Opening 3/3/17

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.

Before I Fall [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Elena Kampouris, Cynthy Wu, Medalion Rahimi, Diego Boneta, Jennifer Beals. Plot: a woman with the perfect life is trapped reliving the same day over and over. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Logan [R] 2D/IMAX 2 hrs. 8 min. Action Film Watch Preview Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Merchant, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dafne Keen. Plot: in the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Shack [PG-13] 2 hrs. 12 min. Fantasy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Avraham Aviv Alush, Radha Mitchell, Alice Braga, Sumire Matsubara, Amelie Eve, Megan Charpentier, Gage Munroe, Graham Greene, Tim McGraw. Plot: a grieving father receives a mysterious letter urging him to meet with God in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Table 19 [PG-13] 1 hr. 27 min.Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, Stephen Merchant, Tony Revolori, Wyatt Russell, Amanda Crew. Plot: an Ex-maid of honor finds herself seated with 5 "random" guests at the dreaded Table 19. Showing at: Warren West.

A United Kingdom [PG-13] 1 hr. 51 min. Biographical Drama Watch Preview Cast: David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport, Tom Felton, Terry Pheto, Laura Carmichael. Plot: a perfect match, a couple's proposed marriage is challenged not only by their families but by the British and South African governments. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 3/2/17

Movie Machine - The Great Wall, Fist Fight
Palace West - Live By Night
Warren East 13th - Rings, A Cure For Wellness
Warren West 21st - Collide, A Cure For Wellness, Everybody Loves Somebody, Sing, Rings, The Great Wall IMAX
Warren Old Town - The Great Wall, LEGO Batman Movie

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Opening 2/24/17

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.

Collide [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Felicity Jones. Plot: after a heist goes terribly wrong, (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself on the run from a ruthless gang headed by mob boss (Anthony Hopkins). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Get Out [R] 1 hr. 44 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Catherine Keener. Plot: when a young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, he becomes ensnared in a more sinister real reason for the invitation. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Rock Dog [PG] 1 hr. 29 min. Animated film Watch Preview Voices: Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard, J.K. Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Mae Whitman, Jorge Garcia, Matt Dillon, Sam Elliott. Plot: a Tibetan Mastiff sheep-dog wants to become a rock star. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 2/23/17

Movie Machine - Fifty Shades Darker
Palace West - nothing
Warren East 13th - Jackie, Fences
Warren West 21st - Rogue One
Warren Old Town - Split

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

The Great Wall **½

Yimou Zhang directed this Fantasy/Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lu Han, Kenny Lin, Wang Junkai, Zheng Kai, Cheney Chen, Huang Xuan, Andy Lau. Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy action violence. Running time is one hour and forty-three minutes.

An "alternate reality" story of an elite force making a valiant stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure, The Great Wall Of China.

If you look at the cast, you'll note most of them are Oriental. As are the location, the plot and the director. I don't quite understand why Damon would want to star in a film like this. It's as if Meryl Streep decided to star in a remake of Godzilla (although there is a pretty good cast in the upcoming King Kong). Perhaps this is what we can expect in the burgeoning Global Economy. At any rate, this is fantasy with a typically far-fetched plot (a ravening horde of giant, vicious, man-eating lizards). What gives it a slightly higher rating than it probably deserves are the production values. This is a very good looking, very well made film. The CGI effects are excellent, so it's very easy to sit back and go along for the ride. I watched this in IMAX 3D, which was very good, as usual. I'm guessing my average reader isn't going to be particularly interested in seeing this, but fantasy fans won't be disappointed.

There are no extra scenes after the ten minutes of credits. A large screen is preferable. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/17/17

MetaCritic indicates A Cure For Wellness (49) is the top ranked film this week, followed by Fist Fight (44) and The Great Wall (39). Everybody Loves Somebody is not yet ranked but appears to be the real winner with a preliminary score between 75-80. I watched one of these this week and found it well done but not something to take seriously. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 2/17/17

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 Cure For Wellness [R] 2 hrs. 16 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Dane DeHaan, Mia Goth, Jason Isaacs. Plot: an ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Everybody Loves Somebody [PG-13] 1 hr. 41 min. Romantic Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Karla Souza, Stefanie Estes, K.C. Clyde, Ben O’Toole, José María Yazpik, Tiare Scanda, Patricia Bernal, Alejandro Camacho. Plot: pressured by a family wedding in Mexico, an OB-GYN asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities,- only to be caught by surprise when her ex- boyfriend (and family favorite) suddenly shows up after disappearing from her life completely. Showing at: Warren West.

