Nov. 18, 2009
WEEKEND FIRST: Movie Comings and Goings (Times Updated Nov 20 - Nov 27)
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
For Updated Times CLICK HERE
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Depending upon when you read this, the “New Moon” will be less than a week away from viewer’s eyes.
According to Grant Marek, a representative for Movie Tickets.com, the sequel to “Twilight” has sold four times as many tickets as last year’s original. More than 1,300 sold out showings have sold out, including 900 midnight performances.
All Pictures © Summit Pictures
“The fact that ‘New Moon’ is outpacing ‘Twilight’ at a 4-to-1 ratio really speaks to the incredible fan base the film has built in just the past year,’” said Joel Cohen, executive vice president and general manager for MovieTickets.com. “That, combined with the increasing number of consumers buying their movie tickets online, could put this film in a position to be one of our top advance ticket sellers of all-time.”
Locally, many multi/mega plexes will have multiple prints. Of tickets available for sale (as of Nov. 11) in advance on line, Marquee has sell outs for the two Friday evening performances of “Moon” in at least three cities. However, the chain will add prints. Bottom Line: When they list their full schedule of showings, if you want to catch it at midnight OR on Friday evening, I’d suggest an advance purchase.
“New Moon” also accounts for 74 percent of all ticket sales at MovieTickets.com this week.
THIS WEEK: 2012
All Pictures © Sony
For most areas, you will have but one new choice on cinema screens, the disaster film, “2012,” which revolves around the doomsday predictions on the Mayan calendar. End of the world flicks are a personal sci-fic favorite, but I prefer intimate tales of group survival to pencil thin characters running through CGI to the ninth power.
That means I liked “Cloverfield,” the new “War of the Worlds ( Effects + Story = Success), “Day After Tomorrow,” and “Panic in Year Zero,” but had a less favorable reaction to “Armegeddon,” “Deep Impact,” and “The Core.”
PIRATE RADIO
All Pictures © Focus
Playing only in Huntington, at Marquee Pullman Square, Pirate Radio offers a North Sea brand of “WKRP in Cincinnati” where free love, pop music, free will and the slush of waves encompass a moving uncensored, unlicensed broadcaster on the run from the British government.
NOV 20 and NOV 25 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Sandra Bullock has the unenviable task of releasing her newest flick, "Blind Side", opposite TWILIGHT A NEW MOON. The animated PLANET 51 will go out and the George Clooney voiced FANTASTIC MR FOX will expand. The remainder of flicks for the Turkey Day festivities are: OLD DOGS (John Travolta, Robin Williams); THE ROAD (Robert Duvall) and NINJA ASSASSIN.
For Movie Changes/Times, CLICK HERE.
For Review of AMELIA, CLICK HERE
For Review of SAW VI, CLICK HERE
For Review of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, CLICK HERE
For Review of COUPLES RETREAT, CLICK HERE
For Review of INVENTION OF LYING, CLICK HERE
For UPCOMING Releases, CLICK HERE
REVIEW: AMELIA
By Tony Rutherford
Amelia
Everyone has an ocean to fly and conquer dreams. Some tip their toes in the water; others soar through the blue skies past oceans of fear.
Historically, despite the winsome lyrical mood, you enter the auditorium expecting a tragic ending. For that given, Hillary Swank (Amelia) and George Putnam (Richard Gere) relentlessly ride a triple corkscrew overcoming suspension of disbelief against most odds.
Connecting and assimilating all those trajectories must occur for viewer to lose themselves in “Amelia’s” story, which had not previously been brought to film. Accompanied by lush, soft string orchestral movements that resurrect memories of iconic fantasy romance, “Somewhere in Time,” the delicate, occasionally repeating melodies glue this incredibly inspiring fuselage for a smooth flight.
Role modeling and symbolism slip easily in place like a blue sky filling with a stunning afternoon sun.
Swank, particularly, has multiple challenges in conveying Amelia’s persona --- she speaks flatly to Gere on the marital subject placing her in the clutches of early “feminist” dogma. Interestingly, she accepts the consequences for chasing her expensive dreams as a balancing act, one in which she commands, yet, does not swear off certain female social expectations. Recognizing that flying solo to wherever involves cash, she begrudgingly accepts his nearly unconditional love.
For that matter, Gere, too, has a windy tightrope on which to walk as his promotions and/or public relations coordination slip closely to charming snake oil salesman. Displaying a maturity and understanding of Amelia’s passion, he stays in the shadows after illuminating her star in the media constellation on planet Earth. Still, he maintains the in charge (well, for onlookers) masculine characteristics required for men living in the 30s decade.
Bringing all this into a moving, winsome, and haunting on screen experience speaks favorably for the creative team. Swank and Gere race down the runway so eloquently that you perceive history as neither a given or a surprise, maybe a comfortable ‘closure’ for what has remained an unsolved mystery.
If any area has been overlooked, the filmmakers do not allow for revving up the lasting mystery, thus, negating an opportunity to speculate or titillate a Sherlock Holmes moment. Yet, steps in that direction would interfere with comfortably accepting the unhappy non-closure that has been reality since Amelia disappeared.
BECK AT THE MOVIES: 'Saw VI': Rolling and Churning from Assembly Line
Shawnee Smith Agreed Many Shots in Place for ........
