Opening 3/13/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Cinderella [PG] 1 hr. 45 min.Family Film Watch Preview Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Stellan Skarsgård, Derek Jacobi, Nonso Anozie, Holliday Grainger, Lily James, Richard Madden, Sophie McShera. Plot: the familiar story retold with a new cast. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Run All Night [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Action Film Watch Preview Cast: Liam Neeson, Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Vincent D'Onofrio, Joel Kinnaman, Patricia Kalember, Genesis Rodriguez, Boyd Holbrook. Plot: a mob hitman (Neeson) has one night to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie, mob or family, and see if he can finally make things right. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/12/15

Movie Machine - Focus, McFarland USA
Palace West - Seventh Son, Hobbit 3
Warren East 13th - Hot Tub Time Machine 2, Birdman,  A La Mala
Warren West 21st - Jupiter Ascending, Wedding Ringer, Imitation Game
Warren Old Town - Kingsman

Chappie **

Neill Blomkamp co-wrote and directed this Sci-Fi/Action film Watch Preview Cast: Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er. Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity. Running time is two hours.

In the near future a police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, making him the first robot with the ability to think and feel. Unfortunately, a group of thugs begin using him to commit crimes.

I've enjoyed director Blomkamp's earlier efforts but this film is just stupid. So much so I was ready to leave after an hour. I should have since the second hour wasn't any better. The film has multiple problems. First, it was shot in South Africa with actors from that country who have accents that make them occasionally unintelligible. Second, there are way too many plot contrivances that simply make no sense. Third, I spent a lot of time wondering how good actors like Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver got suckered into this lemon. Action fans will find plenty of that, so the film isn't a total loss. But, if you're looking for a film that is at least somewhat intriguing, you're out of luck!

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is better for the action scenes but I have no idea why this is being shown in IMAX. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 3/6/15

MetaCritic indicates The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (50) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Chappie (41), and Unfinished Business (31).  I saw one of these and found it both disappointing and weird. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 3/6/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Chappie [R] 2 hrs. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er. Plot: in the near future a police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, making him the first robot with the ability to think and feel. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [PG] 2 hrs. 2 min. Drama/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Judi Dench, Richard Gere, Diana Hardcastle, David Strathairn, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel, Ronald Pickup. Plot: now that the Bext Exotic Marigold Hotel is almost sold out the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel) are making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life (Tena Desae). Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Unfinished Business [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: James Marsden, Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller, Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco. Plot: a hard-working small business owner (Vince Vaughn) and his two associates (Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco) travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives. But what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every imaginable – and unimaginable – way. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/5/15

Movie Machine - The Duff
Palace West - Taken 3, Annie, Unbroken
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - The Wedding Ringer, Black Or White
Warren West 21st - Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Warren Old Town - Hot Tub Time Machine 2, McFarland USA

Focus ***

Glenn Ficarra, John Requa both wrote and directed this Romance/Crime Caper. Watch Preview. Cast: Will Smith, Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, Margot Robbie. Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence. Running time is one hour and forty-four minutes.

A seasoned con man (Will Smith) becomes romantically involved with a novice con artist (Margot Robbie).

I'm a little surprised the critical response has been so tepid for this film. It's a fast paced caper film with a touch of romance, the type of film many like. It reminds me a little of the caper films they made in the 60's, and that's not a bad thing as far as I"m concerned. Production values are very good, as is the cast. Smith is believable and Robbie is absolutely gorgeous (as you will know if you saw The Wolf Of Wall Street). The pacing is up-tempo so I never considered looking at my watch. Even better, I really had no clue how this was going to end and the conclusion caught me completely by surprise. When you've watched as many films as I have, that's a good thing. My wife watched this with me and enjoyed it as much as I did.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. There's some gorgeous scenery that a large screen will enhance. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

The Lazarus Effect **

David Gelb directed this Horror film. Watch Preview. Cast: Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Donald Glover. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror violence, terror and some sexual references. Running time is one hour and twenty-three minutes.

A group of researchers led by (Mark Duplass) and (Olivia Wilde) achieve the unimaginable- bringing the dead back to life.

