July 16, 2008
WEEKEND FIRST: Movie Comings and Goings
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Heath Ledger mania for the upcoming “Dark Knight” now has blossomed into Oscar buzz for the late actor. It’s mid-July and the newest Batman flick represents essentially the last super super summer tentpole of 2008. Megaplesxes have cleared their hold overs to add at least two and in some cases three, four or five prints of Gotham City mayhem.
All Pictures © Warner Brothers
You’ve already heard the basics: The Joker challenges Batman in a film directed by Christopher Nolan who co-wrote and directed 2002’s “Batman Begins.”
Actually, additional heroes from the D.C. comic stable may be hitting screens, with the explosion of Marvel mania on screen, Warners has started combing Marvel’s long-time competitor for potential franchise. Of course, D.C. Comics does not have the “realism” incorporated by Stan Lee into Spiderman and X Men, but they do have imaginative heroic vistas with characters such as The Flash, Green Lantern, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Atom, and the Justice League of America.
As a clarification from last week, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” runs in Real-D (3-D process) and DLP (digital process). Park Place Stadium (Charleston) and Fountain Place (Logan) join the list having one auditorium each with Real D (3-D) in DLP digital. Marquee utilizes Real-D (3-D) and DLP Digital with Christie projectors. Their soon to open 14 screen Wheeling complex with have 14 DLP Digital screens and at least one or two auditoriums will be outfitted with the Real D (3-D) process.
Other films opening “wide” this weekend:
Mamma Mia!: Last summer’s “Hairspray” proved that the movie musical can still reign under the summer sun, so now comes another Broadway icon with Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosna on the marquee. A bride to be raised on a Greek island by a mother refusing to disclose her dad’s identity, locates three possible ‘dads’ and invites them to the wedding. Yes, you get to hear ABBA’s greatest hits!
All Pictures © Universal
Space Chimps: Cutting edge CGI animation propels this out of the world adventure in which NASA recruits Ham III, grandson of the first chimpanzee in space, to save a $5 billion probe that fell into a galactic wormhole.
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
July 25:
Step Brothers: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly re-team with the director of “Talladega Nights” in this comedy of pampered best friends who single parents decide to marry. Judd (“Knocked Up,” “40 Year Old Virgin”) Apatow is one of the producers.
All Pictures © Sony Pictures
X Files II: Taking the keep the details secret like “Cloverfield,” the X Files sequel will be a standalone supernatural thriller and stress the complicated Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillan Anderson) relationship.
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Aug. 1:
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: A young archaeologist accidentally (Luke Ford) awakens China’s entombed Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) sending explorer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) on a race from ancient Chinese catacombs to the Himalayas.
All Pictures © Universal
Midnight Meat Train: Bradley Cooper plays a photographer who happens to catch the work of a serial killer (Vinnie Jones) on the New York subway. Now, Cooper wants to track down the serial killer
All Pictures © Lions Gate
Rocker: A drummer gets dumped from a 80s band just before they hit superstardom. Twenty years later after toiling at a real job, the musician has a second chance at his rock and roll fantasy.
All Pictures © Sony
Swing Vote: For a preview of election night (or a re-run of the 2000 showdown), Kevin Costner plays an apathetic lovable loser coasting through life, until his mischievous 12-year-old daughter sets off a chain of events in which her dad’s vote will determine the election outcome.
HOLD OVERS:
BABY MAMA: A Single businesswoman has put off having a baby. Now at 37, she finds there's only a one in a million chance for her to conceive. So, she hires a South Philly working girl to be a surrogate. But the expectant mom is full of vibrancy so it's a tug of war attempting to structure the blonde lady into following all the rules necessary to have a perfect child. Tina Fey , Amy Poehler and Sigourney Weaver star
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: Aiming for more of a swashbuckling action audience than the fairy tale world, virtually the entire cast and crew reprise. When the children are brought back to Narnia, 1,300 years have passed and the kingdom is now controlled by the evil King Miraz. The kids meet the rightful heir, Prince Caspian, who they must restore to the throne to restore magic and glory in the land.
Get Smart: Mel Brooks and Buck Henry created the TV series that spoofed James Bond and “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Don Adams had the title role on the small screen, which now Steve Carell snatches along with glamed up Anne Hathaway as the formerly bookish Agent 99. Alan Arkin plays the “Chief” in this ongoing struggle between the often incompetent agents of CONTROL battling the forces of KAOS. Director Peter Segal has previously delivered with “The Longest Yard,” “50 First Dates,” and “Anger Management.”
HANCOCK: Will (“Men in Black”) Smith bumbles along as a conflicted, sarcastic superhero who saves lives but leaves lots of damage along the trail. Having turned the public against his awesomely stupid deeds, the hero makes a life-changing connection with a housewife
HB II (formerly Hellboy 2: Golden Army): The mythical world rebels against humanity hoping to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must intervene. Director Guillermo Del Toro who stunned audiences with Pan’s Labyrinth is on board for the revival of the character he brought to the screen in 2004.
HAPPENING: Adapting Japanese horror has had a hit or miss record after the phenomenal “Sixth Sense” by M. Night Shyamalan. After “Lady in the Water” (mostly thumbs up by me), “Unbreakable” and “Signs,” “The Happening” has my adrenalin flowing for a possible breakthrough as the premise concerns a natural disaster that threatens to destroy the earth.
