Oct. 29, 2008
WEEKEND FIRST: Movie Comings and Goings
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Along with pumpkins, ghosts, Elvira, and skeletons in the closet, the film industry has a horror franchise for the scary weeks of October. John Carpenter’s “Halloween” bred numerous sequels as did off shoots such as Chucky in the “Child’s Play” series, Jason in “Friday the 13th and , of course, Freddy from “Nightmare on Elm Street.”
The current series of note started five years ago.
The “Saw” franchise began with Jigsaw’s inquisitive cleverness for pitting captives’ survival against a beat the clock “game” fortified by their abilities to endure pain, bond, or turn on each other. As the sequels have progressed, the simplest of challenges became an excuse for bloodletting and torture.
When Saw IV closed, the series villain lay dead in a hospital bed. “Saw V” opens with an out of context lifting of Eager Allen Poe’s “Pit and Pendulum,” suggesting another torturous outing. Instead, the newest episode revives some of the inquisitive redemption challenges and psychological exercises which laced the opening opus.
You can think enticingly in between a lowered body part count, but the multi-tasking premise has flaws, particularly spawning convoluted wooden connections strung amuck in flashbacks.
Whether dead or alive, Jigsaw has an imitator. Such reasoning touches sensibilities, but the simultaneous grisly “And Then There Were…” reality game both befuddles and rejuvenates. You could call it an adult spin on the teen slasher methodology, but impure thoughts and actions do not foreshadow the next victim.
The trapped five sequences allows for the basest cat and mouse strategic decisions but woefully moves too swiftly into consequences that could have ushered light years past a simple speck or two of suspense and terror. The five unwilling, unwitting players deserve more screen time in order to gauge their strengths , fallacies and personalities, allowing for rooting for slashing survivor favorite(s) escaping the traps. Instead, the game players brief camera time displays the inevitable, nervousness and reckless self preservation skills, which deprives viewers of gleaning a sliver of emotion; they stay nothing more than stick figures with different hair styles and wardrobes.
Wasting this intriguing potentially intense interplay, director David Hackl relegates them to little more than modern gladiators anxious to get on with the battle, even though each encounter equates a nasty demise for the one with the short straw. These strangers bound by chained chokers mumble stiff phrases concerning their perceived sins which do not equate to brash, extremist risk takers chanting bring on the next Russian Roulette rubric. Instead, they continue plain white collar ordinary and neither we the viewers nor the characters are allowed to weld empathy or sympathy due to the briskness and cutaways.
Worse, the intertwining of investigators Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) cries for less ambiguity. Although in part Hoffman’s motivations are well etched, his increased obsession lacks an overtly willful personality absorption. In short, everyone seems wimpy copping out until Saw VI.
I’d still elevate this installment for its attempts at mystery and suspense along with the meticulously ominous and consistent enhancement of scenes with foreboding passageways and dimly lighted stone hallways. Obviously, all these promising elements do not work out as horrifically as they should. Still, “Saw V” is better than 90 minutes of solid blood, body parts, intestines and other grisly gore for no reason but to exceed the last splatter-fest.
*½ out of *****
However, if the squishing and dripping of blood in the “Saw” torture chamber proves too intense, the PG 13 rated “Haunting of Molly Hartley” might be an alternative. Personally, the buzz film from Clint Eastwood “The Changeling” might have award nominations written on it. On the other hand, the “Zack and Miri” comedy about an amateur porno movie to pay the rent has concept possibilities.
RELIGULOUS
Last week, Park Place Stadium Cinemas in Charleston added the comedy/satire documentary, “Religulous” to its slate. Directed by Larry (“Boart”) Charles, Bill Maher travels the globe interviewing people concerning God, spirituality and religion. It will be added Oct. 31 to the schedule at Teays Valley Cinemas. So, before it slips away (in a week or two), go out and support the artistic big-city type films that everyone complains do not play in West Virginia.
ROCKY HORROR
Downhome Decadence will host TWO showings of the cult classic at the Cinema Theatre in Huntington at 9:45 p.m. and 12 midnight Oct. 31. Interactive pre-shows precede both showings. Watch for an expanded HNN article before Oct. 31. Oh, and wear your Halloween costume, too. Admission $3. Come early, both may sell out.
OPENING OCT 31 (Not all films in all areas)
HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY: Seeking a fresh start Molly (Haley Bennett) moves to a new school where she finds new, innocent friends willing to help her fit in. But Molly has a sinister secret and it’s about who she might become.
All Pictures © Freestyle Releasing
THE CHANGELING: Having debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, Clint Eastwood directs this conspiracy thriller set in Los Angeles of the 1920s. Angelina Jolie portrays a mother reunited with her missing son, but after questioning if this is HER child, she is committed to an insane asylum. Possible awards buzz has already started for the film which comes from the same genre as “Chinatown” and “L.A. Confidential.”
