BUG *½

In a film directed by William Friedkin and starring Ashley Judd (Agnes White), Michael Shannon (Peter Evans), Lynn Collins (R. C.), Brian F. O’Byrne (Dr. Sweet) and Harry Connick Jr. (Jerry Goss) you have a director and cast with enough experience to make one hopeful of a good film. Alas, in BUG, those hopes have been squashed.

Judd portrays a barmaid who leads a lonely existence in a cheap motel room. She's divorced but her abusive ex-husband Jerry, still considers her to be his. To get a little companionship, she occasionally gets together with R.C. in a relationship that seems more than friendship although neither appear to be gay. Along comes Peter who is nice, non-threatening and who thinks she's pretty. The develop a relationship rather quickly, and then the bugs start to appear.

I'm stopping the plot outline at that point because I'm not sure what happens, which is the primary problem with this pic. There are several possible interpretations of what happens but the plotline is not going to explain which one is true. If you stay through the ending credits you'll see a couple of still pictures that cast doubt on what you've seen before but don't really add anything to the story. I will say that Judd does a terrific job as an actress and the supporting cast is also fine but the overall film simply isn't satisfying enough to recommend. I will also tell you if dental visits bother you, avoid this film at all costs!

Opening 5/25/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AVENUE MONTAIGNE [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Cecile de France, Valérie Lemercier, Claude Brasseur, Albert Dupontel, Laura Morante, Sydney Pollack. Plot: centers around Jessica, a beautiful young woman from the provinces who comes to Paris and lands a job waiting tables at a chic bistro on fabled Avenue Montaigne, the city's nexus for art, music, theater and fashion. Because she doesn't know how celebrated her customers are, her guileless and completely unintimidated engagement in their lives has a transforming effect on them – and ultimately her. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

BUG [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Ashley Judd, Harry Connick, Jr., Lynn Collins, Brían O'Byrne, Michael Shannon. Plot: when a lonely waitress with a tragic past begins a tentative romance with an eccentric, nervous drifter, she starts to feel hopeful again - until the first bugs arrive. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END [PG-13] 2 hrs. 45 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun-Fat, Stellan Skarsgård, Jack Davenport, Naomie Harris, Kevin R. McNally, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Andy Beckwith, Reggie Lee. Plot: in this threequel we find our heroes in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones' locker – while the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones, under the control of the East India Trading Company, wreaks havoc across the Seven Seas. Showing at: Derby Plaza (2 prints), Movie Machine (2 prints), Northrock (5 prints), Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren (7 prints), Warren Old Town (2 prints), 21st Street Warren (6 prints). Many of these theatres will be starting this film Thursday evening. Check show times (left column) for specific times and for continuing pictures who are dropping showtimes Thursday evening.

WAITRESS [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith, Eddie Jemison, Lew Temple. Plot: At first, things seem hopeless for a pregnant waitress with a needy husband, her dreams for a better life in ruins, until a good-looking doctor arrives in town and mixes things up. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Leaving 5/24/2007

Derby Plaza - Georgia Rule
Movie Machine - Disturbia, Meet The Robinsons
Northrock 14 - Delta Farce, Disturbia, Meet The Robinsons, Next
Palace West - The Reaping, Premonition, Amazing Grace, Reign Over Mr
Premiere Palace - 300, The Last Mimzy, Lucky You, The Land Of Women, Shades Of Glory, The Namesake
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Next, The Invisible, Hot Fuzz, Meet The Robinsons, Wild Hogs, Delta Farce, The Ex
Warren Old Town - 28 Weeks Later, Next
Warren West 21st - Next, The Invisible, Wild Hogs, The Ex, Meet The Robinsons, Fracture

Worthwhile (and not) 5/18/07

The Italian (73) and Year Of The Dog (71) are both more highly rated than Shrek The Third (54) but we all know which will attrack the largest crowds. Check here to read multiple reviews of these films.

SHREK THE THIRD ***

The first Shrek oozed from the swamp in 2001, followed three years later by Shrek 2. Now, it's time for Shrek The Third. Most of the characters are back with a few fairy tale favorites added for good measure. In case you're interested, the voices in this opus are: Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona), Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots), Julie Andrews (Queen), John Cleese (King), Rupert Everett (Prince Charming), Eric Idle (Merlin), Justin Timberlake (Artie), Amy Sedaris (Cinderella), Maya Rudolph (Rapunzel), Amy Poehler (Snow White), Larry King (Doris) and Regis Philbin (Mabel).

The story is relatively simple (as you might surmise). Just before the King croaks, Shrek is asked by him to accept the throne. Wanting instead to return to his swamp with Fiona, he sets out in search of Art, the only other legitimate heir to the throne. Prince Charming presents a problem, however, He also wants to be King and enlists the aid of assorted fairy tale rabble (witches, cyclops, Captain Hook, etc.) to help him achieve his goal. Further complications occur when Fiona announces she's pregnant. A battle royal ensues with Shrek and Fiona's happiness at stake along with the future of the Kingdom.

I had read some advance reviews indicating this was the worst of the three stories. But, it appears to me to be the equivalent of the others and should be enjoyed by all who liked the previous films. The humor seems to be a little more adult this time but there's still plenty for the kids to enjoy. The soundtrack is good with music styles ranging from classical to broadway to pop...something for almost everyone. The animation is very good and appears very realistic at times (look at the whiskers on the male faces). I watched a digital presentation of this film and it was absolutely crystal clear and bright. In my opinion, the digital version is slightly better than film so you might check to see if there is a digital auditorium in the theatre you attend.

Opening 5/18/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

THE ITALIAN [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Drama/Family/Foreign Trailer Cast: Kolya Spiridonov, Denis Moiseenko, Sasha Syrotkin, Andrei Elizarov, Vladimir Shipov, Polina Vorobjeva, Olga Shuvalova, Yuri Itskov, Mariya Kuznetsova, Dariya Lesnikova, Nikolai Reutov. Plot: an abandoned Russian child sets off in search of his mother. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

SHREK THE THIRD [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Animated comedy Trailer Cast: voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Rupert Everett, Justin Timberlake, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Amy Sedaris, John Krasinski, Ian McShane. Plot: when his father-in-law, King Harold, falls ill, it is up to Shrek to find a suitable heir or he will be forced to give up his beloved swamp for the throne. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

YEAR OF THE DOG [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Molly Shannon, Regina King, Peter Sarsgaard, John C. Reilly, Laura Dern. Plot: when a woman's beloved dog dies, she embarks on a journey of personal transformation that is hilarious, poignant and heartbreaking. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

Leaving 5/17/2007

Derby Plaza - Lucky You, Meet The Robinsons
Movie Machine - Fracture
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Redline, Norbit, Ghost Rider, The Number 23, The Astronaut Farmer, Because I Said So
Premiere Palace - Reign Over Me, TMNT, The Amazing Grace, Vacancy, Are We Done Yet
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Lucky You, In The Land Of Women, Blades Of Glory
Warren Old Town - Hot Fuzz
Warren West 21st - Lucky You, Hot Fuzz, Blades Of Glory

Worthwhile (and not) 5/11/07

28 Weeks Later (79) and Black Book (70) are the clear MetaCritic leaders this week with the rest following in their dust. Delta Farce evidently wasn't screened as there are no early critical comments on it. You can read all about this weeks selections and numerous reviews on each (by clicking on the title) here. Since the summer blockbusters start in earnest next week (Shrek The Third) I wouldn't count on most of these being around for long.

