TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

QUICK FLICKS

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

OPENING

The Brave One **½

Jodie Foster channels Travis Bickle in this vigilante story of a woman who goes on a killing spree after thugs attack and kill her fiance (Naveen Andrews of 'Lost'). Review, Page 4. 108 minutes (R violence, profanity, sexuality)

Dragon Wars: D-War (not reviewed)

Mythical computer-generated creatures - one good, one bad, naturally - wreak havoc on Los Angeles, while the woman they seem to be after (Amanda Brooks) does her best to flee. 107 minutes. (PG-13; violence)

The 11th Hour **
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is narrator and producer of this documentary that features a host of scientists, activists and others talking about Earth's many environmental problems. Buy a Prius and start recycling, OK? Review, Page 6. 91 minutes. (PG; mildly disturbing images and thematic elements)

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (not reviewed)

It's high noon at the arcade in this documentary about two guys (Billy 'Gamer of the Century' Mitchell and Steve Wiebe) competing to break the 'Donkey Kong' world record. 82 minutes. (PG-13; brief sexual reference)

Mr. Woodcock

A self-help author (Seann William Scott) returns to his hometown to find his mom has fallen for his arch enemy - a junior high school gym teacher (Billy Bob Thornton) who tormented him mercilessly. Review, Page 5. 87 minutes. (PG-13; crude humor, sexual content, profanity, drug references)

STILL IN TOWN

The Alps (not reviewed)

A mountain climber attempts to scale the Swiss mountain where his father died in this adventure-documentary, filmed in glorious Imax. 45 minutes. (Not rated)

Balls of Fury **

Washed-up former ping-pong prodigy (Dan Fogler) is recruited by the FBI to take down a table-tennis-loving criminal mastermind (Christopher Walken) in this slapstick comedy. 90 minutes. (PG-13; crude humor and profanity)

Becoming Jane (not reviewed)

This not-quite-a-biopic embellishes the story of a young Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and her problematic romance with a mischevious Irishman (James McAvoy), who may or may not have been the inspiration for Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice.' 120 minutes. (PG; brief nudity and profanity)

The Bourne Ultimatum ***½

Amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) gets closer to answering some burning questions about his murky past in this third installment of the series based on Robert Ludlum's novels. Despite the requisite car chases and fistfights, this is the rare action movie with a brain. 110 minutes. (PG-13; violence and intense action)

The Brothers Solomon (not reviewed)

This comedy from director Bob Odenkirk ('Mr. Show') follows a pair of socially inept brothers looking for mates so they can provide their dying father with a grandchild. 91 minutes. (R; profanity and sexuality)

Daddy Day Camp (not reviewed)

Once-promising Cuba Gooding Jr. sinks even further in this family-friendly sequel, a predictable pastiche of low-brow slapstick, camp-kid stereotypes and a relentless supply of poop jokes. 89 minutes. (PG; mild bodily humor, profanity)

Death at a Funeral **

Matthew Macfadyen ('Pride & Prejudice') tries to keep his sanity when chaos reigns and secrets are threatened to be revealed at his father's funeral. Frank Oz directs this British farce. 90 minutes (R; profanity, drug content)

Death Sentence (not reviewed)

Kevin Bacon stars as a suburban dad who goes all vigilante on a local gang when his son gets killed. This being Hollywood, things don't go smoothly. 108 minutes. (R; violence and profanity)

Deep Sea 3D (not reviewed)

This 3-D exploration of the ocean's depths is filmed in Imax and narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. 41 minutes. (Not rated)

El Cantante **

Real-life lovebirds Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez star in a biopic about the King of Salsa, Hector Lavoe. The Puerto Rican singer enjoyed huge success in the United States during the 1970's, despite a tumultuous personal life and drug addiction. 116 minutes. (R; drug use, pervasive profanity and sexuality)

Evan Almighty *½

Expect big laughs and possible floods in this sequel to 'Bruce Almighty.' Congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), enjoying his new career serving the public, finds that God (Morgan Freeman) has bigger plans for him. Hint: It involves building an ark. Lauren Graham also stars. 95 minutes. (PG; rude humor and some peril)

1408 **½

John Cusack plays a skeptical writer determined to debunk rumors of supernatural activity in a haunted hotel room. Would you believe he discovers the horror may be real? Based on a Stephen King short story. 94 minutes. (PG-13; violence, terror, profanity).