I normally don't watch horror films as they're usually terrible quality. But this one had a better than average cast so I thought I'd take a chance. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as usual by what I saw. This had the potential to be a good sci-fi film if they'd gone that route instead veering into the horror schtick. If the process had resulted in a Lucy instead of a vision of hell this could have been quite acceptable. Still, there are those who like this sort of thing and at least they'll get a film with good production values and a competent cast.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 2/27/15

MetaCritic indicates Focus (57) is the top ranking film this week, followed by A La Mala (50), and The Lazarus Effect (28).  I saw two of these and found one very entertaining and the other disappointingly typical. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 2/27/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

A La Mala [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Romantic comedy Watch Preview Cast: Aislinn Derbez, Mauricio Ochmann, Aurora Papile, Luis Arrieta, Daniela Schmidt, Juan Diego Covarrubias. Plot: an aspiring actress is hired by best friend to flirt with her boyfriend to test his fidelity, and it becomes a career when others want her to do the same. In Spanish with English subtitles. Showing at: Warren East.

 Focus [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Romance Watch Preview Cast: Will Smith, Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, Margot Robbie. Plot: a seasoned con man (Will Smith) becomes romantically involved with a novice con artist (Margot Robbie). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Lazarus Effect [PG-13] 1 hr. 23 min. Horror film Watch Preview Cast: Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Donald Glover. Plot: a group of researchers led by (Mark Duplass) and (Olivia Wilde) achieve the unimaginable- bringing the dead back to life. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

What's Leaving 2/26/15

Movie Machine - Fifty Shades Of Grey
Palace West - Woman In Black 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - The Boy Next Door, Mockingjay Part 1, Seventh Son, Old  Fashined
Warren West 21st - Old Fashined, Seventh Son, American Sniper IMAX
Warren Old Town - The Wedding Ringer, Jupiter Ascending

Still Alice ***

Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland co-wrote and co-directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Moore. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference. Running time is one hour and forty-one minutes.

A renowned linguistics professor (Moore) receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

This is a well-done drama but ultimately heartbreaking due to its subject matter. We get to watch a brilliant linguistic professor slowly, mentally fade away while in the prime of her life. There's just no way you're going to leave the theatre in an upbeat mood after watching. Moore is outstanding in her role and very believable. Stewart is also very good as a rebellious daughter who eventually becomes the professor's understanding supporter. Baldwin is fine and Bosworth is in a very secondary role. The average movie patron is not going to find this entertaining but it may prove informative for those who are affected in some way by this disease.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 2/20/15

MetaCritic indicates Still Alice (72) is the top ranking film this week, followed by McFarland USA (61), The Duff (53) and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (31).  I saw one of these and found it excellent but ultimately heartbreaking. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 2/20/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Duff [PG-13] 1 hr. 41 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Allison Janney, Romany Malco, Mae Whitman, Ken Jeong, Bianca Santos, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Skyler Samuels, Nick Eversman. Plot: a content high school senior's (Mae Whitman) world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as ‘The DUFF’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos).Showing at:  Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 [R] 1 hr. 33 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Adam Scott, Chevy Chase, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Gillian Jacobs. Plot: Jacob and Nick (Duke and Robinson) fire up the time machine again to save Lou (Corddy) in this sequel to the 2010 comedy. Showing at:  Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

McFarland, USA [PG] 2 hrs. 9 min. Sports Drama Watch Preview Cast: Maria Bello, Kevin Costner, Martha Higareda, Chris Ellis, Carlos Pratts, Morgan Saylor, Michael Aguero, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Ramiro Rodriguez, Danny Mora, Valente Rodriguez, Vanessa Martinez. Plot:  follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). Inspired by a 1987 true story. Showing at:  Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Still Alice [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Moore. Plot: a renowned linguistics professor (Moore) receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Showing at:  Warren East.

Leaving 2/19/15

Movie Machine - Jupiter Ascending, Seventh Son
Palace West - Woman In Black 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Project Almanac, Selma
Warren West 21st - Project Almanac, Boy Next Door, Jupiter Ascending IMAX 3D, Seventh Son IMAX 3D
Warren Old Town - Seventh Son

Fifty Shades Of Grey **½

Sam Taylor-Johnson directed this Drama. Watch Preview Cast: Victor Rasuk, Marcia Gay Harden, Callum Keith Rennie, Jennifer Ehle, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Max Martini, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Rita Ora. Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

Follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and college student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). Based on the best-selling novel.