INCREDIBLE HULK: After a dull too philosophical venture in 2003, action director Louis Leterrier --- who worked with Jet Li’s fight choreographer/director on “The Transporter” and “Transporter II --- has put the marauding green monster/hero back on screens. As for the story, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) seeks seclusion to understand and cure his condition that turns him into a monster. With the military wanting him controlled, he also must battle, The Abomination.
INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL: Steven Spielberg directs the return of everyone’s favorite globetrotting adventurer who’s been on the shelf for nearly 20 years. George Lucas teams with David Koepp on the screenplay, but it’s under wraps. However, Harris Ford reprises his role, even though his age is starting to limit his death defying stunts.
IRON MAN: Robert Downey Jr. stars as the armor plated hero. Updating the scenatio, Tony Stark remains a billionaire industralist, but has been kidnapped in Afghanistan where he is forced to work on weapons for the bad guys. The villain, none other than perennial nemesis , The Mandarin.
KIT KITTREDGE AN AMERICAN GIRL: For the very family friendly crowd, the story of an aspiring girl reporter offers an uplifting experience. “KittredGE” begins with the kid bringing home stay dogs and hobos. Her happy childhood in Cincinnati is disrupted when her dad loses his car dealership and must look for work outside the area. That means that Kit and her mother must try to make it taking in house guests (like an itinerant magician, a dance instructor ISO a husband, and a mobile librarian), as well as grow veggies and eggs.
Kung Fu Panda: Not exactly “Happy Feet,” but the big, clumsy Po labors daily in his family’s noodle shop dreaming about Kung Fu. But the bear has been chosen to fulfill a prophesy, so can the panda actually become a kung fun master? (Voices include Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman)
The Love Guru: Dumped at the gates of an Indian ashram, Pitka (Mike Myers) has been raised by gurus. What does he do? Comes to American seeking fame and fortune marketing self-help to the masses. His first challenge --- Settle a rift between a hockey player and his wife (Jessica Alba).
MEET DAVE: (formerly Starship Dave): Eddie Murphy plays a man uncomfortable in his own body, except his “body” is a “ship” made in the image of its captain. Piloted by tiny aliens, Murphy’s character jeopardizes the mission when he falls for Elizabeth Banks. Let’s hope this isn’t “Pluto Nash – The Sequel.”
MADE OF HONOR: Opening opposite the Marvel juggernaut, Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan star in MADE OF HONOR, a romantic comedy about a procrastinating lover who ends up as his love’s “maid of honor” instead of the groom. Can he somehow manage to manipulate the situation so he can win her from the rick Scotsman who has swept her off her footsies?
NIM’S ISLAND: Jodie Foster plays an author attempting to assist a fan whose father is missing on a secret island. Billed as a possible Indiana Jones for the sweeter gender, Of course, the author has her share of psychological dilemmas --- she has a fear of leaving her house and , well, the “fan” with the missing father is actually the title character in her novels. Advance word: goofy, sweet, comedic.
SEX AND THE CITY: The movie picks up four year after the six-year-run wrapped in 2004 on HBO. Sarah Jessica Parker returns as Carrie Bradshaw, the style conscious journalist whose romantic exploits ruled the series. As the story continues, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda prepare for Carrie to take the marital plunge
SPEED RACER: The Wachowski brothers (“V is for Vendetta” and “The Matrix” trilogy) direct a family friendly movie about a young gearhead (Emile Hirsch) known as Speed Racer who following the death of his brother, Rex, must race in the death defying cross-country rally known as The Crucible. His main competitor- Racer X played by Matthew Fox (who played Red Dawson in “We Are Marshall”).
STRANGERS: Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman play a young couple staying in an isolated vacation home when a knock on the door in the mid-hours of darkness. Soon, they are fighting for their lives as three masked strangers invade their space.
WALL-E: Pixar Animation Studios. ‘Nuff said. After hundreds of years picking up humanities trash on the Planet Earth, a search robot EVE discovers that the Waste Allocation Load Lifter robot may have found the meaning of life and a way for human to return home safely. Characters include malfunctioning robot misfits and a pet cockroach.
WANTED: A young man (James McAvoy) finds that his recently murder father was an elite assassin. Now he’s recruited by a man named Sloan (Morgan Freeman) to step into his dad’s shoes. Angelina Jolie also stars. Incidentally, the concept comes from a dark comic with similarity to “Sin City” and “V for Vendetta.”
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Would you stay married to Cameron Diaz for six months to qualify for $3 million jackpot? She marries Aston Kutcher during a drunken ceremony, then he hits strikes pay dirt on the slots using her quarter.
You Don’t Mess with Zohan: Judd (“Knocked Up”) Apatow and Adam Sandler team on a screenplay in which a Mossad agent fakes his death and re-emerges in the Big Apple as a hair stylist. Dennis (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”) Dugan directs.
Limited Release /Art House Films
ONGOING INTERACTIVE FUN NOW AT 9:45 PM FRIDAYS…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Although squirt guns, rice, lighters, and other projectiles are forbidden, you can brush up on your Time Warp dance and check out those character costumes. The long running and cult favorite continues a multiple weekend run at the Cinema with the shadow cast now accompanying the on screen action. Pre Show begins @ 11:30 p.m.
