OPENING THIS WEEK

STEP BROTHERS Review on 16

ALSO OPENING

THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE (1 hr., 44 min.; PG-13 for violent and disturbing content and thematic material) Former partners-in-crime-solving Mulder and Scully are reunited by a series of grisly slayings in this revival of the long-running FOX-TV series. The truth about the movie's quality is still out there, as it was not screened for critics prior to the UV deadline.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DAN IN REAL LIFE "Love is not a feeling, Mr. Burns. It's an ability." (PG-13) Plays Aug. 6 at 9 p.m., SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, 699 S. State St., Orem. 225-2787. $4/adults and $3/children, students and seniors.

ADVENTURES OF POWER Air drumming! Presented with locally-made short film "The Loss of a Wrestling Match." (PG) Plays Wednesday at 9 p.m., Eccles Outdoor Theater, Sundance. 223-4100. Free.

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]

EMMA SMITH: MY STORY (1 hr., 38 min.; PG for mild thematic elements and brief violence) The wife of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith steps into the spotlight ... sort of. The makers of this lovely, reverential film, including many of the same people who made the LDS Church-produced "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration," don't reveal very much at all about their subject. [C+]

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (1 hr., 42 min.; PG-13 for sequences of martial arts action and some violence) At last! We finally get to find out who would win in a fight between Jackie Chan and Jet Li! Sort of. The beloved martial arts movie stars do indeed kick, punch and chop it out, but they're still just following the script. The movie is fun, though, despite its silly 21st-century framing story. [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+]

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 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-]

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+]

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]

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+]

NIM'S ISLAND (1 hr., 35 min.; PG for mild adventure action, brief language and immodest clothing) Jodie Foster plays an agoraphobic adventure novelist summoned to a mysterious island by her littlest fan (Abigail Breslin) after the poor thing's father goes missing. Adults will probably find this one a tough sit, but the lively story and characters will be fun for kids. [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-]

SPEED RACER (2 hrs., 9 min.; PG for sequences of action, some violence, language, brief smoking and immodest clothing) The gleaming, Day-Glo production design and eye-filling visual effects of this cartoon adaptation are its biggest asset, but a silly story laid out in exhaustive expository keeps everything stuck in second gear. Like Sammy Hagar, Speed Racer can't drive 55. [D]

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-]

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]

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS (1 hr., 38 min.; PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference) Two losers (Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher) find a lot of luck, as well as each other, in Sin City. What happens, though, is that after some initially funny, sorta fresh feuding over a disputed jackpot, the movie pours on the same old rancid sentiment. [C-]

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

21 (2 hrs., 3 min.; PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity) Based on, but not truly inspired by, the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, "21" takes a thoroughly by-the-numbers approach to its card-counting characters and their Las Vegas entanglements. Flashy and fun, but with nothing of substance and nothing that surprises. [C+] Cinemark 10

BABY MAMA (1 hr., 39 min.; PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference) Tina Fey's smart, graceful performance is easily the best ingredient in the lazily familiar recipe for this comedy about every woman's urge to be a mother. The plot is more or less one cliche after another, but Fey and co-stars Amy Poehler and Greg Kinnear will draw you in anyway. [B-] Cinemark 10

BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER* (1 hr., 45 min.; PG-13 for thematic material involving drugs, language, some sexual content and violent images) Steroid culture and the misguided desires that have driven its growth over the past 20 years go under the microscope in this homegrown documentary. The filmmakers lack polish, but they're entertaining and conversant in the topic. [B] Tower

BLIND MOUNTAIN (1 hr., 35 min.; No MPAA rating) Chinese filmmaker Li Yang is again pitilessly frank in depicting the dark corners of Chinese culture in this moving follow-up to the working class drama "Blind Shaft." A young woman lured into the countryside with promises of a job is sold into marriage. Politically urgent and engrossing filmmaking. [B+] Tower