I should tell you I haven't read the novels and after watching this film learned I have no inclination toward BDSM. So, my review is going to reflect that. I thought the cast was fine as were the production values. But the pacing was way too slow for my taste and I started looking at my watch about the half-way mark. The sex scenes were done tastefully and weren't offensive (at least to me). I watched this with someone who had read the books and enjoyed them as well as this film (more than I did) and who found the film closely followed the book.  The film ending obviously indicates another will follow. All indications are this will do fantastic initial business but once the readers have seen it I'm not sure anyone else will be interested.

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

Kingsman: The Secret Service ***

Matthew Vaughn wrote the screenplay and directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton. Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language and some sexual content. Running time is two hours and nine minutes.

The story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program.

If you've ever wondered what a hard-core R rated James Bond film might look like, this is probably as close as you'll get. At least for the first half of the film. After that it wanders off and becomes slightly slap-stick before returning to it's original mode. Featured are a first class group of British actors combined with powerful CG effects and a plot that's different enough to keep things interesting. Samuel L. Jackson is effective although unbelievable as a mad villain with a lisp.The pacing is good so I was never bored, despite the length. The caution here is in the rating: "sequences of strong violence." That's putting it mildly as this is one of the most violent films I've ever seen. As long as you like and are aware of that fact, you should be fine. The ending clearly indicates a sequel is possible.

There is an additional sequence soon after the final credits begin. A large screen will make the graphics more impressive. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/13/15

MetaCritic indicates Kingsman: The Secret Service (58) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Fifty Shades Of Gray (47), and Old Fashioned (25).  I saw two of these and they're fine for their intended audience. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 2/13/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Fifty Shades Of Grey [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Victor Rasuk, Marcia Gay Harden, Callum Keith Rennie, Jennifer Ehle, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Max Martini, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Rita Ora. Plot: follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and college student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Kingsman: The Secret Service [R] 2 hrs. 9 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton. Plot: the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Old Fashioned  [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Romance/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Rik Swartzwelder, Elizabeth Ann Roberts. Plot: a dissimilar couple attempts the impossible: an "old-fashioned" courtship in contemporary America. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 2/12/15

Movie Machine - Project Almanac, American Sniper
Palace West - The Gambler, Exodus, Gone Girl, St. Vincent, Dumb & Dumber To
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Taken 3, The Loft, Black Sea, A Most Violent Year, Strange Magic, Unbroken, Hobbit 3, Seventh Son 3D, Spongebob Movie 3D, Jupiter Ascending 3D
Warren West 21st - Strange Magic, The Loft, Into The Woods, Taken 3, Spongebob Movie 3D, Jupiter Ascending 3D
Warren Old Town - Project Almanac, The Boy Next Door

Seventh Son *½

Sergey Bodrov directed this Fantasy/Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Julianne Moore, Olivia Williams, Djimon Hounsou, Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Antje Traue, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington. Rated PG-13 for intense fantasy violence and action throughout, frightening images and brief strong language. Running time is one hour and forty-two minutes.

The sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesied hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Together they try to kill Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) before she and he sister witches can take over the world. Based on the book "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney.

What we have here are a lot of first rate actors starring in a third rate film. This is a fantasy film with witches, wraiths, and  all sort of odd creatures. There is a love interest between the apprentice and a young witch which I'm guessing is supposed to attract teen girls. Well, it might work but that's about the only group I see this film attracting. Production values are good and the CG are also very good. But I personally found Bridge's speech mannerisms exceedingly off-putting, enough so he was a distraction. I did not watch this in 3D so I can't speak to its quality. The ending obviously indicates there could be a sequel, but I doubt this film will gross enough to justify one.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is preferable but not necessary. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times. 

Jupiter Ascending **

Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski wrote and directed this Sci-Fi Action Film. Watch Preview. Cast: Sean Bean, James D'Arcy, Tim Pigott-Smith, Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Doona Bae, Tuppence Middleton. Rated PG-13 for some violence, sequences of sci-fi action, some suggestive content and partial nudity. Running time is two hours and seven minutes.

