find hard to recommend. This is clearly aimed at a younger, very liberal audience and anyone else should consider attending with caution.

There are no additional scenes once the story has ended although there are some outtakes before the credits begin. Screen size and sound quality are relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 5/18/12

MetaCritic indicates THE DICTATOR (60) is the best movie this week, followed by WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (42) and BATTLESHIP (39)  I saw all three and wasn't overly impressed with any of them. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My reviews of THE DICTATOR (**), BATTLESHIP (**) and WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (**½)  will be on the site at 4:30 p.m. Here are national reviews of this week's new films:

James Berardinelli review of  BATTLESHIP.
USA TODAY  review of THE DICTATOR.
ROLLING STONE  review of WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING.

Opening 5/18/12

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Starts Wednesday, 5/16

The Dictator [R] 1 hr. 24 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly, J.B. Smoove. Plot: the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Starts Friday, 5/18

Battleship [PG-13] 2hrs. 21 min. Sci-Fi Action Watch Preview Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Asano Tadanobu, Liam Neeson. Plot: an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior alien force. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

What To Expect When You're Expecting [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Romance/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone, Joe Manganiello, Thomas Lennon. Plot: five couples intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood. Inspired by the perennial New York Times bestseller of the same name.  Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West

Leaving 5/15, 17/12

Derby Plaza - The Hunger Games
Movie Machine - 5/17: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits, The Hunger Games
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - 5/17: Lockout, Safe House
Starlite Drive-In - Open Friday-Saturday
Warren East 13th - 5/15: Three Stooges, 21 Jump Street; 5/17: Cabin In The Woods, Safe
Warren Old Town - 5/15: The Five-Year Engagement, The Raven; 5/17:nothing
Warren West 21st - 5/15: Three Stooges, The Raven, Chimpanzee,  Safe, Cabin In The Woods; 5/17: 21 Jump Street

Dark Shadows 2D/IMAX 2D ***

Tim Burton directed this Gothic Comedy. Watch Preview Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote, Gully McGrath. Rated PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking. Run time is one hour and fifty-three minutes.

After Barnabas (Depp) breaks the heart of a witch (Green) in 1752, she dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He finds his descendants (Pfeiffer, Miller) have fallen on hard times because the same witch is still bedeviling his family.

Based on the previews I've really been looking forward to this film. Then I read some of the early negative reviews and thought perhaps all  the good bits were in the prevue. But, that's not the case. There's a little  something for almost everyone. A few vampire killings (for which he apologizes in advance), romance, explosions and some of the funniest dialog I've heard in awhile. For example: Barnabas' idea of a romantic overture is to tell a woman she has "wide birthing hips." That was probably a hot comment in 1752 but not so much in this day and age. My real test for an entertaining film is whether I can watch it, laugh occasionally, and never feel the need to look at my watch. This one passed the test.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen and good sound will add to the enjoyability. Theatres/Times. IMAX times.

Worthwhile (or not) 5/11/12

MetaCritic indicates DARK SHADOWS (58) is the best movie this week, which is a pretty safe bet since it's the only move this week.  I saw it and found it entertaining. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My review of DARK SHADOWS (***)  will be on the site at 4:30 p.m. Here are national reviews of all this week's new films:

Roger Ebert review of  DARK SHADOWS.

Opening 5/11/12

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

 
Dark Shadows 2D/IMAX 2D [PG-13] 1 hr. 57 min. Gothic Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote, Gully McGrath. Plot: after Barnabas (Depp) breaks the heart of a witch (Green) in 1752, she dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 5/10/12

Derby Plaza - The Five Year Engagement, The Three Stooges
Movie Machine - The Lucky One
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Tyler Perry's Good Deeds
Starlite Drive-In - Open Friday-Saturday
Warren East 13th - American Reunion
Warren Old Town - The Hunger Games
Warren West 21st - American Reunion, 21 Jump Street

Marvel's The Avengers 2D/3D/IMAX 3D **½

Joss Whedon directed this Comic Book Action film. Watch Preview Cast:  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference. Running time is two hours and twenty-two minutes.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, the Director of the international peacekeeping agency finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

My main reaction to this film is: "too much of a good thing." It's very well made, great cgi and with a very good cast. But, two plus hours of non-stop fighting and explosions and not much else started to get boring after awhile. I actually fell asleep for a few minutes I was so uninvolved. But, I was never a comic book fan so I had no abiding interest in the proceedings. None of this matters to comics fans or action fans so plan on long lines for  those as well as those who just want to see the latest. If they'd come out with a ninety minute director's cut I might be more interested.

There is a sequel preview at the end of the film and a scene with the cast eating a meal after all the credits. The largest screen possible will add to your appreciation. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatre/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 5/4/12

MetaCritic indicates BULLY (74) is the best movie this week, followed by THE AVENGERS (69) .  I saw THE AVENGERS (**½). Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

Here are national reviews of all this week's new films:

Chicago Tribune review of  THE AVENGERS.
Roger Ebert review of BULLY.