Opening 8/17/07

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

THE INVASION [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Sci-Fi/Thriller Trailer Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Malin Akerman. Plot: the mysterious crash of a space shuttle leads to the terrifying discovery there is something alien within the wreckage causing a growing extraterrestrial epidemic: it attacks its victims while they sleep, leaving them physically unchanged but strangely unfeeling and inhuman. The only hope is to stay awake long enough to find someone who may hold the key to stopping the devastating invasion. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE LAST LEGION [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Adventure/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Colin Firth, Aishwarya Rai, Sir Ben Kingsley, Thomas Sangster, Peter Mullan, Iain Glen. Plot: set against the fall of Rome and its last emperor, 12 year-old Romulus Augustus travels to Britannia in search of the last Roman Legion – the fabled Dragon Legion. There, Romulus will fight alongside his friends and take his first steps to becoming a man and the king who would father a legend. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SUPERBAD [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Bill Hader. Plot: two school seniors set out to score alcohol for a party, believing girls will then hook up with them and they will be ready for college. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

TALK TO ME [R] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Mike Epps, Vondie Curtis Hall, Martin Sheen. Plot: the story of the one and only Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr.; set in the mid-to-late 1960s, in Washington, D.C., where vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combined to unique and powerful effect. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren.

Leaving 8/16/2007

Derby Plaza - Harry Potter
Movie Machine - I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Northrock 14 - Hot Rod, Who's Your Caddy?, Bratz
Palace West - Surf's Up, Spider-Man 3
Starlite Drive-In - now open weekends only
Warren East 13th - Bratz, Live Free Or Die Hard, Rescue Dawn, Skinwalkers
Warren Old Town - I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Harry Potter, Hairspray
Warren West 21st - Bratz, Live Free Or Die Hard, Skinwalkers

Worthwhile (or not) 8/10/07

The highest MetaCritic score this week goes to STARDUST (64), followed by BECOMING JANE (55), RUSH HOUR 3 (43), DADDY DAY CAMP (which opened Wednesday and only got 18) and SKINWALKERS with nothing since it evidently wasn't screened (bad, bad sign). None of these have a high enough score to get excited about although that's not unusual for this time of year. A studio is not going to release a major film just as school is opening.

Added Sunday: Here's a summary of the weekend business from Nikki Finke's blog.

RUSH HOUR 3 *

The first of the RUSH HOUR movies was released in 1998, followed by number 2 in 2001 and now six years later here we are with the threequel. Once again it stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker plus this time: Vinnie Jones, Hiroyuki Sanada, Noémie Lenoir, Yvan Attal, Sun Ming Ming, and Max von Sydow. Brett Ratner returns once again as the director.

After a brief prelude involving an attempted assassination, the boys head off to Paris in an attempt to stop a group of Chinese gangsters, known as the Triad, from killing Chan's former assignment and daughter as a way of keeping secret the Triad's membership. To do so they must find someone named Genevieve, who also knows the membership, then evade a passel of assassins which culminates in a battle at the top of the Eiffel Tower. They are aided by a cabbie who initially doesn't think much of Americans but decides he likes the thought of being a "secret agent."

I thought the first two films in this series were mildly amusing but it becomes quickly obvious this film has nothing new to offer and is just a grab for some fast bucks. The initial few minutes are almost painfully bad, even resorting to a variation on an old Abbott and Costello routine (who's on first) in an attempt to coerce some laughter. Once you become numbed by the lack of an intelligent plot, the latter part of the film has a few entertaining moments, but not nearly enough to justify buying a ticket. There was no joy in this one for me but younger teen audiences will probably find it at least palatable.

Opening 8/10/07

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

BECOMING JANE [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith. Plot: the story of the great, untold romance that inspired a young Jane Austen. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

RUSH HOUR 3 [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Action/Comedy/Crime Trailer Cast: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Hiroyuki Sanada, Youki Kudoh, Max Von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir, Vinnie Jones, Yvan Attel, Roselyn Sanchez, Roman Polanski. Plot: in this threequel, the two must travel to Paris to battle a wing of the Chinese organized crime family, the Triads. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

SKINWALKERS [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action.Horror Trailer Cast: Scott Anderson, Jason Behr, Lyriq Bent, Sarah Carter, Kim Coates, Barbara Gordon, Tom Jackson, Rogue Johnston, Matthew Knight, Elias Koteas, Natassia Malthe, Carl Marotte, Rhona Mitra, Ramona Pringle, Shawn Roberts, David Sparrow. Plot: a 12-year-old boy suddenly finds himself at the center of a battle between two warring groups of werewolves; one sworn to protect him, the other trying to kill him -- and his mother must find out why before time runs out. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

STARDUST [PG-13] 2 hrs. 10 min. Adventure/Fantasy/Romance Trailer Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Ian McKellen. Plot: based on the best-selling graphic novel about a young man going on a quest to retrieve a fallen star which has transformed into a striking girl. There are others desperately searching for her but he discovers he must now win the heart of the star for himself as he discovers the meaning of true love. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 8/9/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - Hairspray
Northrock 14 - Transformers, Live Free Or Die Hard, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Palace West - Mr. Brooks, Meet The Robinsons, A Mighty Heart
Starlite Drive-In - I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry ONLY OPEN FRI/SAT STARTING FRIDAY
Warren East 13th - Harry Potter, 1408, I Know Who Killed Me, Sunshine
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Who's Your Caddy, I Know Who Killed Me, Evan Almighty

Worthwhile (or not) 8/3/07

There's a clear winner the week according to MetaCritic with Bourne receiving 84/100, followed by Hot Rod with 47/100 and Bratz bringing up the rear with 29/100. Underdog is evidently so bad it's distributor didn't screen it for critics. That's never a good sign.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM ****

This film has the same title as Robert Ludlum's third and last novel in his Bourne series. Before you get worried about no more Bourne movies, two additional sequels have been written by another author and the movies have never closely followed Ludlum's plots in any event. If this film's grossses are as good as I suspect they will be, I don't think there's much doubt we'll see Jason Bourne in future films. Starring this time around are: Matt Damon (Jason Bourne), Julia Stiles (Nicky Parsons), David Strathairn (Noah Vosen), Scott Glenn (Ezra Kramer), Paddy Considine (Simon Ross), Edgar Ramirez (Paz), Albert Finney (Dr. Albert Hirsch) and Joan Allen (Pam Landy).

