Opening 4/4/08

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

NIM'S ISLAND [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler, Alphonso McAuley. Plot: anything can happen on Nim's Island, a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination. When the young girl's father goes missing from their island, she joins with her favorite author and a fictional hero to set things right. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

LEATHERHEADS [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, Stephen Root, Ezra Buzzington, John Vance, Dan John Miller. Plot: a charming, brash football hero is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. After the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, he convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. But a spitfire newswoman suspects there are holes in the stars' background. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

THE RUINS [R] 2 hrs. Horror/thriller Trailer Cast: Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Joe Anderson. Plot: a group of friends' leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they accompany a fellow tourist on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

SHINE A LIGHT [PG-13] 2 hrs. Documentary Trailer Cast: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Christina Aguilera, Buddy Guy, Jack White III. Plot: Martin Scorsese's concert documentary shows the world the Rolling Stones as they've never been seen before. Filmed at the famed Beacon Theatre in New York City in fall 2006, Scorsese captures the raw energy of the legendary band. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren.

Leaving 4/3/2008

Derby Plaza - Shutter, College Road Trip, 10,000 B.C.
Movie Machine - The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jumper, Drillbit Taylor
Northrock 14 - The Bank Job, Never Back Down, Doomsday
Palace West - There Will Be Blood, I Am Legend, Enchanted, Definitely-Maybe
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Doomsday, Jumper, The Other Boleyn Girl, Fool's Gold
Warren Old Town - 10,000 B.C., Vantage Point
Warren West 21st - The Bank Job, Vantage Point, Fool's Gold

Worthwhile (or not) 3/28/08

Here's how MetaCritic ranks the films. Superhero Movie obviously wasn't screened for the critics which tells you what the distributor thought its chances were.

50 21,
48 Run, Fat Boy, Run,
67 Stop Loss,
xx Superhero Movie

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

21 **½

Australian director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Win A Date With Tad Hamilton) helmed this adventure/drama which stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Spacey. Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content including partial nudity, the film is two hours long.

A shy, brilliant M.I.T. student Sturgess), desperately in need of money to go to Harvard Medical School, is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students (Bosworth, etc.) who head to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. The leader of the team is a college professor (Spacey) who did the same thing as a young man. The challenge becomes staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer (Fishburne) who's been after the professor for years.

This turned out to be more enjoyable than expected. Ten years ago this would have starred Affleck or Damon or Pitt but they're too expensive now so a younger group takes their place. And, they do a fine job. Spacey and Fishburne are excellent as always. While two hours long, the film never drags so the time passes quickly. There are the requisite plot twists but everything is explained and audiences should be happy with the ending. While Vegas looks good on the big screen, one isn't absolutely necessary to enjoy this film so waiting for the DVD is an option you can safely consider.

Opening 3/28/08

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

21 [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Liza Lapira, Josh Gad, Aaron Yoo, Sam Golzari. Plot: a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students who head to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. The challenge becomes staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

RUN FAT BOY RUN [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria, Ameet Chana, Dylan Moran, Thandie Newton, Harish Patel. Plot: a man who left his pregnant fiancée at the alter discovers she's hooked up with a high-flying-go-getter and it's now or never. He enters a marathon to show he's more than a quitter. Nobody gives him a chance but he knows it's his only hope to be more than a running joke. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

STOP-LOSS [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ciarán Hinds, Timothy Olyphant, Victor Rasuk, Rob Brown. Plot: a decorated Iraq war hero returns to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. Then, against his will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq which tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love, and the value of honor. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

SUPERHERO MOVIE [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Action/Comedy Trailer Cast: Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan, Regina Hall, Craig Bierko, Simon Rex, Leslie Nielsen, Marion Ross, Kevin Hart, Jeffrey Tambor, Ryan Hansen, Brent Spiner, Keith David. Plot: how many superheroes does it take to save the world? The creators of "The Naked Gun" and "Scary Movie" answer this question as they take aim at some of the biggest blockbusters of our time including "Spider-Man," "Batman," "X-Men," and "Fantastic Four," to name a few. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 3/27/2008

Derby Plaza - Vantage Point, Fool's Gold
Movie Machine - The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jumper
Northrock 14 - Michael Clayton, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Palace West - The Water Horse, Cloverfield, Mad Money, Rambo, First Sunday
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Doomsday, Funny Games, Penelope, Semi-Pro, The Spiderwick Chronicles, City Of Men
Warren Old Town - Never Back Down
Warren West 21st - Doomsday, Semi-Pro, Penelope, Jumper

Worthwhile (or not) 3/21/08

Here's how MetaCritic ranks the films. The films with the highest scores are the least likely to be seen (nothing unusual about that) although Pettigrew looks enjoyable for fans of British comedy. Shutter and Meet the Browns obviously weren't screened for the critics which tells you what the distributor thought those ratings would be.

63 City of Men,
40 Drillbit Taylor,
63 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,
xx Shutter,
xx Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns


Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

DRILLBIT TAYLOR **

Directed by Steven Brill (Mr. Deeds) and featuring Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman, and Alex Frost. Rated PG-13 for crude sexual references throughout, strong bullying, language, drug references and partial nudity, this modestly humorous drama is one hour and forty-two minutes long.

After being harassed by a school bully (Frost), three high school freshmen (Hartley, Gentile and Dorfman) hire a former soldier of fortune (Wilson) as a bodyguard, only to find out he isn't who he said he was and has an agenda of his own. In attempting to help the boys he passes himself off as a substitute teacher without difficulty and manages to strike up a romantic attachment with a fellow teacher (Mann).