A young woman (Kunis) whose job is cleaning other people's houses discovers she's next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

This is hard-core sci-fi which means relatively few people are going to be comfortable with this plot. In other words, it's pretty far out! As a long time sci-fi fan I was comfortable with it but was less than pleased with the climax after climax film style. If you'd cut this up just right you could have a pretty good serial like I used to watch when I was a boy. But it makes for a pretty choppy experience as a film. The cast  is fine and the graphics are spectacular, if a little over the top on occasion. I watched this in IMAX 3D and it was just fine. My reaction to the film is pretty ho-hum and I find it hard to believe it's going to be around long.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. If you decide to see it, go for the largest possible screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 2/6/15

MetaCritic indicates Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (62) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Jupiter Ascending (40), and Seventh Son (30).  I saw two of these and was disappointed in both. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 2/6/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Jupiter Ascending [PG-13] 2 hrs. 4 min. Sci-Fi Action Watch Preview Cast: Sean Bean, James D'Arcy, Tim Pigott-Smith, Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Doona Bae, Tuppence Middleton. Plot: a young woman whose job is cleaning other people's houses discovers she's next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.
Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Seventh Son 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 42 min. Fantasy/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Julianne Moore, Olivia Williams, Djimon Hounsou, Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Antje Traue, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington. Plot: the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesied hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Based on the book "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 33 min. Animated/Comedy Watch Preview Voices: Antonio Banderas, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Douglas Lawrence. Plot: the world's favorite sea dwelling invertebrate, comes ashore for his most super-heroic adventure yet. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West. 

Leaving 2/5/15

Movie Machine - Strange Magic, Paddington, Taken 3
Palace West - Top Five
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Wild, Cake, Mortdecai, Foxcatcher, Into The Woods
Warren West 21st - Game Of Thrones IMAX, Unbroken, Mortdecai, Hobbit 3, Hunger Games, Theory Of  Everything
Warren Old Town - Mortdecai, Taken 3

Project Almanac **½

Dean Israelite directed this Thriller. Watch Preview Cast:.Allen Evangelista, Sam Lerner, Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Ginny Gardner. Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

A brilliant high school student (Weston) and his friends uncover blueprints for a time-travel device with limitless potential, inadvertently putting lives in danger.

For me this was an extremely annoying film to watch because of its 'found footage' conceit but with a fast paced, interesting plot. Production values are fine as is the cast, although I'm not familiar with any of them. The story is basically concerned with the unexpected consequences that occur if you tamper with events in the past. I don't think the ending makes much sense but that didn't seem to matter when considering the film in its entirety. This a relatively low budget production that's been sitting on the shelf for a year. Teens will find this one far more interesting than will adults.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 1/30/15

MetaCritic indicates A Most Violent Year (80) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Black Sea (62), Project Almanac (45), and Black Or White (45).  The Loft had no reviews. I saw one of these and think teens are its most probable audience. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 1/30/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Black Or White [PG-13] 2 hrs. 1 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast:.Anthony Mackie, Kevin Costner, Jennifer Ehle, Andre Holland, Gillian Jacobs, Octavia Spencer, Bill Burr, Jillian Estell. Plot: a grandfather (Kevin Costner) who suddenly must care for his granddaughter fights with her paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer) over custody.Showing at: Warren East,  Warren West.

Black Sea [R] 1 hr. 54 min. Adventure Watch Preview Cast:.Jude Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, David Threlfall. Plot: a rogue submarine captain (Jude Law) pulls together a misfit crew to go after a sunken treasure rumored to be lost in the depths of the Black Sea. Showing at: Warren East

Game Of Thrones [R] 2 hrs. 6 min,. Watch Preview featuring the last two episodes from season four of Game of Thrones followed by the worldwide debut of the series’ season five sneak-peek preview, created exclusively for IMAX. Showing at: Warren West.

The Loft [R] 1 hr. 49 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast:.James Marsden, Karl Urban, Rachael Taylor, Rhona Mitra, Isabel Lucas, Wentworth Miller, Eric Stonestreet, Matthias Schoenaerts. Plot: five guys who secretly share a penthouse loft in the city discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and realize one of the group must be involved. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

A Most Violent Year [R] 1 hr. 53 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast:.Albert Brooks, Alessandro Nivola, David Oyelowo, Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain. Plot: one immigrant’s determined climb up a morally crooked ladder, where simmering rivalries and unprovoked attacks threaten his business, family, and - above all - his own unwavering belief in the righteousness of his path. Showing at:  Warren East

Project  Almanac [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast:.Allen Evangelista, Sam Lerner, Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Ginny Gardner. Plot: a brilliant high school student and his friends uncover blueprints for a mysterious device with limitless potential, inadvertently putting lives in danger. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 1/29/15

Movie Machine - Night At The Museum, Blackhat
Palace West - Nightcrawler, Horrible Bosses 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Night At The Museum, Spare Parts, Blackhat
Warren West 21st - Big Hero 6, Selma, Nighth St The Museum, Woman In Black 2, Blackhat, American Sniper IMAX
Warren Old Town - Into The Woods, Blackhat

Mortdecai *½

David Koepp directed this Action comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Ewan McGregor, Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Jeff Goldblum, Olivia Munn. Rated R for some language and sexual material. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

A debonair art dealer and part time rogue (Depp) must traverse the globe in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold.