Hairspray **½

John Travolta (in drag) and newcomer Nikki Blonsky star in the latest adaptation of a 1988 movie that went on to become a Broadway hit. Blonsky stars as Tracy Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teen who challenges stereotypes when she is chosen to dance on a popular 1960's television show. Christopher Walken, Zack Efron, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeifrer and Brittany Snow also star. 107 minutes. (PG; profanity, suggestive content and teen smoking)

Halloween (not reviewed)

Rocker-director Rob Zombie recasts the John Carpenter horror classic as an over-the-top freakshow with the masked slasher Michael Myers at the center of the action. 97 minutes. (R; violence, nudity, sex, profanity and drug use)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***

Nobody believes Harry or Dumbledore when they say Lord Voldemort has returned to Hogwarts, so it's up to Harry and his pals to go to battle. In addition to main characters Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the movie stars Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter. (Reviewed by Kevin Walker.) 138 minutes. (PG-13; fantasy violence and frightening images)

Hurricane on the Bayou (not reviewed)

Stirring Imax documentary about Louisiana's vanishing wetlands was planned months before Katrina struck. The storm's cruel aftermath becomes part of the story, told mainly by New Orleans-based musicians who were affected by it. 41 minutes. (Not rated; contains disturbing news footage)

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry *

Two straight firefighters from Brooklyn (Adam Sandler and Kevin James) pretend to be gay in order to receive domestic partner benefits. When their relationship is challenged, the duo hires an attractive (maybe too attractive) lawyer played by Jessica Biel. 140 minutes. (PG-13; crude sexual content, nudity, profanity and drug references)

Illegal Tender (not reviewed)

A college student (Rick Gonzalez) defends his family against the gangsters that killed his father in writer-director Franc Reyes' crime drama, produced by John Singleton. 108 minutes (R; violence, profanity, sexuality)

The Invasion *½

In this sci-fi thriller based on the 1956 classic 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers,' the key is to stay awake. That's a plot point, not a criticism. Alien invaders crash onto earth and begin infecting humans during REM sleep, sapping them of their humanity. Stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig work hard to stop the invasion. 93 minutes. (PG-13; violence, disturbing images and terror)

Knocked Up ****

A one-night stand results in pregnancy, leaving a slacker (Seth Rogen) and a career girl (Katherine Heigl) struggling to form a relationship from nothing. Directed by Judd Apatow, the guy who brought us 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin,' the film promises more laughs than insight. 129 minutes. (R; sexual content, drug use and profanity)

Ladron Que Roba a Ladron (not reviewed)

Caper comedy about former crooks who get back in the game to take down an infomercial mogul who preys on Latino immigrants. In Spanish with English subtitles. 90 minutes. (PG-13; profanity and sexual content)

License to Wed *½

A newly engaged couple (John Krasinski from 'The Office' and Mandy Moore) tries to cope with an obsessive clergyman's obnoxious demands. Robin Williams, naturally, plays the nutty reverend. 86 minutes. (PG-13; sexual humor and profanity)

Live Free or Die Hard **½

Police detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) battles internet terrorists in this installment of the Die Hard series. Justin Long (you know, the guy in the Mac commercials?) plays a Gen X computer hacker who helps McClane. As always, there will be big explosions, high speed chases and adrenaline to spare. 130 minutes. (PG-13; intense action, violence and profanity)

Mr. Bean's Holiday **

The bumbling Brit (Rowan Atkinson) tours France in his second big-screen adventure, leaving comic devastation in his wake. 90 minutes (G)

The Nanny Diaries **

Scarlett Johansson, astonishingly credible as an ordinary human being, stumbles into a nanny gig for a well-heeled Manhattan couple whose son is a real brat. To absolutely no one's surprise, capricious demands and embarrassing pratfalls ensue. Strong cast includes Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti. 105 minutes (PG-13; profanity)

No End in Sight (not reviewed)

Director Charles Ferguson's documentary takes a critical look at the American occupation of Iraq. 102 minutes (Not rated).

