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OPENING THIS WEEK
HAMLET 2 Review on
I.O.U.S.A. Review on
THE UP BEAT Review on
ALSO OPENING
BABYLON A.D. (1 hr., 30 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality) Burly physique, gravelly diction and all, Vin Diesel gets back to doing Vin Diesel things, like kicking the crap out of people and being all future-y and science fiction-istic. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.
COLLEGE (1 hr., 34 min.; Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content, nudity, language, drug and alcohol abuse) Kids will be drunken revelers, or at least boys will, especially if they're high school seniors making one of those college visits. Let the wacky attempts to mimic "Animal House" commence! No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.
DISASTER MOVIE (1 hr., 30 min.; Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language, drug references and comic violence) Did you see that one movie where that one thing happened? Whichever the movie, whatever the thing, there's probably a joke about it in Hollywood's latest spoof-stravaganza. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.
TRAITOR (1 hr., 54 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences, thematic material and brief language) Don Cheadle ("Hotel Rwanda") plays a U.S. black ops supersoldier who may have gone rogue. Or is he simply a tool of the system whose handlers have lost control? No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
ENCHANTED "Good morning, Robert. I hope you had wonderful dreams." (PG) Plays Wednesday at 9 p.m., SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, 699 S. State St., Orem. 225-2787. $4/adults and $3/children, students and seniors.
LARGE FORMAT FILMS
Cricket Imax Theater at Jordan Commons
THE DARK KNIGHT (2 hrs., 32 min.; PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace) Batman vs. Joker in IMAX widescreen!
Showtimes daily. 9355 S. State St., Sandy. (801) 304-INFO.
Xango Mammoth Screen Theater at Thanksgiving Point
DINOSAURS: GIANTS OF PATAGONIA (40 min.; No MPAA rating) Learn about the discovery of super-large dino in South America.
WILD OCEAN 3D (45 min.; No MPAA rating) Massive aquatic feeding frenzies off the coast of Africa in 3D!
SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE (40 min.; No MPAA rating) Learn about the humongous beasts that used to swim in the sea.
Showtimes daily. 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi. 768-2300.
CONTINUING
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN (2 hrs., 24 min.; PG for epic battle action and violence) This violent, exciting sequel to "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" seems more naturally suited to the mundane realm of Moremoolah than the magical, allegorical kingdom of Narnia. Characters old and new unite to fight a visually spectacular, morally simplistic battle of good and evil. [B]
THE DARK KNIGHT (2 hrs., 32 min.; PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace) With crisp, comprehensible action scenes, stellar acting and a dense, thoughtful script, this dark, hard-egded chapter would be the high point of the long-running Batman saga even without the amazing, chilling performance of the late Heath Ledger as Joker. [A]
DEATH RACE (1 hr., 45 min.; R for strong violence and language) Jason Statham is a skilled driver who gets wrongfully imprisoned in this reinvention of "Death Race 2000." Wrongfully imprisoned, that is, so he can compete against other inmates in a race to the death! There's absolutely nothing of interest but crashing cars in the trashy demolition derby. [D]
THE ERRAND OF ANGELS (1 hr., 31 min.; Rated PG for some thematic material) Newly arrived in Austria, apple-cheeked LDS proselytizer Sister Taylor gradually explores her personal faith as she adapts to the challenges of teaching strangers about Christ. A mild-mannered, but sincere and thoughtful addition to the annals of missionary cinema. [A-]
HANCOCK (1 hr., 32 min.; PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language) There's a train wreck in "Hancock," and the movie itself is a bit of a train wreck. Will Smith is especially engaging as a loutish, indifferent superhero, however, and the movie gets off to a solid start before an intriguing different, yet cumbersome twist puts a kink in the movie's style. [B-]
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (1 hr., 50 min.; PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence and some language) Ron Perlman is as watchable as ever as the spawn of Satan, a friendly demon with a fondness for cats, who defends humanity against weird stuff. The glorious visual effects are only half the fun of this witty, street-smart superhero film. [A-]
THE HOUSE BUNNY (1 hr., 37 min.; Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language) Anna Faris stars as a revered "Playboy" Playmate who gets booted from the House of Hef after she turns 27 and tries to make a new life for herself in the house of Zeta Alpha Zeta. Funnier than you might expect, thanks to the fearless Faris. [C-]
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (1 hr., 54 min.; PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity) Marvel Comics's not-so-jolly green giant does lots of smashing in this simplistic attempt to blot out the cinematic memory of Ang Lee's prettier, more dramatically complex 2003 film "Hulk." It's fast, furious and flat. [C-]
IRON MAN (2 hrs.; PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content) Giving the freshest superhero performance in many a moon, Robert Downey Jr. electrifies this fast, funny chronicle of the Marvel Comics cover boy who fights injustice with the power of heavy metal (and some cool weapons technology). [B+]
