Opening 1/3/14

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.

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones [R] 1 hr. 24 min. Horror Watch Preview Cast: Richard Cabral, Carlos Pratts, Eddie J. Fernandez, Jorge Diaz, David Fernandez Jr., Kimberly Ables Jindra, Tonja Kahlens, Frank Salinas. Plot: this spin-off from the "Paranormal Activity" series focuses on a Latino family. Showing at:Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 1/2/14

Derby Plaza - unknown
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Escape Plan
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - nothing
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - nothing

The Wolf Of Wall Street **½

Martin Scorsese directed this Drama. Watch Preview Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin, Pj Byrne, Kenneth Choi. Rated R for sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence. Running time is three hours.

The story of a New York stockbroker (Leonardo DiCaprio), who went from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s.

This is a film about excess. It's has excessive profanity, excessive nudity, excessive sexual content, excessive drug use, excessive greed, and excessive length. In other words if you've ever been offended by a movie, I can guarantee this one will offend you. It offers a first rate cast and superior direction which makes the unnecessary length pass relatively quickly. The story itself is interesting and based on the experiences of stockbroker Jordon Belfort. I'm told the original edit was three-and-a-half hours long and would have been a NC-17. If you want to see that version, I'm certain a director's cut  DVD will be on its way soon. I wasn't offended by the film and thought the quality of the production made it worth watching. But, I would never recommend you see it unless I knew you well.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. An excessively large screen might be appropriate for full appreciation of the on screen activity. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/25/13

MetaCritic indicates The Wolf Of Wall Street (76) is the best picture this week, followed by Mandela: Long  Walk To Freedom (60), Secret Life Of  Walter Mitty (54), Grudge Match (37) and in last place, 47 Ronin (25). Justin Bieber's Believe evidently wasn't screened for the critics (imagine my surprise). I saw one of these and found it interesting although it would be hard to recommend to someone I didn't know. For all the 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 12/25/13

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.

47 Ronin 2D/3D [PG-13] 2 hrs. 7 min. Fantasy/Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi. Plot: after a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and restore honor to their people. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Grudge Match [PG-13] 1 hr. 53 min. Dramedy Watch Preview Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, Jon Bernthal, Camden Gray. Plot: two fighters (Stallone and DeNiro) whose fierce rivalry put them in the national spotlight decide to re-enter the ring after thirty years and settle the score once and for all. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Justin Bieber's Believe [PG] 1 hr. 31 min. Music Documentary Watch Preview Cast: Justin Bieber, Scooter Braun, Usher Raymond, Rodney Jerkins, Ludacris, Mike Posner. Plot: captures 19-year-old Justin Bieber, unfiltered and brutally honest in brand new interviews and concert footage. Showing at: Warren West.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom [PG-13] 2 hrs. 19 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Zolani Mkiva, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Deon Lotz, Terry Pheto. Plot: based on South African President Nelson Mandela's autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President. Showing at: Warren East.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty [PG] 1 hr. 54 min. Adventure/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Sean Penn. Plot: James Thurber's classic story of a day-dreamer (Stiller) who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Wolf Of Wall Street [R] 3 hrs. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin, Pj Byrne, Kenneth Choi. Plot: the story of a New York stockbroker (Leonardo DiCaprio), who went from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/24/13

Derby Plaza - unknown
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Planes, Insidious Chapter 2
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - Thor: The Dark World, Last Vegas, Dallas Buyer's Club, Walking With Dinosaurs 3D
Warren Old Town - A Madea Christmas, Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Warren West 21st - Delivery Man, Thor: The Dark World, Walking With Dinosaurs 3D, The Book Thief

American Hustle ***

David O. Russell co-wrote and directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence. Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence. Running time is two hours and eighteen minutes.

The story of a brilliant con man (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive partner (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent (Bradley Cooper), who is setting up what would come to be called Abscam.

On the positive side: a first rate cast and an interesting story. On the negative  side: too long and too slow before it finally concludes. Perhaps it's just me, but almost all films seem too long lately. This could have easily been edited to make for a faster paced film that would have held your attention throughout. As it is, I was restless in several spots. The film never really lets you in on who's being hustled until the very end, and that made it more confusing than it needed to be. It's very much worth watching, if for no other reason than letting Adams and Lawrence show you what they can do, but it could have been so much more so.

