Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Movie Picks
Films recommended by our reviewers are indicated by an *.
*Adventureland (R)
As Reaganomics take a financial toll on a young man's family, he is forced to cancel his European vacation and take a summer job at an amusement park. Adventureland makes you smile and remember the crappy jobs you had, and how at each one, there was usually a magical person who helped you get through it. — Jeff Sneider
Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
Bedtime Stories (PG)
A hotel maintenance man (Adam Sandler) tells stories to his niece and nephew and they begin to come true. — Not reviewed
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*Coraline (PG)
Coraline, director Harry Selick's intensely imaginative adaptation of the beloved Neil Gaiman novel, tells the story of a young girl who discovers a portal to an alternate life behind a door in her living room. — Jonathan Kiefer
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13)
Benjamin Button's unique predicament? He is born an old man. As Benjamin ages in reverse, Brad Pitt's heavily made-up face is superimposed over a succession of variously sized bodies. — Scott Renshaw
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Dragonball: Evolution (PG)
In this live-action film based on a manga series, young warrior Goku sets out to find all seven Dragonballs so he can fulfill his grandfather's last request. — Not reviewed
Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
Duplicity (PG-13)
Julia Roberts and Clive Owens star as competing corporate spies with a romantic past who team up to con their employers. — Not reviewed
Hollywood Interquest, Kimball's Twin Peak, Tinseltown
Fast & Furious (PG-13)
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker reteam to fight a shared enemy and power exotic cars from California through the deserts of Mexico. — Not reviewed
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
Fuel (NR)
The film, which looks at U.S. oil addiction and potential energy solutions such as vertical farms and algae facilities, won the Best Documentary Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. It features interviews with stars like Willie Nelson and Woody Harrelson and activists like Jimmy Carter and Richard Branson. — Not reviewed
Kimball's Twin Peak
Hannah Montana: The Movie (G)
As Miley Stewart's days start to be overtaken by the persona of her alter ego Hannah Montana, Miley's father encourages her to return to her hometown to get some perspective on life. — Not reviewed
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
The Haunting in Connecticut (PG-13)
After a family moves for their son's health, they encounter a series of supernatural happenings, and find out their home was once a mortuary. — Not reviewed
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Tinseltown
He's Just Not That Into You (PG-13)
A star-studded ensemble cast leads several interwoven stories of miscommunication and misguided romance. — Not reviewed
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Hotel for Dogs (PG)
A young boy and girl save stray dogs by hiding them in an abandoned house. — Not reviewed
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I Love You, Man (R)
The latest movie of the Judd Apatow trend about successful, yet friendless Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), who seeks out male companionship before getting married. Unfortunately, the inventive premise is the funniest part of the film. — Scott Renshaw
Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
*The International (R)
The timing of this smart, savvy thriller couldn't be better, what with its corporate-banks-are-evil theme and a hero (Clive Owen) who yells at banksters. — MaryAnn Johanson
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Knowing (PG-13)
In this thriller, Nicolas Cage plays a man whose son brings home a piece of paper covered in numbers that seem to predict the dates of natural disasters. — Not reviewed
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
*Monsters vs. Aliens (PG)
Creature features, alien invasions, 3-D gimmickry — from start to finish Monsters vs. Aliens (from DreamWorks Animation) celebrates some of the staples of the 1950s B-movie. — Scott Renshaw
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Cinemark 16 IMAX, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
Observe and Report (R)
Seth Rogen's character in Observe and Report is Ronnie Barnhardt, head of security for the Forest Ridge shopping mall. While it's pretty difficult for anyone to make sense of his character, it's testimony to Rogen's likability that the audience is with him even as he is cold-cocking innocent people. — Scott Renshaw
Carmike 10, Chapel Hills 15, Cinemark 16, Hollywood Interquest, Tinseltown
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG)
A security guard (Kevin James) must come to the rescue when a mall is taken over by would-be robbers. — Not reviewed
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Push (PG-13)
A psychically gifted group of American ex-pats must join together in order to escape a secret government agency. — Not reviewed
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Race to Witch Mountain (PG)
Two young aliens from another planet are on the run from the American government and an assassin sent from their home planet. A gruff but decent taxi driver (Dwayne Johnson) becomes their reluctant protector. Whatever, at least you can munch popcorn to it. — Jonathan Kiefer
Chapel Hills 15
*Slumdog Millionaire (R)
Now we know why the world has idiotic game shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Without them we wouldn't have this surprising, fresh and enchanting movie about a poor Mumbai teen poised to win 20 million rupees on the Indian version of the game. — MaryAnn Johanson
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Sunshine Cleaning (R)
Sunshine Cleaning would be a waste of film if it weren't for Amy Adams who stars as Rose Lorkowski, a single mom who's eking by as a maid when she decides to make some quick cash as a crime-scene scrubber. — Tricia Olszewski
Tinseltown
Taken (PG-13)
In addition to kicking ass, Liam Neeson — or, well, his character, ex-spy Bryan Mills — also does a whole lot o' killin'. The reason for his wrath is that his teen daughter has been kidnapped by sex traffickers. — Jonathan Kiefer
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The Widow's Might (NR)
This film, winner of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, tells the story of a widow who is fighting a tax foreclosure on her home. (All movies in this Independent Film Series are $5.) — Not reviewed
Chapel Hills 15