Starts Friday July 18:
*Expanded List of Upcoming Movies; Now Updated through November 2008
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection) Dark Knight (4 PRINTS) 11:40-12:00-1:30-2:00-3:00-3:20-4:45-5:15-6:15-6:40-8:15-8;45; Mamma Mia 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; Space Chimps 12:10-2:15-4:25-6:55-9:00; ADVANCE SCREENING: Thurs. July 17, 12 midnight Dark Knight; TIME CHANGES: Hancock (now 2 screens) 11:40-2:00-4:20-6:40-7:10-7:40-9:00-9:30; Kit Kittredge: An American Girl 11:40-2:00-4:20 only; Wall-E (now 2 screens in afternoon) 11:30-12:00-2:00-2:30-4:30-5:00-7:30-10:00 ; Wanted 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; Hulk 6:50-9:40; Kung Fu 12:10-2:30-4:50-7:10 only; Indiana Jones 9:30 ONLY; KID TOONS: Thomas and Friend the Great Discovery Sat/Sun 11:45 a.m. ONLY (all seats $3.50); FREE KID’S FLIX: Tuesday/Wednesday 10 a.m. July 22-July 23, Evan Almighty, Pirates Who Don’t Do; ENDS THURSDAY: Happening, Love Guru, Sex in City, Zohan; For Full Schedule, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=584
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: (all shows after 6 p.m. $3.00; Tuesday $2; $2.00 all shows before 6 p.m.): The Strangers 1:15-3:15-5:15-7:15-9:15; Iron Man 1:30-4:20-7:00-9:30; What Happens in Vegas 1:05-9:35* (No 9:35 show July 18); Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 2:00-5:00-8:00; The Happening 3:20-5:15-7:20 only; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. 10 a.m. July 23, Daddy Day Camp; ENDS THURSDAY: Baby Mamma; Friday July 18, 9:45 ONLY: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' (Interactive preshow begins 9:45 p.m.); For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Dark Knight 12:00-1:00-3:20-4:20-6:40-7:40-10:00; Mamma Mia 1:10-4:00-6:50-9:25; Space Chimps 12:20-2:40-5:10-7:25-9:55; SPECIAL SHOWING: Beck 08 Live, Thurs. July 17 , 8 p.m.; ADVANCE SHOWING: Thursday, July 17, 12 Midnight, Dark Knight, Mamma Mia, Space Chimps; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: NONE; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 1:05-3:50; Wanted 7:30-10:05; Get Smart 6:55-9:30; ENDS THURSDAY: Hulk, Love Guru, Kung Fu Panda; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Dark Knight 11:30-12:15-2:45-3:30-6:30-7:00-9:45-10:15; TIME CHANGES: Kung Fu Panda 11:55-2:10-4:25 only; Meet Dave 12:10-2:20 only; Wanted 4:35-7:10-9:25 only; Hancock (one print) 12:05-2:35-4:55-7:25-10:05; Get Smart 6:45-9:10 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Kit Kittredge; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BECKLEY, WV
CROSSROADS CINEMAS: (Now Confirmed Thru July 24) Speed Racer 12:00-3:00-5:55-8:50; What Happens in Vegas 12:05-2:25-4:45-7:05-9:25; Baby Mama 12:10-2:25-4:40-7:00-9:20; Made of Honor 6:45-9:05; Prom Night 6:50-9:00; Nim’s Island 12:05-2:15-4:30; Horton Hears Who 12:15-2:30-4:35; ENDS THURSDAY: None; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Dark Knight (3 prints) 11:40-12:00-1:30-3:00-3:20-4:45-6:15-6:40-8:15-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 1:00-4:00-6:45-9:20; Space Chimps 12:20-2:30-4:40-7:00-9:15; ADVANCE SHOWING: Thursday, July 18, midnight “Dark Knight”; KIDTOONS: Thomas & Friends Great Discovery, Sat/Sun 11:30 am ($3.50 all tickets); FREE KID’S FLIX: Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 a.m. July 22 & 23, Evan Almighty, The Pirates Who Don’t Do; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 1:00-7:00 only; Kit Kittredge 12:10-2:30-4:50; Indiana Jones 4:00-9:20 only; Hulk 4:00-9:25 only; Wall-E (1 print) 11:30-2:00-4:30-7:00-9:30; Get Smart 1:00-6:45 only; Kung Fu Panda 12:15-2:35-4:55-7:15; Strangers 9:35 only; Hancock 11:40-2:00-4:20-6:40-7:10-9:00-9:30; Wanted 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; ENDS THURSDAY: Love Guru; Happening; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=680
BLUEFIELD, WV
Starts Wednesday
MERCER MALL: Features/Times To Be Announced; For full schedule, click: http://www.carmike.com/showtimesdetails.aspx?theatrenumber=075503
COMMONS 8 (Marquee Cinemas, Wytheville, Va.): (Now all digital projection!): Dark Knight 11:40-3:00-3:20-6:15-6:40-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 11:50-3:10-6:20-9:45; Space Chimps 12:10-2:20-4:30-6:50-9:25; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 12:00 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Kit Kittredge, Get Smart, Wanted; FREE KID’S FLICKS: Tues/Wed 10 a.m. July 22 & 23, Mr Bean’s Holiday, Shrek the Third; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabloid=580
CHARLESTON, WV
Starts Wednesday