The story starts in Moscow and never stops moving as Bourne closes in on the people who can help him regain his identity. He reads a story about himself in a British newspaper and heads to London to see if the reporter has additional information. Chasing a lead, he runs into Nicky Parsons again, who helps him in his quest at the risk of her life. After several additional stops he lands in New York where he confronts the individuals in the CIA who know all about him and are determined to kill him before he releases the information he's remembering.

This film passed my entertainment test with flying colors...I never once looked at my watch. The production values are first rate, the cast is perfect and the plot moves at a pace that keeps you constantly involved with nary a draggy moment. If you want an interesting, intelligent, action film, they don't get any better than this. A large screen and good surround sound will add greatly to your enjoyment.

Opening 8/3/07

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

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Trevor St. John. Plot: Bourne travels from Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to find the real Jason Bourne—all the while trying to outmaneuver the scores of cops, federal officers and Interpol agents with him in their crosshairs. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren

BRATZ [PG] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy/Family Trailer Cast: Nathalia Ramos, Janel Parrish, Logan Browning, Skyler Shaye, Chelsea Staub, Anneliese van der Pol, Malese Jow, Stephen Lunsford, Lainie Kazan, Ian Nelson, Chet Hanks, Sasha Cohen, Jon Voight. Plot: in the first live action feature film based on the chic fashion dolls the foursome enter Carry Nation High, a blackboard jungle where for the first time they discover life as a teenager means dealing with a system of social cliques, all strictly enforced by senior Meredith Baxter Dimly. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HOT ROD [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Action/Comedy Trailer Cast: Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, with Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane. Plot: self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Taylor plans to clear fifteen buses in an attempt to raise money for his abusive stepfather Frank's life-saving heart operation. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

UNDERDOG [PG] 1 hr. 25 min. Adventure/Comedy Trailer Cast: Jason Lee, Jim Belushi, Peter Dinklage, John Slattery, Patrick Warburton, Brad Garrett, Amy Adams. Plot: after an accident in the mysterious lab of maniacal scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister, an ordinary beagle unexpectedly finds himself with unimaginable powers, the ability to speak, and a fetching superhero costume. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 8/2/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - Harry Potter, Transformers
Northrock 14 - Sicko
Palace West - Disturbia, Blades Of Glory, The Ultimate Gift
Starlite Drive-In - Live Free Or Die Hard
Warren East 13th - Evan Almighty, Evening
Warren Old Town - Transformers
Warren West 21st - License To Wed, Knocked Up

Worthwhile (or not) 7/27/07

There's quite a lot of variety this week. The Simpsons Movie is being reviewed favorably with a MetaCritic score of 82. The Viet Nam hostage drama, Rescue Dawn garners a 77. Sunshine got 66. The romantic comedy, No Reservations, only cooks up a 52. And, I Know Who Killed Me and Who's Your Caddy were evidently not screened for the critics which tells you what their distributors thought the reviews would be like.

Next week you've got The Bourne Ultimatum, Underdog and Hot Rod to look forward to plus a couple of others. I know which one of those is at the top of my list!

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE ***

Finally, after years of waiting, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have made it to the big screen. The animated TV show, created by Matt Groening and declared the 20th century's best television series by Time magazine, is preparing for its 19th season on network TV and is currently the longest-running American sitcom. For those interested in a more exhaustive discussion of the family, check out their Wikipedia entry.

The story is quite simple, as you'd expect. Homer gets a pet pig, and its excrement, along with some of Homer's, is stored in a silo in the Simpson's back yard. When he dumps it in the local lake in his rush to get to a donut shop, the lake becomes toxic and the EPA decides to quarantine Springfield under a giant dome. Before things can return to normal, Homer must figure out how to make things right again.

This is a PG-13 rated animated comedy which should tell you it really isn't aimed at smaller children. If you're a Simpson's fan or enjoy raunchy humor of the Simpson's variety, you'll be laughing all the way through. The crowd reaction will probably be half the entertainment factor in this feature so I'd see it in a theatre. But, other than the reaction, it will play just as well on your home screen come DVD time.

I KNOW WHO KILLED ME *

Lindsay Lohan's been the topic of several news stories lately. According to what I've read she may not be available to make any new films in the near future, or the film companies may not want to risk casting her in a film. So, this thriller may be the last we see of her for awhile. Others featured in this film are: Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough, Brian Geraghty, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Spencer Garrett, Gregory Itzin, Bonnie Aarons, Kenya Moore, Thomas Tofel, Rodney Rowland, and David Figlioli.

Lohan portrays a high school student who is abducted and tortured by a killer who likes to mutilate people before they die. When she's found she's missing a hand and a leg but she insists she's not the student everyone has been looking for but an exotic dancer who was also being tortured. No one believes her, least of all her parents, who do their best to help her even as she claims she doesn't know them. As the plot continues, you must not only try to determine who her kidnapper was, but whether she's the student with a split personality or an actual doppelgänger.

There's actually a pretty good story hiding in this film, but what appears to be severe editing along with Lohan's limited acting ability make it a moot point. The plot has gaps, leading me to believe the film has been drastically cut, even though it's still two hours long. Lohan is believable as a pole dancer, so her incessant clubbing in real life has given her a skill she can use. But, I don't think anyone is going to think she's actually being tortured during those intense moments of graphic mutilation that are fortunately infrequent. This film doesn't really have a leg to stand on dramatically (sorry about that) and I think a DVD rental is the maximum you'd want to spend on it.