All Pictures © Universal
ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO: Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks enter the amateur porn film arena after the two friends find themselves horribly in debt and (naturally) with romantic feelings toward the other. Kevin (“Clerks,” “Jersey Girl,” “Chasing Amy,” “Clerks II”) Smith directs the R-rated comedy whose title has caused at least 15 newspapers, several TV and cable channels, and the City of Philadelphia to reject its advertising. Not to be defeated, the producers created an ad using stick figures. But the Philly deputy mayor said they were “cute” but would not allow schoolchildren to see the word “porno” at bus stops.
All Pictures © Weinstein Company
HOLD OVERS:
APPALOSSA: After a rancher (Jeremy Irons) who feels above the law guns down the town sheriff and deputy, townspeople pray for a savior to free them from the power hungry rancher. Two rugged straight shooters (Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen) ride into town and become the new sheriff and deputy. Renee Zellweger also stars. (Marquee Beckley, Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling, Wythville, Va.)
Body of Lies: When a CIA agent (Leonardo DiCaprio) finds that a terrorist leader may be operating out of Jordan , he finds a vet CIA operative ( Russell Crowe) to infiltrate the saboteur’s underground network. Ridley Scott directs.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Combining live action and animation, the voice of Drew Barrymore speaks for Chloe, a snobby Beverly Hills little pooch who’s lost in Mexico and needs to find California.
City of Embers: Gil (“Monster House”) Kenan directs a children’s fantasy about two teens seeking to prevent the destruction of an underground illuminated city which may be extinguished by darkness. Call it a mix of Truman Show and Dark City.
DUCHESS: Keira Knightley stars as a beautiful and clever lady of British high society when she married a Duke. Beloved for her trendsetting fashions and political activism, she clashes with her husband’s control over her. When she starts an affair with another man, the brutal differences in the rights of 18th Century men and women will come down upon her. (Marquee Beckley, Charleston, Huntington, & Wheeling)
Eagle Eye: Reuniting the director and a hot dude from “Disturbia,” D. J. Caruso directs Shia LaBeouf in a Hitchcock type thriller where a dude and his mom fall unwittingly into a terror cell planning an assassination
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SENIOR YEAR: Seniors Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Anne Hudgens) must face separation anxiety as college looms. Of course, they stage a musical which assembles their experiences, hopes and fears about the future.
MAX PAYNE: Video game comes to the screen as Mark Wahlberg embodies a widowed cop delivering justice at no matter what the cost.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: A bass player from the band, The Jerk Offs, sees his ex-girl friend with another dude and in an attempt to find a quickl looker, he encounters a woman with whom he has nothing in common except their musical tastes. The couple’s (Michael Cera, Kat Dennings) five minute “date” becomes a quest for the venue of a legendary group. On their trek through Manhattan , they will find stripping nuns, hotel ice rooms, psychotic Jewish ex-boyfriends yet discover they can write songs and sing together in the rain.
Nights in Rodanthe: Faced with her life in chaos, Adrienna (Diane Lane) retreats to a small North Carolina town to tend a small inn so she can think out the crisis. However, a storm moves in and so does a guest: Dr Paul Flanner (Richard Gere). Both lean on each other to face the elements and emotions.
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 3D: A critically acclaimed stop-motion animated fable about Halloweentown where residents work year round to scare humans. When Jack Skellington (voice Chris Sarandon) learns about another human holiday --- Christmas --- he seeks to add shrunken heads and snakes to Santa and his reindeer. Showing at Park Place Stadium Cinemas (Charleston), Fountain Place (Logan) and Marquee’s digital screens in Huntington, Charleston, Bluefield/Wythville, Wheeling, and Beckley.
PRIDE AND GLORY: Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star in the tale of the multigenerational Tierney family’s work as New York City police officers. When a police corruption scandal implicates his brother-in-law, the shattering of the family’s moral codes threatens to spread beyond the precinct. Norton plays an honest homicide detective investigating a series of crimes that may have been orchestrated within the department.
Quarantine: A news crew enters an apartment building as police officers seek the source of a woman’s screams. The victim has an unknown disease and the CDC locks everyone in the structure. The next morning, all that’s left is the television camera video tape.
SAW V: Opening a week before Halloween, David Hackl, the production designer of prior Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) features except for the opening opus, directs. As you remember the villain perished in the fourth installment, but his traps have Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) , the forensic expert, who uttered, “Everyone around him [the SWAT commander] keeps dying,” now attempts to avoid falling prey to a trap.