This wasn't at all what I expected and what the previews lead you to believe. Thus, my slightly lower rating. The film isn't bad and even mildly enjoyable, but it's far from what I'd class as a comedy, at least the kind of comedies that involve nerdy high schoolers we've come to expect. It's basically a coming of age drama concerning the three teens and an immature man finally grows up drama as far as Wilson is concerned. I think you'll be a lot happier if you wait for the DVD, the cost/benefit ratio is much better when the price isn't as high.

Opening 3/21/08

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

CITY OF MEN [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha, Rodrigo dos Santos. Plot: in a culture dictated by violence and run by street gangs, two teenagers have become close as brothers. When they suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of a gang war, the lifelong friends are forced to confront a shocking secret from their shared past. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren.

DRILLBIT TAYLOR [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann, Danny McBride, Josh Peck, David Dorfman, Alex Frost, Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley, Casey Boersma, Dylan Boersma. Plot: after being harrased by a school bully, two teenagers hire a former soldier of fortune as a bodyguard, only to find out he has his own agenda. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Lee Pace. Plot: in 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Without so much as severance pay, she realizes she must – for the first time in two decades – seize the day. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment – as "social secretary" for an American actress and singer. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren.

SHUTTER [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, David Denman, James Kyson Lee, John Hensley. Plot: a newly married couple discovers disturbing, ghostly images in photographs they develop after a tragic accident. Fearing the manifestations may be connected, they investigate, only to learn that some mysteries are better left unsolved. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

TYLER PERRY'S MEET THE BROWNS [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Tyler Perry, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Angela Bassett, Lance Gross, Chloe Bailey, Mariana Tolbert, Rick Fox, Sofia Vergara, Irma P. Hall. Plot: A single mother living in inner city Chicago is laid off with no warning. When a letter arrives announcing the death of a father she's never met, she takes her family to Georgia for the funeral. There she struggles to know the family she never knew existed…and finds a brand new romance that just might change her life. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 3/20/2008

Derby Plaza - Jumper, Spiderwick Chronicles
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Vantage Point, The Spiderwick Chroicles, Semi-Pro
Palace West - Veggie Tales, Into The Wild, Bee Movie, Atonement
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Juno, No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, The Bucket List, Step Up 2, Definitely-Maybe
Warren Old Town - Semi-Pro
Warren West 21st - The Spiderwik Chronicles, No Country For Old Men, Step Up 2

Worthwhile (or not) 3/14/08

Here's how MetaCritic ranks the films. Clearly the one to see this week for most will be HORTON HEARS A WHO. I saw a large portion of HORTON but not all so I won't write a review. It looks just fine for families, though, and there was a lot of laughter from a mostly teen audience.

xx Doomsday (evidently not screened for critics...gee, I wonder why. See my review below),
38 Funny Games,
68 Horton Hears a Who!,
39 Never Back Down

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

DOOMSDAY ½

Directed by Neil Marshall this British sci-fi/action pic stars Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Adrian Lester, Alexander Siddig, David O'Hara, and Malcolm McDowell. One hour and fifty minutes long it is rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content/nudity.

The story starts in present times when British authorities brutally quarantine Scotland after a killer virus strikes. This works for three decades – until the dreaded virus resurfaces in London. An elite group of specialists is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary.

The direction is fine, the British cast is very capable, the CGI effects are acceptable and there's plenty of very bloody action for those who like that (in general, younger males). With all that going for it you'd think someone might have spent an extra hundred bucks or so to get a plot that didn't insult the intelligence of the viewer. The basic story is fine, but when the group goes into Scotland, a country cut off from the world for thirty years and without electricity or manufacturing capability, they discover the remaining populace has plenty of petrol for Molotov cocktails and is driving all sorts of vehicles. How so? Then, there's the fact the citizens of Glasgow basically eat each other (they have a nifty, large barbecue) even though there are thousands of cows roaming the countryside. Their leader likes to address them as the head of a rock band, complete with P.A. system and electric guitars. When Mitra and her cohorts need a vehicle they find one that's been in storage of 30 years, doesn't have a speck of dust on it, and starts immediately (wow, what a battery). When speeding down the highway (looks to be in perfect shape) there's a flashing warning informing them they're going too fast! I could go on but I think you get the picture. To add insult to injury, the ending clearly indicates a sequel is to be expected. I can hardly wait.

Opening 3/14/08

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

DOOMSDAY [R] 1hr. 50 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Adrian Lester, Alexander Siddig, Malcolm McDowell. Plot: authorities brutally quarantine a country when a virus strikes. This works for three decades – until the dreaded virus resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

FUNNY GAMES [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Psychological Thriller Trailer Cast: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet, Boyd Gaines, Siobhan Fallon, Devon Gearhart. Plot: a vacationing family gets an unexpected visit from two deeply disturbed young men and their idyllic holiday turns nightmarish as they struggle to stay alive. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren.