By Jeff Beck
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) -- It's Halloween again, so you know what that means. That's right, another entry in one of the most worthless franchises ever created. The "Saw" series continues its tradition of gratuitous mutilations and dismemberments with its latest entry, "Saw VI." Can you believe it's already gotten this far? As I mentioned last year with "Saw V," as long as these dirt-cheap films keep making money, then the studio will just keep rolling them off the assembly line, despite a complete lack of quality.
Picking up right where "Saw V" left off, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is still continuing Jigsaw's (Tobin Bell) work by setting up traps where people have to make difficult decisions where life and death hang in the balance. This time around, he sets up an insurance agent, William (Peter Outerbridge). William has to make his way through four grueling tests in order to survive. Jigsaw's wife, Jill (Betsy Russell), is also brought back into the picture as she goes through the contents of the mysterious box left to her by her late husband, contents that turn out to be instructions for the game being played out by William. Meanwhile, Hoffman must be extra careful as the police may be closing in on him.
"Saw VI" further derails the series long after it left the tracks by continuing to prolong a story that lost steam ages ago, and by ages ago, I mean after the first film. Admittedly, the first "Saw" film was a decent flick. It had originality, gruesome as it was, with an ending that made my jaw drop in the theater. So no surprise that I was interested in the sequel, only to be vastly disappointed with the result.
That's the feeling I've been left with each year as these films continue. The only reason to continue watching is just to see how much more ludicrous the stories can possibly get. It's like watching that derailed train crash and burn or some other terrible-sounding metaphor that leaves you aghast at the tragedy you just witnessed.
Like its predecessors, "Saw VI" forcefully finds ways to squeeze Jigsaw back into the story line, but his scenes in this film add absolutely nothing to it. The main excuse for this is probably just to include Tobin Bell because people apparently like him as the serial killer from the first three films (I'm pretty sure it was the third film he died in, but since the films are carbon copies of each other, it's hard to remember). Again, it doesn't matter to the studios how ludicrous and pointless his addition is to the film as long as they make money.
Also like the previous entries, this film continues the tradition of terrible performances, particularly from Peter Outerbridge as William. It certainly doesn't help that most of the "performing" done in the film is people screaming for their lives, and very unconvincingly I might add. This could be another reason that these films keep bringing Tobin Bell back, he's the most convincing of the bunch, and even he's not that good, which tells you a little something about the rest of the cast.
The whole film leads up to its supposed twist at the end, which just happens to be incredibly predictable from the first ten minutes of the movie. It basically lays it all out for you that early on without spelling it out for you directly, making it far to easy to guess what the big conclusion will be. It's strange that they would make it this easy to figure out as these films usually hinge on a big finish in their traditional montage fashion.
Then again, even though we know the ending, it's more than likely that, for the sequel, the writers will continue the formula of [insert character's name here] isn't really dead and will pop back up in the next film to test new victims or be tested themselves. Fortunately, this film underperformed at the box office. Perhaps that will send a signal to the studio that it's time to cease production. It's strange that a few people have been saying that this entry is a step in the right direction for the franchise. The only right step this franchise could take would be to end. 0/4 stars.
RUTHERFORD AT THE MOVIES: 'Paranormal Activity'
After Focusing on Demons Disrupting Sleep, You Might Be on a Couch for Days
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- You’re sound asleep, you roll over, briefly awaken to a loud sound somewhere, you close your eyes then hear it coming closer.
That’s the pertinent scenario for a reoccurring nightmare. Depending on when you actually fall out of the sack, you may dream until the night dream has you pinned to the pillow gasping for air.
Call this the outline for “Paranormal Activity.” Except the house isn’t haunted; it’s the guy’s girl friend, Katie (Katie Featherston) who has for years complained of something following her. After a veiled joke about untold baggage before moving in together, Micah (Micah Sloat) summons a psychic. Opening the door and he’s done; you need an exorcist referral.
Male ego pounding, Micah wants to capture whatever it is on tape. He thinks it will then go away. She doesn’t.
After a yawning 30 minutes of a couple running around in their shorts and barefeet, “Paranormal” begins to step up the inexplicable, starting with a moving sheet, bouncing bed, footprints, and a sleepwalking lady.
How laborious to rewind and fast forward day after day. The couple misses a snippet that certainly demonstrates that an empty house, Ouija board, and spontaneous combustion has an uninvited invisible guest.
Pay attention to the negative energy accelerates remark. As the couple’s nerves tighten arguments ensue.
Flatly maintaining the turn the camera on and bring the camera obsession, “Paranormal Activity” incorporates the “Cloverfield,” “Quarantine,” and “Blair Witch” point-of-view camera perspective (also used impressively by John Carpenter in the original “Halloween”). Little manifestations bring larger one’s with no explanation.
You may not empathically attach due to the editing which covers several weeks. Those fade outs and cuts detract and deflate. It’s the burning of the picture in an otherwise empty living room that seals the fright ratio. From that moment, the demonic presence takes control.
Micah and Katie have acutely synchronized acting abilities. You always view their conversations as plucked from reality, rather than staged.
