TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

QUICK FLICKS

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

OPENING

How She Move

Following her sister's death from drug addiction, a high school student (Rutina Wesley) is forced to leave her private school to return to her old, crime-filled neighborhood where she re-kindles a passion for competitive step dancing. Review, Page 6. 98 minutes (PG-13; drug content, suggestive material and profanity)

Meet the Spartans (not reviewed)

From the same folks that brought the world "Date Movie" and "Scary Movie" comes a tongue-in-cheek parody of sword-and-sandal epics, featuring Kevin Sorbo and Carmen Electra. 84 minutes (PG-13; crude and sexual content, profanity and comic violence)

Rambo (not reviewed)

In Thailand, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them to a Burmese village where a group of Christian aid workers allegedly went missing. 93 minutes (R; graphic, bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and profanity)

Shoot Down (not reviewed)

Documentary explores the tragedy of Feb. 24, 1996, when the Cuban government shot down two American planes flying in international airspace while searching for Cubans fleeing the country on rafts. 88 minutes. (PG-13; profanity)

Untraceable *½

An FBI agent (Diane Lane) is tasked with hunting down a seemingly untraceable serial killer who posts live videos of his victims on the Internet. As time clicks down, the cat-and-mouse game gets personal. Review, Page 4. 110 minutes (R; gruesome violence and profanity)

U2 3D ***

As if Bono's head could get any bigger, now he's on IMAX and in 3-D in a film that follows the boys from Ireland on their "Vertigo" tour through South America and Mexico. Review, Page 6. 85 minutes (G)

TAMPA THEATRE

A historic film house at 711 Franklin St. in downtown Tampa; (813) 274-8981. Tickets for regular screenings: $9 adults, $8 students with ID, $7 seniors age 55 and older, military and children 12 and younger. Weekend matinees: $7. Admission includes pre-show Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ mini-concert.

Atonement ***½

See Still in Town. 123 minutes (R; disturbing war images, profanity, sexuality)

Show times: 7:30 p.m. today, 2, 4:45 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday

My Fair Lady (not reviewed)

Classic 1964 film, based on George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion," stars Rex Harrison as arrogant linguist Henry Higgins, and Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, the unrefined street urchin he transforms in a social experiment that works almost too well. Oh, and there's a Lerner & Loewe soundtrack, to boot. 170 minutes (G)

Show time: 3 p.m. Sunday

Prince Among Slaves (not reviewed)

Tampa premiere of an award-winning true story about an 18th century African prince enslaved in the American South, where he endures unimaginable hardship but carves out a life and begins a remarkable journey. All tickets are $10. 100 minutes (Not rated)

Show time: 7 p.m. Thursday

STILL IN TOWN

Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (not reviewed)

A small Colorado town and its residents are caught in the middle of an epic battle between the two iconic alien races. 86 minutes (R; violence, gore and profanity)

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)

Alvin and the Chipmunks (not reviewed)

In this CGI/live action comedy, three homeless chipmunk brothers with helium voices find refuge in the home of a struggling songwriter (Jason Lee). 90 minutes (PG; for mild rude humor)

American Gangster ***

Two of Hollywood's biggest stars go head-to-head in this tale about a New York cop (Russell Crowe) on the trail of a Harlem drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) in the 1970s. 157 minutes (R; violence, pervasive drug content and profanity, nudity and sexuality)

Atonement ***½

A girl changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he didn't commit. Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave, Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai star in this sweeping, historical romance. 123 minutes (R; disturbing war images, profanity, sexuality)

August Rush

1/2

A musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) uses his talent (and help from a stranger played by Robin Williams) to search for his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), who he's never met. 112 minutes (PG; mild violence and profanity)

Bee Movie **

Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger provide voices in this animated tale about a busy bee who sets off to sue the human race for stealing honey. 90 minutes (PG; mild suggestive humor)

Beowulf **½

Using motion-capture animation, director Robert Zemeckis tells the tale of the young warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone), who slays the monster Grendel. But then the hero must face a deadlier foe: Grendel's mother (Angelina Jolie), who seeks vengeance for the loss of her son. 113 minutes (PG-13; intense violence, disturbing images, sexual material and nudity)

The Bucket List **½

Aphoristic life lessons abound in this contrived but enjoyable film about two terminal cancer patients (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who become unlikely buddies and set out to complete a list of things to do before they die. 97 minutes (PG-13; profanity, sexual references)

Cassandra's Dream (not reviewed)

A pair of financially strapped brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) turn to crime, but turn against each other when things go badly. From director Woody Allen. 108 minutes (PG-13; mature themes, sexual material and brief violence)

Charlie Wilson's War ***

Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman, this movie is the "true" story of how Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson persuaded the CIA to arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. 97 minutes (R; profanity, nudity, sexual content and drug use)

Cloverfield (not reviewed)

An attack on New York City - possibly by a monster - is seen through the video camera of small group of terrified party-goers who just hope to survive the night. 84 minutes (PG-13; violence, terror and disturbing images)

Dan in Real Life **

A widowed advice columnist (Steve Carell), struggling to raise his three daughters, complicates his life by falling for a woman (Juliette Binoche) who turns out to be his brother's girlfriend. 95 minutes (PG-13; innuendo)

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)

