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.

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.

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.

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.

Split ***

M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed this Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, Haley Lu Richardson. Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and behavior, violence and some language. Running time is one hour and fifty-seven minutes.

Though (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist (Betty Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others.

Shyamalan is known for making films with a twist at the ending, so I was expecting something really wild. The film didn't go where I expected it to but I wouldn't call the ending a real surprise. I was  expecting a slightly different ending because of the time the film spent on the backstory of one of the kidnap victims, which takes up a fair amount of the film's time and causes the film to slow to a snails pace during the middle portion. (Also, if you pay attention, he telegraphs what that ending is likely to be.) As it turns out, the director could have saved that time and made the overall film shorter and thus better, and increasing the pacing certainly wouldn't have hurt. All that being said, the film is worth watching just to see the acting of McAvoy and the nine characters he portrays. He looks totally different without his hair and beard and his usual Scottish accent is completely missing. The girls are adequate and  Buckley is good, as she is always. If you look closely you'll see the director in a brief scene. This is not a great film, but it does have its moments.

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

La La Land **½

Damien Chazelle wrote and directed this Musical Drama. Watch Preview.  Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe, Tom Everett Scott, Josh Pence. Rated PG-13 for some language. Running time is two hours and eight minutes.

In this modern take on the Hollywood musical (Ryan Gosling) and (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and threaten to rip them apart.

I realize this film has a MetaCritic rating in the 90s and is a strong contender for an Academy Award. And, I'm a real fan of musicals. So, I'm not happy to tell you I was disappointed after seeing it. I have to think all the people who are just raving about this have never seen one of the great musicals of the 50s. Those film featured actors who were top notch dancers and singers and the films always had a song or two that were memorable. Not so with this one. Gosling has a pleasant if not great voice but Stone, an actress I really like, has no singing voice at all. And both are rather pedestrian dancers. Also, I'll bet you won't come away with any song or melody you'll remember. Then, there's the fact it's a good thirty minutes too long. Younger audiences, who don't have any idea what a really good  musical looks or sounds like, may find this enjoyable. But those of us who are old enough to know the real thing when we see it are not going to be that impressed.

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

Office Christmas Party **½

Josh Gordon, Will Speck directed this Adult Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Vanessa Bayer, Jillian Bell, Jamie Chung, Rob Corddry, Abbey Lee, Kate McKinnon, T.J. Miller, Olivia Munn, Karan Soni, Courtney B. Vance, Matt Walsh. Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and graphic nudity. Running time is one hour and forty-five minutes.

When the CEO (Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, he (Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client (Vance) and close a sale that will save their jobs.

This is a film aimed at those who find crude language funny. If that doesn't happen to fit your definition of humor, this is a mildly amusing film at best. I suspect younger patrons will find this much more enjoyable than will older ones. The cast is fine, with Bateman in the lead role and Aniston as his foul-mouthed superior. McKinnon is funny as usual although she's only in a supporting role. Production values, as well as pacing, are good and make the time pass fairly fast for what is an overly long film. There is an entire sequence involving a prostitute and her pimp that could easily have been left on the cutting room floor without hurting the film at all. Still, there are a few funny bits, with some of the better ones being in the outtakes during the credits. This isn't a film I'd urge you to see, but it does have its moments if you decide to do so.

There are outtakes during the first half of the credits. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them ***

David Yates directed this Fantasy/Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman, Carmen Ejogo, Jenn Murray, Faith Wood-Blagrove, Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz. Rated PG-13 for some fantasy action violence. Running time is two hours and thirteen minutes.

An all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. Only this time the action takes place in New York City, seventy years prior to the Hogwarts stories.