Fist Fight [R] 1 hr. 31 min.Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, Jillian Bell, Dean Norris, Christina Hendricks, Dennis Haysbert, JoAnna Garcia Swisher. Plot: Ice Cube and Charlie Day star as high school teachers prepared to solve their differences with an old-fashioned throwdown after school. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Great Wall 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 43 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lu Han, Kenny Lin, Wang Junkai, Zheng Kai, Cheney Chen, Huang Xuan, Andy Lau. Plot: the story of an elite force making a valiant stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 2/16/17

Movie Machine - Split, The Space Between Us
Palace West - Sleepless, Collateral Beauty, Assassin's Creed
Warren East 13th - Sing, The Space Between Us, Rogue One, Patriots Day, Return Of Xander Cage, Rings, LEGO Batman 3D
Warren West 21st - Return Of Xander Cage, The Space Between Us, Manchester By The Sea, Resident Evil, LEGO Batman IMAX
Warren Old Town - Rings, Hidden Figures

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

John Wick: Chapter 2 **½

Chad Stahelski directed this Action Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, Lance Reddick, Bridget Moynahan, Franco Nero, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane. Rated R for strong violence throughout, some language and brief nudity. Running time is two hours and two minutes.

[Keanu Reeves] is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, he travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.

This is a film strictly for action fans, those who measure a film's quality by its body count. I doubt you'll find a higher or more graphically displayed one in any film currently playing. It has a distinctly European flavor which some may find off-putting. But, as fast as the pacing and the body count is, it all gets to be too much after awhile, to the point of boredom. You can only see so many heads explode before you find it tiring. If you saw the first film in the series, you've pretty much seen this one also. The ending is left open for a third film if there is an audience demand for one. Unless you're a hardcore action or Keanu Reeves fan, you can give this one a pass.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 2/10/17

MetaCritic indicates John Wick: Chapter 2 (75) and The Lego Batman Movie (75) are tied for the top ranked films this week, followed by A Dog's Purpose (43) and Fifty Shades Darker (39).  I watched one of these this week and found it boring after awhile. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 2/10/17

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 Dog's Purpose [PG] 1 hr. 40 min.Family Drama Watch Preview Cast: Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz, Pooch Hall, Josh Gad. Plot: the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East,  Warren West.

Fifty Shades Darker [R] 1 hr. 58 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Bella Heathcote, Eric Johnson, Robinne Lee, Fay Masterson, Tyler Hoechlin, Hugh Dancy, Kim Basinger, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Max Martini, Rita Ora, Marcia Gay Harden. Plot: Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in the second chapter based on the worldwide bestselling “Fifty Shades” phenomenon. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

John Wick: Chapter 2 [R] 2 hrs. 2 min. Action Drama Watch Preview Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, Lance Reddick, Bridget Moynahan, Franco Nero, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane. Plot: [Keanu Reeves] is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, he travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The LEGO Batman Movie 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG] 1 hr. 44 min. Animated Family Drama Watch Preview Voices: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes. Plot: LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 2/9/17

Movie Machine - Monster Trucks, Sing, Moana
Palace West - Storks, The Accountant
Warren East 13th - Resident Evil:Final Chapter, Monster Trucks, Passengers, The Founder, Gold, The Comedian
Warren West 21st - Bye Bye Msn, Underworld: Blood Wars, The Arrival, Monster Trucks, Patriots Day, Gold, Un Padre No Tan Padre, The  Comedian, Resident Evil IMAX
Warren Old Town - Resident Evil, Gold, XXX Return Of Xander Cage

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Wortwhile (or not) 2/3/17

MetaCritic indicates The Comedian (62) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Space Between Us (33) and Rings (19). Un Padre No Tan Padre has received no reviews at this time (which is not unusual for a Spanish-language film). I couldn't get excited about any of these so I'll have no reviews this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.