.MOVIE LISTINGS | MOVIE REVIEW ARCHIVE | THEATER INFO

 

OPENING:

Aliens in the Attic: A gaggle of kids on vacation (with their parents, who are oblivious) gotta fight off the alien critters that — shocker! — want to take over the world. PG. Movies 12.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself: In Tyler Perry’s latest film, Madea (Perry) hands off two juvenile delinquents to their hard-drinking aunt, whose world is being changed by the man who’s moved into her basement. With Taraji P. Henson and Adam Rodriguez. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Last Chance Harvey: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson star in the grown-up love story of a grumpy fella and a lonely woman, each with their own troubles, who come together in a London airport bar. PG13. 92 min. 2 pm Thursday, Sept. 17, Campbell Community Center. Free. (1/22)

Nine: A small community of rag dolls come to life in a post-apocalyptic world, where strange machines threaten their existence. This astonishing-looking animated film is directed by Shane Acker (who previously made a short with the same name) and produced by the interesting duo of Tim Burton and Timur Bekmanbetov (Night Watch, Wanted). With the voices of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly and Crispin Glover. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (Now playing.)

Séraphine: This French film tells the (based on a true) story of Séraphine de Senlis (Yolande Moreau), a devout housekeeper whose artistic talent was discovered by a German art critic who was also the first Picasso buyer. The film won seven Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars. Not rated. 121 min. Bijou. See review this issue.

Sorority Row: Sorority sisters accidentally kill one of their own; someone subsequently wants them dead. So … I Know What You Did Last Year on Campus? R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Soul Power: Documentary looks at Zaire ’74, the music festival that was to take place at the same time as the “Rumble in the Jungle” fight between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman. Hours of footage was shot of the event — footage director Jeffrey Hinte-Levy has pulled from to make Soul Power.  “a vivid glimpse of a fascinating moment in musical history, racial politics and global pop culture,” said The New York Times. PG13. 93 min. Bijou.

Whiteout: Kate Beckinsale plays a U.S. Marshall sent to Antarctica to investigate a death — but she only has days before the long, dark winter really settles in. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted.

 

CONTINUING:

Adam: Hugh Dancy stars as the title character, a man with Asperger’s syndrome whose sheltered existence is changed by his new neighbor (Rose Byrne). PG13. Bijou.

Adventureland: Greg Mottola (Superbad) directs a slightly oddball ensemble (including Ryan Reynolds, Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig) in this story about a college grad whose job search lands him at the titular amusement park. R. 107 min. David Minor Theater. (4/9)

All About Steve: This “comedy” is currently sitting pretty with a 5 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s about a crossword puzzle constructor (Sandra Bullock) who becomes obsessed with a man (Bradley Cooper) after she goes on one blind date with him. Words used to describe this: “Dreadful.” “Lunkheaded.” “Grimly unfunny.” PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

District 9: Producer Peter Jackson gets top billing, but this sci-fi film about aliens taking refuge in South Africa is actually the feature-film debut of director Neill Blomkamp. The buzz is beyond good; Blomkamp is already being dubbed one to watch. R. 112 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (8/20)

Extract: If you need to get a Mike Judge fix, rent Idiocracy, which is far smarter — and funnier — than the middling Extract, in which Jason Bateman plays a factory owner whose bad week is basically the result of his thwarted desire to have sex with his wife. OK, so a hot grifter (Mila Kunis) has a little something to do with it, too. It has its moments, but Extract is a little weak. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. See review this issue.

Final Destination, The: It’s funny how this is the second series this year to either add or drop a “the” and pretend it’s a whole new title. Some kids think they’ve cheated death; death doesn’t like it. Lather, rinse, repeat. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Funny People: Judd Apatow’s latest stars Adam Sandler as a comedian who’s received a dispiriting diagnosis: he’s dying. Enter Seth Rogen as a younger funny guy Sandler’s character takes under his crumped wing as part protégé, part employee. With Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman and Erica Bana. R. Movies 12. (8/6)

Gamer: Gerard Butler plays a character in a massive multiplayer game; he’s controlled by a teenager who’s a sort of superstar among gamers, but the nasty game overlord (Michael C. Hall) wil keep them both down. If you miss it, just wait a few weeks for the rather similar Bruce Willis flick Surrogates. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

G.I. Joe: Oh, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, why are you in this movie? It’s based on toys, not screened for critics, and the trailers make people laugh. I think some stuff blows up, too. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. 

