General theatrical releases opening 6/2/17

At this time only one new big film is indicated for this weekend, Wonder Woman. At two hours and twenty-one minutes, this will be a little long for older patrons but younger action fans should be fine with it. Also being released here this weekend is Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.  I'm not sure the theatres and times indicated in the links are accurate but I'll update this post as soon as the correct theatre/times information is available, usually by Wednesday.

Wonder Woman MetaCritic score (79),  reviews. Captain Underpants MetaCritic score (70), reviews.

General theatrical releases opening 5/26/17

Only two new general release films this week: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Baywatch. The latter opens on Thursday for some reason and will likely leave town within a week or two . Neither seem to represent much in the way of originality but I expect Pirates to be at least moderately successful.

Take the title links to get complete information about all new films including plot, cast and cast pictures, previews (trailers), INDB and MetaCritic scores, theatres playing the films and showtimes.

A Whole Lot Of Changes

Due to the recent ownership changes in the Wichita theatres, along with a medical condition I'm experiencing, it's not going to be possible for me to review new releases as I have in the past. But, it will allow me to cover the movie scene more thoroughly than I was able to before.

As a consequence, you'll be seeing a lot of changes in this blog in the near future. I hope you'll bear with me as I work out what the updated blog should contain. If you have suggestions, contact me at: jdarnell@cox.net.

Opening 5/19/17

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.

Alien: Covenant 2D/IMAX 2D [R] 2 hrs. 1 min. Sci-Fi Watch Preview Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demian Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollet, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby, Noomi Rapace, James Franco. Plot: the crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jason Ian Drucker, Charlie Wright, Owen Asztalos, Tom Everett Scott, Alicia Silverstone. Plot: a family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Everything, Everything  [PG-13] 1 hr. 36 min. Romantic Drama Watch Preview Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Ana de la Reguera, Anika Noni Rose. Plot: the unlikely love story of a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 5/18/17

Movie Machine - Fate Of The Furious, Boss Baby
Palace West - John Wick 2, Life
Warren East 13th - How To Be A Latin Lover, Colossal, Lost City Of Z, King Arthur 3D
Warren West 21st - Absolutely Anything, Zookeepers Wife, King Arthur 3D
Warren Old Town - Fate Of The Furious

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) 5/12/17

MetaCritic indicates Colossal (70) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Wall (59), Lowriders (55), Snatched (46), King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (40), and Absolutely Anything (27). For national reviews take the link to he MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Yet another week of clearing off the shelf with most of these having little or no boxoffice potential. On the bright side, the next month will give us Alien: Covenant, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Wonder Woman.

Colossal has 26 favorable reviews, 8 mixed and one negative. It looks to be a metaphor trying to pass as Sci-Fi. Comments range from "you’re deposited, happy and a little worse for wear, at the end" to "the actors are solid, as expected, but the plot itself is pretentious without saying much at all." A lot of reviewers seem to like this one so it may be worth a look. Rated R for language. Running time is 109 minutes.

The Wall has 10 positive and and 7 mixed reviews with comments ranging from "a well-made, engaging war-time thriller" to "so dramatically monotonous and tonally high-pitched that you want to escape almost as much as the characters do." Rated R for language throughout and some war violence. Running time is 81 minutes.

Lowriders has only one positive review and five mixed reviews, ranging from "has style and local color to spare" to "unfortunately too formulaic and predictable." Unless this is a topic that interests you, this is probably one to miss. I don't think this will be here long. Rated PG-13 for language, some violence, sensuality, thematic elements and brief drug use. Running time is 99 minutes.

Snatched has 6 positive reviews, 16 mixed reviews and 5 negative reviews. I get the feeling this is not a typical Goldie Hawn comedy, being much more adult in nature than her usual fare. Reviewer comments are are fairly well summed up with "Hawn deserves better, and so do audiences." Rated R for crude sexual content, brief nudity, and language throughout. Running time is 90 minutes.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword reviews lean toward the negative with 4 positive reviews, 24 mixed reviews and 10 negative reviews. Comments range from "lacks character development, but makes up for it with swashbuckling, sword-fighting" to "devolves into a jumbled affair, weighed down by confusing supernatural elements and a lazy reliance on visual effects." I think we've all seen this story before. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some suggestive content and brief strong language. The film is too long at 126 minutes.