I think what this film is trying to be is a reincarnation of Inspector Clouseau. Instead, it's dead after the first few minutes, and it stays that way. This is a first rate cast and the production values are very good, but there's just nothing to work with here. Depp's character isn't debonair, he's stupid, and stupid ceases to be funny rather quickly. Paltrow is too stiff to be in a comedy of this type and Goldblum and Munn basically have walk on parts. The only group that might have found this funny won't be able to attend due to the rating. I suspect this will disappear rather quickly, and we can all be thankful for that.

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

Cake **

Daniel Barnz directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Felicity Huffman, Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick, Camille Mana, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Chris Messina, William H. Macy. Britt Robertson, Lucy Walters, Manuel Garcia Rulfo. Rated R for language, substance abuse and brief sexuality. Running time is one hour and forty-two minutes.

A woman (Aniston) in constant pain is traumatized by the suicide of a fellow sufferer.

The main draw of this film is seeing Aniston in a straight dramatic role. She's quite believable as a woman wracked with pain and hooked on pain killers as a consequence. But, even though you may feel sorry for her, you don't like her, and that's a problem because it keeps the viewers uninvolved. The rest of the cast, capable as they are, are relatively unimportant. Huffman and Macy are easy to miss entirely if you blink at the wrong time. This feels like a film vehicle designed to show Aniston's acting range without much consideration for the audience. If you're into heavy drama, so be it. But for me, this was just depressing, and I find it hard to recommend.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatre/Time.

Worthwhile (or not) 1/23/15

MetaCritic indicates Cake (49) is the top ranking film this week, followed by The Boy Next Door (31), Mortdecai (25), and Strange Magic (22).  Clearly the national critics were not impressed with this week's offerings. I saw two of these and can't recommend either. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 1/23/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Boy Next Door [R] 1 hr. 31 min. Psychological Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, John Corbett, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman. Plot: after her divorce, a woman falls for a younger man, but their torrid affair takes a dangerous turn. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Cake [R] 1 hr. 42 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Felicity Huffman, Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick, Camille Mana, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Chris Messina, William H. Macy. Britt Robertson, Lucy Walters, Manuel Garcia Rulfo. Plot: a woman (Aniston) in constant pain is traumatized by the suicide of a fellow sufferer. Showing at: Warren East

Mortdecai [R] 1 hr. 47 min. Action comedy Watch Preview Cast: Ewan McGregor, Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Jeff Goldblum, Olivia Munn. Plot: a debonair art dealer and part time rogue (Depp) must traverse the globe in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Strange Magic [PG] 1 hr. 39 min. Animated Watch Preview Voices: Alfred Molina, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph, Peter Stormare, Evan Rachel Wood, Elijah Kelley, Alan Cumming, Sam Palladio, Meredith Anne Bull, Bob Einstein. Plot: a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 1/22/15

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Beyond The Lights
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Inherent Vice, Woman In Black 2, Homesman
Warren West 21st - Selma
Warren Old Town - Selma, Into The Woods

American Sniper ***

Clint Eastwood directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Sienna Miller, Bradley Cooper. Rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references. Running time is two hours and twelve minutes.

The most lethal sniper (Cooper) in U.S. military history comes home to his family and discovers he can't leave the war behind.

While the cast list above only shows two names there are actually a lot of actors here. It's just that the film is all Bradley Cooper with the rest of the cast severely minimized. Cooper does an impressive job and production values are fine. Even though it's over two hours long, the pacing is such that I was never bored or impatient for the ending. The use of flashbacks was overdone and the ending seems oddly disjointed, with his obvious PTSD being almost completely glossed over. I think almost everyone will find this to be an interesting picture but I don't personally think it's up to Oscar standards.

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

The Wedding Ringer **

Jeremy Garelick co-wrote and directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Cloris Leachman, Jenifer Lewis, Kevin Hart, Olivia Thirlby, Mimi Rogers, Josh Gad, Ken Howard, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. Rated R for crude and sexual content, language throughout, some drug use and brief graphic nudity. Running time is one hour and forty-one minutes.