Goodbye Solo: The third film from writer-editor-director Ramin Bahrani is a beautifully made look at an unlikely friendship, and at both the limits and the power of connection. When cranky old William (Red West) gets into the cab of Solo (Souléyman Sy Savané), both their lives are altered. Subtle, unexpectedly affecting and far less hokey than any plot summary makes it sound. R. 91 min. David Minor Theater. (5/28)

Halloween II: Rob Zombie directs the latest in the horror series; this time it stars Malcolm McDowell and Weird Al! R. 101 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Hangover, The: This summer’s dirty-fun buzz movie stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifinakis and Ed Helms as three guys who have no idea what happened at the bachelor party last night. Where’d that guy’s tooth go? Where’d the baby come from? It’s a really good time finding out. VRC Stadium 15. (6/11)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The penultimate Potter tale is a touch complicated: Voldemort is at work in the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Dumbledore needs Harry’s help in many things, including recruiting a new professor to Hogwarts. Students are being attacked, and an old book is full of unexpected information. I so hope this is better than the last one. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (7/16)

Hurt Locker, The: Director Kathryn Bigelow returns with an incredibly well-received story about soldiers trained to defuse homemade bombs in Iraq. The L.A. Times’ Kenneth Turan said it’s “Overwhelmingly tense, overflowing with crackling verisimilitude.” R. Bijou. (9/3)

I Love You, Man: Some people are calling this one a dick flick: Paul Rudd proposes to his girlfriend (Rashida Jones), but then desperately needs to find a male best friend to be his best man. So he goes on a bunch of “man-dates.” With Andy Samberg and the delightful Jason Segel. R. David Minor Theater. (3/26)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The scrappy critters from Ice Age return: two are having a baby, one might be losing his edge and another needs to be rescued. And then there’s that troubling flying squirrel from the preview… PG13. Movies 12.

Inglorious Basterds: Quentin Tarantino’s long-anticipated WWII movie stars Brad Pitt as the leader of a group of Jewish soldiers who “engage in targeted acts of retribution” against the Third Reich. “Energetic, inventive, swaggering fun,” said The Village Voice. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (8/27)

Julie & Julia: Julie Powell’s book about cooking her way through Julia Child’s masterpiece comes to screens as a two-part story: One part follows Powell in her Queens apartment, the other Child in France. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (8/13)

My Sister’s Keeper: Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric are parents who rely on their youngest child to keep their ill eldest daughter alive — until that younger daughter (Abigail Breslin) wants her own life. Based on the book by Jodi Picoult. PG13. 109 min. Movies 12.

Night at the Museum 2: Battle for the Smithsonian: Ben Stiller returns to the museum in which everything — Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), tiny statues, Lincoln — comes alive at night. PG13. Movies 12.

Ponyo: This loose adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” in which an eager goldfish dreams of becoming human, is directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away). Honestly, you shouldn’t need to know anything else. OK, the voice actors include Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas. Just go, already! G. 100 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (8/20)

Post Grad: Alexis Bledel finds that navigating the real world is harder than getting into college. Surprise! With Jane Lynch and Michael Keaton. PG13. Movies 12. 

Shorts: The latest family flick from Robert Rodriguez is about what happens when a kid who lives in a town where everything is the same gets his hands on a magical, wish-granting rock. PG. 89 minutes. Cinemark. 

Sin Nombre: The lives of several teens — a girl from Honduras; two boys from Mexico who belong to a gang brotherhood — cross atop a train heading to the U.S. Roger Ebert called this drama, directed by Student Academy Award winner Cary Fukunaga, “Riveting from start to finish.” R. 96 min. David Minor Theater.

Star Trek: Even the most crotchety critics are loving J.J. Abrams’ take on the maiden voyage of the Enterprise — and the rivalry-turned-friendship of young James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto). With Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Eric Bana. PG13. 126 min. Movies 12. (5/14)

State of Play: Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) remakes the 2003 British TV series, moving it to the U.S., where a congressman’s research assistant is murdered, and an old friend (Russell Crowe) is on the story. With Helen Mirren as Crowe’s editor, Rachel McAdams as his partner and Ben Affleck as the maybe not-so-perfect congressman. PG13. 132 min. David Minor Theater. (4/23)

Time Traveler’s Wife, The: Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in this adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling book about a man cursed with a genetic anomaly that sends him skipping, uncontrollably, through time — and the woman who loves him despite that. PG13.107 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. 

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen: A selection of comments: Roger Ebert: “a horrible experience of unbearable length, briefly punctuated by three or four amusing moments.” Detroit News: “A great grinding garbage disposal of a movie.” Dark Horizons: “The male teenage cinematic equivalent of snorting cocaine off a hooker’s ass.” I think you get the point. PG13. 149 min. Movies 12. 

Ugly Truth, The: Any theories about why Katherine Heigl is once again playing a TV show employee? This charmer pairs her with Gerard Butler as a bad-boy TV personality who thinks he knows everything about the difference between men and woman. You got that “charmer” was being used sarcastically, right? R. Cinemark.

Up: In the latest film from Pixar, a crotchety old balloon salesman sends his house into the sky (via balloons, of course) to escape from it all — only to find that he has an unwanted stowaway on his porch. The praise is already flowing — and deserved. PG. Movies 12. (6/4)

 

MOVIE THEATERS
Use the links provided below for specific show times.

Bijou Art Cinemas
Bijou Theater 686-2458 | 492 E. 13th

David Minor Theater
David Minor Theater and Pub 762-1700 | 180 E. 5th

Regal Cinemas
VRC Stadium 15 342-6536 | Valley River Center

Cinemark Theaters
Movies 12 741-1231 | Gateway Mall
Cinemark 17 741-1231 | Gateway Mall