Focus ***

Glenn Ficarra, John Requa both wrote and directed this Romance/Crime Caper. Watch Preview. Cast: Will Smith, Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, Margot Robbie. Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence. Running time is one hour and forty-four minutes.

A seasoned con man (Will Smith) becomes romantically involved with a novice con artist (Margot Robbie).

I'm a little surprised the critical response has been so tepid for this film. It's a fast paced caper film with a touch of romance, the type of film many like. It reminds me a little of the caper films they made in the 60's, and that's not a bad thing as far as I"m concerned. Production values are very good, as is the cast. Smith is believable and Robbie is absolutely gorgeous (as you will know if you saw The Wolf Of Wall Street). The pacing is up-tempo so I never considered looking at my watch. Even better, I really had no clue how this was going to end and the conclusion caught me completely by surprise. When you've watched as many films as I have, that's a good thing. My wife watched this with me and enjoyed it as much as I did.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. There's some gorgeous scenery that a large screen will enhance. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

The Lazarus Effect **

David Gelb directed this Horror film. Watch Preview. Cast: Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Donald Glover. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror violence, terror and some sexual references. Running time is one hour and twenty-three minutes.

A group of researchers led by (Mark Duplass) and (Olivia Wilde) achieve the unimaginable- bringing the dead back to life.

I normally don't watch horror films as they're usually terrible quality. But this one had a better than average cast so I thought I'd take a chance. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as usual by what I saw. This had the potential to be a good sci-fi film if they'd gone that route instead veering into the horror schtick. If the process had resulted in a Lucy instead of a vision of hell this could have been quite acceptable. Still, there are those who like this sort of thing and at least they'll get a film with good production values and a competent cast.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 2/27/15

MetaCritic indicates Focus (57) is the top ranking film this week, followed by A La Mala (50), and The Lazarus Effect (28).  I saw two of these and found one very entertaining and the other disappointingly typical. 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 2/27/15

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.

A La Mala [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Romantic comedy Watch Preview Cast: Aislinn Derbez, Mauricio Ochmann, Aurora Papile, Luis Arrieta, Daniela Schmidt, Juan Diego Covarrubias. Plot: an aspiring actress is hired by best friend to flirt with her boyfriend to test his fidelity, and it becomes a career when others want her to do the same. In Spanish with English subtitles. Showing at: Warren East.

 Focus [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Romance Watch Preview Cast: Will Smith, Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, Margot Robbie. Plot: a seasoned con man (Will Smith) becomes romantically involved with a novice con artist (Margot Robbie). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Lazarus Effect [PG-13] 1 hr. 23 min. Horror film Watch Preview Cast: Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Donald Glover. Plot: a group of researchers led by (Mark Duplass) and (Olivia Wilde) achieve the unimaginable- bringing the dead back to life. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

What's Leaving 2/26/15

Movie Machine - Fifty Shades Of Grey
Palace West - Woman In Black 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - The Boy Next Door, Mockingjay Part 1, Seventh Son, Old  Fashined
Warren West 21st - Old Fashined, Seventh Son, American Sniper IMAX
Warren Old Town - The Wedding Ringer, Jupiter Ascending

Still Alice ***

Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland co-wrote and co-directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Moore. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference. Running time is one hour and forty-one minutes.

A renowned linguistics professor (Moore) receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

This is a well-done drama but ultimately heartbreaking due to its subject matter. We get to watch a brilliant linguistic professor slowly, mentally fade away while in the prime of her life. There's just no way you're going to leave the theatre in an upbeat mood after watching. Moore is outstanding in her role and very believable. Stewart is also very good as a rebellious daughter who eventually becomes the professor's understanding supporter. Baldwin is fine and Bosworth is in a very secondary role. The average movie patron is not going to find this entertaining but it may prove informative for those who are affected in some way by this disease.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 2/20/15

