Opening 7/2/14

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.

America [PG-13] 1 hr. 43 min. Documentary Watch Preview Cast: Russell W. Reed, John Koopman, Tina Fortune. Plot: what would have happened if the United States had lost the Revolutionary War and therefore never existed. Showing at: Warren East.

Deliver Us From Evil [R] 1 hr. 59 min. Supernatural thriller Watch Preview Cast: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, Joel McHale. Plot: a New York police officer (Eric Bana) begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramirez) to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city. Based upon the book, which details the bone-chilling real-life cases. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Earth To Echo [PG] 2D/3D 1 hr. 29 min. Sci-fi adventure Watch Preview Cast: Teo Halm, Brian "Astro" Bradley, Reese Hartwig, Ella Linnea Wahlestedt. Plot: four friends come together to protect a small alien and help him find his way home. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Tammy [R] 1 hr. 37 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Toni Collette, Nat Faxon, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates. Plot: a woman (McCarthy) who's leaving her husband, broke and without wheels takes a trip to Niagara Falls with her grandma (Sarandon) riding shot gun. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 6/1/14

Movie Machine - 22 Jump Street,
Palace West - Railway Man
Starlite Drive-In - open daily
Warren East 13th - How To Train Your Dragon 2, Neighbors, Signal
Warren Old Town - Maleficent
Warren West 21st - Neighbors, Blended, Godzilla, Alone, Yet Not Alone

Transformers: Age Of Extinction *½

Michael Bay directed this Sci-Fi Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, T.J. Miller, Han Geng, Titus Welliver, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, John Goodman, Ken Watanabe, John DiMaggio, Mark Ryan, Robert Foxworth, Reno Wilson. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language and brief innuendo. Running time is two hours and forty-five minutes.

In this fourth film in the series a new cast of humans joins Optimus Prime and the Autobots to meet their most fearsome challenge yet.

I could go into a diatribe about this mess but let me sum it up by saying it's ridiculously long, continuously loud, unimaginative and a prime example of the current trend of displaying a director's excessive ego. I would give this 0 stars for entertainment but it does feature impressive CGI and a competent cast doing their best with a shallow, uninvolving script. It will do a ton of business because it's aimed at an audience which has yet to develop or will never develop an appreciation for quality cinema. This should be named Watch Us Blow Things Up which is all this is really about. I saw it in IMAX 3D and the 3D was even better than IMAX's usual.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. You might as well see this on the largest possible screen since action is all this has going for it. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 6/27/14

MetaCritic indicates Transformers 4 (31) is the top rated film this week. Alone Yet Not Alone has not been reviewed. I saw one of these and found it incredibly long and unbelievably boring. 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 6/27/14

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.

Alone, Yet Not Alone [PG-13] 1 hr. 43 min. Religious historical drama Watch Preview Cast: Kelly Greyson, Natalie Racoosin, Jenn Gotzon. Plot: two young girls are taken hostage by Indians in 1755. Showing at: Warren West.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 2 hrs. 45 min. Sci-Fi Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, T.J. Miller, Han Geng, Titus Welliver, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, John Goodman, Ken Watanabe, John DiMaggio, Mark Ryan, Robert Foxworth, Reno Wilson. Plot: in this fourth film in the series a new cast of humans joins Optimus Prime and the Autobots to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. Showing at: Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 6/26/14

Movie Machine - Edge Of Tomorrow, The Fault In Our Stars
Palace West - Bears, Legends Of Oz, Grand Budapest Hotel
Starlite Drive-In - open daily
Warren East 13th - Godzilla, The Rover
Warren Old Town - Edge Of Tomorrow, Z-Men: Days Of Future Past
Warren West 21st - Heaven Is For Real, Million Dollar Arm, How  To Train Your Dragon 2 IMAX 3D, Edge Of Tomorrow IMAX 3D

Think Like A Man Too *½

Tim Story directed this Romantic comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union. Rated PG-13 for crude sexual content including references, partial nudity, language and drug material. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

The couples are back, this time for a wedding in Las Vegas, and as you might expect, things do not go according to plan.