Having gained a scariest movie of the year rep, “Paranormal Activity” will not be a smoothly orchestrated excursion. It has screams; it has sputters; you will think about it when you go to bed since a large portion of the scenes involve a bed, linens, pillows, and two people rolling and tumbling during their snooze.
out of
BECK AT THE MOVIES: 'Couples Retreat': Too Long, Romantic Comedy Formula Stretched Thin
By Jeff Beck
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) -- Peter Billingsley's "Couples Retreat" is an overly-long, overly-formulaic attempt at a romantic comedy. It has the feeling of a film trying to play it so safe that it gets to the point where we can tell exactly what the characters are going to do for the entire film within the first ten minutes. I say "attempt" at romantic comedy because that is all it is, an attempt, which lacks both romance and comedy.
The story focuses on four couples, three of which appear happy together in their everyday lives. However, one of these couples, Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), realize that there is a problem in their relationship, so they try to convince the other couples to come with them on an island retreat. They tell them that they can choose whether to partake of the couples workshops or not and instead focus on the fun activities that the island has to offer. Plus, if they all go together, it's half price.
Once Jason convinces his friends, Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), to come, the rest follow suit, but they soon find that the couples skill building is not an option, at least not at the part of the resort that they are staying at, West Eden (The fun and games happen on the singles' side, West Eden). Not long after they begin their therapy sessions, the other couples soon realize that they too may have a few problems.
I find that I rarely have to make a complaint about the length of a film, but "Couples Retreat" is much longer than it needed to be. It runs about 109 minutes and makes you feel every minute of it. The filmmakers could have easily cut out about 20-30 minutes of the film, leaving what little plot there is fully intact. They obviously didn't have enough material to fill this time, making the film feel as though it is stretched very thin and even longer by sticking to the standard romantic comedy formula.
That was the film's other big problem: there is nothing in it that can't be seen coming from a mile away. The couples come to the island and realize they have problems, so, of course, we can expect the obligatory scenes of fighting amongst the couples, scenes where we think that they are going to break up, emotional heart-to-heart talks, and the eventual reconciliation. There are no surprises because they are stuck on a very familiar path.
Along the way, they try to infuse humor into it, but fail at almost every turn. There are a few moments that garner a smirk, but nothing that actually gets a big laugh, or even a little one. Most of the big set-ups and one-liners are met with awkward silences. The actors try their best to make it seem funnier than it is, but it seems that even they know that the material is just not funny enough.
The first act starts off alright, aside from some low-brow bathroom humor, and once they get to the island, it continued to be an average film, but then it quickly loses its way for the entire second and third acts. It stops being the least bit interesting (not that it really was in the first place) when it suddenly becomes about trying to find one of the character's, Shane (Faizon Love), girlfriend, Trudy (Kali Hawk).
They mount a kind of rescue mission to the other side of the resort, the singles' side, and act like they really want to find Trudy, but are not too convincing in hiding their desire to go their to party. While traveling to the island, they have awkward conversations about how terrible they are at being husbands just based on recent events at the resorts, all the while they are trying to go party under the guise of looking for Trudy, Shane being the only one serious about doing so.
The romance never truly comes alive because we know exactly where it is going and how it will end up. It certainly doesn't help that the characters never develop and that they feel like two-dimensional cardboard cutouts. In the end, we don't care about these characters and their relationships at all, partly because we have seen what kind of people they are.
With the talent involved in this project, Vince Vaughn (who now has another entry in his long list of terrible comedies), Jon Favreau, and Jean Reno (as the workshop instructor), this could have been something decent at the very least, but it decides to forgo trying anything the least bit original and instead falls back on formulas and clichés and takes the comedy and romance right out of the equation. 2/4 stars.
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: 'THE INVENTION OF LYING'
British Premise Grasps Manna from Heaven… An Original Plot
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Is it always a sin to tell a lie?
Cuddled sweetly between the credits of “The Invention of Lying” descends pieces of manna from Heaven. Just partake tongue firmly in cheek.
Putting a solid fist in the gut of a society that worships appearance, wealth and power, Ricky Gervais’s "The Invention of Lying" envisions a world in which man and woman ate the apple, sinned and were banished from Eden, but genetically compelled to always tell the truth.
That banishes those police responses to “How are you?” or “What do you think of my new dress?” Instead, character render straight faced verbalizations of “What an ugly ratty baby” or “You look fat in that dress.”
Pummeling etiquette books on polite niceties , the story has a chubby, stubby nosed loser Mark (Gervais) and beautiful, genetically correct Anna (Jennifer Garner) who’s been too honest about landing a mate. He tells her he has $300 in the bank and is about to get fired. She says he makes her feel good but brutally reserves Date Number Two’s decision to “I’m worried about fat snub nosed kids; I’ll call you if I like you when I sober up.”
Hit by the gloom of life as it is, Mark drops by a Sad Place for Hopeless Old People to visit his ailing mother. At the apartment, a neighbor speaks of last night’s failed suicide attempt --- he took only enough pain killers to make him throw up.
Splendidly rocketing moaning repartee (“see you tomorrow, if I’m not dead”) could become a depressing exercise if not for, the lie. Mark’s dying mom shivers at the bleakness of the blackened nothingness of eternity after death, so to make her feel better, he tells of a Man in the Sky who has prepared a mansion for those who perish on earth. Mom passes with a smile; the doctors and nurses , though, hear the revelation and Mark’s an afterlife prophet .