MetaCritic indicates Still Alice (72) is the top ranking film this week, followed by McFarland USA (61), The Duff (53) and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (31).  I saw one of these and found it excellent but ultimately heartbreaking. 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 2/20/15

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 Duff [PG-13] 1 hr. 41 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Allison Janney, Romany Malco, Mae Whitman, Ken Jeong, Bianca Santos, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Skyler Samuels, Nick Eversman. Plot: a content high school senior's (Mae Whitman) world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as ‘The DUFF’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos).Showing at:  Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 [R] 1 hr. 33 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Adam Scott, Chevy Chase, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Gillian Jacobs. Plot: Jacob and Nick (Duke and Robinson) fire up the time machine again to save Lou (Corddy) in this sequel to the 2010 comedy. Showing at:  Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

McFarland, USA [PG] 2 hrs. 9 min. Sports Drama Watch Preview Cast: Maria Bello, Kevin Costner, Martha Higareda, Chris Ellis, Carlos Pratts, Morgan Saylor, Michael Aguero, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Ramiro Rodriguez, Danny Mora, Valente Rodriguez, Vanessa Martinez. Plot:  follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). Inspired by a 1987 true story. Showing at:  Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Still Alice [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Moore. Plot: a renowned linguistics professor (Moore) receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Showing at:  Warren East.

Leaving 2/19/15

Movie Machine - Jupiter Ascending, Seventh Son
Palace West - Woman In Black 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Project Almanac, Selma
Warren West 21st - Project Almanac, Boy Next Door, Jupiter Ascending IMAX 3D, Seventh Son IMAX 3D
Warren Old Town - Seventh Son

Fifty Shades Of Grey **½

Sam Taylor-Johnson directed this Drama. Watch Preview Cast: Victor Rasuk, Marcia Gay Harden, Callum Keith Rennie, Jennifer Ehle, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Max Martini, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Rita Ora. Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

Follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and college student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). Based on the best-selling novel.

I should tell you I haven't read the novels and after watching this film learned I have no inclination toward BDSM. So, my review is going to reflect that. I thought the cast was fine as were the production values. But the pacing was way too slow for my taste and I started looking at my watch about the half-way mark. The sex scenes were done tastefully and weren't offensive (at least to me). I watched this with someone who had read the books and enjoyed them as well as this film (more than I did) and who found the film closely followed the book.  The film ending obviously indicates another will follow. All indications are this will do fantastic initial business but once the readers have seen it I'm not sure anyone else will be interested.

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

Kingsman: The Secret Service ***

Matthew Vaughn wrote the screenplay and directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton. Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language and some sexual content. Running time is two hours and nine minutes.

The story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program.

If you've ever wondered what a hard-core R rated James Bond film might look like, this is probably as close as you'll get. At least for the first half of the film. After that it wanders off and becomes slightly slap-stick before returning to it's original mode. Featured are a first class group of British actors combined with powerful CG effects and a plot that's different enough to keep things interesting. Samuel L. Jackson is effective although unbelievable as a mad villain with a lisp.The pacing is good so I was never bored, despite the length. The caution here is in the rating: "sequences of strong violence." That's putting it mildly as this is one of the most violent films I've ever seen. As long as you like and are aware of that fact, you should be fine. The ending clearly indicates a sequel is possible.

There is an additional sequence soon after the final credits begin. A large screen will make the graphics more impressive. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/13/15

MetaCritic indicates Kingsman: The Secret Service (58) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Fifty Shades Of Gray (47), and Old Fashioned (25).  I saw two of these and they're fine for their intended audience. 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 2/13/15

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.