Enchanted ***

Disney pokes fun at itself in this twisted fairy tale about a cartoon princess (Amy Adams) banished to a live-action New York City where she finds her prince charming (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer. 107 minutes (PG; scary images and mild innuendo)

First Sunday (not reviewed)

Two bumbling petty criminals (Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan) decide to burglarize a church, but end up spending the night with the Lord and getting more than they bargained for. It's a comedy, allegedly. 96 minutes (PG-13; profanity, sexual humor and drug references)

The Game Plan **

The Rock stars as a quarterback living the bachelor lifestyle until he discovers he has a 7-year-old daughter from a one-night stand. 110 minutes (PG; mild thematic elements)

The Golden Compass *½

A 12-year-old girl (newcomer Dakota Blue Richards) tries to rescue a kidnapped friend and winds up on an epic quest to save her world. The movie also stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. 114 minutes (PG-13; sequences of fantasy violence)

The Great Debaters **½

Starring Denzel Washington, this drama is based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team of 1935 that went on to challenge Harvard University in the national championship. 124 minutes (PG-13; violence, disturbing imagery, vulgarity, brief sexuality)

I Am Legend **½

A scientist (Will Smith) has his hands full battling carnivorous mutants in an eerily empty New York City while trying to reverse the effects of the virus that wiped out mankind. 100 minutes (PG-13; intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence)

Into the Wild ***½

Actor Sean Penn wrote and directed this film about the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a young man who leaves his middle class existence for an adventure in Alaskan wilderness. 150 minutes (R; profanity and nudity)

Juno ***

We can only hope Jamie Lynn Spears has her act half as together as Juno (Ellen Page), a pregnant teenager who faces tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately finds her way. 91 minutes (PG-13; mature themes, sexual content, profanity)

The Kite Runner **½

Based on a best-selling novel, this story of fathers, sons, friendship and betrayal is set against the backdrop of the last days of Afghanistan's monarchy and the atrocities of the Taliban reign. 122 minutes (PG-13; adult themes, violence and profanity)

Mad Money (not reviewed)

Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes star in this comedy about three ordinary women who form an unlikely friendship at work and decide to do something extraordinary - rob a Federal Reserve bank. 104 minutes (PG-13; sexual material, profanity and drug references)

Michael Clayton ***

George Clooney shows range as a "fixer" at a prestigious New York law firm who copes with mounting professional and personal complications in this smart, cynical thriller. 118 minutes (R; profanity and sexual dialogue)

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium *½

The 243-year-old owner (Dustin Hoffman) of a strange, yet wonderful toy store enlists the help of an eager young manger (Natalie Portman) to keep his Emporium going. 93 minutes (G)

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (not reviewed)

The DNA of a 3,000-year-old mummy may help researchers gain insight into human genetics and new medical treatments. 40 minutes (not rated)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets *½

Nicolas Cage returns as archaeologist Ben Gates, who goes on a search for the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth's diary after his family is linked to the assassination of President Lincoln. 124 minutes (PG; some violence and action)

No Country for Old Men ****

A man (Josh Brolin) stumbles across a drug deal gone bad, takes $2 million and sets off a violent chain reaction that includes a sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) and a psychopathic bounty hunter (Javier Bardem). Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen ("Fargo"), based on the book by Cormac McCarthy. 122 minutes (R; graphic violence and profanity)

One Missed Call (not reviewed)

Yet another remake of a Japanese horror flick, this one about people who receive phone messages from their future selves which include the time and details of their death. Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamon star. 87 minutes (PG-13; intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, sexuality and mature themes)

The Orphanage **½

A supernatural drama about a woman who discovers dark secrets hidden within her childhood home after she returns to reopen the orphanage as a sanctuary for disabled children. In Spanish with English subtitles. 100 minutes (R; disturbing content)

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie (not reviewed)

An artifact drags three vegetable friends back to the 17th century where they become unlikely heroes in a battle to rescue a royal family from an evil tyrant - and themselves from living the life of common couch potatoes. 85 minutes (G)

P.S. I Love You *½

Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler star in this holiday weeper about a widow who learns her late husband has left her a list of tasks intended to ease her grief and help her start a new life. 126 minutes (PG; sexual references and brief nudity)

The Savages ***½

Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman co-star in this biting and poignant portrait of siblings caring for the ailing father (Philip Bosco) who abandoned them in childhood. 113 minutes (R; profanity, sexuality)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ***

A musical thriller about an ex-convict (Johnny Depp) who seeks revenge by killing his barber shop customers and giving them to an accomplice (Helena Bonham Carter), who turns them into meat pies. 117 minutes (R; graphic bloody violence)

There Will Be Blood ***½

Daniel Day-Lewis snagged the Golden Globe for best actor this week for his portrayal of a prospector-turned-oil king in this epic tale about family, greed and faith. From director Paul Thomas Anderson. 158 minutes (R; violence, profanity, adult themes)

27 Dresses *½

A woman (Katherine Heigl) wrestles with her always-a-bridesmaid life when her sister announces she's marrying a man (James Marsden) with whom she's secretly in love. 107 minutes (PG-13; profanity, innuendo and sexuality)

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep ***

A touching adventure about a Scottish boy who finds an enchanted egg that hatches into a mythical water horse, a k a the Loch Ness Monster. 101 minutes (PG; violence)

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT