OPENING THIS WEEK

BOLT Review on Page 9

TWILIGHT Review on Page 8

CONTINUING

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]

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-]

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (1 hr., 52 min.; Rated G) The Wildcats are back in school, but not back in form. The new movie's best musical number is the first one, which is also one of the only ones that isn't preeningly radio-ready and/or overproduced. There are scenes between the songs, but not much story to speak of. A fans-only affair. [C]

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-]

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+]

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (1 hr., 29 min.; Rated PG for some mild crude humor) Alex the Lion and his Central Park Zoo mates are no longer in Madagascar, but not much else has changed. There's less focus on story, more focus on individual characters and funny jokes here and there, but the new movie is mostly a colorless rehash. [C-]

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+]

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (1 hr., 53 min.; Rated R for language and brief sexuality) Anne Hathaway jumps to the head of the list of potential Best Actress Oscar nominees with her smart, touching performance as the dilettante sibling whose return from rehab disrupts her sister's wedding preparations. A thoughtful, if low-key, drama about family and responsibility. [A-]

ROLE MODELS (1 hr., 37 min.; Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity) Two slacker energy drink salesmen avoid jail time by mentoring "troubled" teens. The half of the movie that's about the nerd kid who loves fantasy role-playing is charming and funny, but the other half, about a stereotypically mouth black kid, is mostly shrill. [C-]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE (1 hr., 46 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content) Daniel Craig is still the best thing about the retooled James Bond franchise. The new film's screenplay is sub-standard, but its action is enjoyable, as is 007's partnership with a steely Bolivian intelligence agent. [B]

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. Fine acting by Cheadle and above-average excution of action scenes keep this fairly unsurprising espionage thriller humming along. [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-]

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO (1 hr., 41 min.; Rated R on appeal for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language) Kevin Smith's newest ode to sex and profanity is about impoverished roomies who make a cut-rate porn film. Though funny in parts, the movie is as soft in the middle as a Twinkie, and about as nourishing. [C-]

LARGE FORMAT FILMS

Cricket Imax Theater at Jordan Commons

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (1 hr., 29 min.; PG for some mild crude humor) Alex the Lion vs. wild Africa 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 dinos in South America.

WILD OCEAN 3D (45 min.; No MPAA rating) Massive aquatic feeding frenzies off the coast of Africa in 3D!

AFRICAN ADVENTURE: SAFARI IN THE OKAVANGO (40 min.; No MPAA rating) Visit the wild jungles of Africa's Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Showtimes daily. 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi. 768-2300.