Fifty Shades Of Grey [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Victor Rasuk, Marcia Gay Harden, Callum Keith Rennie, Jennifer Ehle, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Max Martini, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Rita Ora. Plot: follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and college student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Kingsman: The Secret Service [R] 2 hrs. 9 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton. Plot: the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Old Fashioned  [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Romance/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Rik Swartzwelder, Elizabeth Ann Roberts. Plot: a dissimilar couple attempts the impossible: an "old-fashioned" courtship in contemporary America. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 2/12/15

Movie Machine - Project Almanac, American Sniper
Palace West - The Gambler, Exodus, Gone Girl, St. Vincent, Dumb & Dumber To
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Taken 3, The Loft, Black Sea, A Most Violent Year, Strange Magic, Unbroken, Hobbit 3, Seventh Son 3D, Spongebob Movie 3D, Jupiter Ascending 3D
Warren West 21st - Strange Magic, The Loft, Into The Woods, Taken 3, Spongebob Movie 3D, Jupiter Ascending 3D
Warren Old Town - Project Almanac, The Boy Next Door

Seventh Son *½

Sergey Bodrov directed this Fantasy/Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Julianne Moore, Olivia Williams, Djimon Hounsou, Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Antje Traue, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington. Rated PG-13 for intense fantasy violence and action throughout, frightening images and brief strong language. Running time is one hour and forty-two minutes.

The sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesied hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Together they try to kill Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) before she and he sister witches can take over the world. Based on the book "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney.

What we have here are a lot of first rate actors starring in a third rate film. This is a fantasy film with witches, wraiths, and  all sort of odd creatures. There is a love interest between the apprentice and a young witch which I'm guessing is supposed to attract teen girls. Well, it might work but that's about the only group I see this film attracting. Production values are good and the CG are also very good. But I personally found Bridge's speech mannerisms exceedingly off-putting, enough so he was a distraction. I did not watch this in 3D so I can't speak to its quality. The ending obviously indicates there could be a sequel, but I doubt this film will gross enough to justify one.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is preferable but not necessary. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times. 

Jupiter Ascending **

Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski wrote and directed this Sci-Fi Action Film. Watch Preview. Cast: Sean Bean, James D'Arcy, Tim Pigott-Smith, Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Doona Bae, Tuppence Middleton. Rated PG-13 for some violence, sequences of sci-fi action, some suggestive content and partial nudity. Running time is two hours and seven minutes.

A young woman (Kunis) whose job is cleaning other people's houses discovers she's next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

This is hard-core sci-fi which means relatively few people are going to be comfortable with this plot. In other words, it's pretty far out! As a long time sci-fi fan I was comfortable with it but was less than pleased with the climax after climax film style. If you'd cut this up just right you could have a pretty good serial like I used to watch when I was a boy. But it makes for a pretty choppy experience as a film. The cast  is fine and the graphics are spectacular, if a little over the top on occasion. I watched this in IMAX 3D and it was just fine. My reaction to the film is pretty ho-hum and I find it hard to believe it's going to be around long.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. If you decide to see it, go for the largest possible screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/6/15

MetaCritic indicates Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (62) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Jupiter Ascending (40), and Seventh Son (30).  I saw two of these and was disappointed in both. 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 2/6/15

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.

Jupiter Ascending [PG-13] 2 hrs. 4 min. Sci-Fi Action Watch Preview Cast: Sean Bean, James D'Arcy, Tim Pigott-Smith, Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Doona Bae, Tuppence Middleton. Plot: a young woman whose job is cleaning other people's houses discovers she's next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.
Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Seventh Son 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 42 min. Fantasy/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Julianne Moore, Olivia Williams, Djimon Hounsou, Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Antje Traue, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington. Plot: the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesied hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Based on the book "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 33 min. Animated/Comedy Watch Preview Voices: Antonio Banderas, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Douglas Lawrence. Plot: the world's favorite sea dwelling invertebrate, comes ashore for his most super-heroic adventure yet. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West. 

Leaving 2/5/15

Movie Machine - Strange Magic, Paddington, Taken 3
Palace West - Top Five
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Wild, Cake, Mortdecai, Foxcatcher, Into The Woods
Warren West 21st - Game Of Thrones IMAX, Unbroken, Mortdecai, Hobbit 3, Hunger Games, Theory Of  Everything
Warren Old Town - Mortdecai, Taken 3