SEX DRIVE: A high school senior (Josh Zuckerman) assembles his brother’s ’69 GTO and best friends (Clark Duke, Amanda Crew) for a Chicago to Knoxville trip to hook up with a gal he “met” online.
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 @ 9:45 p.m.
Starts Friday October 24 – October 30
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection) Haunting of Molly Hartley 12:40-2:50-5:10-7:25-9:40; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 11:50-2:15-4:45-7:15-9:50; Changeling 12:00-3:05-6:15-9:25; KIDTOONS: Spookly: The Square Pumpkin , Sat/Sun 11:40 a.m. ONLY; Barbie in A Christmas Carol 11:50 a.m. Sat/Sun only, (all seats $3.50) ; TIME CHANGES: Apalossa 1:15-3:45 only; Sex Drive 9:30 only; Eagle Eye 6:30-9:15; Fireproof 12:30-3:30-6:20; Quarantine 12:30-2:50-9:50 only; Nights in Rodanthe 5:00-7:25 only; Max Payne, no 12 noon show Sat/Sun; Saw V, no 11:50 a.m. show Sat/Sun; ENDS THURSDAY: The Duchess, Nick and Nora, Body of Lies; 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.) Righteous Kill 5:20-7:30-9:40, S/S/T Mat. 1:00-3:10; The Women 4:30-7:10-9:30, S/S/T Mat. 1:30; Burn After Reading 7:20-9:25*; Journey to the Center of the Earth 5:15 , S/S/T Mat. 1:15-3:15; Dark Knight 5:00-8:00, S/S//T Mat. 2:00; Friday Oct 31, 9:45 only, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Interactive preshow begins 9:45 p.m.); ENDS THURSDAY: Igor, Pineapple Express; For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Haunting of Molly Hartley 5:10-7:40-10:00, F/S/S 2:20; Zack and Miri 4:30-7:00-9:35, F/S/S 2:00; TIME CHANGES: NONE; ENDS THURSDAY: Sex Drive, Quarantine, Nights in Rodanthe, Nick and Nora; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Tentative: Haunting of Molly Hartley, Changeling, Zack and Miri; Confirmed Thru Oct. 30: Saw V, Mon-Thurs. 4:15-6:40-9:30, F/S/S 12:10-2:30-4:45-7:10-9:50; High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Fri/Sat/Sun 2:00-3:00-4:30-5:30-7:00-8:00-9:30-10:20, Sat/Sun Mat. 11:30-12:30; Mon-Thurs. 3:30-4:00-6:15-6:45-8:30-9:00; Fireproof , Fri/Sat/Sun 2:20-4:55-7:30-10:05, Sat/Sun Morn. 11:45 a.m. , Mon-Thurs. 3:50-6:25-9:05; TIME CHANGES: Quarantine 10:10 F/S/S, 9:05 Mon-Thurs; ENDS THURSDAY: Express ; Nights in Rodanthe; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BECKLEY, WV
CROSSROADS CINEMAS: CLOSED
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Haunting of Molly Hartley 12:15-2:30-4:45-7:00-9:15; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 12:00-2:25-4:50-7:15-9:45; Changeling 12:00-3:10-6:20-9:30; KIDTOONS: Spookly: The Square Pumpkin or Barbie in A Christmas Carol , Sat/Sun 12:00 a.m. ONLY (all seats $3.50) ; TIME CHANGES: Eagle Eye 4:00-9:25; Nights in Rodanthe 1:00-7:00; Quarantine 9:35 only; Fireproof 1:10-4:00-6:45 only; Saw V and Max Payne, no 12 noon show Sat/Sun ; ENDS THURSDAY: Sex Drive, Body of Lies, Appaloosa, Nick and Nora, Duchess; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=680
BLUEFIELD, WV
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!): Haunting of Molly Hartley 5:00-7:15-9:40, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:30-2:45; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 5:10-7:35-10:00, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00-2:30; Changeling 3:10-6:20-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00; TIME CHANGES: Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D, 4:30 daily, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:15-2:20 (Extra $2.50 change for 3-D); Pride and Glory 6:35-9:35; ENDS THURSDAY: Sex Drive, Nights in Rodanthe, Appoloosa, W; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabloid=580
CHARLESTON, WV
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!) Zack and Miri Make a Porno 11:50-2:20-4:50-7:20-9:50; Haunting of Molly Hartley 11:45-2:15-4:30-7:00-9:25; Changeling 12:00-3:10-6:20-9:30; KID TOONS: Spookley The Square Pumpkin 11:50 a.m. Sat/Sun Only; Barbie in A Christmas Carol 12 noon Sat/Sun only ($3.50 all seats); TIME CHANGES: W 9:20 only; Quarantine 9:45 only; Fireproof 12:30-3:30-6:30 only; Max Payne , no 11:55 a.m. show on Sat/Sun Nov. 1-2; ENDS THURSDAY: Body of Lie, Nights in Rodanthe, Sex Drive, Eagle Eye; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Default.aspx?tabid=583