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!) Dark Knight (3 screens) 11:00-11:30-12:00-2:20-2:50-3:20-5:40-6:15-6:40-9:00-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 11:15-1:50-4:30-7:10-9:45; Space Chimps 12:15-2:30-4:45-7:00-9:10; KIDTOONS: Thomas & Friends: Great Discovery , Sat/Sun July 19-20, 11:45 ; FREE KID’S FLIX: Tues/ Wed 9:30 a.m. July 22-23, Evan Almighty, Pirates Who Don’t Do; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=583
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Dark Knight 12:00-1:00-3:00-4:00-7:00-8:00-9:55; Mama Mia! 12:05-2:45-5:05-7:30-9:45; Space Chimps 12:30-3:00-4:55-7:05-9:05; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. July 23 @ 10 a.m., Pirates Who Don’t Do; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
TIME CHANGES
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: Meet Dave 11:40-2:00-7:05; Hancock (one screen) 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:20-9:40; Wall-E (one screen) 11:10-1:40-4:20-7:00-9:30; Get Smart 6:55-9:35 only; Kung Fu Panda 12:00-2:20-4:40; Indiana Jones 6:30-9:20 only;
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Kit Kittredge 1:05-3:05-5:05 only; Meet Dave 7:10-9:10 only
ENDS THURSDAY:
Marquee Southridge: Kit Kittredge, Hulk
Park Place Stadium Cinemas: Indiana Jones, Happening, Hulk, Kung Fu Panda
HURRICANE, WV
Starts Wednesday, July 2
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Dark Knight 10:15 a.m*-11:00-1:15-2:00-4:15-5:30-7:15-8:30-10:15; Mamma Mia 10:15-12:15-2:30-5:30-7:40-9:40; Space Chimps 10:20 a.m.*- 12:50-2:50-5:05-7:10-9:10; TIME CHANGES: Kit Kitterage 10:15*-2:45-5:15; Get Smart 7:15-9:50 only; Meet Dave 12:45 only; Kung Fu Panda 10:00 a.m.*-1:20-5:30 only; Wanted 2:30-7:30-9:45; Wall-E (one print) 10:05 a.m.*-12:35-3:05-5:35-7:45-10:05; Hancock (one print) 10:45 a.m.*-1:00-3:15-5:30-8:00-10:00; FREE SUMMER KIDS SERIES: Tuesday/Thursday, 10 a.m., July 21 and 23, Sponge Bob Square Pants; ENDS THURSDAY: Hulk, Indiana Jones; (* No Sunday Early Showing ); For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hancock 4:30-7:00-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00-2:15; FREE KIDS FLIX: Tuesday 10 a.m., July 15, Mr Magorium; ENDS THURSDAY: Wall-E
LOGAN, W.VA.
Starts Friday
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Dark Knight 12:55-4:05-7:00-10:00; Mamma Mia! 12:15-2:35-4:40-7:10-9:30; Space Chimps 12:35-2:30-4:20-7:35-9:25; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 12:10-2:10-4:10; Wanted 7:20-9:50; ENDS THURSDAY: Kung Fu Panda, Happening, Get Smart; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. July 23, 10 a.m. Water Horse; For full schedule click: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/fountainplace/index.html
NITRO, WV
Great Escape Nitro 12: http://greatescapetheatres.com or 769-0405
SUMMERSVILLE, WV
NICHOLS SHOWPLACE: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hellboy Golden Army 3:40-6:30-9:20, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:20; Hancock 4:50-7:10-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:15-2:30; Wall-E 4:15-6:45-9:15, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:45; FREE KIDS SUMMER MOVIES: Tuesday, 10 a.m. July 22, Alvin; ENDS THURSDAY: Wanted
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hellboy The Golden Army 4:00-6:40-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00; Hancock 5:00-7:20-9:45, Sat./Sun Mat. 12:20-2:40; FREE KIDS FLIX: Tuesday 10 a.m. July 22, Surf’s Up; ENDS THURSDAY: Wall-E
UPCOMING RELEASES
July 25: American Teen, The Longshots, Step Brothers, X Files II
Aug. 1: He’s Just Not That Into You, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Rocker, Swing Vote
Aug. 8: Pineapple Express, Sisterhood of Traveling Pants II
Aug. 15: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Tropic Thunder, Mirrors, Vicky Cristina Barrcelona
Aug. 22: Death Race, Crossing Over, Fly Me to the Moon 3D, The House Bunny, The Longshots
Aug. 29: Babylon A.D., College, Traitor, Hamlet II, Disaster Movie
Sept. 5: Accidental Husband, Bangkok Dangerous, Passengers
Sept. 12: Righteous Kill, Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, The Women
Sept. 19: Ghost Town, Igor, Lakeview Terrace, My Best Friend’s Girl, Taken
Sept. 26: Eagle eye, Miracle at St. Anna, Nights in Rodanthe, Blindness
Oct. 3: Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Oct. 10: City of ember, The Express, House of Lies, Quarantine, Sex Drive, Soul Men
Oct. 17: Max Payne
Oct. 24: Brother Bloom, He’s Just Not That Into You, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Saw V, Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D
Oct. 31: RockNrOLLA
Nov. 7: Quantum of Solace (James Bond), Madagascar II
Nov. 21: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
· Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.