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1 hr., 32 min.; PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments) It's Jules Verne for Dummies! Brendan Fraser deploys his exaperated action hero persona from the "Mummy" movies as a geologist who, after being trapped with his nephew in the bowels of the Earth, discovers that deeply silly action gimmicks are what lies beneath. [D+]
KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL (1 hr., 38 min.; G) The story of a bright girl with a nose for news in 1934 Cincinnati is warm and optimistic without flinching from the harsh realities of its era. Abigail Breslin, who lit up "Little Miss Sunshine" a couple of summers ago, is her usual charming self as the lead character, and the movie has a strong supporting cast. [B+]
KUNG FU PANDA (1 hr., 30 min.; PG for sequences of martial arts action) With gorgeous animation and excellent kung fu action, this heroic saga of humor and adventure, in which a tubby panda with a love of kung fu discovers an unlikely destiny, more than delivers on its marketers' promise of "awesomeness." Distinguished by its sharp characters, gentle wisdom and excellent acting. [A]
THE LONGSHOTS (1 hr., 34 min.; PG for some thematic elements, mild language and brief rude humor) Rapper/actor Ice Cube and Keke Palmer, star of "Akeelah and the Bee," have a nice bond in this "Bad News Bears"-style take on the real-world legacy of the first girl to play quarterback in a Pop Warner championship game. Heartfelt and surprisingly fresh. [B]
MAMMA MIA! (1 hr., 48 min.; PG-13 for some sex-related comments) Meryl Streep can sing! Meryl can dance! Meryl Streep is having the time of her life. You may not have the time of your life, however, unless you really, really dig ABBA songs. The movie slavishly adheres to the empty-headed Broadway fluff it's based on. [C+]
MIRRORS (1 hr., 50 min.; R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity) Kiefer Sutherland is a suspended NYPD dectective who takes a job patrolling a fire-gutted (and haunted?) department store where mirrors show disturbing reflections. Tense and controlled for its first hour, this bloody splatter film eventually runs off the rails. [C+]
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (1 hr., 52 min.; PG-13 for adventure action and violence) It's a good thing that the "Mummy" movies are a trilogy, because that means that the brazenly mindless, loud, sloppy, lifeless "Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" is the last of them. Trust me, they're a trilogy. That goes for you, too, Hollywood. [D]
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (1 hr., 51 min.; R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence) It's the "Gone with the Wind" of cannabis comedies! Seth Rogen plays a weed lovin' process server who goes on the lam with his herb-addled dealer (a very funny James Franco) after witnessing a murder. Funny, but wastes a lot of time on a useless girlfriend subplot. [B]
THE ROCKER (1 hr., 42 min.; PG-13 for drug and sexual references, nudity and language) Rainn Wilson, who plays prissy Dwight Schrute on NBC's "The Office," is a white collar stooge with a rock 'n' roll record in this tame, play-it-safe comedy. His past is present when the garage band his nephew plays in needs a skins basher. Can Uncle Rock Star fit the bill? [C]
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 (1 hr., 54 min.; PG-13 for mature material and sensuality) The members of the BFF sisterhood have slightly more mature dilemmas in their second adventure. "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera gives the standout performance. "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively has the most boring subplot. [B]
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (1 hr., 38 min.; PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking) Anakin Skywalker has to rescue the infant son of Jabba the Hutt or ... well, let's not find out. Despite a silly plot and lighthearted vibe, the new "Star Wars" movie has cool action and some of the old familiar camaraderie. [B-]
STEP BROTHERS (1 hr., 38 min.; R for crude and sexual content and pervasive language) The idea of 40-year-old, live-at-home slackers moving in together as brothers after their parents wed is funny, but not for very long. For most of its running time, "Step Brothers" is merely a herky-jerky spew of vulgarity, profanity and childish destructiveness. [D-]
TROPIC THUNDER (1 hr., 47 min.; R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material) This broad, hard-edged showbiz satire about the complicated production of an expensive Vietnam war action movie begins with a bang and then gradually slows to a crawl. Robert Downey Jr., however, is very, very funny throughout. [B]
WALL-E (1 hr., 43 min.; G) The newest film from Disney and Pixar has an electrifying beginning that stakes an instant claim to full recognition among the classics of science fiction cinema. But what start brilliantly slides into sometimes inspired mediocrity when the story of a lonely litterbot following his programming on a gutted future Earth blasts into deep space. [B-]
YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (1 hr., 53 min.; PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language and nudity) It would be overstating the reality of this dippy comedy -- about a Mossad agent who trades in his derring-do for a daring 'do and becomes a stylist in NYC -- to call it "smart." For a typically tawdry Adam Sandler comedy, however, it's practially a work of genius. [B-]
SALT LAKE COUNTY
These films are playing exclusively in Salt Lake County at the theaters indicated.
