Opening 5/1/15

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.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron 2D/3D/IMAX 3D  [PG-13] 2 hrs. 21 min. Sci-Fi Action Watch Preview Cast: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Thomas Kretschmann, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgård, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Cobie Smulders, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Plot: when Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth's Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 4/30/15

Movie Machine - Unfriended, The Longest Ride
Palace West - The Duff, Black Or White
Warren East 13th - Child 44, Danny Collins, While We're Young
Warren West 21st - Woman In Gold, Do You Believe, Water Diviner IMAX
Warren Old Town - Paul Blart 2, Unfriended, Longest Ride, Insurgent

The Age Of Adaline **½

Lee Toland Krieger directed this Romantic Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Harrison Ford, Blake Lively, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Michiel Huisman. Rated PG-13 for a suggestive comment. Running time is one hour and fifty minutes.

After remaining 29 years old for almost 80 years, a woman (Blake Lively) meets a man who reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, she makes a decision that will change her life forever,

Here's a film directed right at the ladies. It's an interesting premise and one the film at least makes a pretense at explaining. Flashbacks are used more than I like. I find it annoying to be constantly jumping back and forth. Lively is fine in her role although I wouldn't consider her a superlative actress at this stage of her career. The rest of the cast  is fine as are the production values. Coincidence plays more of a role than it should and that made the story even less believable for me. The running time is slightly long for this plot so I found the pacing slow.

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

The Water Diviner **½

Russell Crowe directed and stars in this Adventure/Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Steve Bastoni, Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Ryan Corr, Yilmaz Erdogan, Cem Yilm. Rated R for war violence including some disturbing images. Running time is one hour and fifty-one minutes.

An Australian farmer (Crowe) travels to Istanbul after the Battle of Gallipoli to discover the fate of his missing sons, and forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays.

This is a solid drama with a little something for everyone. There are brief action sequences, some very mild romantic scenes, but overall it's the story of a man who wants to take care of his family. Crowe  is fine, both as the lead and the director. The rest of the cast do fine jobs, also. Production values are good although a lot of the scenery looks distressingly like Western Kansas. I did not see this in IMAX and for the life of me can't figure out why it was released here in that format. While  this is a good film, it's certainly not an epic, so I don't see the advantage of a giant screen.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is always nice but it's not necessary for this film. Theatre/Times. IMAX Times.

Ex Machina **½

Alex Garland wrote and directed this Science Fiction film. Watch Preview. Cast: Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson. Rated R for graphic nudity, language, sexual references and some violence. Running time is one hour and forty-eight minutes.

A programmer (Gleeson) is chosen to evaluate the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of an  A.I. (Vikander), whose intelligence proves more sophisticated––and more deceptive––than imagined.

This film has only one question, has an A.I. been created that can pass for human. The answer is obvious fairly quickly so the film is left spinning its wheels until it finally lets us know what we've known all along. The film is well done, with good production values and an above average sound track. It also features the Scandinavian ( it was filmed in Norway) sexual mores, thus the above average amount of female skin. Those looking for a well made sci-fi film won't be too disappointed, but they aren't going to be leaving the theatre with a head full of futuristic visions.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 4/24/15

MetaCritic indicates Ex Machina (78) is the top ranking film this week, followed by a tie between The Water Diviner (51) and  The Age Of Adaline (51), and in last place, Little Boy (29). I saw three of these this week and all are acceptable, although for substantially different audiences. 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 4/24/15

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 Age Of Adaline  [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Romantic Drama Watch Preview Cast: Harrison Ford, Blake Lively, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Michiel Huisman. Plot: after remaining 29 years old for almost 80 years, a woman (Blake Lively) meets a man who reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, she makes a decision that will change her life forever. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Ex Machina [R] 1 hr. 46 min. Science Fiction Watch Preview Cast: Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson. Plot: a programmer (Gleeson) is chosen to evaluate the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of an  A.I. (Vikander), whose intelligence proves more sophisticated––and more deceptive––than imagined. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Little Boy [PG-13]  1 hr. 40 min. War drama Watch Preview Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Ted Levine, Abraham Benrubi, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson, Toby Huss, Michael Rapaport, Ali Landry, David Henrie, Cary-Horoyuki Tagawa, Kelly Greyson. Plot: about a little boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to bring his dad home from World War II alive. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

The Water Diviner [PG-13] 2D/IMAX 2D 1 hr. 50 min. Adventure/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Steve Bastoni, Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Ryan Corr, Yilmaz Erdogan, Cem Yilm. Plot: an Australian farmer (Crowe) travels to Istanbul after the Battle of Gallipoli to discover the fate of his missing sons, and forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays. Showing at: Warren West.