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Haunting of Molly Hartley 1:00-3:00-5:00-7:00-9:00; Changeling 12:35-3:45-6:50-9:40; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 12:45-3:05-5:15-7:25-9:35; TIME CHANGES: Quarantine 12:50-2:45-4:55 only; Body of Lies 7:05-9:40; ENDS THURSDAY: Sex Drive, Nick and Nora, Eagle Eye, Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
HURRICANE, WV
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Haunting of Molly Hartley 11:15 a.m.*-1:15-3:15-5:20-7:30-9:45; Zack and Miri 11:30 a.m.*-1:30-3:30-5:30-7:50-10:00; Religilous 11:00 a.m. *- 1:15-3:15-5:30-7:45-9:45; TIME CHANGES: Max Payne 11:00 a.m.*-1:00-7:10-10:00 only; W , 2:50-5:05 only; Fireproof 11:05 a.m.*-3:15-7:35; Nights in Rodanthe 1:20-5:35-9:55; Eagle Eye 11:20 a.m.*-2:00-7:25 only; Sex Drive 5:15-9:50 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Body of Lies, Quarantine; For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Haunting of Molly Hartley, Fri/Mon 4:40-7:00-9:30, Sat. 12:00-2:15-4:40-7:00-9:30, Sun/Tues 12:00-2:15-4:40-7:00; Wed/Thurs 5:00-7:30; ; Saw V, Friday/Monday, 4:40-7:00-9:30, Sat. 12:00-2:15-4:40-7:00-9:30, Sun & Tues. 12:00-2:15-4:30-6:50; Wed -Thurs. 5:00-7:30; (*No Sun Late Show) ; ENDS THURSDAY: Max Payne
LOGAN, W.VA.
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Haunting of Molly Hartley 4:40-7:30-9:25, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:45-2:55; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 4:55-7:10-9:45, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:35-2:40; TIME CHANGES: Max Payne 4:25, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:25-2:25; Sex Drive 7:25-9:40; ENDS THURSDAY: Nightmare Before Christmas; 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: Haunting of Molly Hartley, Friday 5:10-7:30-9:40, Sat/Sun 12:30-2:50-5:10-7:30-9:40*, Mon-Thurs. 5:10-7:30; Fireproof, Friday, 3:50-6:40-9:25, Sat/Sun 12:50-3:50-6:40-9:25, Mon-Thurs. 4:45-7:25; High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Friday 4:00-6:50-9:30, Sat/Sun 1:00-4:00-6:50-9:30*, Mon-Thurs. 5:00-7:35; Saw V, Friday, 5:00-7:20-9:45, Sat/Sun . 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:20-9:45*, Mon-Thurs. 5:20-7:45; (* No Sun Late Shows all Films); ENDS THURSDAY: Max Payne, Beverly Hills Chihuahua
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Haunting of Molly Hartley , Friday 4:30-6:50-9:10; Sat/Sun 12:10-2:15-4:30-6:50-9:10*, Mon-Thurs. 5:20-7:40; High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Friday, 4:00-6:30-9:00, Sat/Sun 1:30-4:00-6:30-9:00*, Mon-Thurs. 5:00-7:35; Saw V, Friday 4:40-7:00-9:20, Sat/Sun 12:00-2:20-4:40-7:00-9:20*, Mon-Thurs 5:10-7:30; (*No Late Shows Sun. Eve) ; ENDS THURSDAY: Max Payne
WHEELING, WV
Marquee Highlands 14: Haunting of Molly Hartley 12:15-2:30-4:45-7:10-9:30; Zack and Miri Make a Porno 12:00-2:25-4:50-7:15-9:45; Changeling 12:00-3:20-6:30-9:35; TIME CHANGES: Quarantine 1:00-9:50 only; W, 3:50-6:40 only; Eagle Eye 4:10-7:00 only; Sex Drive 9:10 only; The Express 12:30-9:20 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Body of Lies, Nick and Nora, Lakeview Terrace; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/Theaters/WestVirginia/Wheeling/tabid/278/Default.aspx
UPCOMING RELEASES
Nov. 7: Quantum of Solace (James Bond), Madagascar II
November 14: Role Models, Australia, Soul Men
Nov. 21: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince, Soloist
Nov. 26: Transporter III, The Road, Four Christmases
Nov. 28: Bolt
Dec. 5: Punisher: War Zone
Dec. 12: Twilight, Seven Pounds, Day the Earth Stood Still, Defiance
Dec. 19: Tale of Despereaux
· Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.
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