Opening 7/27/07

I KNOW WHO KILLED ME [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough, Brian Geraghty, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Spencer Garrett, Gregory Itzin, Bonnie Aarons, Kenya Moore, Thomas Tofel, Rodney Rowland, David Figlioli. Plot: the young daughter of affluent parents is abducted and mutilated by a sadistic serial killer before she manages to escape. The girl who regains consciousness in the hospital claims to be not Aubrey but Dakota - and finds herself in a desperate race to save Aubrey's life and her own against overwhelming odds. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

NO RESERVATIONS [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Romance/Drama Trailer Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Lily Rabe. Plot: a master chef lives her life like she runs her kitchen at a trendy Manhattan eatery—with no-nonsense intensity, which is put to the test when she "inherits" her nine-year-old niece while contending with a brash new sous-chef. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

RESCUE DAWN [PG-13] 2 hrs. Action/Drama Trailer Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Marshall Bell, François Chau, Jeremy Davies, Craig Gellis, GQ, Zach Grenier, Pat Healy, Toby Huss, Bonnie Z. Hutchinson, Evan Jones, Abhijati 'Meuk' Jusakul, Mr. Tony B. King, Mr. Richard Manning, Mr. Garrett D. Melich, Mr. Kriangsak Ming-olo, Mr. Yuttana Muenwaja, Teerawat Mulvilai, Somkuan 'Kuan' Siroon, Mr. Chorn Solyda, Mr. Saichia Wongwiroj. Plot: the story of Dieter Dengler, the only American to ever break out of a POW camp in the impenetrable Laotian jungle after months plotting his getaway and a death-defying journey through some of the world's fiercest wilderness. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE SIMPSON'S MOVIE [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Animation/Comedy Trailer Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Albert Brooks. Plot: Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he himself created, a disaster the likes of which Springfield has never experienced. As Marge is outraged by Homer's monumental blunder, a vengeful mob descends on the Simpson household. The family makes a narrow escape, but is soon divided by both location and conflict. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

SUNSHINE [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Sci-Fi Trailer Cast: Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Cillian Murphy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh. Plot: Fifty years from now, the sun is dying and mankind is dying with it. Our last hope: a spaceship and a crew of eight men and women carrying a device which will breathe new life into the star. By the director of 28 Days Later. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

WHO'S YOUR CADDY [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Sports Trailer Cast: Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, Terry Crews, Tamala Jones, Andy Milonakis, Sherri Shepherd, Faizon Love, Finesse Mitchel. Plot: a superstar rap mogul runs into fierce opposition when he tries to join the super stuffy Carolina Pines Golf & Country Club. As he takes on the fight of his life, he pulls out all of the stops to bring down the club's backwards establishment and welcome them to the 21st century. Showing at: Northrock, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 7/26/2007

Derby Plaza - License To Wed
Movie Machine - Ratatouille
Northrock 14 - Evan Almighty, License To Wed, 1408
Palace West - Hostel 2, The Invisible, Lives Of Others
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Sicko, Ocean's Thirteen, Pirates Of The Caribbean 3
Warren Old Town - Live Free Or Die Hard
Warren West 21st - Captivity

Worthwhile (or not) 7/20/07

This is another real easy week. MetaCritic gives I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry a 39 while Hairspray earns a 79. Clearly the latter is the one you want to see if you're going to a new movie.

At least four new films are scheduled for next week, including The Simpsons Movie, so at the very least you'll have a more varied choice then. Next week's opening will be posted either Monday night or Tuesday.

HAIRSPRAY ***

This film started out as a 1988 film, written and directed by John Waters (if you look quickly you'll see him in this film as a flasher). It then morphed into a broadway musical and now arrives as a film musical with some well known stars in the cast. This cast includes: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Allison Janney, Taylor Parks.

Set in 1962, the story is about a pudgy girl (Blonsky) who wants to be one of the dancers on a local Baltimore TV dance show. Her mother (Travolta) tries to dissuade her in an attempt to prevent her from being hurt but her father (Walken) encourages her to go for her dream. Of course she does and then becomes involved in the integration of the dance program, much to the horror of the station manager (Pfeiffer). Also, her best friend (Bynes) falls for a black dancer (Kelley) which adds to the furor. Everything resolves in a dance competition which the manager's daughter (Snow) is favored to win, but which becomes more of a competition than expected.

I've always liked musicals and there's certainly a lot to like in this one. The music, though not particularly memorable, is very enjoyable and will keep your feet tapping. The plot is basically silly although there is a serious aspect concerning the racial integration problems of the time which the film doesn't try to gloss over. You know from the start it will have a happy ending, it's just that type of picture. Travolta is good although he certainly doesn't steal the pic, while Pfeiffer and Walken impress with their musical ability (Pfeiffer sings her own songs). Latifah is good, as she always is, and Blonsky is a real find as the energetic, overweight, singer/dancer. There were several teen girls with me at the screening and I noted they all seemed to enjoy this picture so I'm assuming it will be entertaining to virtually any audience (well, perhaps not teen boys). A big screen and good sound system are a must for maximum impact.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY *½

Adam Sandler has several movies to his credit, enough so I know I generally find him unfunny. Kevin James is basically a TV sitcom actor with some voiceover work, who can be amusing but has yet to achieve any real stardom. They are the leads in this comedy with assistance from: Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, and Dan Aykroyd.

Sandler and James portray two firemen buddies. James is a widower with two children who discovers he can't name his children as the beneficiaries of his insurance due to clerical red tape. He sets up a scheme with Sandler to pretend to be married to circumvent the tape, but they get investigated by Buscemi who's sure they really aren't gay. If he can prove this, serious consequences including jail time will occur. The two hire Biel as an attorney to help them with their legal problem. Naturally, numerous complications occur even though everyone but Buscemi wishes them well. The plot ends with a hearing led by a city commissioner (Richard Chamberlin) to determine their fate.

I can say one positive thing about this film...Biel is absolutely gorgeous and comes across very well on screen. On the negative side, the story is extremely predictable and the humor is trite and very lowbrow with several double entendres. There's absolutely no inventiveness to the story and the feel good ending makes no attempt to be realistic. This is a film you rent on dollar day at your DVD store, since your TV is all the screen you'll need.

Opening 7/20/07

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

HAIRSPRAY [PG] 1 hr. 45 min.Comedy/Musical Trailer Cast: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Allison Janney, Taylor Parks. Plot: based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd. Plot: two straight guys stumble down the aisle with the best of intentions because red tape prevents one of them from naming his own two kids as his life insurance beneficiaries. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

Sneak Preview Saturday

NO RESERVATIONS [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Romance/Drama Trailer Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Lily Rabe. Plot: a master chef lives her life like she runs her kitchen at a trendy Manhattan eatery—with no-nonsense intensity, which is put to the test when she "inherits" her nine-year-old niece while contending with a brash new sous-chef. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren at 7:10 Saturday, replacing the 7:20 showing of LICENSE TO WED. Regular engagements start 7/27.