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WEEKEND FIRST: Movie Comings and Goings
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Heath Ledger mania for the upcoming “Dark Knight” now has blossomed into Oscar buzz for the late actor. It’s mid-July and the newest Batman flick represents essentially the last super super summer tentpole of 2008. Megaplesxes have cleared their hold overs to add at least two and in some cases three, four or five prints of Gotham City mayhem.
All Pictures © Warner Brothers
You’ve already heard the basics: The Joker challenges Batman in a film directed by Christopher Nolan who co-wrote and directed 2002’s “Batman Begins.”
Actually, additional heroes from the D.C. comic stable may be hitting screens, with the explosion of Marvel mania on screen, Warners has started combing Marvel’s long-time competitor for potential franchise. Of course, D.C. Comics does not have the “realism” incorporated by Stan Lee into Spiderman and X Men, but they do have imaginative heroic vistas with characters such as The Flash, Green Lantern, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Atom, and the Justice League of America.
As a clarification from last week, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” runs in Real-D (3-D process) and DLP (digital process). Park Place Stadium (Charleston) and Fountain Place (Logan) join the list having one auditorium each with Real D (3-D) in DLP digital. Marquee utilizes Real-D (3-D) and DLP Digital with Christie projectors. Their soon to open 14 screen Wheeling complex with have 14 DLP Digital screens and at least one or two auditoriums will be outfitted with the Real D (3-D) process.
Other films opening “wide” this weekend:
Mamma Mia!: Last summer’s “Hairspray” proved that the movie musical can still reign under the summer sun, so now comes another Broadway icon with Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosna on the marquee. A bride to be raised on a Greek island by a mother refusing to disclose her dad’s identity, locates three possible ‘dads’ and invites them to the wedding. Yes, you get to hear ABBA’s greatest hits!
All Pictures © Universal
Space Chimps: Cutting edge CGI animation propels this out of the world adventure in which NASA recruits Ham III, grandson of the first chimpanzee in space, to save a $5 billion probe that fell into a galactic wormhole.
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
July 25:
Step Brothers: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly re-team with the director of “Talladega Nights” in this comedy of pampered best friends who single parents decide to marry. Judd (“Knocked Up,” “40 Year Old Virgin”) Apatow is one of the producers.
All Pictures © Sony Pictures
X Files II: Taking the keep the details secret like “Cloverfield,” the X Files sequel will be a standalone supernatural thriller and stress the complicated Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillan Anderson) relationship.
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Aug. 1:
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: A young archaeologist accidentally (Luke Ford) awakens China’s entombed Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) sending explorer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) on a race from ancient Chinese catacombs to the Himalayas.
All Pictures © Universal
Midnight Meat Train: Bradley Cooper plays a photographer who happens to catch the work of a serial killer (Vinnie Jones) on the New York subway. Now, Cooper wants to track down the serial killer
All Pictures © Lions Gate
Rocker: A drummer gets dumped from a 80s band just before they hit superstardom. Twenty years later after toiling at a real job, the musician has a second chance at his rock and roll fantasy.
All Pictures © Sony
Swing Vote: For a preview of election night (or a re-run of the 2000 showdown), Kevin Costner plays an apathetic lovable loser coasting through life, until his mischievous 12-year-old daughter sets off a chain of events in which her dad’s vote will determine the election outcome.
HOLD OVERS:
BABY MAMA: A Single businesswoman has put off having a baby. Now at 37, she finds there's only a one in a million chance for her to conceive. So, she hires a South Philly working girl to be a surrogate. But the expectant mom is full of vibrancy so it's a tug of war attempting to structure the blonde lady into following all the rules necessary to have a perfect child. Tina Fey , Amy Poehler and Sigourney Weaver star
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: Aiming for more of a swashbuckling action audience than the fairy tale world, virtually the entire cast and crew reprise. When the children are brought back to Narnia, 1,300 years have passed and the kingdom is now controlled by the evil King Miraz. The kids meet the rightful heir, Prince Caspian, who they must restore to the throne to restore magic and glory in the land.
Get Smart: Mel Brooks and Buck Henry created the TV series that spoofed James Bond and “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Don Adams had the title role on the small screen, which now Steve Carell snatches along with glamed up Anne Hathaway as the formerly bookish Agent 99. Alan Arkin plays the “Chief” in this ongoing struggle between the often incompetent agents of CONTROL battling the forces of KAOS. Director Peter Segal has previously delivered with “The Longest Yard,” “50 First Dates,” and “Anger Management.”
HANCOCK: Will (“Men in Black”) Smith bumbles along as a conflicted, sarcastic superhero who saves lives but leaves lots of damage along the trail. Having turned the public against his awesomely stupid deeds, the hero makes a life-changing connection with a housewife
HB II (formerly Hellboy 2: Golden Army): The mythical world rebels against humanity hoping to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must intervene. Director Guillermo Del Toro who stunned audiences with Pan’s Labyrinth is on board for the revival of the character he brought to the screen in 2004.
HAPPENING: Adapting Japanese horror has had a hit or miss record after the phenomenal “Sixth Sense” by M. Night Shyamalan. After “Lady in the Water” (mostly thumbs up by me), “Unbreakable” and “Signs,” “The Happening” has my adrenalin flowing for a possible breakthrough as the premise concerns a natural disaster that threatens to destroy the earth.
