What are you in the mood for?

Sometimes you just want to go out and don't really care what kind of movie is available. Other times you're interested in a particular type of film. Google makes it easy to find what's available but I'm making it even easier by setting up a few of those links for you. If you click on a genre and then click on a particular picture you will see where and when it is playing, no matter where you live.

Everything | Action | Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Watching your movies on TV?

If you get your movie fix on Netflicks, here's what's leaving at the end of next month. And, here's what's currently available on Netflicks. Here's what's available on Amazon. And, Hulu fans can find what's currently available, leaving and coming soon here.

General theatrical releases opening 6/2/17

At this time only one new big film is indicated for this weekend, Wonder Woman. At two hours and twenty-one minutes, this will be a little long for older patrons but younger action fans should be fine with it. Also being released here this weekend is Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.  I'm not sure the theatres and times indicated in the links are accurate but I'll update this post as soon as the correct theatre/times information is available, usually by Wednesday.

Wonder Woman MetaCritic score (79),  reviews. Captain Underpants MetaCritic score (70), reviews.

General theatrical releases opening 5/26/17

Only two new general release films this week: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Baywatch. The latter opens on Thursday for some reason and will likely leave town within a week or two . Neither seem to represent much in the way of originality but I expect Pirates to be at least moderately successful.

Take the title links to get complete information about all new films including plot, cast and cast pictures, previews (trailers), INDB and MetaCritic scores, theatres playing the films and showtimes.

A Whole Lot Of Changes

Due to the recent ownership changes in the Wichita theatres, along with a medical condition I'm experiencing, it's not going to be possible for me to review new releases as I have in the past. But, it will allow me to cover the movie scene more thoroughly than I was able to before.

As a consequence, you'll be seeing a lot of changes in this blog in the near future. I hope you'll bear with me as I work out what the updated blog should contain. If you have suggestions, contact me at: jdarnell@cox.net.

Opening 5/19/17

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.

Alien: Covenant 2D/IMAX 2D [R] 2 hrs. 1 min. Sci-Fi Watch Preview Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demian Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollet, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby, Noomi Rapace, James Franco. Plot: the crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jason Ian Drucker, Charlie Wright, Owen Asztalos, Tom Everett Scott, Alicia Silverstone. Plot: a family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Everything, Everything  [PG-13] 1 hr. 36 min. Romantic Drama Watch Preview Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Ana de la Reguera, Anika Noni Rose. Plot: the unlikely love story of a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 5/18/17

Movie Machine - Fate Of The Furious, Boss Baby
Palace West - John Wick 2, Life
Warren East 13th - How To Be A Latin Lover, Colossal, Lost City Of Z, King Arthur 3D
Warren West 21st - Absolutely Anything, Zookeepers Wife, King Arthur 3D
Warren Old Town - Fate Of The Furious

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Worthwhile (or not) 5/12/17

MetaCritic indicates Colossal (70) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Wall (59), Lowriders (55), Snatched (46), King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (40), and Absolutely Anything (27). For national reviews take the link to he MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Yet another week of clearing off the shelf with most of these having little or no boxoffice potential. On the bright side, the next month will give us Alien: Covenant, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Wonder Woman.

Colossal has 26 favorable reviews, 8 mixed and one negative. It looks to be a metaphor trying to pass as Sci-Fi. Comments range from "you’re deposited, happy and a little worse for wear, at the end" to "the actors are solid, as expected, but the plot itself is pretentious without saying much at all." A lot of reviewers seem to like this one so it may be worth a look. Rated R for language. Running time is 109 minutes.

The Wall has 10 positive and and 7 mixed reviews with comments ranging from "a well-made, engaging war-time thriller" to "so dramatically monotonous and tonally high-pitched that you want to escape almost as much as the characters do." Rated R for language throughout and some war violence. Running time is 81 minutes.

Lowriders has only one positive review and five mixed reviews, ranging from "has style and local color to spare" to "unfortunately too formulaic and predictable." Unless this is a topic that interests you, this is probably one to miss. I don't think this will be here long. Rated PG-13 for language, some violence, sensuality, thematic elements and brief drug use. Running time is 99 minutes.

Snatched has 6 positive reviews, 16 mixed reviews and 5 negative reviews. I get the feeling this is not a typical Goldie Hawn comedy, being much more adult in nature than her usual fare. Reviewer comments are are fairly well summed up with "Hawn deserves better, and so do audiences." Rated R for crude sexual content, brief nudity, and language throughout. Running time is 90 minutes.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword reviews lean toward the negative with 4 positive reviews, 24 mixed reviews and 10 negative reviews. Comments range from "lacks character development, but makes up for it with swashbuckling, sword-fighting" to "devolves into a jumbled affair, weighed down by confusing supernatural elements and a lazy reliance on visual effects." I think we've all seen this story before. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some suggestive content and brief strong language. The film is too long at 126 minutes.

Absolutely Anything can only be opening here because someone is doing somebody a favor. It's only in one theatre and for only one showing a day and you can bet this will be its only week. It's a two year old film with no positive reviews, four mixed and four negative reviews, which are best summed up by: "[A] depressingly inept comedy." Rated R for language including sexual references, and brief nudity. Running time is 85 minutes.

Theatres and times: Colossal, The Wall, Lowriders, Snatched, King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, Absolutely Anything.

Opening 5/12/17

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.

Absolutely Anything [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Romantic Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, Eddie Izzard, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joanna Lumely, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Robin Williams. Plot: a disillusioned school teacher finds the ability to do anything he wishes bestowed upon him by power-crazed aliens. Showing at: Warren West.

Colossal [R] 1 hr. 49 min. Sci-Fi Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dana Stevens, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson. Plot: an out-of-work girl must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world. Showing at: Warren East.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword [PG-13] 2 hrs. 6 min.Fantasy Adventure Watch Preview Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Jude Law, Eric Bana. Plot: a classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Lowriders [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Demian Bichir, Eva Longoria, Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi, Melissa Benoist, Tony Revolori. Plot: the story of  a talented young street artist (Gabriel Chavarria) caught between the lowrider world and his self-expression. Showing at: Warren East.

Snatched [R] 1 hr. 31 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Joan Cusack, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, Christopher Meloni. Plot: a daughter (Amy Schumer) persuades her ultra-cautious mother (Goldie Hawn) to travel with her to paradise. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Wall [R] 1 hr. 24 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena. Plot: about two soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper, with nothing but a crumbling wall between them. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 5/11/17

Movie Machine - The Circle
Palace West - CHIPs, Moana, La La Land, Hidden Figures
Warren East 13th - The Dinner, Gifted, Unforgettable, Sleight, The Case For Christ, Born In China
Warren West 21st - Power Rangers, Unforgettable, Smurfs, Kong, Born In China
Warren Old Town -The Circle, Going In Style

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Worthwhile (or not) 5/5/17

MetaCritic indicates Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (67) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Dinner (60). I didn't watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 comments range from"more expansive, more beautiful, funnier, nuttier—" to "a computer-generated action-fest" to "trying too hard." However, the truth is it doesn't make any difference what the national critics say, this will be a boxoffice bonanza. If you're planning on seeing it during the first week you'll probably be standing in line. Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content.

The Dinner reviews range from "a dash of poison elegance" to "all four leads are simply outstanding"  to "this is one to miss." Clearly, the reviews are all over the place with 9 positives, 7 mixed and 2 negatives. While this looks to be the choice for those who appreciate serious drama, I wouldn't tarry. I don't think this will be here long. Rated R for disturbing violent content, and language throughout.

Theatres and times: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, The Dinner.

Opening 5/5/17

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 Dinner [R] 2 hrs.Thriller Watch Prevue Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Hall, Chloë Sevigny. Plot: a psychological thriller about a fierce showdown between two couples during the course of an ornately prepared meal at a fancy restaurant. Showing at: Warren East.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [PG-13] 2 hrs. 16 min. Sci-Fi Adventure Watch Prevue Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Rosenbaum. Plot: continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos and continue to unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 5/4/17

Movie Machine - Beauty & The Beast, Smurfs, Going In Style
Palace West - Sing
Warren East 13th - Free Fire, Logan, Phoenix Forgotten, Unforgettable, Born In China, The Promise
Warren West 21st - Get Out, Phoenix Forgotten, Logan, The Promise, Fate Of The Furious IMAX
Warren Old Town -Beauty & The Beast, The Promise, Phoenix Forgotten

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Worthwhile (or not) 4/28/17

MetaCritic indicates Sleight (66) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Circle (55), with  How To Be A Latin Lover being unrated. I didn't watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

This is yet another week with all new pics being in the ** to **½ range. In other words, there's nothing to get excited about. The Sleight reviews range from considering it "memorable and unique" to thinking they'd saved all the good stuff for a possible sequel. Most of the reviewers of The Circle find its main concern to be privacy but vary on how well they think the film handled that matter. I thought the previews for How To Be A Latin Lover looked funny and the limited reviews also found that to be the case but also felt the lead character was unlikeable and so detracted from the humor.

Theatres and times: Sleight, The Circle, How To Be A Latin Lover.

