Worthwhile (or not) 3/31/17

MetaCritic indicates The Zookeeper's Wife (58) is the top ranked film this week, followed by Ghost In The Shell (56), and Boss Baby (49).  I didn't watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 3/31/17

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.

The Boss Baby 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 37 min. Animated Comedy Watch Preview Voices: Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, Miles Bakshi. Plot: how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Ghost In The Shell 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 42 min.Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Beat Takeshi, Juliette Binoche, Pilou Asbæk, Kaori Momoi, Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Yutaka Izumihara, Tuwanda Manyimo, Rila Fukushima. Plot: about a human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9, devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Zookeeper's Wife [PG-13] 2 hrs. 6 min. Biographical Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Brühl, Michael McElhatton, Iddo Goldberg, Goran Kostic, Shira Haas. Plot: the real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 3/30/17

Movie Machine - Logan
Palace West - Fantastic Beasts, Split
Warren East 13th - Belko Experiment, LEGO Batman, Beauty & The Beast 3D
Warren West 21st - Beauty & The Beast IMAX 3D
Warren Old Town - Get Out

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. 

Worthwhile (or not) 3/24/17

MetaCritic indicates Life (54) is the top ranked film this week, followed by Wilson (49), Power Rangers (42), The Last Word (40) and Chips (31).  I didn't watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 3/24/17

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.

CHIPs [R] 1 hr. 54 Min. Action Watch Preview Cast: Dax Shepard, Michael Pena, Rosa Salazar, Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, Vincent D'Onofrio. Plot: a beaten up pro motorbiker and a cocky undercover Federal agent become partners in the California Highway Patrol. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Last Word [R] 1 hr. 48 Min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Anne Heche, Shirley MacLaine, Philip Baker Hall. Plot: when a retired businesswoman decides to write her own obituary, a young journalist takes up the task of finding out the truth, resulting in a life-altering friendship. Showing at: Warren East.

Life [R] 1 hr. 56 Min. Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal. Plot: a space crew discovers life on Mars. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Power Rangers [PG-13] 2 hrs. 17 Min. Family/Action Watch Preview Cast: Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Naomi Scott, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader. Plot: five ordinary high school kids must become something extraordinary when they learn their small town  – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Wilson [R] 1 hr. 34 Min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Judy Greer, Cheryl Hines, Isabella Amara. Plot: a lonely, neurotic and hilariously honest middle-aged misanthrope (Woody Harrelson) reunites with his estranged wife (Laura Dern) and gets a shot at happiness when he learns he has a teenage daughter (Isabella Amara) he has never met. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 3/23/17

Movie Machine - The Shack
Palace West - Before I Fall
Warren East 13th - Lion, La La Land, John Wick 2, Hidden Figures, Sense  Of An Ending
Warren West 21st - Table 19, Great Wall, John Wick 2, A Dog's Purpose, Hidden Figures
Warren Old Town - Logan

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. 

Beauty And The Beast ***

Bill Condon directed this Musical Fantasy Watch Preview Cast: Kevin Kline, Emma Watson, Sir Ian McKellen, Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Dan Stevens, Audra McDonald, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson. Rated PG for some action violence, peril, and frightening images. Running time is two hours and nine minutes.

The beloved tale will be retold for the big screen with a modern live-action lens and the help of transformative CG magic.

I've never watched the 1991 animated Disney version of this film so I have no comparisons to make. However, if you're looking for a full blown musical featuring a  top-notch cast, here you are. You won't recognize the majority of the mostly British cast until the end. Watson is delightful as Belle. I had to wait until the final credits to discover whether she did her own singing...and she did! The music is enjoyable but not overly memorable. I  had trouble discerning the lyrics on the large chorus numbers but they were pleasant to listen to nonetheless. The CG effects are excellent, to the extent you're never really aware they're CG. The run time is about thirty minutes too long as far as I'm concerned and I got a little restless toward the end. Fans of musicals should be much more appreciative of this effort vs. La La Land, which was nowhere near this quality. Recommended for all age groups.

There are no scenes after the credits start. A large screen is very desirable. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 3/17/17

MetaCritic indicates Beauty And The Beast (68) is the top ranked film this week, followed by A Sense Of An Ending(61) and The Belko Experiment (42).  I watched one of these and found it enjoyable but a bit long. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 3/17/17

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.

Beauty And The Beast 2D/3D [PG] 2 hrs. 9 min. Romantic Drama Watch Preview Cast: Kevin Kline, Emma Watson, Sir Ian McKellen, Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Dan Stevens, Audra McDonald, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor. Plot: the beloved tale will be retold for the big screen with a modern live-action lens and the help of transformative CG magic. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Belko Experiment [R] 1 hr. 28 min.Thriller Watch Preview Cast: John Gallagher Jr., Melonie Diaz, John C. McGinley, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, David Dastmalchian, Gail Bean, Valentine Miele. Plot: a group of 80 Americans are locked in their high-rise corporate office in Bogata, Colombia and ordered by an unknown voice coming from the company's intercom to participate in a deadly game of kill or be killed. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

The Sense Of An Ending [PG-13] 1 hr. 48 min. Romantic Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jim Broadbent, Harriet Walter, Michelle Dockery, Emily Mortimer, Billy Howle, Joe Alwyn, Freya Mavor. Plot: a reclusive man (Broadbent) is forced to face the flawed recollections of his younger self, the truth about his first love (Rampling) and the devastating consequences of decisions made a lifetime ago. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 3/16/17

Movie Machine - Rock Dog. A Dog's Purpose, The LEGO Batman Movie
Palace West - Passengers, Fences, Resident Evil Final Chapter, XXX Return Of Xander Cage
Warren East 13th - A Dog's Purpose, Before I Fall, A United Kingdom, First Flight, Split, 50 Shades Darker, Kong: Skull Island 3D
Warren West 21st - La La Land, Split, Fist Fight, 50 Shades Darker, Before I Fall, Kong: Skull Island 3D
Warren Old Town - 50 Shades Darker, Fist Fight

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. 

Kong: Skull Island **½

Jordan Vogt-Roberts directed this Action Film. Watch Prevue Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, John C. Reilly. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language. Running time is two hours.

A diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific.

Here's yet another remake for a younger crowd who's never seen a Kong movie before. It's a half hour too long, caused by long moments of unnecessary dialog. As a consequence I found myself daydreaming or feeling like a nap far too often. The action is fine when it occurs,  with excellent CG effects. There is a little comedic relief on occasion, but more would have made this more palatable. A younger crowd should be fine with this but older patrons are faced with yet another sequel they should find easy to skip. I saw a 2D version but I'm sure the IMAX 3D version will have a little more impact.

There is a sequence at the complete end of the credits that implies there will be a sequel to this. For action impact, see this on a large screen. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 3/10/17

MetaCritic indicates Kong: Skull Island (62) is the top (and only new) ranked film this week.  I watched it and found it adequate but slow. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Opening 3/10/17

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.

Kong: Skull Island 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 58 min. Action Watch Prevue Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, John C. Reilly. Plot: a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/9/17

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Dr. Strange, Why Him?, Patriots Day, Underworld: Blood Wars
Warren East 13th - Rock Dog, Collide, The Great Wall
Warren West 21st - Rock Dog, Logan IMAX
Warren Old Town - John Wick, 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. 

Worthwhile (or not) 3/3/17

MetaCritic indicates Logan (77) is the top ranked film this week, followed by A United Kingdom (66), Before I Fall (58), Table 19 (39) and The Shack (31).  I was unable to watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.