HORTON HEARS A WHO! [G] 1 hr. 30 min. Animated Trailer Voices: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Isla Fisher, Dan Fogler, Amy Poehler, Jaime Pressly, Jonah Hill, Josh Flitter. Plot: an imaginative elephant hears a cry for help coming from a tiny speck of dust floating through the air. Suspecting there may be life on that speck and despite a surrounding community which thinks he has lost his mind, Horton is determined to help. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

NEVER BACK DOWN [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min Action Trailer Cast: Sean Faris, Djimon Hounsou, Cam Gigandet, Amber Heard, Evan Peters, Wyatt Smith. Plot: a tough kid learns about the sport known as Mixed Marshall Arts (MMA). Showing at: Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 3/13/2008

Derby Plaza - Semi-Pro
Movie Machine - Semi-Pro
Northrock 14 - Definitely, Maybe, Step Up 2, Fool's Gold, No Country For Old Men
Palace West - One Missed Call, Michael Clayton, The Kite Runner
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - In Bruges, Be Kind Rewind, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Warren Old Town - Jumper, Fool's Gold
Warren West 21st - Definitely, Maybe, Juno, Witless Protection, Be Kind Rewind

Worthwhile (or not) 3/7/08

Looks like there are two very enjoyable crime films and a couple of others that no one thinks much of. Here they are with their MetaCritic ratings (remember, you can take the link on the title and see if the approval rating is going up or down from it's rating at the time this was written):

39 10,000 B.C.,
69 Bank Job, The,
38 College Road Trip,
67 In Bruges

THE BANK JOB ****

This thriller was directed by Roger Donaldson and stars Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, Alki David, Michael Jibson, Richard Lintern, and David Suchet. Rated R for sexual content, nudity, violence and language; the film is one hour and fifty minutes long.

A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family is offered a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street. The target is a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. What they don't realize is the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London's criminal underworld, the police force, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself. The film is based on actual events.

Finally, here's a fascinating British caper film that should be very enjoyable for anyone who likes that genre. There's enough action occurring at a fast, steady pace to keep you glued to the screen throughout. Statham and Burrows are note perfect and the rest of the roles are filled by first rate actors who will look very familiar to viewers of BBC America and PBS. I really liked this picture and recommend it highly.

10,000 BC *

Director Roland Emmerich has some entertaining films to his credit but this so-called adventure is not going to be listed as one of them. Starring Steven Strait and Camilla Belle, it is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence and is one hour and fifty minutes long.

The story concerns a group of mountain dwelling mammoth hunters whose camp is raided by a group of men looking for slaves. Our hero (Strait) escapes their clutches but his beloved (Belle) is not so lucky. Of course he sets out to save her and in the process meets up with other groups who've suffered the same fate. They join forces, track down the slavers and set about getting rid of the problem once and for all while reclaiming those taken from them.

Emmerich has obviously spent a lot of money building models and creating CG effects so you feel as if you're in a different time. So far, so good. The film looks impressive on a large screen. Unfortunately, the story isn't nearly as impressive so it's impossible to really care about any of the people. Plus, they don't do or say anything to change that. (Why are the hunters starving...they're living on a mountain top. Idiots!) Back in 1966 they solved all of these problems in a similar film (One Million Years B.C.) by casting Raquel Welch in skimpy animal skin duds. No one cared about the story or graphics, they were too busy leering at her. Oh, that we had been that lucky with this film.

Opening 3/7/08

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

10,000 BC [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Adventure Trailer Cast: Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Omar Sharif, Tim Barlow, Marco Khan, Reece Ritchie, Mo Zinal, Mona Hammond, Joel Virgel Vierset, Suri van Sornsen, Joel Fry, Nathanael Baring, Joe Vaz. Plot: a sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits rule the land and mighty mammoths shake the earth. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

THE BANK JOB [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, Alki David, Michael Jibson, Richard Lintern, Don Gallagher, David Suchet. Plot: A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family is offered a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street. The target is a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. What they don't realize is the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London's criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP [G] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symone, Donny Osmond, Will Sasso, Arnetia Walker. Plot: a young woman is eagerly looking forward to her first big step towards independence when she plans a "girls only" road trip to check out prospective universities. But when her overbearing police chief father insists on escorting her instead, she soon finds her dream trip has turned into a nightmare adventure full of comical misfortune and turmoil. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

IN BRUGES [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Comedy Trailer Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Posey. Plot: two hit men are ordered right before Christmas by their London boss to go and cool their heels in the storybook Flemish city for a couple of weeks. The longer they stay waiting for their boss's call, the more surreal their experience becomes, as they find themselves in weird encounters with locals, tourists, violent medieval art, a dwarf American actor, Dutch prostitutes, and a potential romance for one of them in the form of Chloë , who may have some dark secrets of her own. When the call does finally come, their vacation becomes a life-and-death struggle of darkly comic proportions and surprisingly emotional consequences. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

Leaving 3/6/2008

Derby Plaza - Witless Protection, Step Up 2
Movie Machine - Vantage Point, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Northrock 14 - Juno, Untraceable, Witless Protection
Palace West - Sweeney Todd
Starlite Drive-In - Opens this weekend
Warren East 13th - Hannah Montana, U2 3D, Witless Protection, Charlie Bartlett, Atonement, The Savages, I'm Not There
Warren Old Town - The Spiderwick Chronicles
Warren West 21st - U2 3D, 27 Dresses, Charlie Bartlett, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Worthwhile (or not) 2/29/08

I've seen two of the four new films this week and as you can tell by my reviews below I clearly preferred PENELOPE to SEMI-PRO and to a much greater extent than shown below. As usual, the aggregate critics don't necessarily agree with me and the highest rated film for the week is one I didn't see. Here are the MetaCritic ratings:

73 I'm Not There,
53 Other Boleyn Girl, The,
47 Penelope,
45 Semi-Pro

PENELOPE **½

Marking director Mark Palansky's feature film debut, Penelope stars Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage, Richard E. Grant, and Simon Woods. The comedy/drama/fantasy is one hour and thirty minutes long and is rated PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language.

Ricci is a young woman afflicted by a secret family curse that can only be broken when she is loved by one of her own kind. She's been hidden away since birth by her wealthy parents, O'Hara and Grant, who as she becomes a young woman try and find someone to marry her so the curse will be lifted. Woods plays one of the suitors who is appalled by her looks and who joins with photographer Dinklage in attempting to get a picture of her. McAvoy originally meets her as a way to make money but their relationship develops into something else.