Opening 4/28/17

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 Circle [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane, Patton Oswalt, Glenne Headly, Bill Paxton. Plot: set in the not-too-distant future, a woman (Watson) lands a dream job at a powerful tech company called the Circle, and uncovers their nefarious agenda. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

How To Be A Latin Lover [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raphael Alejandro, Kristen Bell, Rob Lowe. Plot: a very handsome man (Eugenio Derbez) who's made a career of seducing rich older women, gets the surprise of his life when she ends up dumping him for a younger car salesman, forcing him to move in with his estranged sister (Salma Hayek) and her nerdy son. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Sleight [R] 1 hr 30 min. Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Jacob Latimore, Seychelle Gabriel, Dule Hill, Sasheer Zamata, Storm Reid, Cameron Esposito. Plot: a young street magician (Jacob Latimore), left to care for his little sister, turns to illegal activities to keep a roof over their heads. When his sister is kidnapped, he is forced to use his magic to save her. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 4/27/17

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - nothing
Warren East 13th - Smurfs, Grow House
Warren West 21st - nothing
Warren Old Town - nothing

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Worthwhile (or not) 4/21/17

MetaCritic indicates Lost City Of Z (78) is the top ranked film this week, followed by Free Fire (61), Born In China (60), Gifted (60), The Promise (46),and Unforgettable (46).  Both Grow House and Phoenix Forgotten were not reviewed. I didn't watch any of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

In the trade, this is known as a "clear off the shelf" week. These are basically films that aren't going to do much business and need a theatre showing so they can be quickly released to DVD or streaming video before the summer onslaught begins. If you enjoy a docudrama, Lost City of Z is your obvious choice. The rest appear to be eminently forgettable! Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 is just a couple of weeks away so consider saving your money until then.

Theatres and times: Born In China, Free Fire, Gifted, Grow House, Lost City Of Z, Phoenix Forgotten, The Promise, Unforgettable.

Open 4/21/17

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.

Born In China G 1 hr. 19 min.Documentary Watch Preview Cast: John Krasinski. Plot: follows the stories of three animal families in this nature film. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Free Fire R 1 hr. 30 min. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Michael Smiley, Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Jack Reynor, Sam Riley, Noah Taylor. Plot: centers around an arms deal that goes spectacularly and explosively wrong. Showing at: Warren East.

Gifted PG-13 1 hr. 41 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer. Plot: a single man raising a child prodigy – his spirited young niece (Mckenna Grace) – runs into problems with his mother and her plans for the child. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Lost City Of Z PG-13 2 hr. 21 min. Drama/Biography Watch Preview Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Angus MacFadyen, Edward Ashley, Clive Francis, Ian McDiarmid, Franco Nero. Plot: the incredible true story of a British explore (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization. Showing at: Warren East.

Phoenix Forgotten  PG-13 1 hr. 28 min. Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Florence Hartigan, Chelsea Lopez, Justin Matthews, Luke Spencer Roberts. Plot: the story of three teens who went into the desert shortly after a UFO sighting and were never seen again. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Promise PG-13 2 hr. 13 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, Christian Bale, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Sarafyan, Jean Reno, James Cromwell, Daniel Giminez Cacho, Marwan Kenzari. Plot: a love triangle set during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Unforgettable R 1 hr. 40 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Katherine Heigl, Rosario Dawson, Geoff Stults, Cheryl Ladd, Sarah Burns, Whitney Cummings, Simon Kassianides, Isabella Rice, Robert Ray Wisdom. Plot: an ex-wife's jealousy soon takes a pathological turn when her former husband finds a girlfriend. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 4/20/17

Movie Machine - nothing
Palace West - Rogue One
Warren East 13th - Kong, Get Out, Power Rangers, T2, Ghost In The Shell, Beauty & The Beast Sing-A-Long
Warren West 21st - Ghost In The Shell, Beauty & The Beast Sing-A-Long
Warren Old Town - Kong, Power Rangers, CHIPs

More people are back to work, but not getting the hours they want, nor the wages they need to get back what they lost in the recession. 

Worthwhile (or not) 4/14/17

MetaCritic indicates T2: Trainspotting (67) is the top ranked film this week, followed by The Fate Of The Furious (59).  I didn't watch either of these this week. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

T2, a twenty-years-later look at a group of Scottish addicts is basically only going to be of interest to those who watched and liked the first Trainspotting in 1996. I'm just guessing that doesn't include many of my readers and is probably why it is only showing in one auditorium in Wichita. The Fate Of The Furious, on the other hand, is showing in 15 Wichita auditoriums plus the IMAX. That's probably because 2015’s "Furious 7" was one of the fastest movies to reach $1 billion worldwide in box-office history and the sixth-biggest global title of all time. The numbers on this one aren't great, although the reviewers think Furious 8 is better than Furious 7, and their comments range from "testosterone-charged" to "full-on brain-dead." The reviews won't make a bit of difference to the action crowd so if you plan on attending this 2½ hour epic, plan on lines and crowded auditoriums, at least for the first week.

Times and theatres for T2: Trainspotting and The Fate Of The Furious.