INCREDIBLE HULK: After a dull too philosophical venture in 2003, action director Louis Leterrier --- who worked with Jet Li’s fight choreographer/director on “The Transporter” and “Transporter II --- has put the marauding green monster/hero back on screens. As for the story, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) seeks seclusion to understand and cure his condition that turns him into a monster. With the military wanting him controlled, he also must battle, The Abomination.
INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL: Steven Spielberg directs the return of everyone’s favorite globetrotting adventurer who’s been on the shelf for nearly 20 years. George Lucas teams with David Koepp on the screenplay, but it’s under wraps. However, Harris Ford reprises his role, even though his age is starting to limit his death defying stunts.
IRON MAN: Robert Downey Jr. stars as the armor plated hero. Updating the scenatio, Tony Stark remains a billionaire industralist, but has been kidnapped in Afghanistan where he is forced to work on weapons for the bad guys. The villain, none other than perennial nemesis , The Mandarin.
KIT KITTREDGE AN AMERICAN GIRL: For the very family friendly crowd, the story of an aspiring girl reporter offers an uplifting experience. “KittredGE” begins with the kid bringing home stay dogs and hobos. Her happy childhood in Cincinnati is disrupted when her dad loses his car dealership and must look for work outside the area. That means that Kit and her mother must try to make it taking in house guests (like an itinerant magician, a dance instructor ISO a husband, and a mobile librarian), as well as grow veggies and eggs.
Kung Fu Panda: Not exactly “Happy Feet,” but the big, clumsy Po labors daily in his family’s noodle shop dreaming about Kung Fu. But the bear has been chosen to fulfill a prophesy, so can the panda actually become a kung fun master? (Voices include Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman)
The Love Guru: Dumped at the gates of an Indian ashram, Pitka (Mike Myers) has been raised by gurus. What does he do? Comes to American seeking fame and fortune marketing self-help to the masses. His first challenge --- Settle a rift between a hockey player and his wife (Jessica Alba).
MEET DAVE: (formerly Starship Dave): Eddie Murphy plays a man uncomfortable in his own body, except his “body” is a “ship” made in the image of its captain. Piloted by tiny aliens, Murphy’s character jeopardizes the mission when he falls for Elizabeth Banks. Let’s hope this isn’t “Pluto Nash – The Sequel.”
MADE OF HONOR: Opening opposite the Marvel juggernaut, Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan star in MADE OF HONOR, a romantic comedy about a procrastinating lover who ends up as his love’s “maid of honor” instead of the groom. Can he somehow manage to manipulate the situation so he can win her from the rick Scotsman who has swept her off her footsies?
NIM’S ISLAND: Jodie Foster plays an author attempting to assist a fan whose father is missing on a secret island. Billed as a possible Indiana Jones for the sweeter gender, Of course, the author has her share of psychological dilemmas --- she has a fear of leaving her house and , well, the “fan” with the missing father is actually the title character in her novels. Advance word: goofy, sweet, comedic.
SEX AND THE CITY: The movie picks up four year after the six-year-run wrapped in 2004 on HBO. Sarah Jessica Parker returns as Carrie Bradshaw, the style conscious journalist whose romantic exploits ruled the series. As the story continues, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda prepare for Carrie to take the marital plunge
SPEED RACER: The Wachowski brothers (“V is for Vendetta” and “The Matrix” trilogy) direct a family friendly movie about a young gearhead (Emile Hirsch) known as Speed Racer who following the death of his brother, Rex, must race in the death defying cross-country rally known as The Crucible. His main competitor- Racer X played by Matthew Fox (who played Red Dawson in “We Are Marshall”).
STRANGERS: Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman play a young couple staying in an isolated vacation home when a knock on the door in the mid-hours of darkness. Soon, they are fighting for their lives as three masked strangers invade their space.
WALL-E: Pixar Animation Studios. ‘Nuff said. After hundreds of years picking up humanities trash on the Planet Earth, a search robot EVE discovers that the Waste Allocation Load Lifter robot may have found the meaning of life and a way for human to return home safely. Characters include malfunctioning robot misfits and a pet cockroach.
WANTED: A young man (James McAvoy) finds that his recently murder father was an elite assassin. Now he’s recruited by a man named Sloan (Morgan Freeman) to step into his dad’s shoes. Angelina Jolie also stars. Incidentally, the concept comes from a dark comic with similarity to “Sin City” and “V for Vendetta.”
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Would you stay married to Cameron Diaz for six months to qualify for $3 million jackpot? She marries Aston Kutcher during a drunken ceremony, then he hits strikes pay dirt on the slots using her quarter.
You Don’t Mess with Zohan: Judd (“Knocked Up”) Apatow and Adam Sandler team on a screenplay in which a Mossad agent fakes his death and re-emerges in the Big Apple as a hair stylist. Dennis (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”) Dugan directs.
Limited Release /Art House Films
ONGOING INTERACTIVE FUN NOW AT 9:45 PM FRIDAYS…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Although squirt guns, rice, lighters, and other projectiles are forbidden, you can brush up on your Time Warp dance and check out those character costumes. The long running and cult favorite continues a multiple weekend run at the Cinema with the shadow cast now accompanying the on screen action. Pre Show begins @ 11:30 p.m.