This film has been sitting on the shelf for a year so I can't say I was expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised. It is a romantic fantasy that doesn't end as well as it starts but is enjoyable nonetheless. Had the ending been a little stronger this could easily have been a three star film. Ricci is great, O'Hara is typical O'Hara and Witherspoon is fine in her limited role (she was also a producer). The rest of the cast acquitted themselves well. This is a good couples film and should also be enjoyed by young and teen girls.

SEMI-PRO ½

Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, and Maura Tierney star is what's supposed to be a sports comedy. Directed by Kent Alterman it's one hour and thirty minutes long and is rated R.

Ferrell is the owner of the Flint Michigan Tropics, the worst team in the ABA. It's in danger of folding but salvation seems imminent when a merger with the NBA is announced. However, the NBA doesn't want them and the only way they can be accepted is to be one of the top four teams and have an average crowd of 2,000. In order to become a winning team he brings in Harrelson, a former NBA player who only comes because he's in love with Tierney. That leaves Ferrell with time to think of some audience building stunts (like boxing a grizzly bear during half time).

I can think of several films that have been crude, profane but outrageously funny. When the funny is missing, however, what you have is dull, and that's what we have here. There's a much larger cast than I listed above but I left them out because they really don't have much to do. Tierney isn't used all that much and it's too bad I can't say the same about Ferrell. To be honest, I'm not a fan of Ferrell and I don't really care for basketball so this film had two strikes against it before I sat down to watch. But I do like comedy and I can recognize its absence which is why I don't recall laughing once during this mess. Those adolescent males who think crude and profane is in itself funny may well like this film. Everyone else, not so much.

Opening 2/29/08

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

I'M NOT THERE [R] 2 hr. 10 min. Drama/Music Trailer Cast: Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ben Whishaw, Marcus, Carl Franklin, David Cross, Bruce Greenwood. Plot: biographical film about legendary singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, follows six distinct characters, depicting different stages of Dylan's life, embodying a different aspect of his life story and music. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL [PG-13] 2 hr. 10 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey, Eddie Redmayne, Jim Sturgess, Benedict Cumberbatch. Plot: two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, are driven by their ambitious father and uncle to advance the family's power and status by courting the affections of the King of England. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

PENELOPE [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Drama/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage, Richard E. Grant, Simon Woods, Ronni Ancona, Nick Frost, Richard James. Plot: a young woman is afflicted by a secret family curse that can only be broken when she is loved by one of her own kind. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SEMI-PRO [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy/Sports Trailer Cast: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett, Andy Richter, Rob Corddry, DeRay Davis, Josh Braaten, Jay Phillips, Jackie Earle Haley. Plot: the owner of the Flint Michigan Tropics, the worst team in the ABA and in danger of folding, is elated when a merger with the NBA is announced. But, if they want to survive, the Tropics must now do the seemingly impossible – win. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 2/28/2008

Derby Plaza - Definitely, Maybe
Movie Machine - Fool's Gold
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Golden Compass, P.S. I Love You
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring - Opens March 27th
Warren East 13th - 27 Dresses, National Treasure 2, Persepolis, The Eye
Warren Old Town - Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, The Bucket List
Warren West 21st - Rambo, The Eye

Worthwhile (or not) 2/22/08

Here's how this week's menu stacks up according to MetaCritic:

52 Be Kind Rewind,
54 Charlie Bartlett,
90 Persepolis,
83 U2 3D
41 Vantage Point,
xx Witless Protection (not screened; surprise, surprise).

The ratings are as of 3:30 a.m. on 2/22. Take the links to see if they change as new reviews are entered and to read those reviews.

VANTAGE POINT **½

Directed by Pete Travis this action thriller stars Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, and William Hurt. Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense violence and action, some disturbing images and brief strong language, it is one hour and thirty minutes long.

For most of the film we watch the assassination of the President of the United States from eight different vantage points including two Secret Service agents (Quaid and Fox), the President (Hurt), a tourist (Whitaker), a Spanish security agent and several of the supposed assassins. As we get more information we learn the plot we're seeing may not be an assassination and some of the individuals are not who we originally thought they were.

Frankly, the continual retelling of the story starts to get tiring long before the plot has completely unfolded. And Whitaker's character gets downright aggravating, I kept wanting someone to tell him to sit down and butt out. It isn't that hard to figure out the surprise plot twist and the ending doesn't ring true at all. Also, as much as I prefer 90 minute films, a couple of the characters need a little fleshing out as we have no real idea why they're doing what we're seeing. Action fans who don't require a believable plot may really enjoy this film, however, as there's plenty of gunfire, shooting and explosions plus an exciting car chase through crowded streets. Still, considering the cast, this should have been better.