Absolutely Anything can only be opening here because someone is doing somebody a favor. It's only in one theatre and for only one showing a day and you can bet this will be its only week. It's a two year old film with no positive reviews, four mixed and four negative reviews, which are best summed up by: "[A] depressingly inept comedy." Rated R for language including sexual references, and brief nudity. Running time is 85 minutes.

Theatres and times: Colossal, The Wall, Lowriders, Snatched, King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, Absolutely Anything.

Opening 5/12/17

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.

Absolutely Anything [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Romantic Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, Eddie Izzard, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joanna Lumely, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Robin Williams. Plot: a disillusioned school teacher finds the ability to do anything he wishes bestowed upon him by power-crazed aliens. Showing at: Warren West.

Colossal [R] 1 hr. 49 min. Sci-Fi Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dana Stevens, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson. Plot: an out-of-work girl must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world. Showing at: Warren East.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword [PG-13] 2 hrs. 6 min.Fantasy Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Jude Law, Eric Bana. Plot: a classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Lowriders [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Demian Bichir, Eva Longoria, Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi, Melissa Benoist, Tony Revolori. Plot: the story of  a talented young street artist (Gabriel Chavarria) caught between the lowrider world and his self-expression. Showing at: Warren East.

Snatched [R] 1 hr. 31 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Joan Cusack, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, Christopher Meloni. Plot: a daughter (Amy Schumer) persuades her ultra-cautious mother (Goldie Hawn) to travel with her to paradise. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Wall [R] 1 hr. 24 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena. Plot: about two soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper, with nothing but a crumbling wall between them. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 5/11/17

Movie Machine - The Circle
Palace West - CHIPs, Moana, La La Land, Hidden Figures
Warren East 13th - The Dinner, Gifted, Unforgettable, Sleight, The Case For Christ, Born In China
Warren West 21st - Power Rangers, Unforgettable, Smurfs, Kong, Born In China
Warren Old Town -The Circle, Going In Style

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) 5/5/17

MetaCritic indicates Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (67) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Dinner (60). 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.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 comments range from"more expansive, more beautiful, funnier, nuttier—" to "a computer-generated action-fest" to "trying too hard." However, the truth is it doesn't make any difference what the national critics say, this will be a boxoffice bonanza. If you're planning on seeing it during the first week you'll probably be standing in line. Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content.

The Dinner reviews range from "a dash of poison elegance" to "all four leads are simply outstanding"  to "this is one to miss." Clearly, the reviews are all over the place with 9 positives, 7 mixed and 2 negatives. While this looks to be the choice for those who appreciate serious drama, I wouldn't tarry. I don't think this will be here long. Rated R for disturbing violent content, and language throughout.

Theatres and times: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, The Dinner.

Opening 5/5/17

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 Dinner [R] 2 hrs.Thriller Watch Prevue Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Hall, Chloë Sevigny. Plot: a psychological thriller about a fierce showdown between two couples during the course of an ornately prepared meal at a fancy restaurant. Showing at: Warren East.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 2 hrs. 16 min. Sci-Fi Adventure Watch Prevue Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Rosenbaum. Plot: continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos and continue to unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 5/4/17

Movie Machine - Beauty & The Beast, Smurfs, Going In Style
Palace West - Sing
Warren East 13th - Free Fire, Logan, Phoenix Forgotten, Unforgettable, Born In China, The Promise
Warren West 21st - Get Out, Phoenix Forgotten, Logan, The Promise, Fate Of The Furious IMAX
Warren Old Town -Beauty & The Beast, The Promise, Phoenix Forgotten

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.