OPENING THIS WEEK

APPALOOSA Review on 9

BLINDNESS Review on 10

FLASH OF GENIUS Review on 9

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE Review on 10

NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST Review on 8

ALSO OPENING

AN AMERICAN CAROL (1 hr., 23 min.; Rated R for strong language and sexual content throughout, including graphic dialogue and some nudity) There are conservatives in Hollywood, too, and noted lowbrow satirist David Zucker ("Airplane!") proves it with this scathing attack on Michael Moore-esque liberal sermonizing. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (1 hr., 31 min.; Rated PG for some mild thematic elements) What's a delicate, ladylike "she-huahua" to do when inadvertently abandoned in Mexico City? Hope that she meets a "warrior" and "lover" like local pooch Papi, of course. It's a live-action "Lady and the Tramp," south-of-the-border style. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

CONTINUING

BURN AFTER READING (1 hr., 36 min.; Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence) This lightweight spy spoof, written and directed by filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, is almost Shakespearean (admirably so) in the clockwork complexity of its plotting, but the characters and situations fail to engage our sympathies, or our interest. [C+]

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]

EAGLE EYE (1 hr., 48 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for language) Big Brother (who talks like Big Sister, at least in this movie) is either out to harm or help a callow youth who's mistaken for a secret agent man in this slick, surface-level reworking of "North by Northwest." The action is crisp, though true paranoia never really seeps in. [B-]

FOREVER STRONG (1 hr., 52 min.; Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving teen drug and alcohol use, and for some disturbing images) There's an excellent true story to be told about Highland Rugby and local legend Larry Gelwix, so it's a shame that the club and coach are largely bystanders in a crisp, well-intentioned and ultimately superficial tale of teenage rebellion. [B]

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+]

GHOST TOWN (1 hr., 42 min.; Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references) After discovering that he can see dead people, Bertram Pincus, D.D.S. (Ricky Gervais) finds himself falling for a sweet widow -- against her late husband's wishes. British comedy icon Gervais brings his "A" game to this snarky, sweetly romantic comedy. [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-]

IGOR (1 hr., 20 min.; Rated PG for some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild language) Mad scientists are the rock stars of Malaria, and humble hunchback Igor dreams of trading the back-hunching labor of stealing brains and throwing the switch for a taste of scientific glory. The concept is clever, but the film fumbles away its early momentum. [C+]

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2 hrs., 2 min.; PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images) He's back! Indiana Jones's famous fedora fits Harrison Ford as well as it ever has. A lot of the plotting of Dr. J's latest adventure has a logic-defying, seat-of-the-pants heedlessness, but the movie is fast, fun and funny, with great interaction between its stars. [A]

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+]

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]

LAKEVIEW TERRACE (1 hr., 46 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references) Bad, bad Leroy Brow -- er, make that Abel Turner is a man on the edge. On the edge of homicidal harrassment of his new neighbors, that is. Obvious, silly scenes chug toward an obvious, silly resolution. [D+]

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (2 hrs., 40 min.; Rated R for strong war violence, language and some sexual content/nudity) Acclaimed director and frequent provocateur Spike Lee travels in time to World War II for a story of black American soldiers serving a country that doesn't consider them full citizens. It's a bold, ambitious film, but also overlong and overproduced. [C]

MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (1 hr., 41 min.; Rated R for strong language and sexual content throughout, including graphic dialogue and some nudity) Continuing the long tradition of stark realism in lame romantic comedy movie professions, Dane Cook is a "bad date for hire" who makes Kate Hudson long to be with Jason Biggs again. Or does he?! It's not worth your time to find out. [D]

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE (1 hr., 37 min.; Rated PG-13 for some sensuality) Another of the sweetly sentimental novels of Nicholas Sparks makes its way to the silver screen, this time with lonelyhearts Richard Gere and Diane Lane discovering love (and each other) in the Outer Banks. Pure fluff, with a sheen of cozy professionalism. [C+]

SPACE CHIMPS (1 hr., 21 min.; G) A chimp descended from original space monkey Ham blasts into space to explore a wormhole for Uncle Sam. Pixar and DreamWorks don't need to be looking over their shoulders quite yet, but the latest offering from the makers of "Valiant" and "Happily N'ever After" shows considerable improvement. [B-]

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]