Opening 2/22/08

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

BE KIND REWIND [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz, Arjay Smith, Paul Dinello, Marcus Carl Franklin, P.J. Byrne, Chandler Parker. Plot: a loveable loser unintentionally erases all the tapes in a video store where his best friend works, and devises a plan to satisfy the store's few loyal customers by re-creating and re-filming every movie they decide to rent. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

CHARLIE BARTLETT [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Tyler Hilton, Jake Epstein, Lauren Collins, Dylan Taylor, Mark Rendall, Kat Dennings, Derek McGrath. Plot: a wealthy teenager's foray into bathroom-stall psychiatry becomes a one-man battle against the loneliness, angst and hypocrisy of the modern world. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PERSEPOLIS [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Animated Drama Trailer Cast: voices of Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni. Plot: the animated, true story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. When her uncle is senselessly executed and as bombs fall around Tehran in the Iran/Iraq war, her parents send her to Austria. After high school she returns to Iran but after several years realizes she can no longer live there and goes to France, where she lives today. In French with English subtitles. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

U2 3D [G] 1 hr. 25 min. Documentary Trailer Cast: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.. Plot: marrying advanced digital 3D imagery and 5.1 Surround Sound with the unique excitement of a live U2 concert, this film takes viewers on an extraordinary cinematic journey, a quantum leap beyond traditional concert films. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

VANTAGE POINT [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt. Plot: eight strangers with eight different points of view try to unlock the truth behind an assassination attempt on the president of the United States. As they and others reveal their stories, the pieces of the puzzle fall into place – revealing the shocking motivations lurking just beneath the surface. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

WITLESS PROTECTION [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Larry The Cable Guy, Ivana Milicevic, Yaphet Kotto, Peter Stormare, Eric Roberts, Joe Mantegna, Jenny McCarthy. Plot: a small town sheriff during routine patrolling witnesses a beautiful, high-class woman being held against her will by four mysterious, black-suited men. Recognizing the opportunity to save the day, he "kidnaps" her, only to learn she's actually a key witness in a high-stakes Chicago crime case and her captors are FBI agents assigned to protect her. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 2/21/2008

Derby Plaza - Alvin And The Chipmunks, Bucket List
Movie Machine - Alvin And The Chipmunks, Meet The Spartans
Northrock 14 - The Eye, First Sunday, Vince Vaughan's Comedy Show
Palace West - The Mist, Game Plan
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring - Opens March 27th
Warren East 13th - Rambo, Cloverfield, Untraceable
Warren Old Town - Nothing
Warren West 21st - Strange Wilderness, Alvin And The Chipmunks, Untraceable, Cloberfield, There Will Be Blood, Meet The Spartans

Worthwhile (or not) 2/14/08

Here's how this weekend's new films rate according to MetaCritic. Take the link to see updated ratings and to check out the reviews that contributed to them.

62/100 Definitely, Maybe;
43/100 Jumper;
85/100 Savages, The;
58/100 Spiderwick Chronicles, The;
58/100 Step Up 2 the Streets

DEFINITELY, MAYBE ***

Directed by Adam Brooks this romance stars Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Kevin Kline. The two hour film is rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some frank dialogue, language and smoking.

The 10-year-old daughter (Breslin) of a 30-something Manhattan dad (Reynolds) in the midst of a divorce (from Banks) starts to question him about his love life before marriage. He explains he has been in love with three women: Banks, Weisz and Fisher from his college days, through political campaigning, and finally as an advertising executive. The daughter simply wants her father to be happy and as he tells his story he finally decides which of the three could make that happen.

This is a richly textured romantic drama which doesn't contain enough humor to be considered a comedy. The daughter's role is very minor with most of the time spent with the three loves of the father as well as an exploration of his career development. The cast is uniformly good and provides an entertaining if unnecessarily long drama. Kline's part could have easily been cut although it's always a pleasure to see him on screen. Women will most likely enjoy this film more than men, but that's the reason it's been released on Valentine's Day. The subsequent DVD release will be just as entertaining as the theatre experience.

JUMPER **½

Directed by Doug Liman this sci-fi/thriller stars Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell, Diane Lane, and Michael Rooker. It's one and a half hours long and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some language and brief sexuality.

After a nearly fatal accident a young man (Christensen) learns he can teleport himself anywhere. He spends several years developing this skill and then becomes reacquainted with a girl (Bilson) he had long been attracted to. While showing her the sights of the world he discovers he isn't the only one who can jump (Bell), and, there are those who wish him and all other jumpers as well as anyone acquainted with them, dead (Jackson).

There's a kernel of an interesting sci-fi story here but it doesn't seem well thought out. For one thing, we normal mortals aren't supposed to be aware of the jumpers and the battles between them and their adversaries. But since neither of the two go to much effort to hide their activity, it's hard to imagine someone wouldn't have noticed something down through the ages. And you have to wonder why perfectly innocent and unknowledgeable people are killed. My real problem with the film, however, is the producers seem very intent on making sequels and consequently leave too much of this plot unresolved. Still, there's a fair amount of action and this is a quality cast so sci-fi/action fans should be reasonably pleased.

Opening 2/14/08

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

DEFINITELY, MAYBE [PG-13] 2 hr. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Kevin Kline. Plot: the 10-year-old daughter of a 30-something Manhattan dad in the midst of a divorce starts to question him about his love life before marriage. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

JUMPER [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Sci-Fi/Thriller Trailer Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell, Max Thieriot, Shawn Roberts, AnnaSophia Robb, Diane Lane, Michael Rooker, Tom Hulce, Nathalie Cox. Plot: a young man learns he can teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Fantasy Trailer Cast: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, Martin Short. Plot: a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Investigating the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, they uncover the fantastic truth about the Spiderwick estate and the creatures that inhabit it. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

STEP UP 2: THE STREETS [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Drama/Musical/Romance Trailer Cast: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura, Adam G. Sevani, Telisha Shaw. Plot: when a rebellious street dancer Andie lands at the elite Maryland School of the Arts, she finds herself fighting to fit in while also trying to hold onto her old life. Ultimately she finds a way to live her dream while building a bridge between her two separate worlds. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

Starts Friday, 2/15

THE SAVAGES [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco. Plot: when adult siblings are plucked from their everyday, ordinary, self-centered lives to care for an estranged elderly parent, there is a moment when childhood ends and adulthood begins. For Jon and Wendy Savage that moment is now. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Leaving 2/13/2008

