Homefront **½

Gary Fleder directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Kate Bosworth, Frank Gillo. Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief sexuality. Running time is one hour and forty minutes.

A widowed ex-DEA agent (Statham) retires to a small town for the sake of his 10-year-old daughter but discovers he picked the wrong town.

All you can say about this film is that it's a Jason Statham action pic. Then again, that's about all you have to say since this is the only action film for this holiday period. The plot is threadbare, Sylvester Stallone wrote it.  And, it's silly enough in parts it's really hard to take seriously. But, plot isn't what this about so the action fans will  be more than pleased. Production values are fine and the rest of the cast do their part, although Bosworth is the only one who really emotes. This will lose its screens once the big Christmas films arrive so Statham fans should catch it quickly.

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

Frozen ***½

Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee directed this Animated Family Musical Adventure. Watch Preview. Voices:  Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk. Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor. Running time is one hour and forty-eight minutes.

When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, a fearless optimist (voice of Kristen Bell) sets out on an epic journey to find her sister (voice of Idina Menzel), the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell.

This was a very pleasant surprise. A film with something for everyone: comedy, action, very good animation and some very nice music and vocals. It's  nice to see Disney with another great family film that will be enjoyed by all ages. Bell's spoken dialogue and singing selections are spot on and Menzel has an equally attractive voice as the older sister. My only quibble is that it's a bit too long and the smaller patrons may get a little restless. I saw the 2D version so I have no comment on the 3D quality.

There is a final scene after all the credits. Screen size is relatively unimportant. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/27/13

MetaCritic indicates Philomena (82) is the best picture this week followed by Frozen (77), The Book Thief (54), Black Nativity (51), Oldboy (50) and Homefront (37). I saw two of the films this week and thought one was excellent and the other acceptable. For all the reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

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

Opening 11/27/13

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.

Black Nativity [PG] 1 hr. 33 min. Family musical drama Watch Preview Cast: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore, Nas, Luke James. Plot: a street-wise teen (Latimore) from Baltimore raised by a single mother (Hudson), journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, but finds himself unwilling to live by their rules. Showing at:Warren East,  Warren West.
 
The Book Thief [PG-13] 2 hrs. 11 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse. Plot: based on the beloved bestselling book about a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Frozen [PG] 2D/3D 1 hr. 48 min. Animated Family Musical Adventure Watch Preview Voices:  Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk. Plot: when a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, a fearless optimist (voice of Kristen Bell) sets out on an epic journey to find her sister (voice of Idina Menzel), the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren West.

Homefront [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Kate Bosworth, Frank Gillo. Plot: a widowed ex-DEA agent (Statham) retires to a small town for the sake of his 10-year-old daughter but discovers he picked the wrong town. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Oldboy [R] 1 hr. 44  min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, James Ransone, Samuel L. Jackson. Plot: an advertising executive (Josh Brolin) is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he gets out, he wants to know why. Showing at: Warren East.

Philomena [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark. Plot: a mother (Dench) decides to discover the long-lost son she was forced to give away at birth. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 11/26/13

Derby Plaza - nothing
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Prisoners, Monsters University, The Family
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - Enough Said, All Is Lost, About Time, Gravity
Warren Old Town - Last Vegas, Bad Grandpa
Warren West 21st - Cloudy With Meatballs 2, About Time, Ender's Game

Delivery Man **½

Ken Scott directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Britt Robertson. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language. Running time is one hour and forty-three minutes.

An affable underachiever (Vaughan) discovers his anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. Now. several of them want to know who their father is.

This is a pleasant but easily forgettable comedy. Production values are fine and Vaughn is enjoyable as a middle aged guy who suddenly discovers he's the father of hundreds. Pratt (as his lawyer) and Smulders (as his pregnant girlfriend) provide decent if  minimal support, but this is all Vaughn. Most of the films released this time of year are of the epic, expensive variety so if all you want is to kill a couple of hours in an auditorium that isn't packed, this is a good bet. I wouldn't wait too long, though. I'm guessing this won't be here for long.

