OPENING THIS WEEK

BURN AFTER READING Review on 16

TAKE Review on 17

THE WOMEN Review on 17

ALSO OPENING

BAGHEAD (1 hr., 24 min.; Rated R for language, some sexual content and nudity) The filmmaking genre known as "mumblecore" verges into horror in this snarky, cheerfully rambling story about four filmmaking friends who meet at a cabin woods to create a script for a slasher flick. Or will a slasher script come up with ... them?! B

THE FLYBOYS (2 hrs., 3 min.; Rated PG-13 for some violence and language) Widely acclaimed at film festivals, this locally made family adventure film (co-written by Richard Dutcher) tells the story of two ne'er-do-well lads who get more than they bargained for after hiding out in a Mob-owned private plane. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

PROUD AMERICAN (1 hr., 45 min.; Rated PG for some mild thematic elements) True-to-life American stories of determination and ingenuity are told in this flag-waving documentary that tours the country and promises visually spectcular footage of American landmarks both natural and man-made. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

RIGHTEOUS KILL (1 hr., 41 min.; Rated R for violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and brief drug use) Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are definitely together in the same scenes, at the same time, as NYPD detectives who find that the book may be open again on a case long though solved. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

TYLER PERRY'S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS (1 hr., 51 min.; Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual references and brief violence) Like Weird Al, playwright and filmmaker Tyler Perry can't tell if he's black or white in this family relations drama, the first of his films to feature interracial marriage. No reviews of this film were available prior to the UV deadline.

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

AMERICAN TEEN (1 hr., 35 min.; Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual material, some drinking and brief smoking-all involving teens) Documentarian Nannette Burstein tags along after four average teenagers going through the everyday motions of high school in Warsaw, Ind. Though artificial-seeming at times, fhe film mostly feels truthful and insightful. B+

BABYLON A.D. (1 hr., 30 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality) In the not-too-distant future, a mercenary (Vin Diesel) attempts to protect a mysterious woman. French director Matthieu Kassovitz cried foul against Hollywood for destroying his vision, but this intriguing sci-fi isn't half-bad. C+

BANGKOK DANGEROUS (1 hr., 40 min.; Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality) Nicolas Cage plays a hitman with a heart of gold (the male equivalent of Hollywood's archetypal hooker with a heart of gold) who reexamines his empty existence while on assignment in Thailand. Visually muddy, the film is a tension-free, super-violent slog. D

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]

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. Latest and, amazingly, lamest. F

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-]

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+]

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+]

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-]

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-]

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+]

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+]

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]

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+]

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]

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-]

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-]

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-

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]

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

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+] Cinemark 9

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] Megaplex 17

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] Cinemark 24

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 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

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-] Cinemark 24