28 WEEKS LATER **

This film, a sequel to 2002's 28 Days Later, features a new director as well as a new cast, including: Robert Carlyle (Don), Rose Byrne (Scarlet), Jeremy Renner (Doyle), Harold Perrineau (Flynn), Catherine McCormack (Alice), Mackintosh Muggleton (Andy), Imogen Poots (Tammy), Idris Elba (General Stone) and Emily Beecham (Karen).

Starting 6 months after the first film, the zombies have been allowed to starve to death and England is ready for repopulation. The American military is assigned the task (you'd have thought an EU force would have been more appropriate) and starts getting rid of the remains of the previous inhabitants and then allowing Brits living abroad to return to a safe zone on an island in London. Two of the returnees are children, Andy and Tammy, who were abroad in Spain on an educational trip when the first outbreak occurred. They are reunited with their father, Don, a man of little bravery who allowed their mother to be attacked by the zombies as he fled in fear. Against strict orders, the children manage to cross back into the city in an attempt to get a picture of their mother at their old home. You can imagine their surprise when they discover she's still alive and living in that home. While infected with the virus, she shows no symptoms and is brought back into the safe zone for study in case she could be the source of a cure. Not a good move since the virus soon reappears, with disastrous consequences.

This was a disappointing film to me as it has a great deal of potential, most of which is wasted because of plot flaws. The single biggest flaw is the lack of sympathy you feel for the featured victims du jour since they are the very ones responsible for the spot they're in. Without that sympathy, the story looses the tension it needs to be really suspenseful. There are also several stupid decision that kept me muttering "whatever were they thinking" as the plot unraveled. There are a plethora of shocks and gore aplenty for those who are just there to scream but those who prefer rational responses will not be satisfied. Never mind, though. Perhaps they can get it right in the threequel, which is clearly indicated by the ending scene. A large theatre screen and sound system add to the effects in this film.

THE EX **½

This romantic comedy isn't as light as it should be but does star a cast of recognizable, competent actors who can do comedy well, including: Scrubs star, Zach Braff; Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip star, Amanda Peet; Arrested Development star, Jason Bateman; and Charles Grodin; in addition to brief appearances by Mia Farrow, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, and Amy Adams.

The plot is about a couple with a new baby, where the wife, Peet, a well paid lawyer and the family's main breadwinner, decides to leave her job to become a stay-at-home mom. That means her husband, Braff, must pick up the financial slack, which is difficult since he's never held a job for long. They end up moving to Ohio so he can go to work in an advertising firm her father works for. Problems immediately erupt as his immediate supervisor, Bateman, has been in love with Peet for years and sets out to break up the marriage by making life incredibly difficult for Braff at work. To make things even worse, Bateman has been in a wheelchair for years and is a master at playing the sympathy card.

This is a pleasant, amusing comedy that never becomes really funny although a few selected outtakes come close during the end credits. Braff, and especially Peet, portray characters you like and wish the best for. Bateman is very good as the sneaky romantic competition. Grodin, who hasn't made a film in ten years, is fine as Peet's father but doesn't have a particularly strong role. The rest of the cast is only seen briefly. If you're in the mood for a few chuckles, this will do. But, it will be just as enjoyable on your home TV when the DVD is released.

Opening 5/11/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

28 WEEKS LATER [R] 1hr. 40 min. Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller Trailer Cast: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Catherine McCormack, Imogen Poots, Idris Elba, Mackintosh Muggleton. Plot: six months after the rage virus has annihilated the British Isles, the US Army declares that the war against infection has been won, and that the reconstruction of the country can begin. But, the virus is not yet dead, and this time, it is more dangerous than ever. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

BLACK BOOK [R] 2 hrs. 25 min. War/Thriller Trailer Cast: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn, Waldemar Kobus, Derek de Lint. Plot: the final years of the Second World War in Holland provide the setting for this story about a woman's attempt to escape death by the Germans and her desire for revenge against those responsible for the death's of her family and friends. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

DELTA FARCE [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Action/Comedy Trailer Cast: Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, DJ Qualls, Marisol Nichols, Danny Trejo, Keith David. Plot: comedy about three blue collar heroes who mistakenly end up on the military's front line, in Mexico not Iraq. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE EX [PG-13] 1 hr. 90 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Mia Farrow, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, Amy Adams. Plot: a couple are in for some major changes after the birth of their first baby.The husband ends up going to work for his father-in-law's firm and his boss is a man who still carries the torch for his wife and is determined to break up the marriage. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

GEORGIA RULE [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Cary Elwes, Garrett Hedlund. Plot: a film about the power of redemption, freedom in forgiveness and the unbreakable bonds of motherhood. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 5/10/2007

Derby Plaza - Next, Wild Hogs
Movie Machine - Blades of Glory, Kickin' It Old Skool
Northrock 14 - Blades Of Glory, Hot Fuzz, Kickin' It Old Skool, The Condemned
Palace West - Happy Feet, Zodiac
Premiere Palace - Firehouse Dog, Perfect Stranger, Shooter, Premonition
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Vacancy, Are We Done Yet, The Condemned, Kickin' It Old Skool
Warren Old Town - Fracture
Warren West 21st - The Condemned, Kickin' It Old Skool, Are We Done Yet, Vacancy

Worthwhile (and not) 5/4/07

Both Spider-Man 3 and Lucky You are in the 2½ star range as far as the national critics are concerned. You can read more of the reviews here.

SPIDER-MAN 3 *½

As I was leaving the theatre after watching this film I had to fight my way through a large crowd trying to get in to see the latest installment of Spidey. If I'd thought it would do any good I would have yelled, "save your money." That would have been useless, however, just as this review won't really affect anyone who's been anxiously awaiting this pic...there's too much pent up anticipation.

The plot is more of the same...a lot more of the same. Spidey and MJ continue their on again, off again romance, giving us tearful Spidey. An outer space entity takes over Spidey, giving us psychotic Spidey. A new romantic interest enters, leading to vengeful Spidey and Saturday Night Fever Spidey (you have to see this to believe it). The entity moves onto a new host, eventually giving us bruised Spidey and imperiled MJ. Sandman shows up, giving new meaning to the phrase, "pounding sand." Will Spidey win? If this grosses $350 million as projected you know he has to so there can be a fourth installment.