Derby Plaza - The Eye, 27 Dresses, No Country For Old Men
Movie Machine - 27 Dresses, Cloverfield
Northrock 14 - 27 Dresses, Juno, No Country For Old Men, Untraceable
Palace West - Gone, Baby, Gone, Awake, Charlie Wilson's War, August Rush
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring - Opens March 27th
Warren East 13th - Vince Vaughan's Comedy Show, Over Her Dead Body, Strange Wilderness, Mad Money, The Diving Bell & The Butterfly, Meet The Spartans
Warren Old Town - Rambo, No Country For Old Men
Warren West 21st - Over Her Dead Body, Mad Money, National Treasure 2, I Am Legend, Vince Vaughan's Comedy Show

Worthwhile (or not) 2/8/08

Here's what the MetaCritic roster of critics thought of this week's menu. At least these were all screened for the critics this week. You can get updated rankings plus read the reviews by taking the title link.

51/100 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
48/100 Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights
27/100 Fool's Gold

Just a reminder, the major films next week will be opening on Thursday to try and get your attention (and attendance) on Valentine's Day. So far this is what is scheduled for the 14th: a family fantasy, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES; a Sci-Fi thriller, JUMPER; and a romantic comedy, DEFINITELY, MAYBE (there you go, guys).

FOOL'S GOLD **

Directed by Andy Tennant this comedy adventure stars Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner, Alexis Dziena, Kevin Hart, and Ray Winstone. It is one hour and 50 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and language.

McConaughey is modern-day treasure hunter so obsessed with finding 40 chests of priceless treasure lost at sea in 1715, that he's deep in debt to gangster Hart and destroyed his marriage to Hudson. When he discovers a vital clue to the treasure's whereabouts he teams back up with Hudson along with Sutherland and his daughter Dziena. But Hart and Winstone are also hot on the trail.

There's a three star action comedy buried in this overly long, slow paced mess of a film. Take out the Winstone subplot which is never fully explained and drop Bremner who simply isn't needed, pick up the pace and you'd have a pleasant treat. You could also have Sutherland drop the terribly fake British accent which really makes no sense, except perhaps that his character's name is Nigel. Unless you're desperate for a night at the movies I'd wait for the DVD and speed through the slow parts. You'll spend a lot less money and time and be much, much happier.

VINCE VAUGHAN'S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW *

This documentary stars Vince Vaughn and a group of comedians I've never heard of. Go here to get the full cast, such as it is. The film is one hour and forty minutes long and is rated R for pervasive language and some sex-related humor.

The film follows Vaughn as he handpicks four up-and-coming comics and leads them on a 30-city, 30-day, 30-show tour as tour creator and emcee. The film features footage from the tour's performances as well as from behind-the-scenes, plus a host of surprise guests. It appears to have been filmed about the time Hurricane Katrina struck.

You've got to be a lot more interested than I am in Vince Vaughn and his traveling companions to find this interesting. I can also see why these are "up and coming" comedians, they're not nearly funny enough to have arrived. To me, this doesn't belong in theatres at all. It's more suited to HBO comedy or some similar cable channel. If you're about 50 years younger than I am you might find this mildly amusing. Anyone older will feel they've wasted their money.

Opening 2/8/08

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

FOOL'S GOLD [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Adventure/Comedy Trailer Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner, Alexis Dziena, Kevin Hart, Ray Winstone. Plot: an affable, modern-day treasure hunter is so obsessed with finding 40 chests of priceless treasure lost at sea in 1715 he has sunk everything, including his marriage, in the quest. Then he discovers a vital clue to the treasure's whereabouts. But others are intent on beating him to the prize. Let the treasure hunt begin... Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

VINCE VAUGHAN'S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Documentary Trailer Cast: Vince Vaughn, Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Bret Ernst, Sebastian Maniscalco, Justin Long, Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsley, Keir O’Donnell, Dwight Yoakam. Plot: the film follows Vaughn as he handpicks four up-and-coming comics and leads them on a remarkable 30-city, 30-day, 30-show tour as tour creator and emcee. The film features footage from the tour's performances as well as from behind-the-scenes, plus a host of surprise guests. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Martin Lawrence, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Michael Clarke Duncan, Louis C.K., Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Cedric the Entertainer, James Earl Jones. Plot: when a talk-show sensation who left behind his modest Southern upbringing and family name to transform into a self-help guru is asked by his parents to come home for their 50th wedding anniversary, he packs up his 10-year-old son and diva bride-to-be and heads back to Georgia. It's a chance to prove to his family that he's no longer the awkward kid they relentlessly picked on. At least, that's the plan... Showing at: Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 2/7/2008

Derby Plaza - Cloverfield, Rambo, National Treasure 2
Movie Machine - Th Bucket List, I Am Legend
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - In The Name Of The King, Mr. Magorium's, Dan In Real Life, Walk Hard
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Kite Runner, First Sunday, Alvin & The Chipmunks, I Am Legend
Warren Old Town - National Treasure 2, Cloverfield, Juno
Warren West 21st - How She Move, Michael Clayton, I Am Legend

Worthwhile (or not) 2/1/08

This has not been a particularly pleasant week. I got to enjoy a second stomach virus which resulted in a couple of lost days and then a lot of "catchup" to get my regular work done. Taking that into consideration along with the weather, this is one of the rare weeks when I didn't attend a screening. Nothing really caught my eye anyway so instead of a review or two you'll have to use the MetaCritic rankings for this weekend's new openings in Wichita (remember, if you click on the film title you'll be presented with more reviews than you can possible read):

92/100 Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The

xx Eye, The (no critic screenings...never a good sign)

59/100 Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour

36/100 Over Her Dead Body (this review ranking is dropping as new reviews are added...another bad sign.)

xx Strange Wilderness (again, no advance screenings).