Leaving 4/23/15

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - The Gunman, Big Hero 6
Warren East 13th - nothing
Warren West 21st - Kingsman, It Follows
Warren Old Town - Insurgent

Worthwhile (or not) 4/17/15

MetaCritic indicates Monkey Kingdom (70) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Unfriended (62), True Story (51), and Child 44 (42). Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 didn't receive enough reviews to get a rating although the two I read indicated it is terrible. I couldn't get excited about any of these this week so I've seen nothing new. 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 4/17/15

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.

Child 44 [R] 2 hrs. 17 min. Suspense Drama Watch Preview Cast: Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Vincent Cassel, Paddy Considine , Jason Clarke, Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman. Plot: a Russian secret police agent (Tom Hardy) and his wife (Noomi Rapace) join forces with a General (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys. Showing at: Warren East.

Monkey Kingdom [G] 1 hr. 24 min. Nature film Watch Preview Plot: spotlights the reality of a newborn monkey and its mother, struggling to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of  a group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the jungles of South Asia. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 [PG] 1 hr. 33 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Kevin James, Neal McDonough, Shirley Knight, Raini Rodriguez. Plot: Blart (James) heads to Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, Blart answers. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

True Story [R] 1 hr. 39 min. Biographical Drama Watch Preview Cast: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones. Plot: a disgraced New York Times reporter (Jonah Hill) meets an accused killer (James Franco) who's taken on the reporter's identity, and his investigation morphs into a game of cat-and-mouse. Showing at: Warren East.

Unfriended [R] 1 hr. 20 min. Horror film Watch Preview Cast: Courtney Halverson, Jacob Wysocki, Will Peltz, Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Moses Jacob Storm, Heather Sossaman. Plot: a teenager and her friends are stalked by a supernatural figure who seeks vengeance for a shaming video that led a vicious bully to kill herself. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 4/16/15

Movie Machine - Insurgent, Cinderella
Palace West - Chappie, Focus, The Imitation Game
Warren East 13th - 2nd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, American Sniper, McFarland USA
Warren West 21st - American Sniper, Run All Night, McFarland USA
Warren Old Town - It  Follows

Worthwhile (or not) 4/10/15

MetaCritic indicates While We're Young (76) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Danny Collins (58), Woman In Gold (51), and The Longest Ride (32). I didn't watch anything this week. 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 4/10/15

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.

Danny Collins [R] 1 hr. 46 min. Drama/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Garner, Annette Bening, Bobby Cannavale, Al Pacino. Plot: when an aging 1970s rocker (Pacino) discovers a 40 year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he decides to change course, rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act. Showing at: Warren East.

The Longest Ride [PG-13] 2 hrs. 8 min. Romantic drama Watch Preview Cast:  Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood. Plot: based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, this film centers on the star-crossed love affair between a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student about to embark upon her dream job in New York City. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

While We're Young [R] 1 hr. 34 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Naomi Watts, Ben Stiller, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Grodin, Adam Driver, Maria Dizzia, Adam Horovitz. Plot: a middle-aged couple's (Stiller and Watts) career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple (Driver and Seyfried) enter their lives. Showing at: Warren East.

Woman In Gold [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Katie Holmes, Daniel Brühl, Charles Dance, Helen Mirren, Tatiana Maslany. Plot: true story of one woman's (Mirren) journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt's famous painting 'The Lady in Gold'. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 4/9/15

Movie Machine - Get Hard
Palace West - Selma, Unfinished Business, Night At The Museum, Into The Woods
Warren East 13th - Run All Night, Focus
Warren West 21st - 2nd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Gunman, Home 3D
Warren Old Town - Cinderella