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

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ***

Francis Lawrence directed this Sci-Fi Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Maria Howell, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language. Running time is two hours and twenty-six minutes.

As Katniss (Lawrence)  embarks on a "Victor's Tour' of the districts with Peeta (Hutcherson), she discovers  a rebellion is building.

Other than filling the tills once again it's hard to justify this film. It's well made and with good production values, but the story doesn't add up to much. Oh, we have different contestants in these games and they face different obstacles, but once you get past that you aren't  much further along in the story than you were when the last one ended. There's no reason for the excessive length but the pacing is good enough I only checked my watch twice. And, it's hard for me to believe many will be satisfied with the ending, which is abrupt to say the least. Clearly, this is a mere stepping stone to the next book in the series and they've already made it known that's going to be split into two films. It's getting hard not to believe this is becoming a cash cow that's being milked for all it's worth! I saw the IMAX version (which was its usual high quality) although it was obvious it wasn't filmed in IMAX except possibly for a few minutes close to the end (the full screen height isn't used during most of the film).

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is preferable for the action scenes. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/22/13

MetaCritic indicates The Dallas Buyer's Club (84) is the best picture this week followed by Hunger Games: Catching Fire (75), Delivery Man (43) and The Christmas Candle (36). I saw two of the films this week and thought both were OK. For all the reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

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

Opening 11/22/13

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 Christmas Candle [PG] 1 hr. 31 min. Family Drama Watch Preview Cast: Hans Matheson, Samantha Barks, Lesley Manville, Sylvester McCoy, John Hannah, Barbara Flynn, James Cosmo, Susan Boyle. Plot: legend has it every 25 years an angel visits an English village and touches a single candle. Whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. But in 1890, at the dawn of the electric age, this centuries old legend may come to an end. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Dallas Buyer's Club [R] 1 hr. 57 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Matthew McConaughy, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto. Plot: in 1985, diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live, a man (McConaughy) decides to take matters in his own hands, tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Showing at: Warren East.

Delivery Man [PG-13] 1 hr. 43 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Britt Robertson. Plot: an affable underachiever (Vaughan) discovers his anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 2D/IMAX 2D 2 hrs. 26 min. Sci-Fi Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Maria Howell, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright. Plot: as Katniss (Lawrence)  embarks on a "Victor's Tour' of the districts, she senses  a rebellion is simmering.
Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 11/21/13

Derby Plaza - Captain Phillips
Movie Machine - Ender's Game, Last Vegas, Jackass: Bad Grandpa
Palace West - Rush, Runner  Runner, Battle Of The Year
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - Escape Plan, Cloudy With Meatballs 2, Carrie, The Counselor
Warren Old Town - Captain Phillips, Ender's Game, Thor: The DarkWorld
Warren West 21st - Carrie, Escape Plan, We're The Millers, Ender's Game IMAX, Thor 3D/3D IMAX

Worthwhile (or not) 11/15/13

MetaCritic indicates The Best Man Holiday (58) is the best picture this week which isn't that hard since it was the only new film this week. I didn't watch anything this week as I'm resting up for next week (Hunger Games opens)! For all the reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

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

Opening 11/15/2013

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 Man Holiday [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa. Plot: when college friends reunite after fifteen years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited.
Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 11/14/2013

Derby Plaza - nothing
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Riddick, Mortal Instruments
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - nothing
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - The Counselor

Thor: The Dark World **½

Alan Taylor directed this  Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins. Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content. Running time is one hour and fifty-two minutes.

Continues the big-screen adventures of Thor (Hemsworth) as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy (Eccleston) that predates the universe itself.