This is a fantastic looking film, loaded with the type of action Rowling creates. Production values are first class and the cast is deep and excellent. But, as much as I like Redmayne as an actor, he doesn't have the impact in this story that Daniel Radcliffe had in the Potter series. In fact, none of the characters in this film will have the same impact as the leads in those films. There will supposedly be three to five films in this series, but I'm having a hard time believing these characters can maintain the momentum to achieve that. My real problem with the film is that it's too long for the story element. I was ready for it to be over long before it was. If you blink you'll miss an appearance by Johnny Depp. I can only assume he's here to set up a larger role in one of the subsequent films. I saw this in the IMAX 2D version but a 3D version might prove to be more spectacular. While it may be a bit frightening at times for the youngest ones, a younger crowd will appreciate this more than senior patrons.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen is preferable. Theatres/Times.

Arrival ****

Denis Villeneuve directed this Sci-Fi/Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language. Running time is one hour and fifty-six minutes.

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - lead by an expert linguist (Amy Adams) and a physicist (Jeremy Renner) - are brought together to investigate the American site.

Yes. this is a Sci-Fi film complete with spaceships and aliens you see and hear. But they really aren't the final focus of this film. What the focus actually is will take to the end of the film for you to discover. And, after you do it will take some thinking on your part to finally realize what's happened. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best  films I've seen this year. I like Sci-Fi and I like films that make me think, rather than just putting me on a path I can clearly see...where I'm just along for the ride. I had no idea  how this would end, but after some thought, all was clear and the resolution was satisfying. The cast is first rate and the CG are not overdone. I rather doubt this will be a big  picture but I think you'll find it mesmerizing if you decide to go.

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

Dr. Strange **½

Scott Derrickson co-wrote and directed this Fantasy/Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence. Running time is one hour and fifty-five minutes.

After a tragic car accident, a talented neurosurgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions in an attempt to regain his surgical skills.

If you're into multi-dimensions and the astral plane you may find this a bit more interesting than did I. Strip out the special effects and you're left with a simplistic, bare-bones plot that seems more like a comic book than a major film (yes, I know it's based on a comic book, but still...). The special effects are fantastic but there are so many of them they start  to bore after awhile. The cast is good, considering what they have to work with. I became so uninvolved in the plot I actually drifted off for a bit in the middle. I saw this in IMAX 3D which was excellent as usual. Comic book and CGI fans may find this exciting, but the average viewer is going to have to work hard to stay involved.

There are two additional sequences after the credits begin, one at the very end. The larger the screen, the better. Theatres/Times. 

Inferno **½

Ron Howard directed this Drama, Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan, Omar Sy, Ben Foster, Sidse Babett Knudsen. Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some language, thematic elements and brief sensuality. Running time is two hours and one minute.

When the famous symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) awakes in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot designed to eliminate a large portion of Earth's human population.

This is easily the poorest of the three Dan Brown novels starring Hanks as Robert Langdon. Hanks is good as are the rest of this remarkable cast. However, the story is confusing as well as far fetched. When you combine confusing with excessive length, you've got a problem. Had this been ninety minutes, much of the plot meandering might not have occurred or might have been overlooked. It's a gorgeous film to look at but I'm betting you'll be glancing at your watch long before it's over. I saw this in the visually reedited IMAX process.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen will enhance the stunning photography. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

The Accountant ***

Gavin O'Connor directed this Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jean Smart, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jeffrey Tambor, John Lithgow. Rated R for strong violence and language throughout. Running time is two hours and eight minutes.

An accountant/math savant (Affleck) starts working on the books of a new client where a clerk (Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy, and the body count starts to rise.

This film possesses an impressive cast list but this is all Affleck's film. He portrays a math savant who also has Asperger's Syndrome, so while he lacks social skills, he's a really good accountant. Raised by a father in the military, he also has excellent combat skills and is an excellent marksman. In addition, he also has a strong sense of right and wrong. All of this adds up to a complex character who shows very little emotion but is capable of both punishing and protecting those with whom he interacts. Affleck does this very well, appearing mostly stoic but occasionally allowing a smile to cross his visage. There's a lot of very bloody action when he's in a punishing mode but every once in awhile we see the other side of him. The rest of the roles are very secondary but handled very competently. There's an underlying drama under all the carnage which does resolve by the film's end. The film held my attention throughout and I think most action/Affleck fans will enjoy it. If it does well, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see sequels.