If you'd rather wait until next week here are a couple of the offerings for 2/8: FOOL'S GOLD with Matthew McConaughey / Kate Hudson and WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS with Martin Lawrence.

Opening 2/01/08

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

Sorry for the delay. Managed to catch another stomach virus and have been out of commission most of the week.

THE EYE [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Horror drama Trailer Cast: Jessica Alba, Parker Posey, Alessandro Nivola, Tamlyn Tomita, Chloe Moretz. Plot: a blind, accomplished, concert violinist undergoes a double corneal transplant and soon experiences unexplainable shadowy and frightening images. She is soon convinced her eye donor has somehow opened the door to a terrifying world only she can now see. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT TOUR 3-D [G] 1 hr. 15 min. Music Trailer Cast: Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Kenny Ortega, Billy Ray Cyrus. Plot: Hannah Montana" fans everywhere will have a chance to see their favorite singer, songwriter and actress, Miley Cyrus, perform her sold-out concert tour on the big screen, exhibited in state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3D™. One week only. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Max Von Sydow, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze. Plot: the remarkable true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a successful and charismatic editor-in-chief of French Elle, who believes he is living his life to its absolute fullest when a sudden stroke leaves him in a life-altered state. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Director.In French with English subtitles. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

OVER HER DEAD BODY [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Lindsay Sloane, Jason Biggs. Plot: Devastated when his fiancée is killed on their wedding day, the groom reluctantly agrees to consult a psychic. Despite his skepticism over her abilities, he falls hard for her. But she's being haunted by the fiancée's ghost, who considers it her heavenly duty to break up the fledgling romance. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

STRANGE WILDERNESS [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Jonah Hill, Ashley Scott, Harry Hamlin, Robert Patrick, Joe Don Baker, Blake Clark, Justin Long, Jeff Garlin, Ernest Borgnine. Plot: the host of an ailing wildlife TV show, "Strange Wilderness," hatches a Hail Mary scheme to find the one animal that could truly turn the show around and change the nature show landscape forever – Bigfoot. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 1/31/2008

Derby Plaza - Mad Money
Movie Machine - Nothing
Northrock 14 - Alvin And The Chipmunks, National Treasure
Palace West - Beowulf, 30 Days Of Night, This Christmas
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Veggie Tales Movie, Sweeney Todd, One Missed Call, P.S. I Love You
Warren Old Town - Nothing
Warren West 21st - One Missed Call, Veggie Tales Movie, Sweeney Todd, P.S. I Love You, First Sunday

Worthwhile (or not) 1/25/08

The top film for the week according to MetaCritic is, There Will Be Blood with 92/100. How She Move with 64/100 follows next although it's hard to imagine this will be a major hit. Rambo follows with 41/100. Untraceable with 31/100 is toward the bottom. Meet The Spartans has no rating as of this writing which means it wasn't screened for the critics (read the synopsis and you'll see why).

If none of these strike your fancy, next week you have these to look forward to: Jessica Alba's new horror film, The Eye; a romantic comedy with Eva Longoria, Over Her Dead Body; and a rather strange looking comedy (I consider any film with Bigfoot and Ernest Borgnine as strange), Strange Wilderness.

RAMBO ***

Directed by Sylvester Stallone this action/drama stars: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Paul Schulze, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Rey Gallegos, Tim Kang, Jake LaBotz, Maung Maung Khin, and Ken Howard. One hour and forty minutes in length, the film is rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language.

Twenty years after his last epic, Rambo, currently living in Thailand, is asked to guide a group of missionaries up the Salween River and drop them off, so they can deliver medical supplies and food to the Karen tribe in Burma. While initially reluctant, he finally agrees to take them. When they are captured by the Burmese army, he sets out to rescue them along with a group of mercenaries their church has hired.

The question I imagine you have is, how well does Stallone look now that he's over 60? The answer is, pretty good, actually. He's not as "bulked up" as he was in his prime and his face is definitely showing signs of his 60 some years, but I imagine he'd give anyone his age a real run for their money. As for the film, if you liked the earlier Rambo films, you'll like this one just fine. It's definitely for the action, "exploding body party" fans, but there are enough of those to make this at least an initial success. The squeamish are well advised to stay away though, because this is really bloody and graphic. Maximum impact and enjoyability will be obtained from watching this in a large theatre with good sound.

UNTRACEABLE **

Directed by Gregory Hoblit this thriller stars: Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Joseph Cross, and Mary Beth Hurt. It is one hour and 45 minutes long and is rated R for grisly violence and torture, and some language.

A tech-savvy internet predator leaves the fate of each of his tormented captives in the hands of the public: the more hits his site gets, the faster his victims die. And, as you might expect, with each new victim the time it takes for their death grows shorter and shorter. As the FBI Special Agent in charge and her team close in on the killer he decides to take their attention personally and begins stalking and striking back at them.

Lane is a lovely and very talented actress but this seems a little beneath her abilities. The film starts well and for a good portion of its length holds your attention as the plot unfolds. But as the ending approaches it's almost as if the money started running low and the director was told to wrap it up as quickly as possible. As a result some of the closing activity is silly and the actual ending isn't realistic and lacks the tension needed to make the film successful. Too bad, as there was potential here for a really good thriller. I'd wait for the DVD. I think you'll be much happier with that cost.

