The Host *½

Andrew Niccol directed this Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, William Hurt, Frances Fisher. Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and violence. Run time is two hours and five miinutes.

An unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories. One girl (Ronan) is determined to fight back against the alien in her mind.

This is a film with some potential if they had just edited it into a ninety minute version. As it is, it's too long and thus too slow to really keep your attention. Ronan's character is also so passive (I assume because she's got that mental battle thing going on) it was hard for me to keep interested in her. Kruger's character was far more interesting to watch. Hurt and Fisher are excellent actors but somewhat wasted in this film. I realize this was made for a younger female audience, and indeed they may really enjoy the romance aspects, but they needed to put in a little more bite for the rest of us in addition to that whole editing thing.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. There are some large outdoor vistas that will be more appreciated on a larger screen. Theatres/Times.

GI Joe: Retaliation *

Jon M. Chu directed this Action/Adventure. Watch Preview Cast: D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of combat violence and martial arts action throughout, and for brief sensuality and language. Run time is one hour and forty minutes.

The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.

Try as I might there's just nothing positive I can say about this film to the mature audience I suspect are my readers. This is nothing but several sequences of fighting and explosions which are occasionally tied together with a minimalist plot. Some of those sequences make no sense in relation to the others and could have been edited out with no loss except to the running time.. If you are satisfied with action alone and with no need for a plot, you may enjoy this film. But most people won't. I saw this in IMAX 3D and it was impressive as usual.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen will emphasize the explosive violence.
2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates G.I. Joe: Retaliation (42) is the best picture this week, followed by The Host (36). Tyler Perry's Temptation evidently wasn't screened for the critics so it has no ratings. If you're a regular reader, you know what that means. I watched two of these and found one had no plot and the other was boring. Frankly, this is a good week to save your money for better films in the future. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

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

Opening 3/28, 29

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.

Thursday 3/28

GI Joe: Retaliation 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 34 min. Action/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson. Plot: the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Friday 3/29

Emperor [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew Fox, Eriko Hatsune. Plot: as General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture - General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved? Showing at: Warren East.

The Host [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, William Hurt, Frances Fisher. Plot: an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Tyler Perry's Temptation [PG-13] 1 hr. 51 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Williams, Robbie Jones, Renée Taylor, Ella Joyce, Brandy Norwood. Plot: a woman starts to get restless in her relationship and her choice to be with another man has a huge effect on the rest of her life. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 3/27, 28

Derby Plaza - 3/27: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone; 3/28: The Call
Movie Machine - 3/27: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Jack The Giant Slayer; 3/28: Snitch
Palace West - 3:28: Rise Of The Guardians, Jack Reacher, Zero Dark Thirty, Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri, Sat
Warren East 13th - 3/27: Good Day To Die Hard, Dean Man Down, Safe Haven, 21 And Over; 3/28: InAPPropriate Comedy, Silver Linings Playbook, Escape From Planet Earth
Warren Old Town - 3/27: Identity Thief; 3/28: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Oz Great & Powerful 3D
Warren West 21st - 3/27: Silver Linings Playbook, Escape From Planet Earth, Oz Great & Powerful IMAX 3D; 3/28: Snitch, Warm Bodies, 21 And Over

Spring Breakers **

Harmony Korine directed this Crime drama. Watch Preview. Cast:  James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine. Rated R for strong sexual content, language, nudity, drug use and violence throughout. Run time is one hour and thirty-four minutes.

Four sexy college girls (Gomez, Hudgens, Benson and Korine) plan their spring break getaway and three of them pay for it by burglarizing a fast food shack. When they reach their destination they end up in jail and are bailed out by a local drug dealer (Franco).

The title would lead the average person to think this was a "Girls Gone Wild" takeoff. Wrong. It has elements of that in the beginning but this is basically an art film telling a story of some bored college girls without any moral foundation or sense of consequences going on a nihilistic vacation where self pleasure is the only goal. Dialogue is repeated over and over to show how unexciting their lives are and their actions are far from responsible. I got what the director was saying, it's just that it wasn't in the least entertaining. And, the ending is highly unrealistic to say the least. If you're looking for an art film this is in the three to three-and-a-half star range. But unless viewing a multitude of topless young women is your idea of entertainment, this has nothing else you'll enjoy seeing.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen will enhance the topless beach scenes but won't add much to the film's story. Theatres/Times.

Admission **

Paul Weitz directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Nat Wolff, Lily Tomlin. Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual material. Run time is one hour and forty-seven minutes.

A straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer (Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate (Rudd).