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

Sully ***

Clint Eastwood directed this Biographical drama. Watch Preview Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney. Rated PG-13 for some peril and brief strong language. Running time is one hour and thirty-five minutes.

About the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard.

I'd read some negative reviews of this film before seeing it, so I was pleasantly surprised that it held my attention throughout. The actual landing of the plane on the Hudson River takes up very little of the film's time, so if you're looking for an action packed film, this isn't it. That landing is repeated several times, however, from the different vantage points of those involved. What the film is really concerned with is what happened to Sully after the landing, when the NTSB and the insurance companies seemed to be making an effort to blame him for unnecessarily landing on the river. If they had been successful his career would have been over and his pension forfeited. That could have been boring but the pace is fast enough it's not. This is an all Hanks film, and he's superb as usual, with Eckhart and especially Linney in supporting roles. I saw this in IMAX (full screen) and the quality was excellent.

There are reunion scenes intermixed with the final credits. A large screen would be best. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Warcraft **½

Duncan Jones co-wrote and directed this Fantasy Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Ben Foster, Clancy Brown, Daniel Wu, Dominic Cooper, Paula Patton, Toby Kebbell, Travis Fimmel, Ben Schnetzer, Ruth Negga, Robert Kazinsky, Anna Galvin. Rated PG - 13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy violence. Running time is two hours and three minutes.

A peaceful realm stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a race of invaders fleeing their dying home. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction.

This is a well made film but I have to wonder about its potential audience. It's based on the multi-player game of the same name and it's been my experience those who play games are usually negative about the movie version. Those who like fantasy films (Avatar comes to mind) may also find this appealing although precious little time is spent giving you any kind of background. I don't play computer games so I went into this with no preconceptions. It took me a while to determine this is set on an Earthlike world (Azeroth) that has the appearance of medieval Europe, but with races other than human-like inhabiting it, along with those who appear human. There's also plenty of magic, both good and bad, and a few creatures you won't find on Earth, including a horse/bird creature that can be ridden. Then there's the whole portal to another world bit, which Orcs who are on a dying world, plan to use to get to Azeroth. You get the idea. If this sounds appealing to you, production values are good and the pacing is fairly good, although I was looking at my watch before it was over. If you decide to pass, you may have another shot in a couple of years as the ending is clearly leaning toward a sequel. I saw this in IMAX 3D, which was excellent.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen is imperative for maximum visual enjoyment. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Now You See Me 2 **½

Jon M. Chu directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, David Washofsky, Tsai Chin, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman. Rated PG-13 for violence and some language. Running time is two hours and nine minutes.

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate.

This is one of those sequels which makes you wonder about the reason for its being made since it adds nothing new to the story, with the exception of Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe to the cast. The story is still about misdirection, although this time it's the illusionists who are being misdirected. Still, it's an enjoyable cast and the film is fun to watch, though perhaps a bit confusing if you haven't seen the first one. Production values are fine but the pacing is a bit slow, especially for a film that's a good thirty minutes longer than it should be. If you didn't see the original, I can give this a mild recommendation. If you did see it, you'll be ahead to just watch it again.

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

The Nice Guys ***

Shane Black co-wrote and directed this Action comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, Kim Basinger. Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity, language and brief drug use. Running time is one hour and fifty-six minutes.

A down-on-his-luck private eye (Gosling) and hired enforcer (Crowe) must work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star while trying to avoid being killed by a hired assassin (Bomer).

Crowe and Gosling make quite the pair in this enjoyable action film. Crowe is the steady, somewhat brutal, no-nonsense type while Gosling is just shy of being a complete klutz. Together they add up to an effective detective team. Young Australian actress Angourie Rice is a real revelation and looks to have a major career ahead. Basinger is basically wasted and we see far too little of her. The plot is more convoluted than necessary and the film is longer than it needs to be but the pacing is good enough it doesn't really matter. Set in the 1970s, the musical styles will be nostalgic to those who lived through that era. There are several female topless scenes and the language is a bit rough in spots, although not so much it seems unrealistic. The biggest compliment I can give this film is that I'd really like to see this cast in a sequel, and I very rarely feel that way.

