The November Man ***

Roger Donaldson directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Luke Bracey, Olga Kurylenko, Eliza Taylor, Caterina Scorsone, Bill Smitrovich, Will Patton. Rated R for strong violence including a sexual assault, language, sexuality/nudity and brief drug use. Running time is one hour and forty-eight minutes.

A lethal and highly trained ex-CIA agent (Brosnan), who has been enjoying a quiet life in Switzerland, is lured out of retirement for one last mission by his former handler (Smitrovich).

Take a former James Bond and a former Bond girl and you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this Bond/early-Michael Caine type film and I think anyone old enough to appreciate the genre will also. I'm not so sure about the younger generation, so my guess is this won't be around long. The cast is good, although basically unknown except for Brosnan, Smitrovich and Patton but that just made it more interesting. Filming was obviously on location at times and interestingly enough, a drone camera was used occasionally for scenes that would otherwise been hard to get.  Although the plot is predictable, there's enough intrigue and action to keep the audience interested.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A larger screen size will accentuate the action scenes. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 8/29/14

MetaCritic indicates The November Man (39) is the top ranking film this week, followed by As Above, So Below (38). Neither Cantinflas nor Ghostbusters were rated. I saw one of this week's films and liked it better than did the national critics. 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 8/27-29/14

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.

Opening Wednesday, 8/27/14

The November Man [R] 1 hr. 48 min. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Luke Bracey, Olga Kurylenko, Eliza Taylor, Caterina Scorsone, Bill Smitrovich, Will Patton. Plot: a lethal and highly trained ex-CIA agent (Brosnan), who has been enjoying a quiet life in Switzerland, is lured out of retirement for one last mission. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Opening Friday, 8/29/14

As Above, So Below [R] 1 hr. 33 min. Psychological thriller Watch Preview Cast: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge. Plot: when a team of explorers ventures into the uncharted maze of bones in the miles of twisting catacombs beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover a dark secret. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Cantinflas [PG] 1 hr. 43 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Óscar Jaenada, Michael Imperioli, Ilse Salas, Barbara Mori, Ana Layevska, Adal Ramones. Plot: the untold story of Mexico's greatest and most beloved comedy film star of all time. Showing at: Warren East.

Ghostbusters [PG] 1 hr. 47 min. Sci-Fi comedy Watch Preview Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis. Plot: in this 30th anniversary reissue of the 1984 original, three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a ghost removal service. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 8/26, 28/14

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - The Fault In Our Stars, Captain America 2, Think Like A Man Too
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sun
Warren East 13th - 8/26: Step Up All In; 8/28 What If, Sin City 3D, Teenage Mutant Turtles 3D
Warren Old Town - 8/28: The Giver, Expendables 3, Sin City 3D
Warren West 21st - 8/26: Step Up All In; 8/28: Earth To Echo, Sin City 3D

If I Stay **½

R.J. Cutler directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, Joshua Leonard, Liana Liberato, Aisha Hinds, Stacy Keach. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some sexual material. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

Caught between life and death for one revealing day, a girl (Moretz) has only one decision left, will she live or will she die, based on the best-selling novel of the same name.

This is a pleasant enough film obviously aimed at the teenaged girls audience. Moretz is aging into an attractive young woman and does well in her part. Enos is good as her mother although it seemed strange to see her in this type role after watching her for two-and-a-half seasons in The Killing. The rest of the cast are fine in their supporting roles. I was very impressed how realistically Moretz faked playing the cello, although I understand a real player plus CG effects are responsible. The film keeps cutting back and forth from then to now and back, etc. and I found that tiresome after awhile. I also though the pacing too slow which results in a longer than necessary length. This would be classed as a good date movie although females are going to enjoy it a lot more than the males will.

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

Calvary *

John Michael McDonagh wrote and directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankolé, M. Emmet Walsh, Marie-Josée Croze, Domhnall Gleeson, David Wilmot, Pat Shortt, Gary Lydon, Killian Scott, Orla O'Rourke, Owen Sharpe, David McSavage. Rated R for sexual references, language, brief strong violence and some drug use. Running time is one hour and forty minutes.

A good priest (Gleeson) is faced with sinister and troubling circumstances brought about by a mysterious parishioner telling him during confession he will kill him in one week.

I note several critics thought this a great movie. My wife and I watched it and she left in the middle out of sheer boredom while I stuck it out for the entire length but wished I hadn't. It has pretty scenery but the story seems to be a jumble of unconnected vignettes which have no bearing on the basic plot about an abused boy seeking revenge as a man upon someone innocent of the crime. I understand the correlation between the title and the story, but it didn't make what happens any more meaningful or insightful as far as I'm concerned. Gleeson is a good actor, as is Reilly and Gillen (Game Of Thrones) but  none of them needed to stretch at all in these roles. Even though the national critics seem to rate it highly, I'm of the opinion the average movie patron will not be entertained.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 8/22/14

MetaCritic indicates Calvary (77) is the top ranking film this week, followed by If I Stay (49), Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (42) and When The Game Stands Tall (40). I saw two of this week's films and found one most suitable for teenage girls and the other absolutely dull. 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 8/22/14

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.