Leaving 7/19/2007

Derby Plaza - Evan Almighty, Live Free Or Die Hard
Movie Machine - Live Free Or Die Hard, Evan Almighty
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Are We Done, Yet, Hot Fuzz, Delta Farce
Starlite Drive-In - Ratatouille
Warren East 13th - Captivity, Fantastic Four, Shrek The Third
Warren Old Town - Evan Almighty, Knocked Up
Warren West 21st - Shrek The Third, Fantastic Four, Ocean's Thirteen, Waitress

Worthwhile (or not) 7/13/07

Well, this is really an easy week. CAPTIVITY wasn't screened for critics so you know what the distributor thought their reaction would be. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (3 star average reviews) is the clear winner, and it deserves the honor.

Next week we finally get back on a Friday start schedule with the opening of HAIRSPRAY and I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY on the 20th.

CAPTIVITY **

This film is hoping to do the kind of business SAW and HOSTEL have and done, and perhaps a little better by adding a stronger cast consisting of: Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. Cuthbert is a former model in real llife playing the role of a model; Gillies has been in several film and series but is still relatively unknown; and Vince is a name you probably don't know but whose face you'll instantly recognize. In addition, the film has a director with far better credentials than your usual slasher director, Roland Joffé.

The story starts with a captive girl being murdered, so you know where this film is headed. It then cuts directly to Cuthbert awakening from a drugged sleep in a cell in which she is obviously being watched. It soon becomes apparent her captor has visited her apartment as there is a selection of her clothes and shoes in the cell. The captor has the ability to control her actions through various means and gets her to do what he wants, which usually involves changing into different outfits. She then discovers there's another captive in an adjoining cell and before long they make contact. The rest of the film is concerned with their attempts to escape.

I'm happy to tell you this is better than SAW or HOSTEL. The productions values are good and the acting is acceptable if not outstanding. The story is more interested in psychological control than slasher porn so you don't have to be too worried about this being a slicing and dicing fest. What holds it back is Cuthbert's character, who is entirely too panicked in the first half. If someone like Jody Foster, who does wonderfully at playing restrained/in-control characters had been in this role, this would have been a much stronger film because you would have been really afraid for her. As it is, it's hard to get too concerned for Cuthbert. Since most of this film takes place in a small room, you won't lose a thing by waiting for the DVD.

Opening 7/13/07

CAPTIVITY [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Horror/Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Michael Harney. Plot: a combination of "Saw" and "Hostel" meets "Silence of the Lambs," a psychological thriller/horror film that shows us the terror of abduction and confinement committed by serial killers and psychopaths at large. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 7/12/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine -
Northrock 14 - Knocked Up
Palace West -
Starlite Drive-In - Fantastic Four
Warren East 13th -
Warren Old Town -
Warren West 21st -

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX ***

With this film we've reached the fifth of the Harry Potter novels, with films yet to come for Half-Blood Prince (in November 2008) and the presumed last book in the series, Deathly Hallows (sometime in 2010). The same cast basically returns for this episode although well known British actress Imelda Staunton has been added. She joins: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, and Julie Walters.

I should tell you I've read the first two books of the series but none since, so I have no idea how the movie relates to the book. A granddaughter I watched this with told me they left out quite a bit of the book but that's only to be expected when the books are as lengthy as the Potter books are.The storyline is rather dark throughout most of this film as it is concerned with Harry's sense of alienation from his fellow students due to a campaign to discredit his claim that Lord Voldemort has returned. Additionally, the Ministry of Magic has replaced Albus Dumbledore with Dolores Umbridge as Head of Hogwarts, and although she appears pleasant, she most assuredly is not. Basically, Harry spends this film being moody, although he does spend time training a few young magicians in spell casting so they will be better prepared for the coming battle with Voldemort.

Plotwise, this film is just basically treading water so I found it hard to get deeply involved in what was going on. There is a significant battle at the end but the action is very constrained otherwise. Production vales are excellent as usual with the CG sections appearing very real. The casting is excellent although a few of the familiar teachers from earlier films are hardly seen. The film does do a good job of developing a feeling of reality about a world filled with magic. This will be a must see for readers of the books or those who have attended the previous films. I found it enjoyable if not overly compelling. Obviously, this is best seen on a large screen with excellent sound, both of which are used to good effect.

Opening 7/11/07

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

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX [PG-13] 2 hrs. 20 min. Action/Adventure/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters. Plot: Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, begins meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army," He teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren. Several theatres will have midnite (12:01 a.m. showings early Wednesday morning, 7/11.

Leaving 7/10/2007

Derby Plaza - Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
Movie Machine - Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Surf's Up
Northrock 14 - Surf's Up, Ocean's 13, Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Surf''s Up, Shrek The Third, Nancy Drew, A Mighty Heart
Warren Old Town - Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Ocean's Thirteen
Warren West 21st - Nancy Drew, Surf's Up, Shrek The Third, A Mighty Heart, Pirates Of The Caribbean 3

TRANSFORMERS **½

Transformers started out as toys with a comic book series and a TV animated series, created to offer advertising support. If you want to know more about the subject, you can read this Wikipedia entry. This live action film carries on the tradition and features: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Rachael Taylor, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson, and John Turturro.

The plot is reasonably straightforward: both good (they don't want to kill humans) and bad (doesn't bother them at all) Transformers are in search of a cube that will allow the bad ones to become more powerful and achieve domination. The key to finding the cube is a pair of glasses now owned by the grandson (LaBeouf) of the original owner which have the cube's location etched in the lenses. The bad Transformers have discovered who owns the glasses by stealing the information from secret government files, killing a few soldiers along the way but failing to kill a group led by Duhamel. There are sideplots about LaBeouf's girlfriend, Fox; a team of code breakers, Taylor and Anderson; a secret government agent, Turturro, who knows about the Transformers and the cube, but who doesn't understand the consequences if the cube falls into the wrong hands; and the rest of the government led by the Secretary of Defense, Voight.

Frankly, I was disappointed in this film. I love sci-fi but this is half sci-fi and half teen angst and those two didn't mesh for me. I'd have been much happier with LaBeouf being a sideplot and Duhamel being the main story instead of the other way around. The plot is mostly silly, but the production values are first rate and the CGI effects are spectacular. Also, those sideplots add 30 unnecessary minutes to the film, making it too long for younger viewers. If you can reach the last thirty minutes, however, there are plenty of thrills for action fans. A big screen and good sound are a must to fully enjoy this pic. By the way, the ending clearly sets up a potential sequel so I expect we haven't seen the last of this story.