What you've got here is a 2½ hour soap opera with a plot so stupid it boggles the imagination and causes spontaneous outbursts of embarrassed laughter. The highlight of the show is the French restaurant sequence but if you're lucky it will show up on YouTube and you can trade 2½ hours for 5 minutes. The CG special effects are very good and easily the most impressive part of the movie. I can hardly wait until computers can write a decent plot. Then, we'll be talking entertainment.

Opening 5/4/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

LUCKY YOU [PG-13] 2 hrs. 20 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Debra Messing. Plot: as a young poker player and his father progress toward a final showdown at the poker table, the younger man learns that to win in the games of life and poker, he must try to play cards the way he has been living his life and live his life the way he has been playing cards. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SPIDER-MAN 3 [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Rosemary Harris. Plot: when Peter Parker's suit turns jet black and enhances his powers, he must choose between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be. He also must overcome two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren. This feature will be shown at 12:01 a.m. Friday in many theatres.

Leaving 5/3/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - Wild Hogs
Northrock 14 - In The Land Of Women, Perfect Stranger, TMNT, Vacancy, Wild Hogs
Palace West - Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girl
Premiere Palace - Night At The Museum, Redline, The Hoax, Aqua Teenage Hunger Force, Lives Of Others
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Perfect Stranger, Shooter, Reign Over Me, 300, Pathfinder, The Reaping
Warren Old Town - Blades of Glory, Wild Hogs
Warren West 21st - Redline, Shooter, Pathfinder, Premonition, Perfect Stranger, 300, The Reaping

HOT FUZZ ***

I had a friend who went to see this and said he disliked it so much he left half-way through. Being a fan of British comedies I decided I needed to watch it even though I didn't get a chance on the weekend. Unlike him, I thoroughly enjoyed the picture although I can understand why, if you're expecting a typical Hollywood comedy, you might not. This is not a knee slapper and in fact I think I actually laughed out loud only once.

Simon Pegg portrays a straight arrow metropolitan British policeman who's so good he puts the rest of his squad to shame. Consequently, he's shipped out to a small country village with no crime, where he'll be out of everyone's hair. But find crime he does, and lots of it, aided by the son (Nick Frost) of the Chief Inspector (Jim Broadbent). Other recognizable people on the force include Bill Nighy (Davy Jones in Pirates Of The Caribbean) and Edward Woodward, who older fans will remember as The Equalizer, but who is totally unrecognizable and never understandable in this film. Timothy Dalton is note perfect as the smarmiest store owner you're ever likely to see.

The plot really isn't that important because the movie is all about making fun of police films, which reaches a crescendo at the end with a Clint Eastwood style "one man against the town" shootout. The casting is spot on, the production values are top notch, and while I may not have laughed much, I sure did chuckle and smile a lot. If you like British humor, go for it. Otherwise, steer clear and wait for the Hollywood variety.

Worthwhile (and not) 4/27/07

The ratings winner at the boxoffice this weekend is Hot Fuzz although I can almost guarantee you it won't be the boxoffice winner. Next drops substantially and The Condemned is clear in the cellar. Kickin' It Old Skool and The Invisible apparently weren't screened in advance for the critics. You can look at the current week's MetaCritic rating summaries here.

NEXT **½

Evidently Nicolas Cage has decided to go for boxoffice action hits rather than concern himself with the occasional artistic endeavor. That would explain Ghost Rider a few months ago and the slew of upcoming films that appear to be more of the same. At least he's got some recognizable co-stars in this feature. Julianne Moore almost always turns in a good performance and Jessica Biel is certainly nice to look at although it's a little early in her career to know whether she'll develop acting skills to match.

The plot is based on a Phillip K. Dick short story about a man who has the ability to see a couple of minutes into the future, but only his future. That's enough, however, to let him duck when someone takes a swing at him and to allow him to make a few bucks at the gambling tables in Las Vegas. Then he notices he can see even further into the future when it involves a certain woman, which naturally makes him curious to meet her. He's also been noticed by the FBI who want to use his abilities to discover where terrorists are going to detonate a nuclear weapon in the U.S. And, somehow he's also been noticed by the terrorists who want to kill him lest he alert the authorities about their plans.

Already, you should have spotted a few problems. Why is he attracted to the girl whom he's never met and why can he see further than normal into her future? How did the FBI figure out he had this ability when the film goes to great lengths to show you how good he is at hiding it? Same question about the terrorists. Unfortunately, the film isn't going to answer those questions as well as a whole lot more that will occur to you as the movie progresses. It will provide you with plenty of action, car chases and explosions which is all the action fans really require. It will also give you a twist at the end that's completely unnecessary, but you'll be so full of questions you'll hardly notice.

THE INVISIBLE *

Featuring a cast of relative unknowns and a script based on a Swedish film, this pic would have to be very good to make any headway at the boxoffice. Unfortunately, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me so I predict this will be gone before you know it.

The story is about a teenager, Justin Chatwin, who's left for dead after a run-in with a troubled female teen, Margarita Levieva, who thinks he gave her up to the police. As you probably already know, he isn't dead but instead is some type of astral projection. No one can see or hear him but he's got to get someone to find his body before it dies or he's a real gonner. To complicate matters further, the girl has a boyfriend who thinks he would be safer if she were dead.

I get the distinct impression this movie was severely edited which is why the story is so confusing. In fact, if you'll look at the trailer you can see a scene that never made it into the final cut. We need a lot more background info in order to understand why he's an astral projection, why the girl is so important to his survival, why she can occasionally hear him when she is perfectly healthy, and what happened in her life to make her the person she is now. While the production values are fine and the cast does a good job, the script makes this D.O.A.

Opening 4/27/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

THE CONDEMNED [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Victoria Mussett, Rick Hoffman, Christopher Baker, Samantha Healy, Madeline West, Luke Pegler. Plot: a man awaiting the death penalty is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer and taken to a desolate island where he must fight to the death against nine other condemned killers, with freedom going to the sole survivor. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HOT FUZZ [R] 2 hrs. Action/Comedy Trailer Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine, Steve Coogan, Timothy Dalton, Martin Freeman, Paul Freeman, Bill Nighy, Lucy Punch, Anne Reid, Billie Whitelaw, Stuart Wilson, Edward Woodward. Plot: the finest cop London has to offer is so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, he's sent to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing -- the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, convincing the Londoner Sandford is not what it seems. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE INVISIBLE [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Supernatural thriller Trailer Cast: Justin Chatwin, Marcia Gay Harden, Margarita Levieva, Chris Marquette. Plot: a writer finds himself trapped between the world of the living and the dead-completely invisible to the living. Now in limbo, his only chance to live again is to figure out the mystery of what happened to him and why. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