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

Money Monster ***½

Jodie Foster  directed this Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, Dominic West, Giancarlo Esposito, Caitriona Balfe. Rated R for language throughout, some sexuality and brief violence. Running time is one hour and thirty-eight minutes.

A financial TV host (Clooney) and his producer (Roberts) are put in an explosive situation when an irate investor who has lost everything (Jack O'Connell) forcefully takes over their studio and threatens to kill the host with an explosive vest.

If you like a relevant, interesting story with a top notch cast, here's a film for you. It also features good production values, a reasonable running time, and plot pacing that never gives you a chance to get bored. Oh, the plot in the last third of the film get a bit unreal, but by that time you'll be so involved in what's happening I don't think you'll really care. Clooney and Roberts are as good as you expect them to be and it was interesting seeing Balfe (Outlander) in a contemporary role. O'Connell is very good as the investor whose life keeps going from bad to worse. The rating is basically due to the language, although there is a brief sex scene that's more amusing than prurient, so keep that in mind if that's something that bothers you. I have no reluctance in giving this a high recommendation.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen will be nice but not necessary. Theatres/Times.

Captain America: Civil War ***

Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl, Tom Holland. Rated PG-13. Running time is two hours and twenty-six minutes.

Political pressure results in the  government deciding to direct the team rather than letting them act on their own. This fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) who are not in favor of government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s (RobertDowney Jr.) decision to support the government action.

There's really not much reason to write a review for a film like this.  It has a built-in audience of comic book hero and action fans that will attend no matter what anyone says. And, for that crowd this is a perfectly acceptable film. It reintroduces us to the Avengers team again and lets us see them in plenty of action. That's all that crowd needs. For those who don't fit either of those categories, there's not much to see here in the way of a story. In fact the film has no plot progression whatever. What you have at the end is what you had when the film started, with a whole lot of fighting and CG in between. The average non-fan will find this way too long and a little on the boring side. To me the film seemed more of a place holder, a way to make a few hundred million without having to worry about something silly like a meaningful plot. I saw this in the 2D format but it looked to me as if the IMAX 3D would be pretty effective and that big screen would make the action even more impressive.

There are scenes both in the middle and at the end of the credits that fans will want to see. The bigger the screen the better. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

The Huntsman: Winter's War **½

Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directed this Fantasy/Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Nick Frost. Rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence and some sensuality. Running time is one hour and fifty-four minutes.

In this sequel, Ravenna (Theron) is resurrected and she and her wicked sister (Blunt) threaten the land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen.

Fantasy/actions fans should find this mildly entertaining, although the plot is really far fetched. What the film does offer is a first rate cast and very good CG effects. Unfortunately, the film is a good twenty minutes too long; I was checking my watch before it was over. Still, there's plenty of action plus some romance so a younger crowd should be happy with it. Older patrons will be happiest giving this one a pass.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen will maximize the CG effects. Theatres/Times.

Criminal **½

 Ariel Vromen directed this Sci-Fi Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Alice Eve, Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds. Rated R for strong violence and language throughout. Running time is one hour and fifty-three minutes.

In a last-ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative’s (Ryan Reynolds) memories, secrets and skills are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous death-row inmate (Kevin Costner).

I've always liked Sci-Fi films and this looked as if it had a good cast so I decided to give it a look. The film looks polished and there's plenty of action and graphic violence. But, what there isn't is a sympathetic leading character, which makes it really hard to care what happens to any one of them. Reynolds isn't around long enough to make an impact, Oldman is over the top and unlikable, Jones is really looking his age and doesn't play a major role, and Costner's character is someone you'd never want to be alone with. The basic premise of the film about transplanting memories from one person to another seems farfetched, but who knows these days. The film does move right along so there's never a chance to get bored,  but you're never really involved in what's happening. The ending leaves  the impression they were hoping for a sequel but I have my doubts that will happen. If you're interested basically in action films, this will do, but there are better films available.

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