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP (1 hr., 23 min.; G) The era of Martin Lawrence the Disneyfied, Totally Defanged Wussbag rolls forth in this tiresome, shrill daddy-daughter bonding comedy. Lawrence is a over-protective pop who makes a last-ditch attempt to convince daddy's little girl (Raven-Symon) to enroll at Hometown U instead of (gulp!) Georgetown. With Donny Osmond! [D] Valley Fair 9

ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (1 hr., 39 min.; G) Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog ("Grizzly Man") goes to Antarctica not to marvel at its indigenous wildlife or craggily majestic icebound scenery, but to observe the men and women who live and do research there. Fascinating work worthy of Herzog's towering reputation. [A-] Broadway

THE HAPPENING (1 hr., 39 min.; R for violent and disturbing images) Something terrible is, ah, happening to people in the northeastern United States, where a mysterious toxin is in the air. Something terrible will happen to you, too, if you see this exercise in clumsy horror: an attack of crippling boredom. At least the movie is funny ... though not because it means to be. [D-] Cinemark 10

HORTON HEARS A WHO! (1 hr., 28 min.; G) Honorable Horton, the elephantine softie who is loyal to the tiny beings only his enormous ears can detect, is as endearing as ever in this feature-length adaptation of the famous fable by latter-day Aesop Dr. Seuss. While a bit long and sometimes silly, the film is delightfully animated and frequently very funny. A fine family entertainment. [A-] Cinemark 10, Cinemark 9

MONGOL (2 hrs., 26 min.; R for sequences of bloody warfare) Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov focuses his visual gifts on the story of the Mongol warlord who conquered more of the Old World than anyone else before or since. The sprawling, very bloody battle scenes are impressive, but the movie also takes time to explore the forces that the shaped the young emperor-in-waiting. [A-] Broadway

PRICELESS (1 hr., 44 min.; PG-13 for sexual content including nudity) "Amelie" star Audrey Tautou lights up this mild sex farce as a gold-digging trophy wife who mistakenly chases a dirt-poor hotel bartender. Not only that, but a loaded widow mistakes the poor schmuck for a smooth-operatin' gigolo. Some guys have all the luck ... and none of it. [B] Broadway

SAVAGE GRACE (1 hr., 37 min.; No MPAA rating) Taking its cues from shocking-but-true actual events, this tawdry revisitation of the Barbara Daly Baekland murder is a tiresome wallow in family and sexual dysfunction. Julianne Moore doesn't do much to raise the interest level of a film that would rather indulge unnatural appetites than examine them. [C] Broadway

SON OF RAMBOW (1 hr., 36 min.; PG-13 for some violence and reckless behavior) Two British lads, one shy and the other geeky, bond over the Sylvester Stallone movie "First Blood," then decide to produce their own sequel to it. A giddy, silly warmhearted coming-of-age caper, and a treat for anyone who likes a mix of dry humor and outrageous goofiness. [B+] Cinemark 10, Cinemark 9

THE STRANGERS (1 hr., 25 min.; R for violence/terror and language) A trio of hoodlums terrorize two young vacationers staying at a remote cabin. The opening scenes of the movie essentially give away its ending, which sort of, ahem, kills most of the tension from the start. The violence-without-motive premise is chilling, but everything else is hack-and-slash-by-numbers. [D] Valley Fair 9

UP THE YANGTZE (1 hr., 33 min.; No MPAA rating) At times, this exploration of Chinese society, centered around the ongoing completion of the huge (and hugely controversial) Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, seems to move as slowly and sedately as the system of locks that takes rivergoing traffic past the dam site. Interesting, but limited. [C+] Broadway

THE VISITOR (1 hr., 48 min.; PG-13 for brief strong language) Returning to a seldom-used apartment in New York City, a lonely widower discovers that his lease has been fraudulently sold to an immigrant couple. Instead of involving the authorities, he tries to help them out and forges new frienships. A gentle, involving story driven by excellent performances. [A] Broadway

THE WACKNESS (1 hr., 35 min.; R for pervasive drug use, language and some sexuality) This coming-of-age comedy about is determined to be quirky in the same way that a mindless, hungry zombie is determined to gnaw your leg off. The natural, charming lead performance of Josh Peck is offset by Ben Kingsley's transparently phony work. [C] Broadway