Opening 1/25/08

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

HOW SHE MOVE [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Tracey Armstrong, Clé Bennett, Nina Dobrey, Romina D'Ugo, Kevin Duhaney, Shawn Fernandez, Brennan Gademans, Jason Harrow, Jai Jai Jones, Tristan D. Lalla, Daniel Morrison, Dwain Murphy, Mya, Rutina Wesley. Plot: a gifted young woman defies all the rules as she step dances her heart out to achieve her dreams. Showing at: Northrock, 21st. Street Warren.

MEET THE SPARTANS [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Diedrich Bader, Kevin Sorbo, Method Man, Ken Davitian, Jim Piddock, Sean Maguire, Greg Ellis, Crista Flanagan, Nicole Parker, Emily Wilson. Plot: a spoof of 300. A leader with only leather underwear and a cape leads a group of 13 Spartans against the invading Persians who include: Ghost Rider, Rocky, the Transformers, and a hunchbacked Paris Hilton. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st. Street Warren.

RAMBO [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Action/Drama Trailer Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Paul Schulze, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Rey Gallegos, Tim Kang, Jake LaBotz, Maung Maung Khin, Ken Howard. Plot: 20 years after his last epic Rambo is asked to guide a group of missionaries up the Salween River and drop them off, so they can deliver medical supplies and food to the Karen tribe in Burma. When they are captured by the Burmese army, he sets out to rescue them. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st. Street Warren.

THERE WILL BE BLOOD [R] 2 hrs. 40 min. Trailer Drama Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds, Kevin J. O'Connor. Plot: chronicles the life and times of a man who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon. But as the well raises their fortunes, conflicts escalate and every human value is imperiled by corruption, deception and the flow of oil. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

UNTRACEABLE [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Joseph Cross, Mary Beth Hurt. Plot: a tech-savvy internet predator leaves the fate of each of his tormented captives in the hands of the public: the more hits his site gets, the faster his victims die. When this game of cat and mouse becomes personal, an FBI Special Agent and her team race against the clock to track down the virtually untraceable technical mastermind. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st. Street Warren.

Leaving 1/24/2008

Derby Plaza - Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
Movie Machine - Enchanted, The Great Debaters
Northrock 14 - I Am Legend, In The Name Of The King, One Missed Call, P.S. I Love You, The Water Horse
Palace West - Lions For Lambs, Fred Claus
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - The Orphanage, In The Name Of The King, The Water Horse, Charlie Wilson's War
Warren Old Town - I Am Legend
Warren West 21st - The Water Horse, Charlie Wilson's War, No Country For Old Men, In The Name Of The King

JUNO ***

Directed by Jason Reitman, JUNO is a comedy/drama starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner. It is 1 hour and thirty-five minutes long and is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

When an intelligent, smart-mouthed 16-year-old discovers she's pregnant after a one time coupling with a fellow student, she sets out to solve the problem by finding a couple willing to adopt. Luckily, she finds just such a couple in the want ads but there are still a few hurdles to overcome before everything is resolved.

A film with this plot could have gone several different directions but what we've got is an intelligent and very amusing drama about growing up and the problems that can occur when doing so. Page is very, very good as Juno but so is everyone else in this perfectly cast film. Cera as the father-to-be, Janney and Simmons as the parents of Juno, Thirlby as her witty/understanding girlfriend and Bateman and Garner as the prospective adoptive parents. Oh, the plot resolved a little too neatly but I was enjoying it enough I really didn't care. There's nothing here that requires a big screen so it won't hurt if you choose to wait for the DVD. Either way, it's worth seeing.

Worthwhile (or not) 1/18/08

Between the bad weather Wednesday and a sudden and very uncomfortable viral attack I didn't make it to any of the screenings this week. The MetaCritic ratings will keep you informed, however, and clicking on the link of any picture you're interested in will get you way more reviews than you'll have time to read: The Kite Runner 61/100, Cloverfield 59/100, 27 Dresses 46/100, Mad Money 41/100.

Opening 1/18/08

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

27 DRESSES PG-13 Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Ed Burns, Melora Hardin, Judy Greer. Plot: A young woman who's made a career of being a bridesmaid but never a bride faces her worst nightmare when her sister becomes engaged to the man of her dreams. Luckily, the wedding brings around the man who will change her bridesmaid status for good. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

CLOVERFIELD [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Sci-Fi/Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller. Plot: five young New Yorkers throw a friend a going-away party the night a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera (gee, unknown cast, handheld camera; you think this might be another Blair Witch Project?), the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

THE KITE RUNNER [PG-13] 2 hrs. 10 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Atossa Leoni, Zekiria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, Wali Razaqi, Said Taghmaoui, Shaun Toub, Nasser Memarzia. Plot: based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory; a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

MAD MONEY [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Crime/Adventure/Comedy Trailer Cast: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Adam Rothenberg, Stephen Root, Roger Cross, Christopher McDonald, Finesse Mitchell. Plot: three ordinary women form an unlikely friendship and decide to rob one of the most secure banks in the world by smuggling soon-to-be destroyed currency out of the supposedly airtight Reserve. It looks like they've pulled off the perfect crime—until a minor misstep alerts the authorities. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 1/17/2008

Derby Plaza - One Missed Call, P.S. I Love You, I Am Legend
Movie Machine - National Treasure: Book Of Secrets, I Am Legend, The Water Horse
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Saw IV, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married, American Gangster
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Golden Compass, AVP: Requiem, Enchanted, The Great Debaters
Warren Old Town - Charlie Wilson's War
Warren West 21st - Golden Compass, AVP: Requiem, Enchanted, The Great Debaters