I suppose the obvious assumption is that a Tina Fey film would be a comedy. And, indeed, the film company is representing it as such. But it isn't. This is a straight drama with just a tinge of romance thrown in, and to put it bluntly, it isn't very entertaining. It's too long for one thing which makes the pacing slow. The romance between Rudd and Fey seems to be one of desperation rather than any real attraction. The actors do their best with the plot they're given, but this looks more like a Lifetime TV drama than a theatrical release. If you're a Fey fan and just want to see her in a movie, fine. But don't count on any laughs while you're watching.

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

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates Spring Breakers (63) is the best picture this week, closely followed by The Croods (59), Stoker (58), Admission (47) and Olympus Has Fallen (42). InAPPropriate Comedy evidently wasn't screened for the critics (I could have guessed it wouldn't be by the cast). I watched two of these and found each to be different than expected. Both were interesting but neither was particularly entertaining. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

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

Opening 3/22

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.

Admission [PG-13] 1 hr. 47 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Nat Wolff, Lily Tomlin. Plot: a straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer (Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate (Rudd). Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Croods 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 38 min. Animated Comedy Watch Preview Voices: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman. Plot: the world's first family embarks on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren West.

InAPPropriate Comedy [R] 1 hr. 24 min.Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Adrien Brody, Rob Schneider, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Ari Shaffir. Plot: a no-holds barred sketch movie. Showing at: Warren East.

Olympus Has Fallen [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Dylan McDermott,  Ashley Judd, Melissa Leo, Rick Yune. Plot: when the White House  is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President (Eckhart) is kidnapped, a disgraced former Presidential guard (Butler) must help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Spring Breakers [R] 1 hr. 32 min. Crime drama Watch Preview Cast:  James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine. Plot: four sexy college girls plan to fund their spring break getaway by burglarizing a fast food shack. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Stoker [R] 1 hr. 38 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver, Nicole Kidman. Plot: a friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with her uncle after her father dies. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 3/21

Derby Plaza - Identity Thief, Safe Haven, Jack The Giant Slayer 2D/3D 
Movie Machine - Escape From The Planet Earth, The Last Exorcism II
Palace West - Monsters, Inc. Movie 43
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri, Sat
Warren East 13th - Escape From The Planet Earth, The Last Exorcism II, Quartet, Warm Bodies, Side Effects, Dark Skies
Warren Old Town - Snitch, 21 And Over, Dead Man Down
Warren West 21st - Escape From The Planet Earth, Good Day To Die Hard, Dark Skies, Dead Man Down, Escape From The Planet Earth, The Last Exorcism II

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone **½

Don Scardino directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini, Jim Carrey, Jay Mohr, Michael Bully Herbig. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language. Running time is one hour and forty minutes.

Two superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, but now face cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) while their assistant (Olivia Wilde) has aspirations for a starring career of her own.

More often than not a film featuring a number of comedians ends up being stupid rather than funny. This wasn't the funniest film I've ever seen but it was humorous, entertaining and a feel good film as well. Carrell is as funny as you'd expect, Carrey is weird (purposefully so) and Buscemi has a sympathetic role for a change that he handles quite well. Wilde and Arkin are very good in their supporting roles. The pacing is very good and the run time is as good as it gets these days. You probably won't be rolling on the floor with laughter, and it's doubtful you'll remember this for long, but you will have a good time while watching.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Watching a comedy with a large crowd is always best if you have an auditorium choice. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 3/15

MetaCritic indicates The Call (49) is the best picture this week, closely followed by The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (47). I watched one of these and found it amusing although not a 'must see'. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

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

Opening 3/15

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 Call [R] 2 hrs. Suspense Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli. Plot: a veteran 911 operator (Halle Berry) takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted and realizes she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone [PG-13] 1 hr. 41 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini, Jim Carrey, Jay Mohr, Michael Bully Herbig. Plot: two superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, but now face cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey). Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/14

Derby Plaza - Escape From Planet Earth
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - The Guilt Trip, Breaking Dawn 2, Haunted House, The Master
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri, Sat
Warren East 13th - Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty
Warren Old Town - Jack The Giant Slayer 2D/3D
Warren West 21st - Lincoln, Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters

Oz The Great And Powerful **

Sam Raimi directed this Fantasy adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Joey King, Bruce Campbell. Rated PG for sequences of action and scary images, and brief mild language. Run time is two hours and ten minutes.

A small-time circus magician (Franco) with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz and thinks he's hit the jackpot--fame and fortune for the taking--that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).