No Reservations **½

Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a hotshot New York chef, has her carefully scheduled life thrown into disarray when a young niece, played by Abigail Breslin ('Little Miss Sunshine'), comes to stay. Things only go more askew when Kate falls for a hunky sous chef, played by Aaron Eckhart. 103 minutes. (PG; sexuality and profanity)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End **

Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom return in the (supposed) final installment of the 'Pirates' trilogy. This time, the Pirate Lords from the four corners of the globe make their final stand against Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) and the rest of their enemies. Chow-Yun Fat joins the cast as the infamous Pirate Lord Sao Feng. 168 minutes. (Reviewed by Kevin Walker.) (PG-13; intense action/adventure violence and frightening images)

Ratatouille ***

A young rat with culinary aspirations and a cook desperate to keep his job team up to create the best ratatouille in Paris in this animated family film by Disney Pixar. Cast of voices includes Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Peter O'Toole and Janeane Garofalo. 110 minutes. (G)

Rush Hour 3 *½

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan return to cash big, fat paychecks in the unnecessary third installment of this buddy-cop franchise. 91 minutes. (PG-13; action violence, sexual content, nudity and profanity)

Shoot 'Em Up (not reviewed)

As the name implies, it's a barrage of bullets and blood in this manic action flick starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. 93 minutes (R; pervasive violence, sexuality and profanity)

Shrek the Third **

Everybody's favorite ogre is a proud papa this time around, but when his father-in-law's health takes a turn for the worse and Shrek is next in line for the throne, he tries to groom a new heir with help from Donkey and Puss in Boots. Features an all-star cast of voices, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Eddie Murphy, Julie Andrews and John Cleese. 86 minutes. (PG; crude humor, suggestive content)

The Simpsons Movie **½

Writer Matt Groening brings everyone's favorite dysfunctional cartoon family to the big screen. When Homer accidentally causes an environmental disaster, all of Springfield is evacuated. Watch for cameos from stars like Tom Hanks, Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammer and the boys from Green Day. (Reviewed by Curtis Ross.) 87 minutes. (PG-13; irreverent humor)

Skinwalkers (not reviewed)

A 12-year-old boy is hunted by two warring groups of werewolves in this horror-thriller starring Jason Behr and Elias Koteas. 110 minutes. (PG-13; intense violence and action, sexual content, profanity)

Stardust ***

This fairy tale for grown-ups follows the adventures of a star that falls from the sky in the form of an ethereal blond named Yvaine (Claire Danes), whose magical abilities make her the target of various people with nefarious plans. Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole and Charlie Cox also star. 125 minutes. (PG-13; fantasy violence and some risque humor)

Superbad ***

A raucous comedy that follows one night in the lives of two co-dependent high school seniors (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) trying to score beer and girls before going their separate ways and onto college. 92 minutes. (R; profanity, drug use)

Surf's Up ***

The latest in a string of family-friendly penguin flicks, 'Surf's Up' is designed to seem like a documentary - albeit a fun one about CGI surfer penguins. Follow the Penguin World Surfing Championship and learn how the waddling birds invented the sport. Features the voices of Shia LaBoeuf, Jeff Bridges and Zooey Deschanel. 85 minutes. PG (minor profanity and rude humor)

Talk to Me (not reviewed)

Don Cheadle stars as Ralph "Petey" Greene, a real life ex-convict who became a popular 1960's talk radio host and community activist. During a turbulent time in American History, Greene used humor and passion to discuss race and power. 118 minutes. (R; pervasive profanity and sexuality).

3:10 to Yuma ***½

A rancher (Christian Bale) and an outlaw (Russell Crowe) form an unlikely alliance in this remake of the 1957 cult classic from director James Mangold ('Walk the Line'). 117 minutes (R; violence and profanity)

Transformers **

There's more than meets the eye in this live-action film based on the popular 1980's cartoon about robots who transform into cars, jets and other machinery. Rival robotic clans, the Autobots (good guys) and the Decepticons (bad guys), engage in a war that threatens all of mankind. Earth's only chance for survival lies in the hands of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBoeuf), a young man whose first car turns out to be an Autobot in disguise. The cast includes Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox and John Voigt. 144 minutes. (PG-13; intense action violence, brief sexual humor and profanity)

Underdog (not reviewed)

A labrotory mishap gives a beagle superpowers. Jason Lee ('My Name is Earl') voices the floppy-eared pooch who fights crime and sniffs butts. Kids and grownups are sure to find big laughs in this live-action Disney flick. 84 minutes. (PG; rude humor, mild profanity and action)

War (not reviewed)

Action flick follows an FBI agent (Jason Statham) as he seeks revenge on his partner's assassin (Jet Li). 103 minutes. (R; violence, nudity and profanity)

Listing compiled from Tribune wires and staff reports; Associated Press critics' ratings are out of four stars.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT