THE GOLDEN COMPASS ***½

Based on the fantasy novel by Philip Pullman and directed by Chris Weitz, the film stars: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Eva Green, and Sam Elliott. Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence, the film is two hours long.

Set in a parallel world which looks like 18th century England but with energy sources and methods of transportation never seen in this world, the story is about a young girl, Lyra Belacqua (Richards), who is considered an orphan and who lives with the Scholars. When some of her friends start disappearing and she is befriended by Mrs. Coulter (Kidman), she begins to realize she is to play an important part in a battle between the rulers of her world and those who would like to be free of rulers. She is given the last Alethiometer. a device which tells her what is true or not true, because she is the only person in her world who can use it. Her search for her missing friends takes her to the ends of her world and introduces her to new acquaintances (Green and Elliott plus a large polar bear) who will help her attain the tasks she must complete.

I watched this with individuals who had read this book and with others who hadn't (that includes me). Those who had read the book were less satisfied than those of us who hadn't, mainly because they felt a lot had been left out. That's usually the case when you're transferring a book to the screen. I'd hate to think how long this film would have been if the entire book had been filmed in detail. Since I didn't realize what was missing, I was perfectly satisfied with what I saw and found it highly entertaining. There are terrific CGI effects and the production values are superb. Dakota Blue Richards is very, very good and I look forward to seeing her again. Small children might be frightened by the violence, although I don't remember any blood, but everyone else should be fine. Since this film represents less than one third of the written material, I think it's safe to say we can expect sequels. This should definitely be seen on a big screen and with good surround sound.

I've seen some emails about this film urging people not to attend because the feature promotes an atheist agenda. Well, bunk. While the author is an atheist I certainly saw nothing in the film that would denigrate religion. In fact, I don't recall anything that even alluded to religion, either pro or con (perhaps that's what bothers those urging you to boycott this feature). There is one reference to "free will", but that's in a political context as in the American patriots wanted free will vs. British rule. There is the fact that in this alternate reality human souls are outside the body in the form of an animal, but that's simply a fantasy ploy and I saw no religious connotation whatever. This film isn't going to affect religious beliefs one way or the other so enjoy it for the superb fantasy it is.

Opening 11/30/07

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

AWAKE [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Psychological Thriller Trailer Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Lena Olin, Terrence Howard, Steven Hinkle, Jennifer Pedersen, Sam Robards, Poorna Jagannathan, Court Young. Plot: a man suffers "anesthetic awareness" and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. Showing at: Derby Plaza, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Brian O'Byrne, Aleksa Palladino. Plot: an overextended broker lures his younger brother into a scheme to rob a suburban mom-and-pop jewelry store. The store owners are the brothers' parents, and when the seemingly perfect crime goes awry, the damage lands right at their doorstep. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Sneak Preview Saturday 12/1

THE GOLDEN COMPASS [PG] 2 hrs. Adventure/Drama/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Dakota Blue Richards, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Freddy Highmore, Kathy Bates, Tom Courtenay, Ben Walker, Adam Godley, Simon McBurney, Nonso Anozie, Jim Carter, Clare Higgins, Jack Shepherd, Magda Szubanski. Plot: Philip Pullman's bestselling and award-winning novel, "The Golden Compass" tells the first story in Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. It is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers - and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. Regular engagement starts 12/7. Sneaks at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren (both at 7:00 PM).

Leaving 11/29/2007

Derby Plaza - The Gameplan
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Heartbreak Kid, Hairspray
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Love In The Time Of Cholera
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Love In The Time Of Cholera

ENCHANTED ***½

Directed by Kevin Lima, this Disney family film stars: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, and Susan Sarandon. Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo, it is one hour and fifty-five minutes long.

Starting out in an animated fairytale, we meet a Princess (Adams) and her Prince Charming (Marsden). Their decision to immediately get married and live happily ever after upsets the Prince's mother (Sarandon) who pushes the Princess into a well that takes her to New York, where she becomes a real person in live action. The Prince soon follows and the Queen sends a toady (Spall) to give the Princess a poison apple in order to get rid of her permanently. Before the Prince can find her, the Princess meets a divorced lawyer (Dempsey), his daughter (Covey), and his girlfriend (Menzel). The course of true love takes a detour and the plot continues its predictable path.

This film has something for everyone. Cartoon fantasy, live action comedy, talking animals, musical numbers and a wicked stepmother as the villain. The pic never takes itself seriously and is a great deal of fun to watch. Young and teenaged girls will absolutely love this movie which means a lot of parents and dates will be brought to see it also. This is a solid holiday attraction for virtually everyone.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ***

Directed by brothers Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, this thriller stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, and Kelly Macdonald. Rated R for strong graphic violence and some language, it is one hour and fifty minutes long.

After a brief into to Bardem and his murderous skill set the plot really commences when Brolin comes across a drug buy gone bad, leaving behind several dead bodies, a lot of coke and two million dollars. He decides to take the money and sends his wife, Macdonald, to her mother's home for safety while he uses his hunter's skills to to take care of anyone sent to get the money back. Two are sent, Bardem and later Harrelson. In the meantime Jones, the sheriff, is trying to find Brolin and the money to head off what he feels will be a potential blood bath. The paths of these characters repeatedly criss cross in an ever tightening spiral of violence and death.

Virtually every major critic has raved about this film, which has been in limited release for a couple of weeks. I can see why they would. The acting, production values and pacing of this two hour film are superb. It will hold your attention right up until the end. But I'll bet the average movie patron, out for an evening's entertainment, will not be as enthused. This isn't really meant to entertain. What it does is present a set of character studies; beautifully done, but certainly not what you're expecting once the film gets started. And the resolution of the film, or lack thereof, will leave many frustrated. Fans of art movies and those interested in film craft will be ecstatic. The rest of the audience...not so much.

Opening 11/21/07

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

AUGUST RUSH [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Music Trailer Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams. Plot: A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter resulting in an baby, orphaned by circumstance. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger who gives him the name August Rush, the child uses his remarkable musical talent to seek his parents. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

BELLA [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angélica Aragón, Jaime Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez. Plot: a once a famous athlete recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his past but shows her how the healing power of a family can help her embrace the future. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

ENCHANTED [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Family Trailer Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Susan Sarandon. Plot: a fairytale princess from the past is thrust into present-day by an evil queen. Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer. Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world? Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HITMAN [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Michael Offei. Plot: Agent 47 has been educated to become a professional assassin for hire. His most powerful weapons are his nerve and a resolute pride in his work. 47 is both the last two digits of the barcode tattooed on the nape of his neck, and his only name. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald. Plot: when Llewelyn Moss finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men, a load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back. When he takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law - in the person of an aging, disillusioned Sheriff - can contain. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

STEPHEN KING'S THE MIST [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen, Jeffrey DeMunn. Plot: following a violent thunderstorm a small town community comes under vicious attack from creatures prowling in a thick and unnatural mist. Retreating to a local supermarket the survivors must face-off against each other before taking a united stand against an enemy they cannot even see! Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THIS CHRISTMAS [PG] 2 hrs. Holiday drama Trailer Cast: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Keith Robinson, Laz Alonso, Columbus Short, Sharon Leal, Lauren London, Mekhi Phifer, Regina King. Plot: this year, Christmas with the Whitfield's promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 11/20/2007

Derby Plaza - American Gangster, The Comebacks
Movie Machine - American Gangster
Northrock 14 - P2, Saw IV, T.P.'s Why Did I Get Married, The Game Plan
Palace West - Superbad, Halloween
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Across The Universe, Saw IV, T.P.'s Why Did I Get Married, Horrorfest, P2, Martian Child
Warren Old Town - The Darjeeling Limited
Warren West 21st - Saw IV, 30 Days of Night, P2, The Comebacks, Martian Child

Worthwhile (or not) 11/16/07

As far as Metacritic is concerned only one of this weekend's offerings is worth a visit. Beowulf gets 65/100, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium gets 47/100 and Love in the Time of Cholera follows with 42/100.

If that seems a little skimpy, not to worry. This Wednesday the holiday movie season starts in earnest with a scheduled seven new films including: Enchanted, The Mist, This Christmas, August Rush, Hit Man, Bella and No Country For Old Men.

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM **½

This family fantasy stars: Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium), Natalie Portman (Molly Mahoney), Zach Mills (Eric Applebaum), and Jason Bateman (Henry Weston). Written and directed by Zach Helm, it is rated G for general audiences and is one hour and forty-five minutes long.

Mr. Magorium decides after 243 years it's time to hang it up and tells his toy store manager, Molly, he's giving her the store. She's overwhelmed because she understands the store is magic and Mr. Magorium's presence is necessary for the magic to continue. But he's determined and hires an accountant, Henry, to determine the value of the store. Eric, a store regular and Henry set out to convince Molly she'll do just fine as the store's owner once Mr. Magorium is gone.

This is very interesting visually and the cast is obviously top notch, but there's just not much here for adults. Children who see the film will learn you have to really believe in yourself before success can be achieved and that death is painful for those left behind. These are no doubt important concepts for children to learn but families looking for a holiday laugh fest may be disappointed with this storyline. I think you'll be happier waiting for this to show up on DVD, and partaking instead in the more traditional holiday fare that's just around the corner.

BEOWULF ***

This epic adventure stars: Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Angelina Jolie (Grendel's mother), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), Crispin Glover Grendel), John Malkovich (Unferth), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthow), Brendan Gleeson (Wiglaf), and Alison Lohman (Ursula). The director is Robert Zemeckis. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sexual material and nudity; one hour and fifty-three minutes long.

Fortunately, the plot of the film spins a much more coherent story than the one I remember from High School and College English classes. Grendel is a monster whose acute hearing causes him to suffer when the Danes in King Hrothgar's mead hall party too heartily. In retribution he tears a goodly number of them limb from limb which causes Hrothgar to offer half the kingdom's gold to anyone who can slay Grendel. That attracts Beowulf and his band of men, including his right hand man, Wiglaf, and before long Grendel and Beowulf meet resulting in Grendel's death and Beowulf receiving the gold, the crown of the kingdom and Hrothgar's Queen, Wealthow. Then we learn the identities of Grendel's mother and father when Beowulf makes the same mistake Grendel's father did decades before, which estranges him from Wealthow, leaving him to seek solace in the arms of Ursula. After a few decades, it's time to start over again.

I saw the 3D version of the film (it's only in two auditoriums at the 13th Avenue Warren) and I would recommend you do the same, if only to see what state of the art equipment has done for 3D. The 3D effect is intrusive at times but it is more of a plus than a minus. The live/animation process Zemeckis uses has also improved, with the characters appearing more realistic than in earlier presentations using this process. The production and acting is fine and most will find this entertaining, especially since the pace of the film moves right along. While there is nudity, the film is surprisingly sexless and I doubt many will be offended. Little children will be scared by Grendel, however.

Opening 11/16/07

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

BEOWULF [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Animated/War Trailer Cast: Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Dominic Keating, Alison Lohman, Robin Wright Penn. Plot: in a time of heroes, the mighty warrior Beowulf slays the demon Grendel and incurs the wrath of its monstrous yet seductive mother, in a conflict that transforms a king into a legend. Presented in Digital 3D only at the 13th Avenue Warren. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA [R] 2 hrs. 10 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Hector Elizondo, Liev Schreiber, Fernanda Motenegro, Laura Harring, John Leguizamo. Plot: based on Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez' novel which traces the Job-like vigil of Florentino Ariza, who waits for more than half a century to claim the hand of Fermina Daza, the woman he loves. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM [G] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman. Plot: at this magic toy store everything comes to life - including the store itself. The Emporium only asks one thing of its customers; you must believe it to see it. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Sneak Preview, Saturday November 17

AUGUST RUSH [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Music Trailer Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams. Plot: A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter resulting in an baby, orphaned by circumstance. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger who gives him the name August Rush, the child uses his remarkable musical talent to seek his parents. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren at 7:15 PM (replaces 6:30 Fred Claus).

Leaving 11/15/2007

Derby Plaza - Saw IV, Michael Clayton
Movie Machine - Saw IV, The Game Plan
Northrock 14 - Martian Child
Palace West - The Kingdom, The Brave One, Harry Potter/Order of Phoenix, The Nanny Diaries
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - The Assassination of Jesse James, 30 Days Of Night, The Game Plan, The Comebacks, Michael Clayton
Warren Old Town - Saw IV
Warren West 21st - The Game Plan, Michael Clayton

Worthwhile (or not) 11/9/07

None of this week's films is proving exciting to the critics and the Metacritic ratings are a virtual dead heat. LIONS FOR LAMBS comes in first with 46/100. Closely behind is P2 with 45/100. FRED CLAUS is last with 42/100.

Next week looks a little more exciting with BEOWULF making it's appearance in Wichita in Digital 3D as well as in the normal 35mm film format.

FRED CLAUS **½

Directed by David Dobkin, this holiday family film stars Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn, and Kevin Spacey in the main roles. Rated PG for mild language and some rude humor, it is one hour and fifty-six minutes long.

The basic story is that Fred Claus (Vaughn) has always been in the shadow of his perfect younger brother (Giamatti), and as a consequence turned to a life of crime. When he's thrown in jail, Santa agrees to bail him out if he'll come to the North Pole and help with the seasonal rush. While he's there, an efficiency expert (Spacey) is also lurking, threatening to close the whole operation down.

The acting and production values are fine but, oh, is this a formula plot. Absolutely nothing happens that isn't completely predictable. Still, there is the occasional laugh and small children should be entertained. This is in the same league as the Tim Allen Santa pics. It's never going to be on the "classic" list and you'll be just as happy renting the DVD when it's available.

LIONS FOR LAMBS **

Directed by and starring Robert Redford, this preachy political drama also stars Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Rated R for some war violence and language, it's one hour and 28 minutes long.

Examining the current political/military situation from three vantage points the pic has Redford as a college professor trying to convince a student to become more involved in political activity. Cruise is a neocon Republican senator with Presidential ambition presenting the current administration viewpoint to Streep, a reporter who really isn't buying it and who feels guilty about aiding in the selling of the Iraq War. The third view is that of two of Redford's former students, now in the military, injured on a mountain plateau in Afghanistan, awaiting rescue.

The acting and production values are fine but this is more educational than entertaining. Both sides of the current political positions are presented as they pertain to the middle East conflict but it's highly unlikely anyone's opinion is going to be changed by this film. If you don't want to spend the money to see these actors tell you about current events, just turn on the evening national news a couple of times. The end result will be about the same.

Opening 11/9/07

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

AFTER DARK HORROR FEST 2007 Trailer A group of 8 horror films consisting of: "Crazy Eights," "Lake Dead," "Borderland," "The Deaths of Ian Stone," "Mulberry Street," "Nightmare Man," "Tooth and Nail" and "Unearthed". Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

FRED CLAUS [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Kevin Spacey. Plot: having lived almost his entire life in his little brother's very large shadow, Fred Claus has grown up to be a repo man...who steals what he repossesses, landing him in jail. Over Mrs. Claus's objections, Nicholas agrees to bail his big brother out on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and work off his debt making toys. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

LIONS FOR LAMBS [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Michael Pena, Derek Luke, Andrew Garfield, Peter Berg. Plot: a powerful and gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

P2 [R] 1 hr 30 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley, Simon Reynolds, Grace Lynn Kung, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Plot: on Christmas Eve. an ambitious young executive works late before she leaves for her family's holiday party. But, a friendly security guard has other plans for her. If she wants to live to see Christmas morning, she must find a way to escape from level P2 of the parking garage. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 11/8/2007

Derby Plaza - 30 Days Of Night
Movie Machine - 30 Days Of Night
Northrock 14 - We Own The Night, The Seeker, 30 Days Of Night, Michael Clayton
Palace West - Balls Of Fury, Transformers
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Gone Baby Gone, Things We Lost In The Fire, The Darjeeling Limited
Warren Old Town - Michael Clayton, The Heartbreak Kid, We Own The Night
Warren West 21st - Gone Baby Gone, Things We Lost In The Fire, We Own The Night, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married

Worthwhile (or not) 10/2/07

The Metacritic numbers show a clear winner this week; AMERICAN GANGSTER with 77/100. The other two are closely rated with BEE MOVIE with 54/100 and MARTIAN CHILD with 49/100.

MARTIAN CHILD **½

Directed by a relatively new director, Menno Meyjes, this film stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Sophie Okonedo, Bobby Coleman, and Joan Cusack. The film is one hour and fifty minutes long and is rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Cusack is a lonely, widowed sci-fi writer who, against the wishes of his practical sister, Joan Cusack, decides to adopt a little boy, Coleman, who thinks he's a Martian. Having been a strange loner as a child, Cusack is more understanding than most and soon bonds with the child. He's helped in this task by his sister and by Peet, a friend of his as well as his late wife. During this time he's trying to finish another novel, encouraged by his friend and agent, Platt, and making sure he has the approval of the social workers who must approve the adoption.

This is a film some will love and some will hate. The plot is weak and contrived but has a sweetness to it many will appreciate, especially women. The acting is first rate, especially John Cusack and Bobby Coleman, although the role Coleman must play makes him hard to relate to. The rest of the cast doesn't have that much to do which is especially unfortunate in the case of Peet, who lights up the screen in her woefully few appearances. Families who attend with their children may find the film sparks some inter family dialog but most others will find the proceedings a little too strange to be enjoyable.

AMERICAN GANGSTER ***

This crime/police drama directed by Ridley Scott shows us a crime organization where family values are practiced. Starring are: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Josh Brolin among a large and varied cast. The film is two hours and 35 minutes long and is rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.

Washington is the driver and enforcer of a Harlem black crime boss. He is treated well and when the boss dies, he builds a new organization utilizing family members and a new source of drugs; heroin imported in the coffins of dead servicemen from the Viet Nam war. Because he can sell higher quantity for a lower price, and because only family members are in key positions, he flies under the radar of the legitimate drug police, led by Crowe. The crooked police, led by Brolin, know who he is and collect their kickbacks, but do nothing to stop him. He finally is noticed by attending a Las Vegas fight in an expensive fur coat his new wife has bought him, and the chase is finally on.

This is an interesting but not riveting film. Washington is the dominant actor but Crowe is excellent as usual. It would have been better had it been edited more tightly. For example, there's a whole time-consuming subplot about Crowe's ex-wife and her legal battle to take their child and move to Las Vegas. It adds nothing to the plot but several unnecessary minutes. And there's another subplot about a partner that's meant to show us how incorruptible Crowe is, but that was made perfectly clear when he turned in a million dollars in unmarked bills at the beginning of the pic, knowing dishonest cops would just take it for themselves. At a hour and a half to two hours, this would have been a terrific picture. As it is, it's just very good.

Opening 11/2/07

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

AMERICAN GANGSTER [R] 2 hrs. 35 min. Crime/Drama Trailer Cast: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Armand Assante, RZA, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, Ted Levine, Common. Plot: when his boss suddenly dies, the quiet driver to one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a purer product at a better price, outplaying all of the leading crime syndicates and becoming not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

BEE MOVIE [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Animation/Comedy Trailer Voices of: Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Alan Arkin, Patrick Warburton. Plot: a bee finds himself disillusioned with the prospect of having only one career choice – honey. Venturing outside of the hive for the first time, he is shocked to discover humans have been stealing and eating honey for centuries, and realizes his calling in life is to sue the human race for theft. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

MARTIAN CHILD [PG] 1 hr. 50 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Sophie Okonedo, Bobby Coleman, Joan Cusack. Plot: a recently widowed science fiction writer forms an unlikely family with a close friend and a young boy he adopts that claims to be from Mars. The new couple ignores some sage parenting advice from the widower's sister and gets more than they bargained for when a series of strange occurrences lead them to believe that the child's claim may be true. Based on an award-winning short story by sci-fi luminary David Gerrold. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 11/1/2007

Derby Plaza - Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Sarah Landon
Movie Machine - The Ten Commandments, The Final Season
Northrock 14 - Rendition, The Heartbreak Kid, The Comebacks, Gone Baby Gone, The Kingdom, Sarah Landon, The Brave One
Palace West - Sydney White, No Reservations
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Rendition, Things We Lost In The Fire, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, We Own The Night, The Kingdom, 3:10 To Yuma, The Heartbreak Kid, Mr. Woodcock, The Ten Commandments
Warren Old Town - The Comebacks, The Kingdom
Warren West 21st - Rendition, Things We Lost In The Fire, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Heartbreak Kid, The Kingdom, The Ten Commandments, Resident Evil: Extinction, 3:10 To Yuma

Worthwhile (or not) 10/26/07

Only three new films this weekend and the top two seem about equally ranked: THE DARJEELING LIMITED 67/100,and DAN IN REAL LIFE 65/100. The third film was obviously not screened for the critics and will no doubt do more business than the other two combined: SAW IV (not rated as of this writing).

DAN IN REAL LIFE ***

This formula driven but amiable comedy/drama was directed by Peter Hedges and stars: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt, Dianne Wiest, and Amy Ryan.

Carrell is an advice columnist who's been widowed for four years and is raising three daughters. He and the girls head out for an annual family Christmas at his parent's (Wiest and Mahoney) home in Rhode Island. Before the festivities can really begin, he meets a woman he falls almost instantly in love with, Binoche, a feeling that appears to be reciprocated by her. Unfortunately, he soon discovers she's the romantic interest of his brother, Cook. Much of the rest of the time is spent with Carrell and Binoche trying to hide their feelings for each other from the rest of the family. There is a side story with Carrell going on a date with Blunt in an effort to make Binoche jealous and other stories about some problems with his three daughters, one of whom wants to drive the car, one who misses her boyfriend, and one who wants some "Daddy" time.

There is never much doubt where this film is going to end, but the trip is surprisingly enjoyable. Carrell and Cook aren't nearly as over the top as they can be and Binoche is great, as usual. Blunt is just eye candy and isn't around for long and I only mention Ryan because she was so great in last week's GONE BABY GONE, yet completely unremarkable in this production. The teens in the audience when I previewed this seemed to really enjoy it (that surprised me) and older audiences will find it captivating as well. This will do as well on CD as the big screen.

Opening 10/26/07

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

DAN IN REAL LIFE [PG-13] 1hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt, Dianne Wiest, Amy Ryan. Plot: an expert on relationships struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent in this heartfelt comedy. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE DARJEELING LIMITED [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston. Plot: three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other -- but eventually find themselves stranded alone in the middle of the desert with eleven suitcases, a printer, and a laminating machine. At this moment, a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins. Showing At: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

SAW IV [R] 1hr. 35 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Betsy Russell, Costas Mandylor, Lyriq Bent, Athena Karkanis, Justin Louis, Simon Reynolds, Mike Realba, Marty Adams Plot: two seasoned FBI profilers arrive to assist in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grizzly remains and piecing together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Avenue Warren.

Leaving 10/25/2007

Derby Plaza - The Heartbreak Kid, Final Season, We Own The Night
Movie Machine - Sarah Landon And The Paranormal Hour
Northrock 14 - Mr. Woodcock, The Final Season
Palace West - Mr. Bean's Holiday, The Last Legion, Stardust, The Simpsons Movie, I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, In The Valley Of Elah, Sarah Landon And The Paranormal Hour
Warren Old Town - The Game Plan
Warren West 21st - Sarah Landon And The Paranormal Hour, Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Woodcock

Worthwhile (or not) 10/19/07

So many movies...so little time. Here's how this week's group stacked up on Metacritic. GONE BABY GONE 73/100, INTO THE WILD 73/100, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT HOWARD 67/100, THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE 62/100, RENDITION 55/100, 30 DAYS OF NIGHTS 51/100, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 25/100, and THE COMEBACKS and SARAH LANDON AND THE PARANORMAL HOUR each have no rating as of this writing.

If you're interested in the Steve Carell sneak Saturday at the 21st Street Warren (DAN IN REAL LIFE), it's an enjoyable family film I'm awarding ***. You can see it at 7:20 PM. It replaces THE GAME PLAN at that same time.

GONE BABY GONE ****

Writer/Director Ben Affleck does a great deal to redeem his artistic reputation in this gritty, realistic film starring his brother, Casey Affleck, and Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, and Amy Ryan.

The film starts with the disappearance of Ryan's daughter and the subsequent police investigation led by Freeman and Detectives Harris and Ashton. Affleck and Monaghan are private eyes and roommates who are asked to help by the mother's Aunt because they are so familiar with the neighborhood. Shortly after getting involved, the duo determine the police haven't really figured anything correctly and tell them so. Grudgingly, the police accept their information and the investigation starts in earnest. It soon becomes obvious there's a lot more going on than initially supposed.

This is one of those plots that keeps getting more and more involved as the layers of deception are peeled away. The story is aided by the use of local characters in minor roles that give a sense of realism unusual in a Hollywood production. The cast is first rate and Ryan is terrific as one of the worst mothers you'll ever run across. What makes this film so good, however, is the ending, which I suspect anyone who sees this will be talking and thinking about for some time. The R rating is very much deserved for bloody violence and unending profanity. It feels real, but very adult.