KICKIN' IT OLD SCHOOL [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Jamie Kennedy, Maria Menounos, Christopher McDonald, Miguel Núñez, Aris Alvarado, Bobby Lee, Debra Jo Rupp, Alan Ruck, Michael Rosenbaum, Vivica Fox. Plot: after 20 years in a coma from a freak break dancing accident, a man wakes up to discover the girl of his dreams is engaged and his parents are drowning in the debt of his medical costs. To put things right he must rally his former squad, bust a move, and win back the girl of his dreams. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

NEXT [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Sci-Fi/Action/Romance Trailer Cast: Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel. Plot: based on the Philip K. Dick story "The Golden Man," about a man with the unique ability to see future events and affect their outcome. Pursued by the FBI, seeking to use his abilities to prevent a global terrorist threat, he is faced with the daunting choice of saving the world or the woman he loves. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/26/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - TMNT, Firehouse Dog, Grindhouse
Northrock 14 - 300, Firehouse Dog, Pathfinder, Redline, Slow Burn
Palace West - Hannibal Rising
Premiere Palace - The Host, Bridge To Terabithia, Slow Burn, Miss Potter
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Redline, Aqua Teenage Hunger Force, The Hoax, Premonition, TMNT, Grindhouse
Warren Old Town - Perfect Stranger, 300
Warren West 21st - Grindhouse, TMNT, Slow Burn

Worthwhile (and not) 4/20/07

THE HOST is the film with the most "star power" this week, earning 3½-4 stars from the national scribes. It will probably disappear in a week so I wouldn't dawdle in getting to the theatre. FRACTURE is next in the ranking with the rest down in the 2-2½ range You can check them out here.

FRACTURE **½

Director Gregory Hoblit has been a TV producer/director for years and has a few theatrical features under his belt. The big star power in this feature is Anthony Hopkins, with Ryan Gosling and Rosamund Pike costarring.

If you watch any TV at all you've seen plenty of previews for this film and know the basic story. Hopkins is an engineer who's wife is having an affair. Since he fancies himself smarter than everyone else, he takes this as a personal affront and decides to kill her. Before doing so, he carefully prepares what he's going to do so he can escape the consequences of his action. Gosling is a public prosecutor with a stellar conviction record on his way to a cushy job with a major law firm where Pike is employed. The story is a cat and mouse legal affair between Hopkins and Gosling.

While this movie has its momenta, it isn't as good as it should be. The pace is slower than necessary which lowers the film's tension. While Hopkins is excellent as usual, Gosling simply isn't in his league as an actor and it shows. Pike is nice to look at but her character is never really developed and the relationship between her and Gosling isn't really believable. The method Hopkins uses to escape justice isn't immediately obvious and you'll have to think a bit in order to discover it before it's explained. The ending is satisfactory although a little abrupt. If you prefer to wait, the DVD will be just fine for this film.

VACANCY *½

VACANCY is a thriller starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale and directed by Nimród Anta. Wilson is of course one of the three Wilson brothers; the lovely Beckinsale has been in a number of films including Underworld and Underworld Evolution as well as Click with Adam Sandler. Director Anta is an American who's spent most of his career as an actor and director in Hungary but currently resides in the United States.

Wilson and Beckinsale portray a young couple whose marriage is on the rocks after the death of their son. After a visit to her parents they end up in a seedy motel in the middle of nowhere after their car dies. Watching one of the videos supplied with the room they are horrified to note the room they're in was the film's location and conclude the graphic snuff film is real and they're to be the stars of the next one. The rest of the film is their attempt to escape the motel with their lives.

My guess is the director should consider returning to Hungary. He manages to include a few thrills but the film isn't nearly as suspenseful as it could have been and Wilson and Beckinsale don't begin to live up to their potential. The pace of the film is about right but when all is said and done, the ending falls absolutely flat. This will be all right as a date movie for the younger set but don't count on it being around for long. There's nothing here that wouldn't work just as well in your living room when the DVD appears.

Opening 4/20/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

FRACTURE [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Billy Burke, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davitz, Valerie Dillman. Plot: when a meticulous structural engineer is found innocent of the attempted murder of his wife, the young district attorney prosecuting him becomes a crusader for justice in this story packed with twists and turns that weave in and out of the courtroom as the pair try to outwit each other. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE HOST [R] 2 hrs. Sci-Fi/Comedy/Thriller Trailer Cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hie-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doo-na, Ah-sung Ko. Plot: hen a young girl is snatched away from her father by a horrifying giant monster that emerges from the river, her entire family sets out to locate the beast and bring their little girl back home. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart, Meg Ryan, Olympia Dukakis, Makenzie Vega, Clark Gregg, Elena Anaya. Plot: after being dumped by a famous actress a man moves to Michigan to care for his ailing grandmother and stumbles into the lives of the family living across the street: a mother and her two daughters. Through his relationships with these women he discovers what felt like an end was only the beginning of something else. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

VACANCY [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry. Plot: When a couple's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they are forced to spend the night at the only motel around and discover the low-budget slasher movies they're watching on TV were all filmed in their room. With hidden cameras now aimed at them... trapping them in rooms, crawlspaces, underground tunnels... and filming their every move, they must struggle to get out alive before whomever is watching them can finish their latest masterpiece. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/19/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - Shooter
Northrock 14 - A Good Year, Grindhouse
Palace West - Music And Lyrics, Arthur & The Invisibles, Dreamgirls, Pursuit Of Happyness
Premiere Palace - Iraq In Fragments, The Lookout, Ghost Rider
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Slow Burn, The Namesake
Warren Old Town - Grindhouse
Warren West 21st - The Last Mimzy, Firehouse Dog

Worthwhile (and not) 4/13/07

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS is the highest rated film for the week, averaging 3½ stars from the critics. SLOW BURN has almost no reviews since its release appears to be a last minute decision. It's actually a 2003 film that was released in most countries in 2005. VARIETY thought it would be an obvious direct to DVD pic. DISTURBIA leads the rest of the weekend choices. You can see the current week's listing here.

DISTURBIA ***

An interesting cast mixture of young and upcoming actors with seasoned veterans. Shia LaBeouf, the lead in this film, has only been out of high school a few years, Sarah Roemer, the love interest, hasn't been around long at all as this is only her third film. Aaron Yoo, the best friend, is a college graduate but is obviously just getting started in the film business. A rather matronly looking Carrie-Anne Moss is the mother, a role I'm surprised to see her take although she hasn't done much of note since The Matrix films. David Morse is a familiar face with an extensive list of film and TV credits and perfect for his role in this film.

The story has a young teen (LeBeouf) becoming a discipline problem after a spectacular car accident in the opening minutes claims the life of his father.He eventually is sentenced to three months house arrest enforced with a tracking device strapped to his ankle. Bored to tears, he starts watching the neighborhood residents with his binoculars, soon spotting a cheating husband, a man who he thinks is acting suspiciously, and a new girl next door who before long joins him and a friend in the observations. The suspicious neighbor becomes aware he's being watched, lets the teens know he doesn't appreciate it, and warns them to stop. They don't, of course, and the rather exciting consequences ensue.