This formula film does have romance and some comedy, but whether you will find it funny or not depends on whether you like Kevin Hart's version of humor. As nearly as I can tell what he thinks is humor doesn't depend on what he says, it's whether he can say it rapidly, loudly and repeatedly that counts. I don't personally find that funny and that's what I thought about this film. But, I recognize there are those who find him hilarious, so if you're among that group, go for it. Otherwise, I'd avoid this like the plague. Production values are good, Las Vegas looks good, and the rest of the cast is competent. But Hart's the deal breaker for me.

There is one brief scene after the credits but whether it's worth staying for is questionable. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 6/20/14

MetaCritic indicates The Rover (65) is the top rated film this week, followed by Jersey Boys (54), The Signal (53) and Think Like A Man Too (39). I saw one of these and found it mostly stupid. 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 6/20/14

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.

Jersey Boys [R] 2 hrs. 14 min. Musical Watch Preview Cast: John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Vincent Piazza, Michael Lomenda, Christopher Walken. Plot: the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic '60s rock group The Four Seasons. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Think Like A Man Too [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Romantic comedy Watch Preview Cast: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union. Plot: four interconnected and diverse men's love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy a book and start taking its advice to heart. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The  Rover [R] 1 hr. 42 min. Crime drama Watch Preview Cast: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy. Plot: ten years after a global economic collapse, a cold-blooded drifter crosses the scorched Australian outback on a mission to track down the men who stole his car. Showing at: Warren East.

The Signal [PG-13] 1 hr. 37 min. Sci-Fi thriller Watch Preview Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke, Beau Knapp. Plot: a MIT student on a cross-country trip finds himself in a waking nightmare. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 6/19/14

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Grand Budapest Hotel, Mr. Peabody And Sherman
Starlite Drive-In - open daily
Warren East 13th - Words & Pictures, Redwood Highway, Blended, Amazing Spider-Man 2, Belle, Edge Of Tomorrow 3D
Warren Old Town - The Fault In Our Stars, Neighbors, Million Ways To Die In The West
Warren West 21st - How To Train Your Dragon 2 3D

22 Jump Street **

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller co directed this Action/Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts. Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, drug material, brief nudity and some violence. Run time is one hour and fifty-two minutes.

After making their way through high school twice, officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are sent deep undercover at a local college by their captain (Ice Cube).

There is some comedy and a lot of action but mostly there's a lot of meaningless and unfunny drivel. Hill and Tatum are fine in their roles and Stevens is nice to look at but this film just doesn't know how to say enough is enough. This could easily have been edited into a ninety minutes feature and it would still feel padded. The younger crowd will no doubt enjoy this immensely but older patrons are going to be wishing for the final credits about fifteen minutes after the start.

You want to stay until the complete end for some funny credit material and one final, brief, funny scene. Screen size is relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 6/13/14

MetaCritic indicates 22 Jump Street (77) is the top rated film this week, followed by How To Train Your Dragon 2 (75) and Words And Pictures (49). Redwood Highway has not been reviewed. I saw one of these and found it funny at times but mostly stupid. 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 6/13/14

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.

22 Jump Street [R] 1 hr. 52 min. Action/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts. Plot: after making their way through high school twice, officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college. Showing at: Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 42 min. Animated film Watch Preview Voices: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Kit Harington, Cate Blanchett, Djimon Honsou, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig. Plot: the heroic Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace – and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. Showing at: Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Redwood Highway [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Shirley Knight, Tom Skerritt, Danforth Comins. Plot: a woman (Shirley Knight) decides to journey 80 miles on foot to the coast of Oregon to revisit the ocean of her past for the first time in 45 years. Showing at: Warren East.