RENDITION **½

If you're looking for a "fair and balanced" film about this subject, this is not the movie to see. Directed by Gavin Hood it stars Omar Metwally, Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Alan Arkin, Peter Saarsgard, and Meryl Streep.

Metwally is an Egyptian born engineer with an American wife he met in University, Witherspoon. They have a son and another child on the way at the beginning. He's taken from an American airport and sent back to the Middle East to be tortured and questioned at the instruction of Streep, who's head of the agency in charge of such activity, because of some cell phone calls it appears he received. His name is removed from the plane manifest and his wife is told he never got on the plane. She contacts Saarsgard, a college friend who also knew her husband, who is an aide to a Senator, Arkin, in an attempt to get some help in getting him back. Gyllenhaal is an American agent in charge of watching the interrogation. There's another whole subplot in the film concerning the interrogator and his family, but since it really has nothing to do with the main story (except to add an extra forty-five minutes), I'll leave it out.

Personally, I'm opposed to rendition, and so is this film. But, it's so obviously one sided in its approach it takes most of the tension from the plot. The film would have been a lot more effective had the rendition not been such an obvious and unnecessary error. Compound that problem with the fact that Gyllenhaal appears virtually catatonic during the first hour, and you have a picture that never really takes off. Streep's character is obviously not concerned with Constitutional guarantees and Arkin doesn't want to do anything politically inexpedient, so we're left with some histrionics from Witherspoon and a storyline ending that doesn't really seem realistic. The production values and acting are fine, but there's just not much of a plot to work with.

Opening 10/19/07

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

30 DAYS OF NIGHTS [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior. Plot: 30 days every winter, the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska is plunged into a state of complete darkness. This winter, a mysterious group of strangers appear: bloodthirsty vampires, ready to take advantage of the uninterrupted darkness to feed, and an ever-shrinking group of survivors must do anything they can to last until daylight. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT HOWARD [R] 2 hrs. 40 min. Western/Action Trailer Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Zooey Deschanel, Sam Rockwell. Plot: as the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money – and the glory – riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE COMEBACKS [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Sports Trailer Cast: David Koechner, Carl Weathers, Matthew Lawrence, Brooke Nevin, Jackie Long, Jesse Garcia. Plot: the producers of "Wedding Crashers" present a hilarious comedy spoofing the best inspirational sports movies ever made. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

GONE BABY GONE [R] 1hr. 50 min. Drama/Mystery Trailer Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris. Plot: two young private detectives are hired to take a closer look at the mysterious disappearance of a little girl and soon discover nothing is what it seems. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

INTO THE WILD [R] 2 hrs. 30 min. Adventure/Drama Trailer Cast: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Zach Galifianakis, Jena Malone, Brian Dierker, Hal Holbrook. Plot: based on a true story and the bestselling book by Jon Krakauer about a top student and athlete who abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

RENDITION [R] 2 hrs. Thriller Trailer Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Alan Arkin, Peter Saarsgard, Meryl Streep. Plot: the American wife of an Egyptian-born chemical engineer who disappears on a flight from South Africa to Washington desperately tries to track her husband down, while a CIA analyst is forced to question his assignment as he becomes party to the man's unorthodox interrogation. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SARAH LANDON AND THE PARANORMAL HOUR [PG] 1 hr. 25 min. Family/Mystery/Thriller Trailer Cast: Rissa Walters and a cast of complete unknowns. Plot: a 17-year-old girl has mysterious encounters with paranormal activity in the small town of Pine Valley. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Animated/Drama Trailer Cast: voices of Ben Kingsley, Christian Slater, Alfred Molina, Elliott Gould. Plot: Biblical story of Moses and the exodus. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alison Lohman. Plot: when a woman loses her husband in an act of random violence, she forges an unlikely relationship with her husband's best friend from childhood. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK, Saturday 10/20/07

DAN IN REAL LIFE [PG-13] 1hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt, Dianne Wiest, Amy Ryan. Plot: an expert on relationships struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent in this heartfelt comedy. Showing at: 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 10/18/2007

Derby Plaza - Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, The Kingdom, Good Luck Chuck
Movie Machine - The Kingdom, Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, The Heartbreak Kid
Northrock 14 - Balls Of Fury, Resident Evil:Extinction, Jane Austen Book Club
Palace West - Shrek The Third
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - The Shadow Of The Moon, The Final Season, Feel The Noise, The Brave One, Sydney Whte, The Bourne Ultimatum, Jane Austin Book Club, Resident Evil: Extinction
Warren Old Town - Good Luck Chuck, Feast Of Love
Warren West 21st - The Final Season, Jane Austin Book Club, Feast Of Love, The Brave One, The Bourne Ultimatum,

Worthwhile (or not) 10/12/07

The highest rated film this week by Metacritic is IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON with 84/100, closely followed by MICHAEL CLAYTON with 82/100. WE OWN THE NIGHT with 62/100 is next followed by: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE 56/100, ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE 45/100, THE FINAL SEASON 41/100, and bringing up the rear, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED? unrated at this time.

WE OWN THE NIGHT **½

Writer/Director James Gray's latest is a gritty but unrealistic crime drama starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, and Alex Veadov.

Phoenix and Wahlberg are the sons of Police Chief Duvall, who is very proud of Wahlberg who has followed him into the police force. Phoenix doesn't use the same last name as his father and brother and is the manager of a Russian owned night club. Mendes is the girlfriend of Phoenix. Veadov is the nephew of the owner of the nightclub and is trying to take over the drug traffic in New York, using the nightclub as a base and trying to get Phoenix to help him. When Wahlberg is attacked by one of the Russian mob members after a police raid, Phoenix must finally decide which side he will help.

This could have been a much better picture with just a little more plot reality and development. I found it hard to believe the Russians wouldn't know all about Phoenix's family, even if it was the 80's and Google and the internet weren't available. There's also no background on the two brothers so you don't know why they've taken such different directions. And there's also the fact that the brother's characters aren't all that well developed so it was hard to care what happened to them. I suspect many will like this better than I did, especially those with police backgrounds, and those who've lived on the East coast and find the characters more familiar. The biggest problem for me was that this was such a formula film...there's really no doubt what's going to happen eventually after you're into the film just a few minutes. There's lots of profanity, lots of bloody violence and just a smidgen of nudity, so fans of those elements have something to look forward to.

MICHAEL CLAYTON ****

This is the directorial debut for Tony Gilroy who also wrote the screenplay for this film and all of the Bourne films. That might lead you to expect an interesting and well paced movie, and you'll be happy to learn those expectations have been met. Starring in the lead roles are: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and Sydney Pollack.

Clooney is the "fixer" in a large law firm. He takes care of all the messy problems that can occur in a client's life, and he's very good at it. But he's not a happy man. He's divorced and deeply in debt and the only way out is to continue doing what has become a distasteful job. Wilkinson is a brilliant lawyer in the firm who discovers a client is guilty of causing the deaths of many and decides to blow the whistle on them and help the plaintiffs. Swinton is the chief attorney of the guilty firm and desperate to protect her new position. Pollack is Clooney's boss and the man capable of helping him out of his financial problem. What starts as a straight legal story turns into a thriller when Swinton hires a black ops firm to permanently resolve her problem with Wilkinson and Clooney.

Flashbacks are not my favorite story method but even though this starts with one, it's well handled. The initial hour is a little muddled but as the story progresses everything falls into place and it becomes a race to see who will be the victor, Clooney or Swinton. The casting is superb and the production values are immaculate. The R rating is basically due to language, which is quite graphic in spots, and some violence. This is a terrific drama and you will be well entertained. Highly recommended.

Opening 10/12/07

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

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE [PG-13] 2 hrs. 10 min. Musical/Romance Trailer Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Max Carrigan, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, T.V. Carpio. Plot: a love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Historical thriller Trailer Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish. Plot: Queen Elizabeth I faces bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal. Growing keenly aware of the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Elizabeth finds her rule openly challenged by the Spanish King Philip II--with his powerful army and sea-dominating armada--determined to restore England to Catholicism. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE FINAL SEASON [PG] 2 hrs. Sports drama Trailer Cast: Sean Astin, Powers Boothe, Rachel Leigh Cook, Michael Angarano, Tom Arnold. Plot: the true story of a coach who inspired his team and brought hope to a town when they needed it most. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

MICHAEL CLAYTON [R] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Pamela Gray. Plot: an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York is inextricably tied to the firm by financial problems. When one of the firm's brilliant but guilt-ridden attorneys sabotages an important case, the "fixer" faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Documentary Trailer Cast: Edwin E. Aldrin Jr, Alan Bean (II), James Lovell, Edgar Mitchell, David R. Scott. Plot: brings together, possibly for the first and last time, the surviving crew members from every single Apollo mission that flew to the Moon and allows them to tell their story in their own words. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED? [PG-13] 2 hrs. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Jill Scott, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Denise Boutte, Lamann Rucker. Plot: an intimate story about the difficulty of maintaining a solid love relationship in modern times as eight married college friends gather for their annual seven-day reunion. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

WE OWN THE NIGHT [R] 2 hrs. Crime/Thriller Trailer Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, Alex Veadov. Plot: the popular manager of a Russian-owned nightclub has changed his last name and concealed his connection to a long line of distinguished New York cops. He tries to keep a friendly distance from the Russian gangster who is operating out of the nightclub – a gangster who is being targeted by his brother, an up-and-coming NYPD officer, and his father, the legendary deputy chief of police. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 10/11/2007

Derby Plaza - 3:10 To Yuma, Resident Evil: Extinction
Movie Machine - Resident Evil: Extinction, 3:10 To Yuma
Northrock 14 - 3:10 To Yuma, Feast Of Love, Good Luck Chuck, Underdog
Palace West - Daddy Day Camp, Bratz, POTC:At World's End, Shrek The Third
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Dragon Wars, Eastern Promises, Becoming Jane, Good Luck Chuck, Feast Of Love
Warren Old Town - Resident Evil: Extinction
Warren West 21st - Sydney White, Dragon Wars

Worthwhile (or not) 10/5/07

None of this week's offerings have high ratings at Metacritic. THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB leads the pack with 64/100; followed by THE HEARTBREAK KID with 45/100; and THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING with 43/100. FEEL THE NOISE evidently wasn't screened as it has no rating as of this writing.