This is a fast paced thriller that will have some jumping in their seats. The teens fit their roles perfectly and Morse and Moss are just fine in theirs. This will never win any awards but teens especially will find this a great date movie. If you can't make it to the theatrical showing, it will be fine in the DVD version also.

PERFECT STRANGER ***

After wrting the main part of this review I went on the web to see what others said and was surprised at how negative they were about this pic. I suppose it comes down to what you're reviewing for. I look for entertainment value while others mainly seem to focus on technique and artistic quality. That's easy enough to do after watching thousands of films but that's not what the public does and it's why in my opinion many reviewers opinions don't agree with those of the general public.

This film features a cast of reasonable quality: Berry, Willis and Ribisi combined with a plot that's fast paced and with enough intracacies to keep you interested. Berry is an investigative reporter who becomes interested in the death of a childhood friend when it appears a famous man may be responsible. Willis is that man and he also has a very jealous wife (with good reason). Ribisi is another reporter who helps Berry in her investigations and who would like to be romantically involved with her, but isn't. Additionally, the childhood friend was no paragon of virtue so there could be any number of others responsible for her death.

I personally found this to be an entertaining film. The language is unnecessarily foul and the plot is so convoluted that any one of the characters mentioned could have been responsible for the murder. Willis phones in his part, smirking in all the wrong places. However, sufficient clues are given throughout to allow you to determine the ending if you set your mind to it. The bottom line is, the time passed quickly and I was satisfied when it was over. What more could you want? If you prefer to wait for this film, the DVD version will be just fine.

Opening 4/13/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATRES [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Animated action comedy Trailer Voices Of: Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis, Dana Snyder, Carey Means, Andy Merrill, Mike Schatz, Bruce Campbell, Neil Peart. Plot: when an immortal piece of exercise equipment threatens the balance of galactic peace, it is up to the Aqua Teen Hunger Force to run away from it. Peril escalates when the Plutonians team up with the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past to strive for ultimate control of the sinister deadly device. This is the film whose advertising promo caused a major security scare in Boston.Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

DISTURBIA [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Aaron Yoo. Plot: a troubled teen under a court-ordered sentence of house arrest begins to suspect a neighbor is a serial killer. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS [NR] 1 hr. 50 min. Documentary Trailer Plot: a stunningly photographed documentary of Iraq today, seen through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. Showing at Premiere Palace exclusively.

PATHFINDER [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means, Clancy Brown, Jay Tavare, Nathaniel Arcand, Ralf Moeller. Plot: a young Norse boy left behind after his clan shipwrecks on the Eastern shores of North America is raised by the very Indians his kinsmen set out to destroy. Now, as the Vikings return to stage another barbaric raid on his village, the 25 year-old Norse warrior wages a personal war to stop the Vikings' destruction. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PERFECT STRANGER [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Gary Dourdan, Patti D'Arbanville, Clea Lewis. Plot: when an investigative reporter learns her friend's murder might be connected to a powerful ad executive she goes undercover to find the truth, only to discover she isn't the only one changing identities. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

REDLINE [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Angus Macfadyen, Nathan Phillips, Eddie Griffin, Nadia Bjorlin, Kevin Levrone , Wyclef Jean. Plot: A group of drivers find themselves in an illegal drag race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a large cash prize. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SLOW BURN [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Thriller/Drama Trailer Cast: Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Jolene Blalock, Nora Timmer, Taye Diggs, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donny Falsetti, Bruce McGill, Mekhi Phifer. Plot: a district attorney who wants to be mayor has only hours to untangle the truth concerning a beautiful assistant D.A., a gang lord, and a mysterious stranger. Filmed in 2003 but just now being released in the U.S. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/12/2007

Derby Cinema - TMNT, Shooter, Premonition, The Last Mimzy
Movie Machine - The Last Mimzy
Northrock 14 - A Good Year, The Hills Have Eyes 2, The Last Mimzy, Peaceful Warrior, Shooter
Palace West - Breach
Premiere Palace - Music and Lyrics, Becket, Pride
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - The Lookout, The Last Mimzy, Firehouse Dog, The Hills Have Eyes 2
Warren Old Town - Shooter
Warren West 21st - Peaceful Warrior, The Hills Have Eyes 2

Worthwhile (and not) 4/6/07

The best reviewed new film this weekend is THE NAMESAKE followed by GRINDHOUSE and then THE HOAX. The rest trail off pretty rapidly. You can check out the MetaCritic ratings here.

GRINDHOUSE ***

I started my movie management career in a time when movies of the type in this film were quite common. I never managed a Grindhouse, a theatre that continuously played B movies, but the Drive-In Theatres I was associated with at the time certainly played that same product. About the only place you'll see product like this anymore is on Cinemax late at night and even those films are of higher quality (I know that will be hard for some to believe) than the Grindhouse ilk.

What Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino have done in this movie is recreate a typical Grindhouse bill of fare; a double feature complete with coming attraction trailers, very dated "Coming Attraction" intros and ads. All of the above are replete with scratches, film breaks, bad splices, and missing reels. They've populated these films with second and third tier actors whose faces will be familiar but whose names you probably won't recall. And occasionally an A list actor will make a brief appearance. Rodriguez's film, Planet Terror, is shown first followed by Tarantino's, Death Proof. The first is the campiest: zombies created by an escaping military gas go on the attack. Tarantino's is the more exciting of the two once it finally gets going but is terribly slow until the muscle cars really make their appearance..

I got a real kick out of this program as my rating indicates. But it's one of those features I would never recommend unless I knew the person well. The language is continuously foul and the killings are too numerous to count and accompanied by voluminous quantities of blood. If you take this kind of thing seriously or are offended by such, stay away. If you do decide to go and have a weak stomach, you may want to hold off on the concessions until after the first of the two features. A big screen and good sound will be necessary for maximum effect.

THE REAPING **½

Normally in my reviews I complain because I felt the movie was too long. In the case of this film they should have added a few extra minutes or perhaps edited more judiciously because the story definitely needed to provide more information. I finally worked it all out but it really didn't need to be that difficult.

The story concerns a former missionary who looses her faith when her family is killed while they're out "sharing the message." She then decides to devote her life to debunking religious "miracles," convinced they're all fakes. It's at this juncture she is invited by a local science teacher from Haven, Louisiana, to come to their town as it appears they are suffering from a progression of Biblical plagues. Furthermore, the town is convinced the cause is a young girl who needs to be disposed of, quickly. She makes the trip and, as you surely have guessed, finds herself with problems that can't be neatly resolved and which may actually have supernatural causes.