SICKO ***½

Michael Moore first came on the scene in 1989 with Roger & Me (A Humorous Look at How General Motors Destroyed Flint, Michigan). He followed with another documentary in 2002, Bowling For Columbine and then Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004 and now Sicko, which compares the American healthcare system with healthcare in other industrialized Western countries.

He starts by showing an American worker stitching a rather fierce cut on his leg himself because he has no health insurance. He interviews a few Americans about their health insurance problems and then visits people in Canada, Great Britain and France to discuss how their systems work. He finishes with a group of 9/11 workers with health problems and an effort to get treatment for them in Guantánamo Bay and finally in Cuban hospitals. He doesn't make a personal appearance until the middle of the film and is seen rather sparingly throughout. His basic thesis is American healthcare is much worse than it should be because of the profit required by insurance companies (Medicare has about a 1% administrative cost while private insurance costs are 15-20%). As a result Americans spend 16% of the GNP for healthcare while other countries with Universal healthcare spend around 10%, with everyone covered as opposed to the 47,000,000 Americans who aren't. His facts appear to be correct according to CNN.

This film manages to present Moore's viewpoint with a fair amount of humor although there's no doubt he feels strongly about the subject. I appreciated the fact he wasn't as "in your face" as he has been in previous documentaries. The trip to Cuba is a little much although it is interesting the prisoners at Guantanamo have better healtcare than the average American. This appears to be a topic where the majority of the public agrees with Moore although I recognize there are strong proponents for keeping healthcare in the private sector. If you want a well made documentary that is informative and at the same time entertaining, you should check this out.

Opening 7/3/07

LICENSE TO WED [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski, Eric Christian Olsen, Christine Taylor, Josh Flitter. Plot: a newly engaged couple's priest won't bless their union until they pass his patented, "foolproof" marriage-prep course. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

TRANSFORMERS [PG-13] 2 hrs. 25 min. Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi Trailer Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Rachael Taylor, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Jon Voight. Plot: aliens make Earth their final battleground as the forces of evil seek the key to ultimate power. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren. Starts on 7/2 in some theatres.

SICKO [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Documentary Trailer Cast: Michael Moore. Plot: this documentary sets out to investigate the American healthcare system, shedding light on the complicated medical affairs of individuals and local communities. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren.

Leaving 7/2/2007

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Nancy Drew
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In - Shrek The Third
Warren East 13th - Mr. Brooks, Shrek The Third, Waitress
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Mr. Brooks, Spider-Man 3

Worthwhile (or not) 6/29/07

MetaCritic averages LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD as a 69 and RATATOUILLE as 94. Families will find the latter more acceptable while males, especially, will find the first film more to their liking.

If neither of these do anything for you, there are two more films arriving this week: TRANSFORMERS on Monday and SICKO and LICENSE TO WED on Tuesday.

RATATOUILLE ***

Over the years Pixar studios has given us two Toy Stories, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and now Ratatouille.

Like the main character in Perfume, Remy the rat has a nose unlike those in his group. He is able to smell all the subtle odors and combinations of odors that make food delicious. His father notices this after Remy stops him from eating a poisoned apple and starts using him to make sure the family's food supply is safe. When the group is split up due the shotgun blasts of a cantankerous home owner, Remy finds himself in Paris, in the kitchen of a well known restaurant. He gets caught creating a soup and eventually becomes the "little chef," making a human employee appear to be a master chef by manipulating his movements.

The animation in this film is nothing short of spectacular. In rather short order you cease to think of it as being animated and begin to accept it as a drama that just happens to occasionally contain a large number of rats. However, if you think animated films should be continuously funny, you won't find that to be the case. The story is interesting and at times amusing, but I found myself only mildly entertained and I don't ever remember laughing out loud. I question whether this is a film for smaller children, also. For one thing it is at times scary and on one occasion, downright gruesome (a storefront window full of dead rats hanging from traps). And, since these rats are portrayed rather realistically (if you overlook the fact they can talk) I'm wondering how many small children are going to become engaged in the story of a pack of scampering rats. Still, school aged children and adults will find this to be acceptable fare. There's nothing in this film that won't work just as well in a DVD performance in case you want to wait.

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD ***½

Bruce Willis started the Die Hard pics in 1988, followed by a sequel in 1990 and a threequel in 1995. So, it's been 12 years since we've seen Detective John McClane single handedly defeat the various villains who've regretted crossing his path. Now, he's back with a new supporting cast including: Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Cliff Curtis, Kevin Smith, and Jonathan Sadowski.

This time around the United States is faced with a computer genius villain, Olyphant, who decides to get rich (and even) by stealing a vast amount of money from the U.S. Government. He sets out to accomplish this by tricking a group of computer hackers into providing him with the codes necessary to shut down the country's internet and utilities and then doing so, providing him with the cover needed to hide his actions. Willis gets involved when he's asked to bring in one of the hackers, Long, and thwarts an assassination attempt on him. The action escalates from that point to an all out battle between Willis and Olyphant, who's kidnapped Willis' daughter, Winstead, to use as leverage.

Action fans, here you go. This is what you've been waiting for! This film is solid action from start to finish. My only complaints are it's 30 minutes too long, and the action keeps building to the extent it becomes quite unbelievable. Neither of those will make a bit of difference to Willis/Die Hard fans. Even though I thought it a bit much by the end I still recommend it to anyone looking for non-stop action. This is basically an all Willis feature with some humorous moments added by Long and Smith and solid villainy by Olyphant and Maggie Q. As you might suspect, this pic will have much more impact in a theatre with a large screen and very good sound.