This is a good looking film with some very good 3D effects. For the  most part, the cast is fine, with Franco very good as the smarmy huckster magician. The weak link in the cast is Kunis, who just isn't as convincing in her part as she should be, which is too bad since I've enjoyed her in her usual forte: light comedies. But, the big problem with this film is its length. It's too long for children and adults alike. This would have been so much better if edited to a ninety minute feature. There's not a lot of depth to the plot so what we get are some good CGI effects but no real involvement in the story. It's also a bit scary for smaller children. I saw it in IMAX 3D, which was excellent as usual.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. You will need a large, well-lit screen for maximum 3D effect. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Dead Man Down **

Niels Arden Oplev directed this Action thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, Terrence Howard, Isabelle Huppert. Rated R for violence, language throughout and a scene of sexuality. Run time is one hour and fifty minutes.

Two strangers' (Farrell, Rapace)  mutual desire for revenge draws them together and triggers an escalating trail of mayhem.

This is a rather odd mixture of genres: classic gang action, European introspection, and romance. It would have been better if it had stuck to just one of those. As it is, it can be somewhat confusing to follow as its plot is convoluted. Don't even think about coming in on this one late...you'll never figure out what's going on. It might also help if you haven't seen the preview, since I found it to be somewhat misleading. Production values are good and the pacing is as good as it can be for the length. The time did pass fairly quickly but I think that's because I was having to really concentrate to keep abreast of the story. Farrell and Rapace are fine but the outstanding Huppert is basically wasted in a nonessential role that could have been easily edited out. If you think you want to see this I wouldn't waste time, it won't be around for long.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits start. Screen size is relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates Oz the Great and Powerful (45) is the best picture this week, followed by Dead Man Down (42). I watched both of these and didn't think either one was anything to get excited about, as the MetaCritic scores also indicate. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

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

Opening 3/8

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.

Dead Man Down [R] 1 hr. 58 min. Action thriller Watch Preview Cast: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, Terrence Howard, Isabelle Huppert. Plot: two strangers' (Farrell, Rapace)  mutual desire for revenge draws them together and triggers an escalating trail of mayhem. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Oz The Great And Powerful 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] Fantasy adventure Watch Preview Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Joey King, Bruce Campbell. Plot: a small-time circus magician (Franco) with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz and thinks he's hit the jackpot--fame and fortune for the taking--that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/7

Derby Plaza - Dark Skies, Escape From Planet Earth 3D
Movie Machine - Identity Thief
Palace West - Broken City, Bullet To The Head, Gangster Squad
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri, Sat
Warren East 13th - Hobbit, Beautiful Creatures, Hansel And Gretel, Amour, Phantom, Escape From Planet Earth 3D
Warren Old Town - A Good Day To Die Hard, Safe Haven
Warren West 21st - Mama, Beautiful Creatures, Zero Dark Thirty, Phantom, Escape From Planet Earth 3D, Jack The Giant Slayer IMAX 3D

Jack The Giant Slayer **½

Bryan Singer directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, Ewan McGregor. Rated PG-13 for intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language. Run time is one hour and fifty-four minutes.

An ancient war is reignited when a young farmhand (Hoult) unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants.

This picture had a lot of potential but failed to realize it for the most part. The cast is very good with Hoult (Warm Bodies) and Tomlinson as the Princess and the commoner. Their on-screen relationship is OK but not particularly involving. The supporting cast is very good. Nighy is unrecognizable but Tucci is great as usual and McShane is underused. The CGI effects are very good. But, the story borders on the insipid, the pacing is too slow and the film is a good twenty minutes too long. I wouldn't get too excited about taking the kids or grandkids to this as there are several frightening and disgusting scenes. I saw the IMAX 3D version and as usual the 3D was very good although I don't think it added much to the film.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. The CGI effects will be more impressive on a large screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. 3D IMAX times.

21 And Over **

Jon Lucas, and Scott Moore  wrote and directed this Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Skylar Astin, Sarah Wright, François Chau, Jonathan Keltz, Daniel Booko, Dustin Ybarra. Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity, drugs and drinking. Running time is one hour and thirty-three minutes.

College student Jeff Chang's (Chon) two best friends (Teller and Astin) surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery.

This is aimed at the college-age crowd and many of them will  no doubt be entertained by it. Like so many similar comedies, it is funny in spurts (if you've seen the preview you've already seen the best parts) but just annoyingly silly most of the time. It's also very predictable. The pacing is good and the length is about right but those alone aren't sufficient to make this a must see. The only way to make this really funny is to have a few drinks before attending and make sure you're watching with a large crowd.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large audience will make this seem less mediocre. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates Jack The Giant Slayer (51) is the best picture this week, followed by 21 And Over (40) and Phantom (35). The Last Exorcism Part II evidently wasn't screened for the critics which is never a good sign. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

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