Horrible Bosses 2 *

Sean Anders co-wrote and directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day. Rated R for strong crude sexual content and language throughout. Running time is one hour and forty-eight minutes.

Three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap their investor's adult son and ransom him to regain control of their company.

Take the first word of the title and you have my opinion of this film. It features a cast of very good actors acting stupidly and attempts to pass that off as funny. As I recall the first film was funny, but this one really misses the mark. The only character who's even mildly humorous is Aniston, and that's cringe worthy humor at best. The only group I can think of who would find this funny are teens and most of them won't be able to see it because of the rating. You should just save your money for the much better films that will be arriving shortly.

There are outtakes during the final credits and most of them aren't funny either. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/26/14

MetaCritic indicates Theory Of Everything (72) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Penguins Of Madagascar (51) and Horrible Bosses 2 (39). I saw one of these and didn't like it at all.  For national 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 11/26/14

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.

Horrible Bosses 2 [R] 1 hr. 44 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day. Plot: three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap their investor's adult son and ransom him to regain control of their company. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Penguins Of Madagascar [PG] 2D/3D 1 hr. 34 min. Animated Comedy Watch Preview Voices: John Malkovich, Chris Miller, Peter Stormare, Tom McGrath, Ken Jeong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Annet Mahendru, Christopher Knights. Plot: discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Theory Of Everything [PG-13] 1 hr. 58 min. Drama/Romance Watch Preview Cast: David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Charlie Cox, Simon McBurney, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones. Plot: the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking (Redmayne), who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde (Jones). Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town.

Leaving 11/25/14

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - No Good Deed, Addicted, Dracula Untold 22, Jump Street
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - Rosewater. Maze Runner, Ouija, Nightcrawler
Warren Old Town - Fury, John Wick, Gone Girl
Warren West 21st - Ouija, The Best Of Me, Saving Christmas

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 **½

Francis Lawrence directed this Sci-Fi Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material. Running time is two hours and three minutes.

Finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.

Understand, this is the first half of a two part film in which most of the action will take place in the second half. At least I hope so because the first half is pretty much a slog. The cast and production values are fine but the story is mostly talk, and the making of propaganda films to be shown to the other Districts. Scintillating it isn't! I also tend to like heroes and heroines to be rather stoic, and Katniss is portrayed as far too emotional for my tastes, although that will probably go over well with the teen girl audience. While I've seen all the earlier films in this series, they've made so little impression on me I don't remember a lot of their story lines. That fact did not prove to be an impediment to my understanding what was going on, in case you've missed earlier parts and are thinking of seeing this one.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. The largest possible screen will provide maximum impact. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/21/14

MetaCritic indicates The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (64) is the top ranking, and only, film this week. I saw it but found it pretty much a slog.  For national 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 11/21/14

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 Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 [PG-13] 2 hrs. 3 min. Sci-Fi Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland. Plot: finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 11/20/14

Movie Machine - Ouija, Alexander's Very Bad Day
Palace West - Left Behind, The Giver, Maleficent
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - Alexander's Very Bad Day, Nightcrawler, Big Hero 6 3D
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Alexander's Very Bad Day, Nightcrawler, Big Hero 6 3D, Maze Runner

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates Beyond The Lights (72) is the top ranking film this week, followed by a tie between  Rosewater (67) and Whiplash (67), then Dumb & Dumber To (39) and Saving Christmas with no rating at all (not a good sign). None of these looked appealing enough to justify going out in the cold to see. Next week looks better.  For national 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 11/13/14

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.

Beyond The Lights [PG-13] 1 hr. 56 min. Thriller Watch Preview  Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Richard Colson Baker aka MGK, Danny Glover. Plot: the story of the music world's latest superstar and a young cop and aspiring politician who’s been assigned to her detail. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Dumb And Dumber To [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Rachel Melvin, Kathleen Turner. Plot: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd and Harry in the sequel to the smash hit.  Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Rosewater [R] 1 hr. 43 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Kim Bodnia, Haluk Bilginer, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Golshifteh Farahani, Claire Foy. Plot: based on The New York Times best-selling memoir "Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival," written by Maziar Bahari. Showing at: Warren East.

Saving Christmas [PG] 1 hr. 20 min. Family comedy Watch Preview Cast: Bridgette Cameron, Kirk Cameron, Darren Doane. Plot: a religious film about seeing Christ at the center of our Christmas celebrations and traditions.  Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Whiplash [R] 1 hr. 46 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons. Plot: an ambitious young jazz drummer's (Teller) ruthless teacher (Simmons) continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity. Showing at:Warren East.

Leaving 11/13/14

Movie Machine - Book Of Life
Palace West - This Is Where I Leave You
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - The Judge, Annabelle, Book Of Life, Before I Go To Sleep, The Equalizer, Dracula Untold, Guardians Of The Galaxy, The Best Of Me
Warren Old Town - Nightcrawler
Warren West 21st - Before I Go To Sleep, Book Of  Life, The Judge, Annabelle, Dracula Untold

Interstellar ***

Christopher Nolan co-wrote and directed this Sci-Fi drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Wes Bentley, Bill Irwin, Mackenzie Foy, Topher Grace, David Gyasi. Rated PG-13 for some intense perilous action and brief strong language. Running time is two hours and forty-nine minutes.

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage in an attempt to find a new planet habitable by humans.

I've read and enjoyed science fiction for years so the idea of space travel via worm hole is nothing new. But, I can't help but wonder if non sci-fi fans aren't going to be really confused by this plot. Graphically, the film is spectacular. I personally question whether McConaughey was the right actor for his role, but I have no problems with the rest of the cast. What I do have a problem with is the completely unnecessary length of the film. The pacing is too slow because of this length, caused by the addition of material that either isn't necessary or will go completely over the head of the average viewer. Still, there's going to be a lot of talk about this film and if you don't want to be left out of those conversations you should see it. I saw the IMAX version and noticed a mixture of  normal and IMAX scenes but I think you could probably do just as well watching this on a very large regular screen.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is necessary if you want to fully appreciate the graphics. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 11/7/14

MetaCritic indicates Birdman (89) is the top ranking film this week, followed by a tie between  Interstellar (75) and Big Hero 6 (75). These are way above average scores of completely different film types so you should be able to find something good to see. I saw one film this week and thought it good but not as much as I had hoped.  For national 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 11/7/14

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.

Big Hero 6 [PG] 2D/3D 1 hr. 42 min. Animated comedy Watch Preview Voices: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Daniel Henney. Plot: a comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada (voice of Ryan Potter). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Birdman [R] 1 hr. 59 min. Dark Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Lindsay Duncan, Merritt Wever, Jeremy Shamos, Bill Camp, Damian Young. Plot: tells the story of a washed up actor (Keaton) as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. Showing at: Warren East.

Interstellar [PG-13] 2D/IMAX 2D 2 hr. 48 min. Sci-Fi drama Watch Preview Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Wes Bentley, Bill Irwin, Mackenzie Foy, Topher Grace, David Gyasi. Plot: the adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 11/6/14

Movie Machine - The Best Of Me, Fury
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In - open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - Saw re-issue, Addicted, Annabelle, Left Behind
Warren Old Town - Saw re-issue, Ouija
Warren West 21st - Saw re-issue, Annabelle, The Equalizer, The Boxtrolls, John Wick IMAX