Opening 6/29/07

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

EVENING [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close. Plot: based on the novel by Susan Minot this is a deeply emotional film that illuminates the timeless love which binds mother and daughter – seen through the prism of one mother’s life as it crests with optimism, navigates a turning point, and ebbs to its close. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

RATATOUILLE [G] 1 hr. 55 min. Animted comedy/adventure Trailer Voices of: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett, Julius Callahan, James Remar, John Ratzenberger, Teddy Newton, Tony Fucile, Jake Steinfeld, Brad Bird, Laurent Spelvogel (narrator). Plot: the unthinkable combination of a rat and a 5-star gourmet restaurant come together for the ultimate fish-out-of-water tale. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 6/26, (6/28)/2007

Derby Plaza - nothing
Movie Machine - Shrek The Third, (Nancy Drew)
Northrock 14 - Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Palace West - (Lucky You, Bridge To Terabithia, The Ex)
Starlite Drive-In - (Surf's Up, spider-Man 3)
Warren East 13th - Hostel 2, Spider-Man 3, (Journey From The Fall)
Warren Old Town - Pirates Of The Caribbean 3
Warren West 21st - Hostel 2

Opening 6/27/07

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Action/Crime/Thriller Trailer Cast: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Cliff Curtis, Kevin Smith, Jonathan Sadowski. Plot: an attack on the vulnerable United States computer infrastructure by terrorists is thwarted by an old-fashioned, "analog" fly-in-the-ointment: John McClane. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

Worthwhile (or not) 6/22/07

According to the MetaCritic summaries A Mighty Heart (75) is the one to see followed by 1408 (66), with Evan Almighty (37) following far behind. I think it's likely the popularity of these three will be in reverse order but I understand the tracking of Evan is not very good.

1408 ***

I've always found Stephen King to be an innovative and entertaining author. But the mental imagery his writing evokes is usually far better than the visuals any filmmaker can put on the screen. I've not read the short story this picture is based on but this movie is better than I expected and quite intense in parts. Basically, this is John Cusack's film since he's the only person on screen for large segments.

If you've seen the preview you pretty much have the entire plot with the exception of the ending. Cusack is a talented writer who cynically turned to "ten best" books about haunted rooms, etc. after the death of his young daughter. He solicits sites to write about and one of the sites he's told about is room 1408 in a New York hotel. He goes to the room with the intention of debunking the fact it's haunted and is responsible for the deaths of 56 individuals. The scary part starts after he enters the room and then discovers he can't get out.

I really can't go much further with the plot without spoiling the ending and you're not going to get to that ending without a couple of twists and turns. You may or may not like the conclusion but after thinking about it I don't know how it could have been any more satisfying. Cusack is good in his role and the special effects do an impressive job of giving you the creeps. I would suggest you see this one in a theatre with good sound as the audio effects are used very effectively.

EVAN ALMIGHTY **½

This film supposedly cost over $200 million and its distributor (Universal) is scared to death it will loose a bundle. It's basically a sequel of Bruce Almighty without Jim Carey but with a boatload of animals. Featured in the cast are: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, and Wanda Sykes.

The plot is relatively straightforward. Carell is a freshman congressman who's tapped by God to build an Ark in preparation for a flood. Of course Carell fights the idea and his wife (Graham) and his kids take their leave for awhile in protest of his Biblical appearance and actions. But, build an Ark he does along with the eventual help of his family and a few of the thousands of animals that make an appearance. Along the way he gets regularly covered with bird poo which loses its humor rather quickly.

When I first started in theatre management the Billy Graham organization used to run religiously themed movies in local theatres. That's pretty much what this picture reminds me of. It starts out as an offbeat comedy but segues fairly rapidly into a preachy religious film. There's nothing wrong with that as long as you understand that's what you're going to see and are OK with it. It's mildly entertaining family fare but definitely a message film. Carey is fine although not hilarious and Goodman is great as an oily "out for a buck" Congressman. Freeman is fine as God and Sykes is Sykes. The disappointment to me was Graham, who is not given a role where she can shine but is basically limited to the portrayal of a dutiful spouse and mother. She's a good actress with terrific comedic timing and deserves better. Incidentally, the original script title was The Passion Of The Ark, which I'm obliged to say is much funnier than this film.

Opening 6/22/07

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

1408 [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub. Plot: a renowned horror novelist checks into suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel for his latest project, "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms." Another bestseller may be imminent, but like all Stephen King heroes, he must ultimately survive the night. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

A MIGHTY HEART [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Will Patton, Irfan Khan, Sajid Hasan, Aly Khan, Denis O'Hare. Plot: based on the book by Mariane Pearl about her reporter husband and his disappearance, the intense effort to find him and his eventual murder in her memoir "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl." Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

EVAN ALMIGHTY [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins, Jimmy Bennett, Wanda Sykes, Jonah Hill. Plot: a man's life life gets turned upside-down when God appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark. His befuddled wife and kids can't decide whether he's is having an extraordinary mid-life crisis or is truly onto something of Biblical proportions. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren, Starlite Drvie-In.

Leaving 6/21/2007

Derby Plaza - Mr. Brooks
Movie Machine - Ocean's Thirteen
Northrock 14 - Hostel 2
Palace West - Georgia Rule, 28 Weeks Later, TMNT, Vacancy
Starlite Drive-In - Knocked Up, Ocean's Thirteen
Warren East 13th - nothing
Warren Old Town - Hostel 2
Warren West 21st - nothing

Worthwhile (or not) 6/15/07

Once again the artsy film, Journey From The Fall, has the best review average (67) with Nancy Drew (48) and Fantastic Four (45) bringing up the rear at MetaCritic. None of that means anything at the boxoffice so Journey will be gone in a week or two, Drew will probably fade fairly quickly and the Four will do the most business of the new films this weekend.

If none of those do anything for you, there is a sneak preview Saturday night at the 13th Avenue Warren and 21st Street Warren (7:00 at both theatres) of RATATOUILLE, an animated comedy whose preview looks pretty good.

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER **½

FANTASTIC FOUR was such a success in 2005 ($100 mil to make and grossed over $150 mil in the U.S. alone) you had to know there was going to be a sequel. Well, here it is and with most of the original cast back plus a few new faces: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis are the four heroes plus Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, and Andre Braugher with Laurence Fishburne and Doug Jones as the voice and persona of The Silver Surfer respectively.

The story takes up where the original ended so we have to slog through the wedding preparations for Gruffudd and Alba. Fortunately, that nonsense is interrupted by the arrival of the Silver Surfer, who, it turns out, is something like a truffle sniffing pig. He works for a monstrous being, Galactus, whose idea of a meal is a planet with a side order of inhabitants and who forces the Surfer to lead it to tasty stellar consumables. Naturally, the foursome take up the challenge of saving Earth although it isn't easy with an officious Army General and a nemesis from the past constantly getting in their way.