Calvary [R] 1 hr. 47 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankolé, M. Emmet Walsh, Marie-Josée Croze, Domhnall Gleeson, David Wilmot, Pat Shortt, Gary Lydon, Killian Scott, Orla O'Rourke, Owen Sharpe, David McSavage. Plot: a good priest (Gleeson) is faced with sinister and troubling circumstances brought about by a mysterious member of his parish.Showing at: Warren East.

If I Stay [PG-13] 1 hr. 47 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, Joshua Leonard, Liana Liberato, Aisha Hinds, Stacy Keach. Plot: caught between life and death for one revealing day, a girl (Moretz) has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate, based on the best-selling novel of the same name.
Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For 2D/3D [R] 1 hr. 42 min. Crime thriller Watch Preview Cast: Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin. Plot: the classic graphic novels are back on the screen again, this time weaving together classic stories with new tales. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

When The Game Stands Tall [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Sports drama Watch Preview Cast: Jim Caviezel, Laura Dern, Michael Chiklis, Alexander Ludwig. Plot: the remarkable journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 8/21/14

Movie Machine - Into The Storm
Palace West - Rio 2, Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla, Edge  Of Tomorrow
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sun
Warren East 13th - Planes, Purge, Step Up All In, And So It Goes
Warren Old Town - Into The Storm
Warren West 21st - Planes, Purge, Step Up All In, Hercules, Purge

Magic In The Moonlight ***

 Woody Allen wrote and directed this Comedy/Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Eileen Atkins, Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Simon McBurney, Emma Stone, Jacki Weaver, Erica Leerhsen, Catherine McCormack, Paul Ritter, Jeremy Shamos. Rated PG-13 for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout. Running time is one hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Set in the south of France in the 1920s, an English magician (Firth) is brought in to help unmask a possible psychic swindler (Stone) but finds he's developing romantic feelings for her.

Laugh-out-loud witty dialogue, a predictable (if slightly unbelievable) romance, gorgeous scenery and a highly listenable musical soundtrack made this very enjoyable for me. Firth is a master of this type of role and Stone was excellent in her part. I never really believed there could actually be an attraction between them as a couple but in the overall scheme of things, that was surprisingly unimportant. The plot has many of the elements of My Fair Lady (especially the ending) and the production look of the 1920s was spot on. I doubt this will be on a local screen for long but this is the type of film you will watch over and over if it's in your DVD collection, just to savor the dialogue. My wife watched this with me and found it as pleasurable as I did.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen would be nice but isn't absolutely necessary. Theatre/Times.

What If ***

Michael Dowse directed this Romantic comedy. Watch  Preview.  Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, Megan Park, Mackenzie Davis, Oona Chaplin. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including references throughout, partial nudity and language. Running time is one hour and thirty-eight minutes.

A medical school dropout (Radcliffe) and an animator (Kazan) strike up a close friendship and then begin to discover  the love of your life may be your best friend.

This is a film that's been sitting on the shelf for awhile, but now that we're at that time of year when the studios start clearing those shelves in preparation for the Winter holiday season, it's become available. That's not a particularly good thing since it runs a real risk of getting lost at a time when so much else is going on. Which is too bad since this is a really enjoyable film that most adult patrons will enjoy. It's probably a little slow for the school aged bunch, but for the rest of us it's nice to see a movie where you really care for and like the characters and hope everything works out for them. Both the leads and the supporting cast do fine jobs and the plot has a nice blend of comedy and romance. If you've been looking for a good romantic comedy, this is it. But, I wouldn't dally, it's doubtful this will be on local screens for long.

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

Let's Be Cops *

Luke Greenfield directed this Action/Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, James D'Arcy, Andy Garcia. Rated R for language including sexual references, some graphic nudity, violence and drug use. Running time is one hour and forty-four minutes.

Two struggling pals (Wayans Jr., Johnson) dress as police officers for a costume party and get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives.

This film really isn't worth the time it takes to write a review. It's one of those "comedies" that thinks stupid equals funny and is a prime example that it doesn't. There just isn't anything positive I can write about this. Oh, there are a few snickers but they're buried under so much mind-boggling inanity they're completely insignificant. No doubt there are a few who will think this film amusing, but hopefully I can avoid contact with them.

There are some additional sequences once the final credits begin, which are as pathetic as those occurring earlier.  Screen size will make absolutely no difference. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 8/15/14

MetaCritic indicates Boyhood (100) is the top ranking film this week, followed by What If (59), Magic In The Moonlight (54), The Giver (46), Expendables 3 (35) and Let's Be Cops (28). I saw two of this week's films and found one very likeable and the other just horrible. 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 8/13-15/14

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.

 Opens Wednesday 8/13

Let's Be Cops [R] 1 hr. 44 min. Action/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, James D'Arcy, Andy Garcia. Plot: two struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party and get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Opens Friday 8/15

Boyhood [R] 2 hrs. 43 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke. Plot: filmed over 12 years with the same cast,  a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Showing at: Warren East.