A socially awkward groom-to-be (Josh Gad) is referred to the owner (Kevin Hart) of a company that provides flattering best men for socially challenged guys in need.

I'm not a Keven Hart fan. His style of humor, fast/loud talking, generally leaves me cold. But this time he's been reined in slightly. I don't know why or how, but I appreciate it. This film was slightly better than I'd expected. I actually laughed a few times at the sight gags. The rest of the cast is fine, with Gad being note perfect in his role as a social misfit. I don't think older viewers will be overly impressed with this film but younger viewers should enjoy it.

There are two short clips at the very end of the credits but they're hardly worth waiting for. Screen size is relatively unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 1/16/15

MetaCritic indicates Foxcatcher (82) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Paddington (77), American Sniper (73), Blackhat (49), Spare Parts (46) and The Wedding Ringer (30).  I saw two of these and found one of them slightly better than expected and the other not quite as good as hoped for. What I am positive about is the ratings this week will have no relationship to attendance figures. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 1/16/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

American Sniper [R] 2 hrs. 14 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Sienna Miller, Bradley Coope. Plot: the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history comes home to his family and discovers he can't leave the war behind. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West

Blackhat [R] 2 hrs. 13 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Viola Davis, Tang Wei, Chris Hemsworth, Wang Leehom. Plot: a furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners hunt a high-level cybercrime network. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West

Foxcatcher [R] 2 hrs. 14 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Vanessa Redgrave, Channing Tatum, Anthony Michael Hall. Plot: the story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. Showing at: Warren East

Paddington [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Family Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jim Broadbent, Nicole Kidman, Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville. Plot: the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West

Spare Parts [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Family Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei, George Lopez, Esai Morales, Jose Julian, Alessandra Rosaldo, Carlos Pena, David Del Rio, Oscar Gutierrez, Alexa PenaVega. Plot: a true life story about four Hispanic high school students who form a robotics club that goes up against MIT. Showing at: Warren East

The Wedding Ringer [R] 1 hr. 41 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Cloris Leachman, Jenifer Lewis, Kevin Hart, Olivia Thirlby, Mimi Rogers, Josh Gad, Ken Howard, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. Plot: a socially awkward groom-to-be (Josh Gad) is referred to the owner (Kevin Hart) of a company that provides flattering best men for socially challenged guys in need. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West

Leaving 1/15/15

Movie Machine - Woman In Black 2, Annie, Hobbit 3
Palace West - The Equalizer, Guardians Of The Galaxy
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Big Eyes, The Gambler, Big Hero 6, Exodus, Penguins Of Madagascar, Interstellar, Horrible Bosses 2
Warren West 21st - Big Eyes, The Gambler, Annie, Horrible Bosses 2, Penguins Of Madagascar, Exodus, Hobbit 3 3D
Warren Old Town - Woman In Black 2, Unbroken, Hobbit 3

Taken 3 **

Olivier Megaton directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, Dougray Scott, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Sam Spruell. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for brief strong language. Running time is one hour and forty-nine minutes.

An ex-covert operative's (Neeson), reconciliation with his ex-wife (Janssen) is tragically cut short when she is brutally murdered. Framed for the crime, he must use his "particular set of skills," to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now – his daughter (Grace).

There is a fair amount of action in this third rendition of the Taken franchise, but thrills are lacking. This appears to be a series that has simply run out of steam. In the first two films Neeson was trying to rescue someone, first his daughter and second his ex-wife. This time around he's trying to rescue himself from a jail cell, and that isn't as exciting. Production values and cast are all fine, it's just the plot that falls short. Action fans will be entertained but others will not find this a 'must see'.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A larger screen is preferable for an action film. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 1/9/15

MetaCritic indicates Selma (90) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Inherent Vice (82) and Taken 3 (30).  I saw Taken 3 and while certainly not great it will be satisfying for action fans. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 1/9/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Inherent Vice [R] 2 hrs. 28 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Owen Wilson, Martin Short, Katherine Waterston, Joanna Newson. Plot: private eye Doc Sportello's (Phoenix) ex-old lady suddenly shows up with a story about her current billionaire boyfriend, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap the billionaire and throw him in a loony bin. Showing at: Warren East.

Selma [PG-13] 2 hrs. 8 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Tim Roth, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Martin Sheen, Oprah Winfrey, Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Common , Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint. Plot:chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Taken 3 [PG-13] 1 hr. 49 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, Dougray Scott, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Sam Spruell. Plot: an ex-covert operative's (Neeson), reconciliation with his ex-wife is tragically cut short when she is brutally murdered. Framed for the crime, he must use his "particular set of skills," to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now – his daughter. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Imitation Game [PG-13] 1 hr. 54 min. also starts a run at Warren West.

Leaving 1/8/15

Movie Machine - Unbroken
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Birdman
Warren West 21st - Interstellar
Warren Old Town - The Gambler, Night At The Museum 3

Worthwhile (or not) 1/2/15

MetaCritic indicates The Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death (49) is the top ranking film this week, because it's the only new film this week. I don't consider horror films entertaining so I didn't watch it.  For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 1/2/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Horror Watch Preview Cast: Helen McCrory, Jeremy Irvine, Phoebe Fox. Plot: when a group of orphaned children are forced to move from their home in London, caretakers (Phoebe Fox) and (Helen McCrory) bring everyone to the desolate and eerie British countryside and it isn't long before they starts to sense this house is not what it seems. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 1/1/15

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - The Best Of Me, Boxtrolls, John Wick
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Top Five, Hobbit 3 HFR 3D
Warren West 21st - Top Five
Warren Old Town - Exodus: Gods And Kings

Into The Woods **½

Rob Marshall directed this Musical. Watch Preview. Cast: Tracey Ullman, Frances de la Tour, Johnny Depp, Lucy Punch, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, Simon Russell Beale, Tammy Blanchard, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Christine Baranski. Rated PG for thematic elements, fantasy action and peril, and some suggestive material. Running time is two hours and four minutes.

A musical which follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

You see the description of this film and you think, 'a great holiday film for the kiddies'. Well, think again. Remember, this is the composer of Sweeney Todd  before you haul the little dears to the cinema. I like musicals but this would never be one of my favorites. Only the title song will stick for more than a few minutes in your mind and I'll bet you can't remember any of its lyrics other than the opening three. Production values are good and the cast is great.  You rarely hear most of them sing so that is novel in itself, and the fact they all sing very well is surprising. But the story is not the 'happily ever after' you're expecting which makes me wonder why the studio decided to release it during the Christmas season. Musicals and Sondheim fans will find this a 'must see'. But families looking for happy, wholesome fare should think twice.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 12/25/14

MetaCritic indicates The Imitation Game (72) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Into The Woods (71), Big Eyes (62), Unbroken (59) and The Gambler (55). I saw one of these and thought it fine but with some reservations  For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 12/25/2014

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Big Eyes [PG-13] 1 hr. 46 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Danny Huston, Jason Schwartzman, Terence Stamp, Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Krysten Ritter. Plot: based on the true story of Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), and his wife Margaret (Amy Adams), who was one of the most successful painters of the 1950s and early 1960s. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.
 
The Gambler [R] 1 hr. 52 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: John Goodman, Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, Brie Larson, Michael Kenneth Williams. Plot: an English professor and  high-stakes gambler (Mark Wahlberg) bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Imitation Game [PG-13] 1 hr. 54 min. Biographical Drama Watch Preview Cast: Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew Beard, Rory Kinnear. Plot: based  on the life of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Showing at: Warren East.

Into The Woods [PG] 2 hrs. 5 min. Musical Watch Preview Cast: Tracey Ullman, Frances de la Tour, Johnny Depp, Lucy Punch, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, Simon Russell Beale, Tammy Blanchard, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Christine Baranski. Plot: a musical which follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Unbroken [PG-13] 2 hrs. 17 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock, Miyavi. Plot: follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII—only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West. 

Leaving 12/24/14

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - The Judge, Book Of Life
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - PK
Warren West 21st - Theory Of Everything, Dumb And Dumber To, St.Vincent, The Hobbit 3D
Warren Old Town - Horrible Bosses 2, The Hobbit 3D, Mockingjay Pt 1, Exodus 3D

Annie **½

Will Gluck co-wrote and directed this Comedy/Musical. Watch Preview. Cast: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David Zayas, Quvenzhané Wallis. Rated PG for some mild language and rude humor. Running time is one hour and fifty-eight minutes.

A new, contemporary vision about a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014.

What you think about this film will depend on whether you're considering it on its own or comparing it to the 1982 version. If you're comparing it to the Albert Finney, Carol Burnett version, this one isn't even close. The 1982 film had a slew of memorable songs and first rate acting. This version has new songs you'll never remember and actors, while good, who are out of place. Foxx is fine as the male lead and Wallis is cute and effective as Annie. But Diaz is too strident to be really effective and Byrne. a fine actress, is simply miscast in this role. If you want to consider this film as a family oriented social commentary with a few nondescript songs and a little laughter thrown in, then it has its moments and is mildly enjoyable. Kids should enjoy it. My wife watched this with me and enjoyed it more than I did (she would probably give it a higher rating).

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

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb **½

Shawn Levy directed  this Comedy/Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Robin Williams, Ben Kingsley, Steve Coogan, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens. Rated PG for mild action, some rude humor and brief language. Running time is one hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Another adventure-filled Night At the Museum, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

This (and possibly Annie) is the family film for the Christmas season. The kids will get much more excited about this than will their parents. It's really the same story once again with a few new characters plus a visit to London, but if you've seen either of the first two you've already seen the plot. I find it hard to believe Dan Stevens left Downton Abby to be Sir Lancelot in this but at least it does give us a last look at Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams, and it was nice to see Dick Van Dyke again, if only briefly. The cast and CGI effects are fine and it's a real pleasure to see a film less than two hours long.

There are some additional scenes once the final credits begin but nothing you really need to see. A large screen will enhance the impact of the special effects. Theatres/Times.

The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies **½

Peter Jackson directed this Fantasy Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Martin Freeman, Stephen Fry, Jed Brophy, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Billy Connolly, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Hugo Weaving, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Graham McTavish, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Richard Armitage. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Running time is two hours and twenty-four minutes.

The third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece by J.R.R. Tolkien.

This isn't a film I'm going to remember for long. It's very well made, has spectacular computer graphics and a very competent and talented cast. What it lacks is a story. That's to be expected since Jackson has turned a relatively small novel into three epic sized films; you've already seem most of the plot in the earlier releases. It's been long enough since the last one that I found myself struggling to remember just who the characters were. That turned out to be not much of a problem since the only thing you need to know is this is a bunch who really likes to fight. And fight they do, for two and a half hours. Tolkien fans and those who really, really like screen violence should find this a film to see. The rest will find this forgettable as soon as you leave the theatre. I saw this in 3D IMAX and found the screen quality excellent, as usual.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. If you're going to see this it should definitely be on a large screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. HFR 3D Times. 3D IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/19/14

MetaCritic indicates Wild (75) is the top ranking film this week, followed by The Hobbit: Battle Of Five Armies (59), Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb (45) and Annie (31). I saw three of these and found them all just so-so.  For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.

Opening 12/17, 19/14

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Wednesday 12/17/14

The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 2 hrs. 24 min. Fantasy Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Martin Freeman, Stephen Fry, Jed Brophy, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Billy Connolly, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Hugo Weaving, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Graham McTavish, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Richard Armitage. Plot: the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece by J.R.R. Tolkien. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Friday 12/19/14

Annie [PG]  1 hr. 59 min. Comedy/Musical Watch Preview Cast: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David Zayas, Quvenzhané Wallis. Plot: a new, contemporary vision about a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Robin Williams, Ben Kingsley, Steve Coogan, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens. Plot: another adventure-filled Night At the Museum, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

PK [NR] 2hrs. 33 min. Fantasy/Drama Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anushka Sharma. Plot: an Indian comedy about a stranger in a city, who asks questions no one has asked before. Showing at: Warren East.

Wild [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Biographical Drama Watch Preview Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann. Plot: a woman (Witherspoon) undertakes a 1,100-mile solo hike as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 12/18/14

Movie Machine - Hunger Games, Big Hero 6, Dumb & Dumber To
Palace West - Nightcrawler, TMNT, Annabelle, Ouija
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the season
Warren East 13th - Beyond The Lights, Whiplash, St. Vincent, Fury, Gone Girl, Theory Of Everything, Dumb & Dumber To
Warren Old Town - Theory Of Everything, Dumb & Dumber To, Interstellar
Warren West 21st - John Wick, Gone Girl, Fury

SOME OF THESE MAY LEAVE ON 12/16. CHECK SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU GO!