I was never a comic book reader so this seems downright silly to me but I have friends who loved this comic series and can hardly wait for the movie. The special effects and plot are good enough to satisfy them and I think families who want an outing will be entertained also. In fact, I thought this plot was much better than the original although that doesn't mean I want to see it again. If you decide this is a film for you, the movie experience will be far more effective and impressive than viewing it on the average home TV.

Opening 6/15/07

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

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi Trailer Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Gonzalo Menendez, Laurence Fishburne. Plot: our superheroes meet their greatest challenge yet as the enigmatic, intergalactic herald, The Silver Surfer, comes to Earth to prepare it for destruction. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Foreign/Drama Trailer Cast: Long Nguyen, Diem Lien, Kieu Chinh, Nguyen Thai Nguyen, Jayvee Mai The Hiep, Khanh Doan. Plot: inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, and those who were forced to stay behind, this film follows one family's struggle for freedom. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

NANCY DREW [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Adventure/Family/Mystery Trailer Cast: Emma Roberts, Josh Flitter, Max Thieriot, Rachael Leigh Cook, Tate Donovan. Plot: set in contemporary times the teenage sleuth accompanies her father to Los Angeles on one of his business trips and stumbles across evidence about a long-unsolved crime involving the mysterious death of a beautiful movie star. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 6/14/2007

Derby Plaza - Spider-Man 3
Movie Machine - Pirates Of The Caribbean 3, Spider-Man 3
Northrock 14 - Gracie, Spider-Man 3
Palace West - Next, Miss Potter, Perfect Stranger, Shooter
Premiere Palace - Theatre Closed starting Friday
Starlite Drive-In - Pirates Of The Caribbean 3
Warren East 13th - Gracie, Fracture
Warren Old Town - Shrek The Third
Warren West 21st - Gracie

Worthwhile (or not) 6/8/07

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN and SURF'S UP both have a MetaCritic rating of 61 while HOSTEL PART II brings up the rear (as well it should) with a 43. Younger children will be bored silly in THIRTEEN but the entire family will probably enjoy SURF.

Something late night fans might want to consider is the "Cult" films being shown at Palace West on Friday/Saturday. Showing this weekend is PSYCHO with MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, GOONIES and PULP FICTION slated on the following weekends. Generally each film is shown twice each evening. Showtimes can be found in the "SHOWTIMES At: Palace West" section on the left side of this page. I'll alert you about future films as they become available.

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN **½

The boys from Twelve are back: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, and Carl Reiner and a few others I won't mention plus Al Pacino as a new villain. The distaff side has been replaced by Ellen Barkin.

This film gets right down to the nitty gritty as the boys decide to take their revenge on Pacino who has cheated Gould and caused him to suffer a heart attack. What they want to do is cause Pacino's new casino/hotel to lose a fortune on opening night and a coveted six diamond rating plus an incredible collection of diamonds worth millions. Initially thought to be too difficult to accomplish, the lads manage to find a way (as you probably expected they would).

The plot is a lot more about the caper and almost nothing about the relationship of the characters. As such, I found it to be less interesting than the previous two films in the series. The cast is fantastic and the production values are first rate but I found this story rather sterile, to the extent I started looking at my watch after a half hour. I expect it to do well at the boxoffice but it's a picture I have no real desire to see again. To get the maximum effect, you'll need to see this one on a large screen.

SURF'S UP **

When I watch an animated film I'm usually unaware of the actor voicing a character. This time there were several instantly recognizable. Shia LaBeouf who is the voice of the star, Cody Maverick, has already had one hit film this year (Disturbia) but his was a voice I didn't recognize. Jeff Bridges (Big Z/Geek), Zooey Deschanel (Big Z's neice, Lani Aliikai), and James Woods (Reggie Belafonte) have voices that are distinctive enough to be easily identifiable, however.

The story's pretty simplistic, as you'd expect in an animated feature. Cody is a young penguin who wants to be a champion surfer like his hero, Big Z. He manages to talk his way into a surfing contest run by Reggie, who sports a Don King hairdo so you'll be certain he's a promoter.. He gets some mentoring from Big Z and also manages to fall for Lani, the lifeguard. In the end he learns some things are more important than winning.

This is a pleasant film with a message for the kids and one most adults will chuckle or at least smile at occasionally. There weren't any outright laughs, though, at least not for me. The music is saccharin, not catchy, and you won't leave the theatre humming one of the songs. Whether you see it in a theatre or wait for the DVD will probably depend on how insistent the kids in your life are. Either way will be acceptable, as a big screen doesn't add much to this pic.

HOSTEL: PART II 0

Last January, writer/director Eli Roth was responsible for the first HOSTEL which cost 4½ million dollars to make and grossed over 80 million dollars worldwide. Guess who's back, and why. Once again he's got a cast of relative unknowns including: Lauren German, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart, Richard Bugl, Vera Jordanova, Heather Mattarazzo (The Princess Diaries), Stanislav Ianevski, and Milan Knazko.

The plot is virtually the same as the first, only it's girls getting slaughtered this time instead of guys. We're treated to several minutes of screaming and moaning plus lots of blood, and we learn the penalty is severe if you don't kill the girl you've contracted for. We also learn you should never trust anyone in the Czech Republic. Then, and I'm sure this will come as a surprise, a plot twist occurs which must have taken, oh, ten seconds to think up, but doesn't do a thing to make what you're experiencing less excrutiating.

There is simply no reason to waste time or money on this film. There's no one in it you'll find sympathetic so it's impossible to get worked up over their eventual fate. There's no suspense either. So, this is a film where you sit and watch people you don't care about scream and bleed to death and wish you hadn't paid good money for the privilege. It won't be any better on DVD either. I really hate to tell you this but it looks like Mr. Roth is prepared to do another one based on the ending. Do your part and avoid this pic so I don't have to sit through HOSTEL III.