THE HEARTBREAK KID **

Featured in the main roles in this black comedy are: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, and Jerry Stiller. The film was directed by the Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter.

Stiller Jr. plays an indecisive 40s man who has never been married. His father, Stiller Sr. and his friends keep encouraging him to take the plunge. One day he meets Akerman when her purse is stolen. They strike up a relationship and before long they're off to Mexico on a honeymoon. It's then he discovers she neglected to tell him several important facts about her past. And, when they consummate the marriage he discovers her sexual proclivities are both strange and extensive. Akerman gets sunburned and while she's recovering in their room, Stiller meets Monaghan and falls immediately in love, a feeling she reciprocates. Things start to go terribly awry at this point as he tries to get out of his new marriage so he can develop the relationship with Monaghan.

There are numerous crude and profanely funny bits in this film, but for me, they never coalesced into a funny comedy. Instead, after an hour or so, I started looking at my watch and I was glad when it was all over. Stiller's character did too many stupid things for me to really care what happened to him. The real scene stealer in this film is Akerman, although it's impossible for me to describe those scenes in which she shines, you'll just have to see them. Monaghan is underused and Stiller Sr. is just as annoying in this film as I usually find him to be. The R rating is very, very much deserved. Teens and younger adults are the target audience with enjoyability fading rapidly with age. There are two extra scenes in the credits, the last one being at the very end of the film.

THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING **½

This film is based on the five volume fantasy series by English author Susan Cooper. Since The Seeker is not one of the titles in the series, and since I haven't read any of them, it's hard for me to know how many of the volumes this film covers. Starring in the major roles are: Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Christopher Eccleston, and Alexander Ludwig. The feature was directed by David L. Cunningham.

The story starts as Ludwig turns 14. He's contacted by McShane and Conroy and informed he's part of a group by birth who fights for "the light" and tries to protect the Earth from "the dark." He's told he has five days to find six items hidden throughout time that will give him the power to defeat Eccleston, who's attempting to defeat those fighting for "the light."

I've always enjoyed fantasy and I enjoyed this film, more than my rating might indicate. You can think of this as Harry Potter lite. It has a teenage hero, magic and a fight against evil. It's not nearly as detailed as Potter, doesn't have as strong a cast nor nearly as many CG effects. But the time passed quickly and I was sorry to see the ending arrive. This is fine for families and teens. It's a little scary in parts, but not enough to really bother anyone for long.

Opening 10/5/07

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

FEEL THE NOISE [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Drama/Musical Trailer Cast: Omarion Grandberry, Zulay Henao, James McCaffrey, Kellita Smith, Malik Yoba, Melonie Diaz, Victor Rasuk, Giancarlo Esposito. Plot: an aspiring Harlem rapper flees to a place and father he never knew, and finds his salvation in Reggaeton, a spicy blend of hip-hop, reggae and Latin beats. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE HEARTBREAK KID [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy/Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Jerry Stiller, Rob Corddry, Carlos Mencia, Scott Wilson, Danny McBride, Stephanie Courtney, Polly Holliday, Roy Jenkins. Plot: a single and indecisive man proposes to an incredibly sexy and seemingly fabulous woman. While on their honeymoon in sunny Mexico, she reveals her true beyond-awful nature and he meets the woman he realizes to be his actual soul mate. Now, he must keep his new, increasingly horrid wife at bay as he attempts to woo the girl of his dreams. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Marc Blucas, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Hugh Dancy, Maggie Grace, Lynn Redgrave, Jimmy Smits, Kevin Zegers. Plot: five women and one enigmatic man meet to discuss the works of Jane Austen and find their love lives playing out in a 21st century version of her novels. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Action/Adventure/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Christopher Eccleston, Alexander Ludwig, Amelia Warner, Gregory Smith, Emma Lockhart, Gary Entin, Edmond Entin, John Benjamin Hickey, Wendy Crewson. Plot: based on the acclaimed novel by Susan Cooper, the film tells the story of Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the Dark. Traveling back and forth through time, Will hunts for a series of mysterious clues and encounters forces of unimaginable evil. With the Dark once again rising, the future of the world rests in Will's hands. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Starlite Drive-in will close for the winter after this Fri-Sat.

Leaving 10/4/2007

Derby Plaza - Sydney White, Balls Of Fury
Movie Machine - The Simpson Movie, Dragon Wars, Rush Hour 3, The Brave One
Northrock 14 - Eastern Promises, Rush Hour 3, Sydney White, Transformers
Palace West - Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Evan Almighty, License To Wed
Starlite Drive-In - now open weekends only
Warren East 13th - Paris, Je T'Amie, Mr. Bean's Holiday, Good Luck Chuck, Rush Hour 3, Superbad
Warren Old Town - The Brave One
Warren West 21st - Eastern Promises, Mr. Bean's Holiday, No Reservations, Superbad, Halloween