This is a reasonably well made supernatural/horror film with good production values and a fine cast. It has the usual shrieking violins and jump cuts found in pictures of this type but the story moves along nicely toward a conclusion that contains a couple of twists. As I mentioned earlier, there are some plot gaps that make the story more difficult to understand than necessary and if those hadn't been there this would have been a 3 star picture, which isn't bad for this genre. It should be a great date pic and an acceptable feature for fans of the supernatural.

Opening 4/6/2007

BECKET [NR] 2 hrs. 45 min. Drama Cast: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Donald Wolfit, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown, Siân Phillips, and Felix Aylmer. Plot: Nominated for twelve Academy Awards, this 1964 film is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II and Thomas à Becket, a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury. This stunning new 35mm color & Scope print was restored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, with funding from Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

GRINDHOUSE [R] 3 hrs. 10 min. Horror Trailer Cast: "Death Proof" - Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Marley Shelton, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Bacall, Eli Roth, Omar Doom; "Planet Terror" - Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Michael Parks, Josh Brolin, Michael Biehn, Carlos Gallardo, Tom Savini, Naveen Andrews, Marley Shelton, The Crazy Babysitter Twins, Stacy Ferguson. Plot: the ultimate film experience: a double-bill of thrillers presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films. Quentin Tarantino's film, Death Proof, is a slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while Robert Rodriguez's film explores an alien world eerily familiar to ours in Planet Terror. Showing at: Northrock, Warren Old Town, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE HOAX [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy. Plot: inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history, when his completely bogus "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was published. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE NAMESAKE [PG-13] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: Kal Penn, Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Jacinda Barrett, Zuleikha Robinson, Brooke Smith, Sahira Nair. Plot: two clashing cultures and two very different ways of life crash into each other in this film about the imminently relevant question: what does it mean to be an American family? Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Leaving 4/5/2007

Derby Cinema - Premonition
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Pride
Palace West - The Messengers, Stomp The Yard, Flushed Away, Reno 911: Miami
Premiere Palace - The Astronaut Farmer, Happy Feet, Zodiac, Dead Silence, Little Children, Norbit, The Number 23
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - Pride, Amazing Grace
Warren Old Town - Premonition
Warren West 21st - Pride, Bridge To Terabithia

Opening 4/04/2007

ARE WE DONE YET? [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Family comedy Trailer Cast: Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley, Aleisha Allen, Philip Daniel Bolden. Plot: sequel to Are We There Yet? picks up where the last story left off with the family in a new "fixer upper" home and at the mercy of an eccentric contractor. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

FIREHOUSE DOG [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Family comedy Trailer Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Bree Turner, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp. Plot: the world's most famous – and Hollywood's most pampered – pooch is separated from his owner and ends up as the mascot of a hapless fire station where he helps a 12-year-old boy and his father, a veteran fire chief, turn the station into the city's finest. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

STARTS THURSDAY, APRIL 5

THE REAPING [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Supernatural thriller Trailer Cast: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb, Stephen Rea. Plot: a former Christian missionary who has lost her faith investigates a small Louisiana town suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues and must regain her faith to combat the dark forces threatening the community. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/3-4/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine -
Northrock 14 - 4/3: Dead Silence, Premonition. 4/4: Bridge To Terabithia
Palace West -
Premiere Palace -
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - 4/3: The Ultimate Gift, Bridge To Terabithia. 4/4: Ghost Rider
Warren Old Town -
Warren West 21st - 4/3: Amazing Grace, Ghost Rider, Dead Silence.

Worthwhile (and not) 3/30/07

The national critics thought THE LOOKOUT was the best of this week's offerings with an average of 3 stars. Everything else is averaging 2½ stars with PEACEFUL WARRIOR coming in between 2 and 2½.

MEET THE ROBINSONS **

Based on A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce, this animated feature is being strongly sold in TV commercials as a 3D feature. While 3D digital projection is closer than you might think for Wichita, it isn't here yet which means you'll see it on local screens projected from film and in glorious 2D.

The story is about an orphan who desperately wants to belong to a family and who also possesses a real skill for inventing. Virtually all of his inventions are failures, however, and he becomes very discouraged. It's at this point that he's visited by two strangers from the future, one who wants to help and encourage him and one who's trying to steal one of his inventions.

Most of us are conditioned to think of animated features as funny. Unfortunately, that's not true in this case. The film does have a message that's true for everyone, but you're not going to be laughing while hearing it. Children should be entertained but adults are going to be hard pressed to stay awake through the entire feature. Fortunately, the pace of the story is fast so time doesn't drag as much as it could. I understand the 3D effect adds a lot to the film but you'll have to go elsewhere to see it. The film is shown with a vintage Disney cartoon from 1948 which stars Mickey, Goofy and Donald. Unfortunately, it isn't funny either.

Opening 3/30/2007

For showtimes see SHOWTIMES AT listings in left column.

BLADES OF GLORY [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Sports Trailer Cast: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner, Jenna Fischer, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson, Rob Corddry, Craig T. Nelson. Plot: When rival figure skaters are stripped of their gold medals and banned from the sport for life, they find a loophole that will allow them to compete – in pairs' figure skating. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE LOOKOUT [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Crime/Drama Trailer Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Aaron Berg, Kalyn Bomback, Alex Borstein, Paul Christie, Sergio Di Zio, Morgan Kelly, Suzanne Kelly, Tracy McMahon, Toni Reimer, Janaya Stephens, Laura Vandervoort, Courtney-Jane White. Plot: a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident, takes a job as a janitor at a bank where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren exclusively.

MEET THE ROBINSONS [G] 1 hr. 40 min. Animated Trailer Voices of: Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Harland Williams, Laurie Metcalf, Adam West, Ethan Sandler, Tom Kenny. Plot: an orphan who dreams of finding a family is visited by a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson who whisks him away to a world where anything is possible... THE FUTURE. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PEACEFUL WARRIOR [PG-13] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: Nick Nolte, Scott Mechlowicz, Amy Smart, Ashton Holmes. Plot: a gifted young athlete bound for Olympic gold who will do anything to be the best meets a mysterious stranger who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. Based on the semi-autobiographical book loved by millions, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. Showing at: Northrock, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SATURDAY, MARCH 31

THE HOAX [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy. Plot: inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history, when his completely bogus "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was published. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively (7:10 p.m.).

Leaving 3/29/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - Bridge To Terabithia
Northrock 14 - I Think I Love My Wife, Norbit, Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, The Work & The Glory: A House Divided
Palace West - Blood Diamond, Eragon, Freedom Writers
Premiere Palace - Breach
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Dead Silence, I Think I Love My Wife
Warren Old Town - The Number 23, Ghost Rider
Warren West 21st - Because I Said So, The Ultimate Gift, I Think I Love My Wife

Worthwhile (and not) 3/23/07

Everything is pretty much in the middle of the "stars" this week with Reign Over Me leading the group and TMNT bringing up the rear. The Hills Have Eyes 2 wasn't screened for the critics (you aren't surprised are you?) so you'll have to wait a little to see the rating, although I'm reasonable sure it will be low. THE WORK AND THE GLORY III: A House Divided is a specialty religious film and is unlikely to have been reviewed by most of the mainstream critics.