Expendables 3 [PG-13] 2 hr. 7 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, Glen Powell, Kelsey Grammer. Plot: a decision is made to fight old blood with new blood, and bring in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Giver [PG-13] 1 hr. 37 min. Sci-Fi Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, Taylor Swift. Plot: a young man who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of his community's secret past. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Magic In The Moonlight [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Eileen Atkins, Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Simon McBurney, Emma Stone, Jacki Weaver, Erica Leerhsen, Catherine McCormack, Paul Ritter, Jeremy Shamos. Plot: set in the south of France in the 1920s, an Englishman is brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Showing at: Warren East.

What  If [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Romantic comedy Watch  Preview  Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, Megan Park, Mackenzie Davis, Oona Chaplin. Plot: a medical school dropout (Radcliffe) and an animator (Kazan) strike up a close friendship and then begin to wonder if the love of your life can be your best friend. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 8/12-14/14

Movie Machine - Lucy, Hercules
Palace West - The Fluffy Movie, Chef
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sun
Warren East 13th - Tammy, Get On  Up, Transformers 4, Wish I Was Here, Guardians Of The Galaxy 3D, Step Up All In 3D, Hercules
Warren Old Town - Get On Up, Lucy, Hercules
Warren West 21st - 22 Jump Street, Sex Tape, Maleficent, Transformers 4, Tammy, And So It Goes, Get On Up, Step Up All In 3D, Teenage Mutant NInja Turtles 3D

The Hundred-Foot Journey ***

Lasse Hallström directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon. Rated PG for thematic elements, some violence, language and brief sensuality. Running time is two hours and two minutes.

The proprietress (Mirren) of a celebrated French restaurant takes the gifted young son/chef (Dayal) of her competitor (Puri) under her wing.

Give a first rate director a fine script and an excellent cast and this is what you get. You also get some beautiful scenery, a little romance, and a musical score that's as good as anything I've heard in a long time. Oh, it is predictable and some may find it a little saccharine, but for me it was as satisfying as a plate of comfort food. In fact, the film is so good I didn't even notice the two hour run time, and that's saying something for me. Unfortunately, I'm concerned this film will have trouble finding an audience since the title doesn't lead you in (although it makes perfect sense in the context of the film) and since this cast, good as it is, doesn't have real star power. But if you do decide to see it, I think you'll love it. I saw this with my wife who also enjoyed it as much as I did.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 8/8/14

MetaCritic indicates The Hundred Foot Journey (53) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Into The Storm (44), Step Up All In (40), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (35). I saw one of this week's films and found it very enjoyable. 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 8/8/14

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.

The Hundred-Foot Journey [PG-13] 2 hr. 2 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal. Plot: the proprietress (Mirren) of a celebrated French restaurant takes the gifted young son/chef of her competitors under her wing. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Into The Storm [PG-13] 1 hr. 29 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Max Deacon, Nathan Kress, Jeremy Sumpter, Kyle Davis, Jon Reep, Scott Lawrence. Plot: told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, experience Mother Nature at her most extreme. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Step Up All In 2D/3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 52 min. Romance/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Misha Gabriel, Izabella Miko, Alyson Stoner, Adam Sevani. Plot: all-stars from previous installments of Step Up come together in Las Vegas, battling for a victory that could define their dreams and their careers. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2D/3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Adventure Film Watch Preview Cast: Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn, William Fichtner, Johnny Knoxville, Tony Shalhoub. Plot: four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as they work with a fearless reporter (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman (Will Arnett) to save the city. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 8/7/14

Movie Machine - Planes, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Palace West - Chef
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sun
Warren East 13th - How To Train Your Dragon 2, 22 Jump Street, America, Begin Again, Sex Tape
Warren Old Town - Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Sex Tape, Purge 2
Warren West 21st - How To Train Your Dragon 2

Guardians Of The Galaxy ***

James Gunn directed this Action/adventure film. Watch Preview. Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language. Running time is two hours and one minute.

A brash adventurer (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe.

My initial reaction the first time I saw the preview for this film was: "you've got to be kidding". Who can take seriously a cast whose members include a gun totin' raccoon and a talking tree?  Well, seriously, if you're looking for some good escapist entertainment, you should see this film. Younger patrons and men will like the action, women will like the romance and family sentiment, some seniors (not me) will like the music track from the 80's, and almost everyone will enjoy the lighthearted banter and comedy. As much as any film can have something for almost everyone, this film does. This is clearly meant to be a tentpole pic for a series and in fact GOTG 2 already has a release date for 7/28/17. It's a little too violent to be called a family film but it's not far off that mark. I saw the IMAX 3D version and thought the 3D very good even though it's a conversion from 2D.

There is a short scene following the credits but it's not worth waiting for. This is clearly a film that will benefit from the largest possible screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 8/1/14

MetaCritic indicates Guardians Of The Galaxy (76) is the top ranking film this week, followed by A Most Wanted Man (74), and Get On Up (73). I saw one of this week's films and found it surprisingly 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.