Broadway Centre at 111 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City -- (801) 321-0310
Carmike 12 at 1600 W. Fox Park Drive, West Jordan -- (801) 562-5760
Carmike Ritz Hollywood Connection at 3217 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City -- (801) 973-4386
Century 16 Salt Lake at 125 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City -- (801) 486-9652
Century 16 Union Heights at 7670 S. Union Park Ave., Sandy -- (801) 568-3456
Cinemark 24 at 7301 S. Jordan Landing, West Jordan -- (801) 282-9722
Cinemark Movies 9 at 9359 S. 700 East, Sandy -- (801) 571-0601
Cinemark Movies 10 at 2227 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City -- (801) 466-3797
Cinemark Valley Fair Movies 9 at 3601 S. 2700 West, West Valley City -- (801) 969-7281
Megaplex 12 at 200 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City -- (801) 304-INFO
Megaplex 17 at 9355 S. State St., Sandy -- (801) 304-INFO
Megaplex 20 at 11400 S. Bangerter Hwy., South Jordan -- (801) 304-INFO
Tower Theatre at 876 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City -- (801) 321-0310
FLY ME TO THE MOON (1 hr., 29 min.; Rated G) Flies, regular ol' musca domesticas, are the unseen passengers who accompany the Apollo 11 moon mission into space in this 3D/animated family adventure film. The movie has crisp, impressive animation, and sticks pretty close to the facts (except for the whole flies thing), but ends up being kinda dull. [C+] Megaplex 17, Megaplex 20
GET SMART (1 hr., 50 min.; PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language) Steve Carell is all Ca-wrong for the Ca-role of secret agent man and '60s TV icon Maxwell Smart. The spy games that Carell and Anne Hathaway (taking over for Barbara Feldon as Agent 99) get up to aren't enjoyable either as action or as comedy. The Rock is wasted in a supporting role. [D+] Cinemark 24
HELL RIDE ( 1 hr., 23 min.; R for strong violence, sexual content including graphic nudity and dialogue, language and drug use) Defenders of "Hell Ride" would surely characterize this balls-out biker movie as an "homage" to grindhouse cinema. Only, sometimes the crap of the past is just plain crap, and it doesn't smell any fresher when you shovel it into 2008. [F] Tower
THE LOVE GURU (1 hr., 28 min.; PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language, some comic violence and drug references) Unless you think references to male genitalia are funny -- like, hysterically funny -- then Mike Myers's first live action comedy since "The Cat in the Hat" will leave you cold. There few decent humorous bits go to waste. [D+] Cinemark 10
MEET DAVE (1 hr., 30 min.; PG for bawdy and suggestive humor, action and some language) Who is Dave? He's the least successful gimmick of Eddie Murphy's family comedy career, a starship built to perfectly resemble a human being, sent to earth to retrieve an important alien artifact. Instead of a story, the movie merely strings together a loooong series of lame jokes. [D] Valley Fair 9
SEX AND THE CITY (2 hrs., 22 min.; R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language) The clothes! The shoes! The sass! The (um, "booty")! The magic is back, sort of, as the bright-lights-and-big-city sexcapades of the seminal HBO series leap to the big screen. The actresses know their beats, but the formula feels a little too familiar and the drama drags on and on. [C+] Cinemark 10
SWING VOTE (1 hr., 40 min.; PG-13 for language) The outcome of a presidential election pitting Dennis Hopper against Kelsey Grammer falls into the lap of of Kevin Costner -- only in America! An affable Kev and the terrific Madeline Carroll as his dazed 'n' confused character's doting daughter are the real winning ticket in this breezy, if toothless political satire. [B] Megaplex 12, Megaplex 17, Megaplex 20
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (1 hr., 36 min.; Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and smoking) After stumbling through three films set in London, Woody Allen hits his stride again in Spain with this witty, engaging romp through artistic pretension and flirty desire. Penelope Cruz gives the standout performance. [A-] Broadway, Megaplex 20
WANTED (1 hr., 50 min.; R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality) A dude with a crappy job finds out that life has more to offer, after being kidnapped to be trained as an assassin by a beautiful and deadly woman named Fox. Russian director Timur Bekmambetov and his splashy visual style are a good fit for this goofy action fantasy. [B] Cinemark 10, Valley Fair 9 |