Starts Friday July 18:
*Expanded List of Upcoming Movies; Now Updated through November 2008
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection) Dark Knight (4 PRINTS) 11:40-12:00-1:30-2:00-3:00-3:20-4:45-5:15-6:15-6:40-8:15-8;45; Mamma Mia 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; Space Chimps 12:10-2:15-4:25-6:55-9:00; ADVANCE SCREENING: Thurs. July 17, 12 midnight Dark Knight; TIME CHANGES: Hancock (now 2 screens) 11:40-2:00-4:20-6:40-7:10-7:40-9:00-9:30; Kit Kittredge: An American Girl 11:40-2:00-4:20 only; Wall-E (now 2 screens in afternoon) 11:30-12:00-2:00-2:30-4:30-5:00-7:30-10:00 ; Wanted 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; Hulk 6:50-9:40; Kung Fu 12:10-2:30-4:50-7:10 only; Indiana Jones 9:30 ONLY; KID TOONS: Thomas and Friend the Great Discovery Sat/Sun 11:45 a.m. ONLY (all seats $3.50); FREE KID’S FLIX: Tuesday/Wednesday 10 a.m. July 22-July 23, Evan Almighty, Pirates Who Don’t Do; ENDS THURSDAY: Happening, Love Guru, Sex in City, Zohan; For Full Schedule, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=584
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: (all shows after 6 p.m. $3.00; Tuesday $2; $2.00 all shows before 6 p.m.): The Strangers 1:15-3:15-5:15-7:15-9:15; Iron Man 1:30-4:20-7:00-9:30; What Happens in Vegas 1:05-9:35* (No 9:35 show July 18); Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 2:00-5:00-8:00; The Happening 3:20-5:15-7:20 only; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. 10 a.m. July 23, Daddy Day Camp; ENDS THURSDAY: Baby Mamma; Friday July 18, 9:45 ONLY: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' (Interactive preshow begins 9:45 p.m.); For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Dark Knight 12:00-1:00-3:20-4:20-6:40-7:40-10:00; Mamma Mia 1:10-4:00-6:50-9:25; Space Chimps 12:20-2:40-5:10-7:25-9:55; SPECIAL SHOWING: Beck 08 Live, Thurs. July 17 , 8 p.m.; ADVANCE SHOWING: Thursday, July 17, 12 Midnight, Dark Knight, Mamma Mia, Space Chimps; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: NONE; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 1:05-3:50; Wanted 7:30-10:05; Get Smart 6:55-9:30; ENDS THURSDAY: Hulk, Love Guru, Kung Fu Panda; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Dark Knight 11:30-12:15-2:45-3:30-6:30-7:00-9:45-10:15; TIME CHANGES: Kung Fu Panda 11:55-2:10-4:25 only; Meet Dave 12:10-2:20 only; Wanted 4:35-7:10-9:25 only; Hancock (one print) 12:05-2:35-4:55-7:25-10:05; Get Smart 6:45-9:10 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Kit Kittredge; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BECKLEY, WV
CROSSROADS CINEMAS: (Now Confirmed Thru July 24) Speed Racer 12:00-3:00-5:55-8:50; What Happens in Vegas 12:05-2:25-4:45-7:05-9:25; Baby Mama 12:10-2:25-4:40-7:00-9:20; Made of Honor 6:45-9:05; Prom Night 6:50-9:00; Nim’s Island 12:05-2:15-4:30; Horton Hears Who 12:15-2:30-4:35; ENDS THURSDAY: None; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Dark Knight (3 prints) 11:40-12:00-1:30-3:00-3:20-4:45-6:15-6:40-8:15-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 1:00-4:00-6:45-9:20; Space Chimps 12:20-2:30-4:40-7:00-9:15; ADVANCE SHOWING: Thursday, July 18, midnight “Dark Knight”; KIDTOONS: Thomas & Friends Great Discovery, Sat/Sun 11:30 am ($3.50 all tickets); FREE KID’S FLIX: Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 a.m. July 22 & 23, Evan Almighty, The Pirates Who Don’t Do; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 1:00-7:00 only; Kit Kittredge 12:10-2:30-4:50; Indiana Jones 4:00-9:20 only; Hulk 4:00-9:25 only; Wall-E (1 print) 11:30-2:00-4:30-7:00-9:30; Get Smart 1:00-6:45 only; Kung Fu Panda 12:15-2:35-4:55-7:15; Strangers 9:35 only; Hancock 11:40-2:00-4:20-6:40-7:10-9:00-9:30; Wanted 11:30-2:05-4:40-7:15-9:50; ENDS THURSDAY: Love Guru; Happening; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=680
BLUEFIELD, WV
Starts Wednesday
MERCER MALL: Features/Times To Be Announced; For full schedule, click: http://www.carmike.com/showtimesdetails.aspx?theatrenumber=075503
COMMONS 8 (Marquee Cinemas, Wytheville, Va.): (Now all digital projection!): Dark Knight 11:40-3:00-3:20-6:15-6:40-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 11:50-3:10-6:20-9:45; Space Chimps 12:10-2:20-4:30-6:50-9:25; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 12:00 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Kit Kittredge, Get Smart, Wanted; FREE KID’S FLICKS: Tues/Wed 10 a.m. July 22 & 23, Mr Bean’s Holiday, Shrek the Third; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabloid=580
CHARLESTON, WV
Starts Wednesday