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

Saving Mr. Banks **½

John Lee Hancock directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, Annie Rose Buckley, Ruth Wilson, B.J. Novak, Rachel Griffiths, Kathy Baker. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some unsettling images. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

In his quest to obtain the rights to her novel, Walt Disney (Hanks) comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer (Thompson) who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved Mary Poppins get mauled by the Hollywood machine.

This is a rather serious drama with a very good cast, telling a story I doubt most (especially the younger crowd) will be interested in. It's basically the story about the childhood of the author of Mary Poppins, and what she was trying to do when she wrote the books, and why they were so important to her. I found it somewhat interesting (my wife really enjoyed it) but there's very little tension in the story and  two hours  was  simply more than I was comfortable with. I think the primary audience for this will be middle-aged and older women and  I doubt you'll have any trouble getting a ticket to see it.

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

Anchor Man 2: The Legend Continues **

 Adam McKay directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, Josh Lawson, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Nicole Kidman. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, drug use, language and comic violence. Running time is one hour and fifty-nine minutes.

San Diego's top rated newsman (Will Ferrell) returns to the news desk along with his co-anchor and wife (Christina Applegate), weather man (Steve Carell), man on the street (Paul Rudd) and sports guy (David Koechner) - all of whom won't make it easy to stay classy…while taking the nation's first 24-hour news channel by storm.

I watched this with a group of younger patrons and was fascinated by the differences in what they and I found funny. They were laughing at things I found no humor in at all, and when I was snickering, they were quiet.I guess you could call this the generation gap and I suspect that will affect those attending this film. The younger you are, the more you're likely to enjoy it. It's basically a collection of skits, very loosely tied together with a mere thread of a plot. Some of these I found very funny, but the majority were simply too outlandish for my tastes. And, the film is a good thirty minutes too long. My age group is simply not the target for this film, and older readers may want to keep that in mind.

There was an additional scene at the end of the credits, but it's meaningless. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/20/13

MetaCritic indicates American Hustle (88) is the best picture this week, followed by Nebraska (86), Saving Mr.Banks (66), Anchorman 2 (62) and in last place, Walking With Dinosaurs (37). I saw three of these and didn't think any of them were as good as the national critics did. For all the 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 12/18, 20/13

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.

Opening Wednesday 12/18/13

Anchor Man 2: The Legend Continues [PG-13] 1 hr. 59 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, Josh Lawson, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Nicole Kidman. Plot: San Diego's top rated newsman (Will Ferrell) returns to the news desk along with his co-anchor and wife (Christina Applegate), weather man (Steve Carell), man on the street (Paul Rudd) and sports guy (David Koechner) - all of whom won't make it easy to stay classy…while taking the nation's first 24-hour news channel by storm. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Opening Friday 12/20/13

American Hustle [R] 2 hrs. 18 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence. Plot: the story of a brilliant con man (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent (Bradley Cooper). Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Nebraska [R] 2 hrs. 1 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Stacy Keach, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk. Plot: after receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Bruce Dern) thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Will Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Showing at: Warren East.

Saving Mr. Banks [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Dramedy Watch Preview Cast: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, Annie Rose Buckley, Ruth Wilson, B.J. Novak, Rachel Griffiths, Kathy Baker. Plot: in his quest to obtain the rights to her novel, Walt Disney (Hanks) comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer (Thompson) who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved Mary Poppins get mauled by the Hollywood machine. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren West.

Walking With Dinosaurs 3D/2D [PG] Animated Family Film Watch Preview Voices: Justin Long, John Leguizamo. Plot: a breakthrough in technology will introduce new and unique dinosaurs that are more real than ever before and put moviegoers in the middle of a thrilling prehistoric adventure, where an underdog dinosaur triumphs against all odds to become a hero for the ages. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 12/17, 19/13

Derby Plaza - unknown, will update if I hear
Movie Machine - 12/17: The Delivery Man; 12/17: Thor: The DarkWorld
Palace West - 12/19: Don Jon, The Counselor
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - 12/17: Homefront, The Best Man Holiday; 12/19: Out Of The Furnace, The Delivery Man 12 Years A Slave, Frozen 3D
Warren Old Town - 12/17: Homefront; 12/19: Out Of The Furnace
Warren West 21st - 12/17: 12 Years A Slave, Last Vegas; 12/19: Captain Phillips, Bad Grandpa, Homefront, Out Of The Furnace, Frozen 3D

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug **½

Peter Jackson directed this Fantasy adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Evangeline Lilly, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Michael Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Running time is two hours and forty-one minutes.

Continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf  (McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage), on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.

You'll have to be a real fan of these films to be satisfied with this offering. It goes without saying that it has a very good cast, fantastic production values and looks like millions and millions of dollars on the screen. But there's simply no reason for the excessive length and languid pacing which started me looking at my watch before the half-way point. There's plenty of action throughout but this is so long you become numb to it long before it's over. On the other hand, if you decide  to see this on your home TV, there's no way you'll come close to the experience you'll get in the theatre. I saw this in IMAX 3D, and while it was exceptional as usual, I don't think the 3D added that much to the proceedings. Or perhaps I was just too tired of the whole thing to care. If you're going to see it on a regular screen I'd skip the 3D and make sure you find a really, really comfortable seat! If you want to see this in the latest and greatest format, High Frame Rate 3D (48 fps instead of 24 fps) you'll need to see it at the Warren 13th. 

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen will add  to the impressiveness of the presentation. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/13/13

MetaCritic indicates The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (65) is the best picture this week, which once again isn't difficult when you're the only film reviewed. Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas has no rating as it evidently wasn't screened for the critics (never a good sign). If you take the link over the next couple of days a rating should appear after reviewers have seen it. I saw The Hobbit and think fans will enjoy it but everyone else will think it just so-so. For all the 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 12/13/13

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 Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 2 hrs. 41 min. Fantasy adventure Watch Preview Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Evangeline Lilly, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Michael Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner. Plot: continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf  (McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage), on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, JR Lemon, Alicia Witt, Lisa Whelchel, Larry the Cable Guy. Plot: Madea gets coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas. Showing at: Derby Plaza?, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/12/13

Derby Plaza - unknown, will update if I hear
Movie Machine - Free Birds, The Butler
Palace West - About Time, Grown Ups 2, Elysium
Starlite Drive-In - closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - Ender's Game, Captain Phillips, Old Boy, Christmas Candle, Bad Grandpa, Free Birds, Black Nativity
Warren Old Town - The Book Thief, The Delivery Man, Thor: The DarkWorld
Warren West 21st - Free Birds, Gravity, Black Nativity, The Christmas Candle, The Best  Man Holiday

Out Of The Furnace **

Scott Cooper directed this Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoë Saldana, Sam Shepard. Rated R for strong violence, language and drug content. Running time is one hour and fifty-six minutes.

After his brother (Affleck) disappears, a man (Bale) takes matters into his own hands, putting his life on the line to seek justice for him after local law enforcement drops the ball.

If you find yourself brimming over with Christmas cheer and you want to ratchet that back a few notches while you still have a bank balance, this is a must see film. I don't remember the last time I saw a film this depressing. It has a great cast and good production values, but a plot that moves at a snail's pace and eventually stumbles and just dies. Why actors of this caliber would want to be in this film is beyond me, and unless you revel in deep depression, you don't want to be in it either. Bare knuckle fight fans may find a few scenes to their liking but that's the only group that's  going to get anything out of this. This won't be here long, so hurry if you still think you want to see it.

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

Worthwhile (or not) 12/6/13

MetaCritic indicates Out Of The Furnace (65) is the best picture this week. Once again, it's in the top position because it's the only new film this week. I saw it and wasn't nearly as impressed as the national critics. For all the 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 12/6/13

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.

Out Of The Furnace [R] 1 hr. 56 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoë Saldana, Sam Shepard. Plot: after his brother (Affleck) disappears, a man (Bale) takes matters into his own hands, putting his life on the line to seek justice for him after local law enforcement drops the ball. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/5/13

Derby Plaza - nothing
Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - One Direction: This Is Us
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri-Sat
Warren East 13th - nothing
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - nothing