Dont forget you can read other reviews on this week's new films in the left column under the Reel Views, Movie Mom, and Film Blather headings.

SHOOTER ***½

SHOOTER has some impressive components. It's based on a novel, Point of Impact, by Stephen Hunter, a Washington Post film reviewer and Pulitizer Prize winner. It's directed by Antoine Fuqua who also directed Training Day. And, it has a cast of upcoming and established midlevel talent including; Mark Wahlberg, last seen in The Departed; Michael Peña, last seen in World Trade Center and Babel; Danny Glover of Dreamgirls; Kate Mara, who spent a few hours in 24; Rhona Mitra, who we just saw in The Number 23; and Ned Beatty, who's been around for ever but not seen all that much lately.

The story has Wahlberg, an ex-marine sniper, asked by Glover to help the government prevent an assassination attempt on POTUS. He's told his sniper experience will be invaluable in detecting the killer. In reality he's been set up as a fall guy but manages to escape even though he's been shot. After a brief period of recovery, he sets out to take revenge on those who "done him wrong."

This is an action fan's picture. I was thoroughly entertained and completely satisfied when it ended. However, it's incredibly violent from start to finish so if you don't care for screen violence you should stay far, far away. The story is predictable but the movie's pace is so rapid you don't have time to think about that or some of the unrealistic events that occur. There's also a political angle that should appeal to those who have lost much of their trust in our government and will find a violent reaction to those responsible for that loss satisfying. The continual amount of explosive action means this film will be most enjoyed in a large theatre auditorium with good sound.

Opening 3/23/2007

THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 [R] Horror Trailer Cast: Jessica Stroup, Reshad Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella Alonso, Lee Thompson Young, Ben Crowley, Eric Edelstein, Michael Bailey Smith, David Reynolds, Derek Mears, Tyrell Kemlo, Javier Nieto, Gáspár Szabó, Jeff Kober, Jay Acovone, Archie Kao, Philip Pavel. Plot: a group of young National Guard trainees are attacked by mutants during a training mission in the New Mexico desert. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

LITTLE CHILDREN [R] 2 hrs. 15 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Noah Emmerich, Jackie Earle Haley, Gregg Edelman, Sarah Buxton. Plot: a handful of individuals' lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

PRIDE [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Sports drama Trailer Cast: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, Regine Nehy, Kevin Phillip. Plot: based on a true story about a swim coach's fight to build a swim team in one of Philly's toughest neighborhoods in the 1970s. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

REIGN OVER ME [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder. Plot: two former college roommates run into each other years later and rekindle their friendship. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

SHOOTER [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra, Rade Sherbedgia, Ned Beatty. Plot: a former Army sniper who leaves the military after a mission goes bad is reluctantly pressed back into service and double-crossed. With two bullets in him and the subject of a nationwide manhunt, he begins his revenge, which will take down the most powerful people in the country. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

TMNT (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) [PG] 1 hr. 20 min. Animated action/adventure Trailer Cast: Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Evans, Ziyi Zhang, Kevin Smith, Mako, James Arnold Taylor, Mikey Kelley, Mitchell Whitfield, Nolan North. Plot: the Turtles are in for the fight of their lives as they once again face the mysterious Foot Clan, who have their own ninja skills. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE WORK AND THE GLORY III: A House Divided [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Sam Hennings, Brenda Strong, Eric Johnson, Jonathan Scarfe, Alexander Carroll, Andrew Bowen, Emily Podleski, Ryan Wood, Brighton Hertford, Sarah Darling, Jeff Ham. Plot: third and final installment based on the best-selling series of nine novels about the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Showing at: Northrock exclusively.

Leaving 3/22/2007

Derby Cinema - Norbit, The Astronaut Farmer, Ghost Rider
Movie Machine - Norbit, The Astronaut Farmer, Ghost Rider
Northrock 14 - Because I Said So, Black Snake Moan, Ghost Rider, The Number 23, The Ultimate Gift, Zodiac
Palace West - Catch And Release, Casino Royale
Premiere Palace -Reno 911: Miami, Black Snake Moan, Letters From Iwo Jima, Last King Of Scotland, Pan's Labyrinth, The Queen, Dreamgirls
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Zodiac, The Number 23, The Astronaut Farmer, Breach, Music And Lyrics, Norbit, Because I Said So
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Zodiac, Black Snake Moan, Reno 911: Miami, The Number 23, The Astronaut Farmer, Music And Lyrics, Norbit

Worthwhile (and not) 3/16/07

According to the national critics, The Lives Of Others is the one to see with a rating between 3½-4. I Think I Love My Wife is averaging 2½ while Premonition is coming in a little less than 2. Dead Silence was evidently not screened for the critics.

If none of these strike your fancy you have next week to look forward to, when at least six new films will be arriving!

PREMONITION **½

It's not that movies about time travel or time being out of whack are all that uncommon. A few years back there was Momento, where time ran backwards. More recently there was Déjà Vu, which involved time travel using a machine and The Lake House, which also starred Sandra Bullock, living in disjointed parallel time with a lover. Indeed, if you look here you'll see that time manipulation has been used a lot in films.

In Premonition we have time jumping about. If you've seen the TV commercials you know Bullock is informed her husband is dead but finds him alive and kicking the next day, only to have him dead the day after, or was it the day before, etc. etc. etc. Throw in a couple of adorable children, a possible mistress, spiritual guidance from a priest, a psychiatrist who acts like he needs help, and you've got a full plate of plot.

To me, this is a film of missed opportunity. It had the potential to have been very good. Instead, it feels manipulative. No reason is ever given for her days being so jumbled. She does learn a few things she didn't know at first, but she could have done that just as easily if the timeline had been more straightforward. The ending is a little over the top for my taste but many may find it satisfactory. A couple of things come to mind when all is said and done: I don't think I've ever seen a film with so many extreme closeups (Bullock); and, trying to keep track of what was going on made the time pass quickly, even if I was disappointed when it was all over.

Opening 3/16/2007

DEAD SILENCE [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Supernatural/Thriller Trailer Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg, Bob Gunton. Plot: when his new wife is gruesomely murdered, the husband returns to their hometown for the funeral, intent on unraveling the mystery surrounding her death. Himself the lead suspect in his wife's murder, he soon uncovers the truth behind the curse that ended his wife's life...and threatens to take his as well. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi. Plot: an exciting free spirit makes a man's daydreams come true while his wife is so preoccupied with her own career and raising their two children that she has little time for him. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS [R] 2 hrs. 15 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Volkmar Kleinert. Plot: the story begins in East Berlin in 1984 and ultimately takes us to 1991, in what is now the reunited Germany. It traces the gradual disillusionment of a highly skilled officer who works for the Stasi, East Germany's all-powerful secret police. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

PREMONITION [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Nia Long, Kate Nelligan, Amber Valetta, Peter Stormare. Plot: a woman with a perfect life receives the devastating news her husband has died in a car accident. After awakening the next morning to find him alive and well, she discovers her life may not have been all it appeared. Desperately she begins a furious race against time and fate to preserve the life she has known. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SUNDAY:

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Sneaking Sunday at 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 3/15/2007

Derby Cinema - Music And Lyrics
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - The Astronaut Farmer, Music And Lyrics
Palace West - The Departed, We Are Marshall
Premiere Palace - Notes On A Scandal, The Messengers, The Good German
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - Black Snake Moan, Reno 911: Miami, Night At The Museum
Warren Old Town - Reno 911: Miami
Warren West 21st - Breach

Worthwhile (and not) 3/9/07

Both 300 and The Ultimate Gift are averaging 2½ stars from the national critics. Miss Potter is marginally better but not by much. Those who like inspirational films may choose to see Gift anyway and as I said in my review, 300 will have plenty attending in spite of its reviews. My guess is that if you really want to see Potter you should hurry, as I don't see it hanging around for long.

300 **

The film 300 is based on the graphic novel of the same name by writer-artist Frank Miller. The story was originally published as a monthly five-issue comic book series and later issued as a hard cover book. If you're interested in the book (it's only 88 pages) you can purchase it here (use the Amazon link in the left column of this blog to do so, thank you very much). Miller was also responsible for the comic novel SIN CITY, which director Robert Rodriguez turned into the film of the same name.

One thing film director Zack Snyder did in this production was to use a cast of unfamiliar faces so the actors wouldn't detract from the artistic interpretation of the story. That story is about the battle of Thermopylae, 2500 years ago, where the Spartans battled the Persians in an attempt to prevent the conquest of Greece. The fact that no face seems familiar adds to the comic book look, although that look loses its charm in short order. The film is filled with muscular men bellowing such inspiring dialogue as: "Tonight we will dine in hell." Sure would motivate me. The topless women were a plus but the stabbing and slashing was so constant it soon became boring.

Frankly, the fact I was looking at my watch every five minutes just a few minutes into this film isn't going to mean anything as far as the attendance figures are concerned. Teens and young men will swarm to see this as well as comic enthusiasts and gamers. The fact I'm none of those no doubt explains my negative reaction. Most adults who aren't into comics and games will not find this interesting or entertaining. I've also read some commentary considering whether this film has political overtones. It didn't seem to me as if it did. If this does look like something you want to see, by all means go to a theatre for the maximum experience. This will not translate well to a small screen.

Opening 3/9/2007

300 [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Action/Drama Trailer Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, Rodrigo Santoro. Plot: a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. The film combines live action with virtual backgrounds. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

MISS POTTER [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson, Lloyd Owen. Plot: the life of Beatrix Potter, author, is examined in this drama. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, Mircea Monroe, Donna Cherry, D. David Morin. Plot: when his wealthy grandfather dies, a trust fund baby anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life, forcing him to determine what is most important: money or happiness. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SATURDAY:

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Sneaking Saturday at Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 3/8/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Reno 911: Miami
Palace West - Rocky Balboa, Smokin' Aces, Babel
Premiere Palace - Charlotte's Web, Venus, Hannibal Rising
Starlite Drive-In - Opens Friday
Warren East 13th - The Messengers, Daddy's Little Girl
Warren Old Town - Music And Lyrics
Warren West 21st - The Messengers, Night At The Museum

Worthwhile (and not) 3/2/07

The national critics found nothing enjoyable in WILD HOGS, averaging 1½-2 stars in their disdain. BLACK SNAKE MOAN fared a little better, averaging 2½ stars. ZODIAC is the clear winner for the week with a 3½ star average.

Don't forget, this site provides you with access to numerous critics. Find your theatre under the SHOWTIMES heading in the left column and then click on the reviews link to the left of the picture you're interested in. There are usually several to choose from. The Movie Mom's reviews can also be read in their section in the left column.

ZODIAC ***½

It's doubtful that most movie goers will remember the infamous Zodiac serial killer who murdered at least five people in the late 60's and possibly early 70's in California. The exact number is unknown because the killer had a habit of confessing to murders he read about in the paper. This film is based on the two books by Robert Graysmith about the killer and the search to uncover his identity. While Graysmith is sure he knows who the killer was, no one has ever been arrested for the crimes.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as reporter Paul Avery, and Mark Ruffalo as San Franscisco detective Dave Toschi. In addition Anthony Edwards is featured as Toschi's partner and the somewhat notorious Chloë Sevigny is seen as Graysmith's wife in the last half of the film. The first half of the film graphically shows the murders with Avery and Toschi actively pursuing the murderer. The second half occurs after booze and drugs have removed Avery from the chase. Graysmith who was an editorial cartoonist and always interested in Zodiac, takes over Avery's sleuthing and pursues it to its conclusion.

Director David Fincher does a masterful job of maintaining suspense and keeping the action moving, even after the murders have ended and the trail has grown cold. There's even a chuckle here and there to provide momentary breaks in the tension. I was really surprised at just how fast the 2 hours and 40 minutes seemed to fly by. If you're a mystery fan, enjoy docudramas, or just appreciate good film making, this is a picture you won't want to miss.

WILD HOGS **

If you've seen the previews for this film I'm sure you're aware it's a "buddy movie". This time around we have four middle-aged guys going through various crises and a need to get away from it all. The guys are: Tim Allen, as a dentist with a very understanding wife (Jill Hennessy); John Travolta, whose wife has left and whose business has disappeared; Martin Lawrence, who has a job he dislikes and a wife who's not in the least understanding (Tichina Arnold); and William H. Macy, a computer programmer who would love to have a wife but who's lucky to have a date.

They head out on their roadtrip and most of what occurs in the first part you've already seen in the previews. Things don't really get interesting until they run into a group of real bikers who take a strong dislike to them (there's a good reason for that but I'll let you find out why). They end up in a small New Mexico town who welcomes them with open arms when it discovers they aren't the other gang. It's here they face a final confrontation with that gang, the Del Fuegos, and their leader, Ray Liotta, and Macy gets a chance at love (Marisa Tomei).

This is an entertaining film in a cartoonish sort of way. Lots of things happen that could have major consequences but nothing bad ever really happens (think Wiley E. Coyote). You would never take this film seriously for a minute but the cast is good and there's enough humor for several chuckles (probably outright laughs if you're watching with a big crowd). I don't see this leading to a surge in motorcycle sales and I think you'll forget about this pic in short order, but if you're in the mood for a comedy it will do until something better comes along.