Opening 6/8/07

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

HOSTEL: PART II [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Lauren German, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart, Richard Bugl, Vera Jordanova, Heather Mattarazzo, Stanislav Ianevski, Milan Knazko. Plot: three young Americans studying art in Rome set off for a weekend trip when they run into a beautiful model from one of their classes on her way to an exotic destination. The gorgeous European invites the coeds to come along, assuring them they will be able to relax and rejuvenate. Instead, they're slated to become victims for hire, pawns in the fantasies of the sick and privileged from around the world. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN [PG-13] 2 hrs. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Elliot Gould. Plot: When a ruthless casino owner double-crosses one of the original Ocean's eleven, Danny and the gang team up one more time to see if they can break "the Bank." Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

SURF'S UP [PG] 1 hr. 25 min. Family/Action/Animation Trailer Voices of: Jeff Bridges, Shia LaBeouf, Zooey Deschanel, James Woods, Jane Krakowski, Jon Heder, Mario Cantone, Brian Benben, Michael McKean. Plot: a documentary crew takes you behind the scenes and onto the waves during the most competitive, heartbreaking and dangerous display of surfing known to man, the Penguin World Surfing Championship. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 6/7/2007

Derby Plaza - Disturbia, Delta Farce
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Bug, Open Season
Palace West - Firehouse Dog, The Last Mimzy, Night At The Museum
Premiere Palace - The Italian, Black Book
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - Bug, Georgia Rule
Warren Old Town - Spider-Man 3
Warren West 21st - Bug, Georgia Rule, Delta Farce, 28 Weeks Later

Worthwhile (or not) 6/1/07

AWAY FROM HER (88) and KNOCKED UP (87) are the clear winners in this week's MetaCritic ratings. GRACIE gets a 53 and MR. BROOKS brings up the rear at 38. I haven't seen any but the last and my review lets you know I wouldn't agree with the mainstream critics. If AWAY FROM HER and GRACIE look like something you want to see I wouldn't wait too long.

MR. BROOKS ***½

This is a film about the C of C "Man of the Year", a loving husband and father who possesses all the characteristics of those considered to have "family values." There's just one little problem: he's also a very successful sociopathic serial killer who constantly "talks" with his worse half. Kevin Costner is the likeable half, William Hurt is the not-so-nice half, Demi Moore is an incredibly wealthy police detective chasing him, Dane Cook is an amateur photographer who wants to be like him, Marg Helgenberger (CSI) is his loving wife and Danille Panabaker (Shark) is his daughter.

We are introduced to the dual Mr. Brooks, Earl and Marshall, at the beginning of the film so I'm not giving anything away there. We get to share in his modus operandi and learn why he's never been caught...he's neat and prepared to a fault. Then we see him captured on film by a peeper with a camera, Cook, who blackmails him into taking him on his next kill in return for silence. We meet his wife, Helgenberger, who's basically here as attractive window dressing, and his daughter, Panabaker, who has a few secrets of her own (could she be a chip off the old block?). That's the essence of the plot. Can he continue to satisfy his craving for murder without getting caught and embarrassing his family and irritating Marshall by being executed? Can he figure out how to resolve the blackmail issue? Finally, can he protect his daughter from the consequences of some rather inappropriate behavior?

You wouldn't think a plot like this could work, but you'd be wrong. It's possible some will even sympathize with Brooks. Costner and Hurt are excellent as is Cook. Demi Moore, not so much, but that's basically because her character is not sympathetic so you don't really care what happens to her. Panabaker is fine in her role. The ending of the film just screams sequel. I can almost see the advertising blurbs now: "The Family That Slays Together Stays Together."

Opening 6/1/07

AWAY FROM HER [PG-13] 1 hr, 50 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis, Wendy Crewson, Michael Murphy, Kristen Thomson, Alberta Watson. Plot: screenplay adaptation of celebrated author Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain," a beautifully moving love story that deals with memory and the circuitous, unnamable paths of a long marriage and the toll Alzheimer's can take on that marriage. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

GRACIE [PG-13] Drama Trailer Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney, Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue. Plot: an inspirational film about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer at a time when girls' soccer did not exist. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

KNOCKED UP [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr. Plot: an up-and-coming entertainment journalist on the fast track gets seriously derailed when a drunken one-nighter with a slacker results in an unwanted pregnancy. Faced with the prospect of going it alone or getting to know the baby's father, she decides to give him a chance. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

MR. BROOKS [R] 2 hrs. Thriller Trailer Cast: Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, Marg Helgenberger. Plot: a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a loving father and devoted husband has a secret -- he is an insatiable serial killer, so lethally clever no one has ever suspected him -- until now. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 5/31/07

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - 28 Weeks Later, Georgia Rule
Palace West - Grindhouse
Premiere Palace - Next, The Invisible, Year Of The Dog
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - 28 Weeks Later, Disturbia
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Disturbia

Worthwhile (or not) 5/25/07

This is a week where the national critics give the lowest rating to the obviously most popular film...so what's new. The top film at MetaCritic is WAITRESS (73), followed by AVENUE MONTAIGNE (64), BUG (63) and finally POTC: AT WORLD'S END (54). AVENUE is in French with English subtitles, so you know that crowd will be small. BUG was loved by Roger Ebert and many other biggies, but most audiences will absolutely hate it. POTC may have the lowest rating and you may be stiff and sore after watching it, but that's where everyone is going.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END **½

And yet another threequel, this time starring: Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow), Geoffrey Rush (Barbossa), Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann), Jack Davenport (Norrington), Bill Nighy (Davy Jones), Jonathan Pryce (Gov. Weatherby Swann), Stellan Skarsgard (Bootstrap Bill), Tom Hollander (Cutler Beckett), Naomie Harris (Tia Dalma), Chow Yun-Fat (Captain Sao Feng) and Keith Richards (Captain Teague).

This film starts where last year's ended, looking for Capt. Jack, who's been sent to Davy Jones Locker. They need him in order to get all the Pirate Captains together so they can decide what to do about the combination of Davy Jones and his crew and the navy of the British East India Company and the battle they're waging on the pirate ships. After a rather dull hour and a half, they get Jack and then it's on to the final battle and wrapping up all the plot loose ends. Now if I can describe the plot in three sentences, why does it take this film 2 hours and 45 minutes to accomplish the same thing?

The length of AT WORLD'S END is its major fault. It has the action and comedy of the first and it's much more satisfying than the second, but a little judicious editing would have been greatly appreciated. There are spectacular CGI effects and the quality is high, so it has that in its favor. The only place to really appreciate this is in a large theatre with good sound. Just be sure you find an auditorium with a comfortable seat.