This is an odd mixture of Norse mythology and science-fiction where you have horn-helmeted warriors with shields and swords battling others arriving in an invisible space ship with ray guns. Frankly, it looks pretty silly a great deal of the time. The cast is fine, although Portman seems wasted in this role and doesn't have much chemistry with Hemsworth. We already know this is going to make a ton of money, it opened a week earlier in Europe to big bucks. It's  mildly entertaining and well paced but instantly forgettable as soon as you leave the theatre. I saw this in IMAX 3D which was fine as usual, but this is a 2D conversion so there's no real reason to see it in 3D since the depth effects are minimal.

There are two extra sequences after the credits begin, both of which give you some info about the next film in the series. For maximum impact you will want to see this on a large screen. 2D Theatres/Times, 3D Theatres/Times, IMAX 3D Times.

About Time **½

Richard Curtis directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie. Rated R for language and some sexual content. Running time is two hours and three minutes.

After another unsatisfactory New Year party, a father (Bill Nighy) tells his son (Domhnall Gleeson) the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time.

I like British comedies and since that's what this is, I liked it. But, only mildly. The cast is good, and familiar to one who watches a lot of  British TV, and the production values are fine. But, it's a one note movie, the men can travel back in time, and that got a little tiresome after awhile when it became obvious the film had nothing else to offer but the repair of missed opportunities. The pacing is rather slow and the film is at least thirty minutes too long, so I was ready for this to be over before it was. This won't be here for long so I'd hurry if you want to see it.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 11/8/13

MetaCritic indicates 12 Years A Slave (97) is the best picture this week followed by All Is Lost (88), About Time (55) and Thor: The Dark World (54).  I saw two of these films this week and thought both were entertaining. For all the reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

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

Opening 11/8/13

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.

12 Years A Slave [R] 2 hrs. 13 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Giamatti, Scoot McNairy, Lupita Nyong’o, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Michael Kenneth Williams, Alfre Woodard, Chris Chalk, Taran Killam, Bill Camp. Plot: based on a true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom in the pre-Civil War United States. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

About Time [R]  2 hrs. 3 min.Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie. Plot: after another unsatisfactory New Year party, a father (Bill Nighy) tells his son (Domhnall Gleeson) the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

All Is Lost [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Robert Redford. Plot: an open-water thriller about one man's battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. Showing at: Warren East.

Thor: The Dark World 2D/3D/3D IMAX [PG-13] 1 hr. 52 min. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins. Plot: continues the big-screen adventures of Thor as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 11/7/13

Derby Plaza - The Counselor, Gravity 2D
Movie Machine - Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs2
Palace West - Machete Kills, Percy Jackson
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - The Fifth Estate, Prisoners, Rush, We're The Millers, Free Birds 3D
Warren Old Town - The Counselor, Carrie
Warren West 21st - Insidious Chapter 2, Grace Unplugged, Free Birds 3D

Ender's Game **½

Gavin Hood wrote and directed this SciFi Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Nonso Anozie, Stevie Ray Dillmore, Andrea Powell, Moises Arias, Conor Carroll, Aramis Knight, Brandon Soo hoo, Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak, Suraj Parthasarathy, Khylin Rhambo. Rated PG-13 for some violence, sci-fi action and thematic material. Running time is one hour and fifty-four minutes.

In the near future, a hostile alien race has attacked Earth. In preparation for the next attack, a highly esteemed Colonel (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young minds to fight the next battle.

I found this a bit disappointing. It has good production values, good CGI and a good cast. What it doesn't have is a story that makes sense. The final few minutes seem more like a literary contrivance  than a flash of  mental brilliance and the ending just doesn't ring true. The other problem with the film is there's no real involvement with the characters so when all is said and done, you don't really care about them or their problems. I think part of this is because you never get to see the aliens in action, you just hear they killed millions, so for the most part they are faceless entities. That makes it hard to root for someone against something completely unknown. I saw this in IMAX and thought it a very good presentation even though I can't say the same about the film. A lot of people made the book a bestseller. It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say about the movie.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is better for this film. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/1/13

MetaCritic indicates Ender's Game (57) is the best picture this week followed by Lost Vegas (49) and Free Birds (37).  I saw one of these films this week and thought it just so-so. For all the reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

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