Words And Pictures [PG-13] 1 hr. 51 min. Romance/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche. Plot: an abstract painter and new teacher on campus (Binoche), who was once celebrated for her art, and a prep school English teacher (Owen) flirt and provoke each other with equal relish. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 6/12/14

Movie Machine - Million Ways To Die In The West, X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Palace West - Muppets Most Wanted, Noah
Starlite Drive-In - open daily
Warren East 13th - The Other Woman, Only Lovers Left Alive, Maleficent 3D
Warren Old Town - Maleficent 3D
Warren West 21st - Moms Night Out, Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Other Woman

Edge Of Tomorrow ***

Doug Liman directed this Sci-Fi Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material. Running time is one hour and fifty-three minutes.

After an alien attack, a Lt. Col. who does public relations for the military (Cruise) is dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, he finds himself  thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, he becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside a Special Forces warrior (Blunt), and with each repeated encounter they get one step closer to defeating the enemy.

Finally, a sci-fi plot that makes sense. Add some very good special effects and a lot of action and you have a film fans of this genre will find entertaining. The film doesn't do a good job of explaining why Cruise is sent to the front lines in the first place, but after that everything flows smoothly. The first section is little slow while setting up the repeating  time gimmick, but once the action kicks in it moves right along. Cruise and Blunt are very good, and Paxton adds a nice touch of comic relief. I  saw  the 3D IMAX version and the 3D was very effective even though this is a 3D conversion film. The ending threw me for awhile but once you think about it all became clear.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. See this on the largest possible screen for the maximum effect. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. 3D IMAX Times.

Only Lovers Left Alive **

Jim Jarmusch wrote and directed this Horror/Romance film. Watch Preview. Cast: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright. Rated R for language and brief nudity. Running time is two hours and three minutes.

An underground musician (Hiddleston), deeply depressed by the direction of human activities, reunites with his resilient and enigmatic lover (Swinton).

This film has good production values, a good cast and an interesting take on the vampire legend. If that's enough for you, fine. But the story is so lethargic it was hard for me to get  involved. The two leads have been alive for centuries and as a result are very knowledgeable and cosmopolitan. They are presented as nice people who mean no harm to anyone if at all possible. In fact they'd be incredibly interesting dinner guests (as long as you weren't the dinner). So, horror fans are going to find this greatly lacking in horror and the nudity is extremely brief and not at all titillating. Put that all together and you've got two hours of ho hum. If this sounds like something you've been dying to see, I'd hurry...it won't be here long.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 6/6/14

MetaCritic indicates Only Lovers Left Alive (77) is the top rated film this week, followed by Edge Of Tomorrow (70) and The Fault In Our Stars (69). I saw two of these and found one very enjoyable and the other very dull. My guess is the last on the list will be first at the boxoffice. 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 6/6/14

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.

Edge Of Tomorrow [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 1 hr. 53 min. Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Jeremy Piven, Ciaran Hinds, Noah Taylor, Kick Gurry, Dragomir Mrsic, Charlotte Riley, Jonas Armstrong, Franz Drameh, Masayoshi Haneda, Tony Way. Plot: after an alien attack, a Lt. Col. (Cruise) is dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, he finds himself  thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, he becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside a Special Forces warrior (Blunt), and with each repeated encounter they get one step closer to defeating the enemy. Showing at: Movie Machine, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Fault In Our Stars [PG-13] 2 hrs. 6 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Mike Birbiglia, Emily Peachey. Plot: based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, about a couple (Woodley, Elgort) who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Only Lovers Left Alive [R] 2 hrs. 3 min. Horror/Romance film Watch Preview Cast: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright. Plot: an underground musician, deeply depressed by the direction of human activities, reunites with his resilient and enigmatic lover. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 6/5/14

Movie Machine - Blended, Godzilla
Palace West - Draft Day, Oculus, A Haunted House 2, Non-Stop
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri/Sat
Warren East 13th - Captain America, The Immigrant, Moms Night Out, Heaven Is For Real, Rio 2
Warren Old Town - Godzilla, Blended
Warren West 21st - Rio 2, Captain America, Moms Night Out, Maleficent 3D IMAX