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!) Dark Knight (3 screens) 11:00-11:30-12:00-2:20-2:50-3:20-5:40-6:15-6:40-9:00-9:35-9:55; Mamma Mia 11:15-1:50-4:30-7:10-9:45; Space Chimps 12:15-2:30-4:45-7:00-9:10; KIDTOONS: Thomas & Friends: Great Discovery , Sat/Sun July 19-20, 11:45 ; FREE KID’S FLIX: Tues/ Wed 9:30 a.m. July 22-23, Evan Almighty, Pirates Who Don’t Do; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=583
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Dark Knight 12:00-1:00-3:00-4:00-7:00-8:00-9:55; Mama Mia! 12:05-2:45-5:05-7:30-9:45; Space Chimps 12:30-3:00-4:55-7:05-9:05; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. July 23 @ 10 a.m., Pirates Who Don’t Do; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
TIME CHANGES
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: Meet Dave 11:40-2:00-7:05; Hancock (one screen) 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:20-9:40; Wall-E (one screen) 11:10-1:40-4:20-7:00-9:30; Get Smart 6:55-9:35 only; Kung Fu Panda 12:00-2:20-4:40; Indiana Jones 6:30-9:20 only;
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Kit Kittredge 1:05-3:05-5:05 only; Meet Dave 7:10-9:10 only
ENDS THURSDAY:
Marquee Southridge: Kit Kittredge, Hulk
Park Place Stadium Cinemas: Indiana Jones, Happening, Hulk, Kung Fu Panda
HURRICANE, WV
Starts Wednesday, July 2
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Dark Knight 10:15 a.m*-11:00-1:15-2:00-4:15-5:30-7:15-8:30-10:15; Mamma Mia 10:15-12:15-2:30-5:30-7:40-9:40; Space Chimps 10:20 a.m.*- 12:50-2:50-5:05-7:10-9:10; TIME CHANGES: Kit Kitterage 10:15*-2:45-5:15; Get Smart 7:15-9:50 only; Meet Dave 12:45 only; Kung Fu Panda 10:00 a.m.*-1:20-5:30 only; Wanted 2:30-7:30-9:45; Wall-E (one print) 10:05 a.m.*-12:35-3:05-5:35-7:45-10:05; Hancock (one print) 10:45 a.m.*-1:00-3:15-5:30-8:00-10:00; FREE SUMMER KIDS SERIES: Tuesday/Thursday, 10 a.m., July 21 and 23, Sponge Bob Square Pants; ENDS THURSDAY: Hulk, Indiana Jones; (* No Sunday Early Showing ); For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hancock 4:30-7:00-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00-2:15; FREE KIDS FLIX: Tuesday 10 a.m., July 15, Mr Magorium; ENDS THURSDAY: Wall-E
LOGAN, W.VA.
Starts Friday
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Dark Knight 12:55-4:05-7:00-10:00; Mamma Mia! 12:15-2:35-4:40-7:10-9:30; Space Chimps 12:35-2:30-4:20-7:35-9:25; TIME CHANGES: Meet Dave 12:10-2:10-4:10; Wanted 7:20-9:50; ENDS THURSDAY: Kung Fu Panda, Happening, Get Smart; FREE KIDS FLIX: Wed. July 23, 10 a.m. Water Horse; For full schedule click: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/fountainplace/index.html
NITRO, WV
Great Escape Nitro 12: http://greatescapetheatres.com or 769-0405
SUMMERSVILLE, WV
NICHOLS SHOWPLACE: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hellboy Golden Army 3:40-6:30-9:20, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:20; Hancock 4:50-7:10-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:15-2:30; Wall-E 4:15-6:45-9:15, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:45; FREE KIDS SUMMER MOVIES: Tuesday, 10 a.m. July 22, Alvin; ENDS THURSDAY: Wanted
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Dark Knight 3:00-6:15-9:35, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:40; Hellboy The Golden Army 4:00-6:40-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00; Hancock 5:00-7:20-9:45, Sat./Sun Mat. 12:20-2:40; FREE KIDS FLIX: Tuesday 10 a.m. July 22, Surf’s Up; ENDS THURSDAY: Wall-E
UPCOMING RELEASES
July 25: American Teen, The Longshots, Step Brothers, X Files II
Aug. 1: He’s Just Not That Into You, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Rocker, Swing Vote
Aug. 8: Pineapple Express, Sisterhood of Traveling Pants II
Aug. 15: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Tropic Thunder, Mirrors, Vicky Cristina Barrcelona
Aug. 22: Death Race, Crossing Over, Fly Me to the Moon 3D, The House Bunny, The Longshots
Aug. 29: Babylon A.D., College, Traitor, Hamlet II, Disaster Movie
Sept. 5: Accidental Husband, Bangkok Dangerous, Passengers
Sept. 12: Righteous Kill, Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, The Women
Sept. 19: Ghost Town, Igor, Lakeview Terrace, My Best Friend’s Girl, Taken
Sept. 26: Eagle eye, Miracle at St. Anna, Nights in Rodanthe, Blindness
Oct. 3: Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Oct. 10: City of ember, The Express, House of Lies, Quarantine, Sex Drive, Soul Men
Oct. 17: Max Payne
Oct. 24: Brother Bloom, He’s Just Not That Into You, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Saw V, Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D
Oct. 31: RockNrOLLA
Nov. 7: Quantum of Solace (James Bond), Madagascar II
Nov. 21: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
· Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.
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