What places this flick above others --- be it fantasy, spoof, or dark comedy --- is the world of believers. Since no one can lie, Mark’s telling the truth. That leads to a consistent array of inverted consumer scenarios, such as a bank teller apologizing that the system is wrong. The gullibility of the populace sprints higher and higher until he and his friends recognize the power they have gained (or will gain) through manipulation.
Unlike Monty Python’s acidic mocking and disrespectful irreverence, “Lying” has a sugar coated, smiles and butterflies mood.
You must now temporarily face with mostly straight lips daunting philosophies and values, such as what make one a winner or a loser? If it’s success versus failure, how do you define those terms? The amount of zeros at the end of your bank account equals monetary wealth, but does lots of money automatically mean happiness?
When Gervais steps out of the apartment with his Ten Commandments on two Pizza Hut boxes, the premises antes up another notch: Delivering the simple, now, Gervais has to answer qualifiers of good and bad behavior. Into this world, gray is also born.
Garner’s role allows her to be a blend of indecisiveness and control, which prevents the show from falling of the edge of disbelief. You cannot help but love her repeated , “I don’t want little fat kids with snub noses” lines. (Chef Jamie are you reading?)
Norms, values, politically correct, civility, politeness, respect… the adjectives potentially redefining society are endless, under both the “no lie” and “when is it a sin to tell a little white lie” scenarios? One scene brings a little “Life of Brian” recollection, but that sordid religious indictment by Python’s crew, but Gervais astutely does not allow the more heathen concept to divert attention from the absolutely original premise: What would a world without lying be like and how would the first lie impact that civilization?
True, no belly hoots and cackles. Consider, however, the possibilities... obviously, during that time you did not think about life outside of what's on the big white screen.
1/2 out of
HOLD OVERS:
9: In this animated film, the setting is post-apocalyptic after most of mankind has succumbed to fearsome machines. Nine little robot/sack creatures team to defeat the machine set on wiping out the world. From the studio which released, “Coraline,” it’s the second computer animated film to receive a PG-13 rating.
DISNEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D: How many times has the Dickens novel been told on screen? IMDB suggest at least eight times. However, the newest version has Robert (“The Polar Express”) Zemeckis at the helm and he’s out to top the previous production which set new animation standards. Early word of mouth: Scary, exquisite and funny. Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth provide voices
FAME: A can’t wait to see re-booting of a 1980 film in which talented members of the New York City High School of Performing Arts have a chance to live out their dreams which come from hard work, dedication, honing talent, and the ability to over comes plagues of self-doubt in a school where every friend in class can be a competitor at an audition.
Final Destination IV add 3D: Remember, it’s all about premonitions and avoiding the predicted demise of persons seen in the vision. This one adds 3-D and a NASCAR race track. Finally, a non-family animated flick picks up the 3D concept. Let’s hope this Destination has imaginative tricks, treats, and will leave you ducking and scraping the blood off your top. The car wash and NASCAR scenes evoke tension and you find sufficient appendages hurling.
FOURTH KIND: No, the Alaskan snow has no role for the former governor, this one’s about individuals allegedly abducted by aliens relating their traumatic recollections of what the E.T.’s did to them. The state has the most reports of “missing” persons in the 70s when this UFO thriller occurs.
JULIE & JULIA: Unknown to one another, a disgruntled secretary (Amy Adams) spices up her boring life by attempting to cook 524 Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) recipes in a year. Directed by Nora (“Bewitched,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Mixed Nuts”) Ephron, the appetite inducing film has started inspiring kitchen inspirations , such as Herb-Roasted Chicken and Butter Poached Main Lobster.
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS: Where did they get this title? Actually, George Clooney tells a reporter (Ewan McGregor) that the US Army has a special paranormal battalion. Flick may have award season potential and just this side of mainstream.
TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF: America’s pistol packing grandma, Madea, catches three kids looting her home so she sends the delinquents to their only relative --- Aunt April, an alcoholic nightclub singer. She’s going to have lots of choices to make.
NO MORE ROCKY HORROR: The Cinema Theatre has ended Friday showings of the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The floor show producers are looking for another venue.
Starting Nov 20 - Nov 27
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection): Twilight Saga: New Moon, 11:30-12:15-1:00-2:30-3:15-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:30-9:50; Blind Side, 12:45-3:40-6:45-9:40; Planet 51, 11:45-12:15-2:10-2:40-4:30-5:00-6:50-9:10; CONTINUING: 2012, 11:25-12:30-2:45-4:15-6:10-7:45-9:35; Pirate Radio, 1:15-4:10-7:10-9:15; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 11:40-12:10-2:00-2:30-4:20-4:50-7:00-9:30; ADVANCE TICKETS SPECIAL EVENT BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; SPECIAL SHOWING Twilight (the original) , Thursday, Nov. 19 only @ 9 p.m. ; TIME CHANGES: Michael Jackson’s This Is It (one print), 7:15-9:50 only ; Box 7:00-9:45; Couples Retreat, 7:10-9:50; Where the Wild Things Are, 11:45-2:15-4:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Amelia, Astro Boy, Stepfather, Saw VI, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs; For Full Schedule, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9219
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: Admission: $3. After 6 p.m., $2 before 6 p.m. and all day Tuesday: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 5:20-7:20-9:20, S/S/Tues Mat. 1:20-3:20; Saw VI, 5:30-7:30-9:30, Sat/Sun/Tues Mat. 1:30-3:30; Astro Boy, 5:15-7:20-9:25, S/S/Tues Mat. 1:05-3:10; Zombieland , 7:15-9:15; Aliens in Attic, 5:10, Sat/Sun/Tues Mat. 1:10-3:10; FLASHBACK CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL STARTS MONDAY NOV. 30, Wizard of Oz at 4 and 7 p.m. ; ENDS THURSDAY: Informat, Final Destination,Tyler Perry, All About Steve; For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Planet 51, 12:10-3:00-5:20-7:40-9:55; Blind Side, 12:30-3:30-6:30-9:35; Twilight Saga New Moon, 11:30-1:00-2:30-4:00-5:30-7:00-8:30-10:00; 2012, 11:40-1:20-3:10- 4:50-6:40-8:20-10:10; TIME CHANGES: Paranormal Activity 3:40-10:05; Box 12:50-7:10; ENDS THURSDAY: Vampires Assistant , Stepfather, This is It; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Twilight Saga, 12:00-1:00-3:15-4:15-6:30-7:30-9:45-10:30; Planet 51, Blind Side, Times TBA; 2012, 12:15-2:45-4:00-6:15-7:30-9:40 (Fri/Sat/Sun times only); TIME CHANGES: TBA; ENDS THURSDAY: TBA; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight: New Moon 12 Midnight Thursday, Nov 19, Starts Fri Nov 20 at 12:00-3:15-6:30-9:45; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BARBOURSVILLE, WV
CINEMARK HUNTINGTON MALL 12: Planet 51, 12:10-2:35-5:00-7:20-9:40; Blind Side, 12:05-3:00-6:25-9:25; Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-1:00-2:00-2:50-3:55-4:55-6:15-7:15-8:15-9:05-10:10-11:10-11:40* (*Digital, Fri/Sat ); 2012, 1:05-2:40-4:30-6:05-8:05-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, the original, “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m., ; MIDNIGHT SHOWING: Twilight: New Moon; ADVANCE TICKETS: New Moon; SPECIAL EVENT: Thursday, Dec 3 and Dec. 10, Glenn Beck’s Christmas Sweater 8 p.m. only; TIME CHANGES: Law Abiding Citizen 1:15-4:10-7:00 only; Paranormal Activity 9:45 p.m. only; The Box, 9:35 only; Couples Retreat, 1:20-4:00-6:40 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Fourth Kind, This is It, Where Wild Things Are; For full schedule, check: http://www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=1046
BECKLEY, WV
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Blind Side, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:45; Planet 51, 12:00-2:20-4:35-6:55-9:15; Twilight Saga: New Moon, 12:00-12:30-1:00-3:00-3:30-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:20-9:50; CONTINUING: Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-12:30-2:20-2:50-4:40-5:10-7:30-9:50; Fourth Kind, 1:10-4:10-7:00-9:40; Men Who Stare at Goats, 12:10-2:30-4:50-7:10-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19, “Twilight” (the original) @ 9 p.m. ONLY; SPECIAL EVENTS BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Stepfather , 7:20-9:45 only; Where the wild Things Are, 12:10-2:30-4:50 only; Box 7:00-9:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI, This is It, Law Abiding Citizen; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=10115
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!): Blind Side, 12:50-3:45-6:50-9:40; Planet 51, 12:30-2:45-5:00-7:15-9:30; Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; 2012, 12:40-4:15-7:45 ; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-2:20-4:40-7:10-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY the Original , “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Couples Retreat, 1:10-4:20-7:05 only; Box 9:45 p.m.; ENDS THURSDAY: This is It, Fourth Kind; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9196
CHARLESTON, WV
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!): Twilight Saga: New Moon, 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-6:30-7:00-9:30-9:50; Planet 51, 12:15-2:35-4:55-7:15-9:35; Blind Side, 12:55-3:50-6:45-9:40; CONTINUING: 2012, 11:30-1:00-2:50-4:30-6:15-8:00-9:40; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-2:25-5:00-7:20-9:45; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m. in digital on big screen; SPECIAL EVENTS: BALLET IN CINEMA, The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky), Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m. and Sunday. Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: NONE; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=6021
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-7:00-7:45-10:00; Planet 51, 12:40-2:45-5:00-7:05-9:25; Blind Side, 12:55-3:55-7:05-10:05; 2012, 1:05-4:10-8:00; CONTINUING: Disney’s A Christmas Carol 3D, 12:50-3:00-5:10-7:15-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19: One Showing Only, “Twilight” 9 p.m. on big screen; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Midnight , Thursday. Nov. 19; TIME CHANGES: Box 1:20-4:10-7:10; Amelia 9:50 only; ENDS THURSDAY: This is It, Vampire’s Assistant, Where the Wild Things Are, Couples Retreat; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
HINTON, WV
RITZ THEATRE: Open Fri/Sat/Sun; For full schedule, click: http://www.ritzwv.com
HURRICANE, WV
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Twilight Saga New Moon, 10:00*-10:30*-1:00-1:30-4:00-4:30-7:00-7:30-10:00-10:30; Blind Side, 10:15*-1:15-4:15-7:15-9:45; Planet 51, 10:45*-12:30-2:45-5:00-7:45-9:30; 2012, 10:00*- 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-6:30-7:00-7:45-9:30-10:00; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Thursday Nov. 19, “Twilight” at 9 p.m. on the big screen; Midnight showing Thursday night , Nov. 19, “New Moon;” TIME CHANGES: Amelia, 5:30 ONLY; Men Who Stare at Goats, 11:00*-1:10-3:20-7:40-9:50 only; Box, 10:40*-2:50-7:10 ; Fourth Kind, 12:55-5:10-9:35; Paranormal Activity, 1:15-5:30-9:50 ; Couples Retreat , 11:00*-3:15-7:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, This is It , Where the Wild Things; (*Early Show Friday/Saturday only); For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; Disney’s Christmas Carol 12:00-2:15-4:30-6:45-9:30; ONE DAY ONLY: THURSDAY NOV 20, 12 MIDNIGHT , TWILIGHT SAGE NEW MOON; (*Late Evening after 9 p.m. showings and Matinees Thanksgiving Week ); ENDS THURSDAY: Paranormal Activity; For advance tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4500
LOGAN, W.VA.
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-1:00-3:00-4:00-7:00-7:45-10:00; Blind Side, 12:55-4:05-7:10-9:50; Planet 51, 12:30-2:30-4:30-7:20-9:25; ONE NIGHT ONLY: Thursday Nov. 19 only @ 9 p.m. the original, “Twilight;” ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon Starts 12:01 a.m. November 20; TIME CHANGES: Fourth Kind, 12:20-2:25-7:25-9:45; Amelia, 4:20; ENDS THURSDAY: Law Abiding Citizen, Saw VI, Box; 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: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; Blind Side, 12:30-3:45-6:40-9:30; 2012, 12:45-4:15-7:40 ; Disney’s Christmas Carol in 3D, 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:20-9:40 ADVANCE MIDNIGHT SHOWING THURSDAY NOV 19, “Twilight : New Moon; ” ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI, Where the wild, This is It; For advance tickets: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4499
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; 2012, 1:00-4:30-8:00; Disney’s Christmas Carol, 12:00-2:20-4:50-7:10-9:25 ; ADVANCE SHOWING THURSDAY NOV 19 12 MIDNIGHT, Twilight Saga: New Moon; ENDS THURSDAY: Couples Retreat, Astro Boy; For Advance Tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9609
WHEELING, WV
Marquee Highlands 14: (All Digital DLP Projection): Blind Side, 12:45-3:45-6:45-9:45; Planet 51, 12:30-2:50-5:10-7:30-9:50; Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-12:30-1:00-3:00-3:30-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:20-9:40; 2012, 11:30-2:55-6:15-9:35; Disney’s Christmas Carol in 3D, 12:00-2:20-4:40-7:00-9:20; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, “Twilight” @ 9 p.m. only ($5) on big screen; SPECIAL EVENTS: BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Couples Retreat 7:15-9:55 only; Box, 7:00-9:50 only; Where the Wild Things Are, 12:00-2:20-4:40 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Amelia, Saw VI, Astro Boy, Stepfather; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=11469
UPCOMING RELEASES (Dates Subject to Change; not all films in all areas)
November 25: Old Dogs, Ninja Assassin, Nine, Fantastic Mr. Fox
December 4: Armored, Everybody’s Fine, Brothers, Transylmania
December 11: Lovely Bones, Invictus
December 18: Avatar 3D, Did You Hear About the Morgans
December 25: Alvin and the Chipmunks, It’s Complicated, Sherlock Holmes
January 8: Daybreakers, The Last Song
· 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 (Times Updated Nov 20 - Nov 27)
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
For Updated Times CLICK HERE
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Depending upon when you read this, the “New Moon” will be less than a week away from viewer’s eyes.
According to Grant Marek, a representative for Movie Tickets.com, the sequel to “Twilight” has sold four times as many tickets as last year’s original. More than 1,300 sold out showings have sold out, including 900 midnight performances.
All Pictures © Summit Pictures
“The fact that ‘New Moon’ is outpacing ‘Twilight’ at a 4-to-1 ratio really speaks to the incredible fan base the film has built in just the past year,’” said Joel Cohen, executive vice president and general manager for MovieTickets.com. “That, combined with the increasing number of consumers buying their movie tickets online, could put this film in a position to be one of our top advance ticket sellers of all-time.”
Locally, many multi/mega plexes will have multiple prints. Of tickets available for sale (as of Nov. 11) in advance on line, Marquee has sell outs for the two Friday evening performances of “Moon” in at least three cities. However, the chain will add prints. Bottom Line: When they list their full schedule of showings, if you want to catch it at midnight OR on Friday evening, I’d suggest an advance purchase.
“New Moon” also accounts for 74 percent of all ticket sales at MovieTickets.com this week.
THIS WEEK: 2012
All Pictures © Sony
For most areas, you will have but one new choice on cinema screens, the disaster film, “2012,” which revolves around the doomsday predictions on the Mayan calendar. End of the world flicks are a personal sci-fic favorite, but I prefer intimate tales of group survival to pencil thin characters running through CGI to the ninth power.
That means I liked “Cloverfield,” the new “War of the Worlds ( Effects + Story = Success), “Day After Tomorrow,” and “Panic in Year Zero,” but had a less favorable reaction to “Armegeddon,” “Deep Impact,” and “The Core.”
PIRATE RADIO
All Pictures © Focus
Playing only in Huntington, at Marquee Pullman Square, Pirate Radio offers a North Sea brand of “WKRP in Cincinnati” where free love, pop music, free will and the slush of waves encompass a moving uncensored, unlicensed broadcaster on the run from the British government.
NOV 20 and NOV 25 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Sandra Bullock has the unenviable task of releasing her newest flick, "Blind Side", opposite TWILIGHT A NEW MOON. The animated PLANET 51 will go out and the George Clooney voiced FANTASTIC MR FOX will expand. The remainder of flicks for the Turkey Day festivities are: OLD DOGS (John Travolta, Robin Williams); THE ROAD (Robert Duvall) and NINJA ASSASSIN.
For Movie Changes/Times, CLICK HERE.
For Review of AMELIA, CLICK HERE
For Review of SAW VI, CLICK HERE
For Review of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, CLICK HERE
For Review of COUPLES RETREAT, CLICK HERE
For Review of INVENTION OF LYING, CLICK HERE
For UPCOMING Releases, CLICK HERE
REVIEW: AMELIA
By Tony Rutherford
Amelia
Everyone has an ocean to fly and conquer dreams. Some tip their toes in the water; others soar through the blue skies past oceans of fear.
Historically, despite the winsome lyrical mood, you enter the auditorium expecting a tragic ending. For that given, Hillary Swank (Amelia) and George Putnam (Richard Gere) relentlessly ride a triple corkscrew overcoming suspension of disbelief against most odds.
Connecting and assimilating all those trajectories must occur for viewer to lose themselves in “Amelia’s” story, which had not previously been brought to film. Accompanied by lush, soft string orchestral movements that resurrect memories of iconic fantasy romance, “Somewhere in Time,” the delicate, occasionally repeating melodies glue this incredibly inspiring fuselage for a smooth flight.
Role modeling and symbolism slip easily in place like a blue sky filling with a stunning afternoon sun.
Swank, particularly, has multiple challenges in conveying Amelia’s persona --- she speaks flatly to Gere on the marital subject placing her in the clutches of early “feminist” dogma. Interestingly, she accepts the consequences for chasing her expensive dreams as a balancing act, one in which she commands, yet, does not swear off certain female social expectations. Recognizing that flying solo to wherever involves cash, she begrudgingly accepts his nearly unconditional love.
For that matter, Gere, too, has a windy tightrope on which to walk as his promotions and/or public relations coordination slip closely to charming snake oil salesman. Displaying a maturity and understanding of Amelia’s passion, he stays in the shadows after illuminating her star in the media constellation on planet Earth. Still, he maintains the in charge (well, for onlookers) masculine characteristics required for men living in the 30s decade.
Bringing all this into a moving, winsome, and haunting on screen experience speaks favorably for the creative team. Swank and Gere race down the runway so eloquently that you perceive history as neither a given or a surprise, maybe a comfortable ‘closure’ for what has remained an unsolved mystery.
If any area has been overlooked, the filmmakers do not allow for revving up the lasting mystery, thus, negating an opportunity to speculate or titillate a Sherlock Holmes moment. Yet, steps in that direction would interfere with comfortably accepting the unhappy non-closure that has been reality since Amelia disappeared.
BECK AT THE MOVIES: 'Saw VI': Rolling and Churning from Assembly Line
Shawnee Smith Agreed Many Shots in Place for ........
By Jeff Beck
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) -- It's Halloween again, so you know what that means. That's right, another entry in one of the most worthless franchises ever created. The "Saw" series continues its tradition of gratuitous mutilations and dismemberments with its latest entry, "Saw VI." Can you believe it's already gotten this far? As I mentioned last year with "Saw V," as long as these dirt-cheap films keep making money, then the studio will just keep rolling them off the assembly line, despite a complete lack of quality.
Picking up right where "Saw V" left off, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is still continuing Jigsaw's (Tobin Bell) work by setting up traps where people have to make difficult decisions where life and death hang in the balance. This time around, he sets up an insurance agent, William (Peter Outerbridge). William has to make his way through four grueling tests in order to survive. Jigsaw's wife, Jill (Betsy Russell), is also brought back into the picture as she goes through the contents of the mysterious box left to her by her late husband, contents that turn out to be instructions for the game being played out by William. Meanwhile, Hoffman must be extra careful as the police may be closing in on him.
"Saw VI" further derails the series long after it left the tracks by continuing to prolong a story that lost steam ages ago, and by ages ago, I mean after the first film. Admittedly, the first "Saw" film was a decent flick. It had originality, gruesome as it was, with an ending that made my jaw drop in the theater. So no surprise that I was interested in the sequel, only to be vastly disappointed with the result.
That's the feeling I've been left with each year as these films continue. The only reason to continue watching is just to see how much more ludicrous the stories can possibly get. It's like watching that derailed train crash and burn or some other terrible-sounding metaphor that leaves you aghast at the tragedy you just witnessed.
Like its predecessors, "Saw VI" forcefully finds ways to squeeze Jigsaw back into the story line, but his scenes in this film add absolutely nothing to it. The main excuse for this is probably just to include Tobin Bell because people apparently like him as the serial killer from the first three films (I'm pretty sure it was the third film he died in, but since the films are carbon copies of each other, it's hard to remember). Again, it doesn't matter to the studios how ludicrous and pointless his addition is to the film as long as they make money.
Also like the previous entries, this film continues the tradition of terrible performances, particularly from Peter Outerbridge as William. It certainly doesn't help that most of the "performing" done in the film is people screaming for their lives, and very unconvincingly I might add. This could be another reason that these films keep bringing Tobin Bell back, he's the most convincing of the bunch, and even he's not that good, which tells you a little something about the rest of the cast.
The whole film leads up to its supposed twist at the end, which just happens to be incredibly predictable from the first ten minutes of the movie. It basically lays it all out for you that early on without spelling it out for you directly, making it far to easy to guess what the big conclusion will be. It's strange that they would make it this easy to figure out as these films usually hinge on a big finish in their traditional montage fashion.
Then again, even though we know the ending, it's more than likely that, for the sequel, the writers will continue the formula of [insert character's name here] isn't really dead and will pop back up in the next film to test new victims or be tested themselves. Fortunately, this film underperformed at the box office. Perhaps that will send a signal to the studio that it's time to cease production. It's strange that a few people have been saying that this entry is a step in the right direction for the franchise. The only right step this franchise could take would be to end. 0/4 stars.
RUTHERFORD AT THE MOVIES: 'Paranormal Activity'
After Focusing on Demons Disrupting Sleep, You Might Be on a Couch for Days
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- You’re sound asleep, you roll over, briefly awaken to a loud sound somewhere, you close your eyes then hear it coming closer.
That’s the pertinent scenario for a reoccurring nightmare. Depending on when you actually fall out of the sack, you may dream until the night dream has you pinned to the pillow gasping for air.
Call this the outline for “Paranormal Activity.” Except the house isn’t haunted; it’s the guy’s girl friend, Katie (Katie Featherston) who has for years complained of something following her. After a veiled joke about untold baggage before moving in together, Micah (Micah Sloat) summons a psychic. Opening the door and he’s done; you need an exorcist referral.
Male ego pounding, Micah wants to capture whatever it is on tape. He thinks it will then go away. She doesn’t.
After a yawning 30 minutes of a couple running around in their shorts and barefeet, “Paranormal” begins to step up the inexplicable, starting with a moving sheet, bouncing bed, footprints, and a sleepwalking lady.
How laborious to rewind and fast forward day after day. The couple misses a snippet that certainly demonstrates that an empty house, Ouija board, and spontaneous combustion has an uninvited invisible guest.
Pay attention to the negative energy accelerates remark. As the couple’s nerves tighten arguments ensue.
Flatly maintaining the turn the camera on and bring the camera obsession, “Paranormal Activity” incorporates the “Cloverfield,” “Quarantine,” and “Blair Witch” point-of-view camera perspective (also used impressively by John Carpenter in the original “Halloween”). Little manifestations bring larger one’s with no explanation.
You may not empathically attach due to the editing which covers several weeks. Those fade outs and cuts detract and deflate. It’s the burning of the picture in an otherwise empty living room that seals the fright ratio. From that moment, the demonic presence takes control.
Micah and Katie have acutely synchronized acting abilities. You always view their conversations as plucked from reality, rather than staged.
Having gained a scariest movie of the year rep, “Paranormal Activity” will not be a smoothly orchestrated excursion. It has screams; it has sputters; you will think about it when you go to bed since a large portion of the scenes involve a bed, linens, pillows, and two people rolling and tumbling during their snooze.
out of
BECK AT THE MOVIES: 'Couples Retreat': Too Long, Romantic Comedy Formula Stretched Thin
By Jeff Beck
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) -- Peter Billingsley's "Couples Retreat" is an overly-long, overly-formulaic attempt at a romantic comedy. It has the feeling of a film trying to play it so safe that it gets to the point where we can tell exactly what the characters are going to do for the entire film within the first ten minutes. I say "attempt" at romantic comedy because that is all it is, an attempt, which lacks both romance and comedy.
The story focuses on four couples, three of which appear happy together in their everyday lives. However, one of these couples, Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), realize that there is a problem in their relationship, so they try to convince the other couples to come with them on an island retreat. They tell them that they can choose whether to partake of the couples workshops or not and instead focus on the fun activities that the island has to offer. Plus, if they all go together, it's half price.
Once Jason convinces his friends, Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), to come, the rest follow suit, but they soon find that the couples skill building is not an option, at least not at the part of the resort that they are staying at, West Eden (The fun and games happen on the singles' side, West Eden). Not long after they begin their therapy sessions, the other couples soon realize that they too may have a few problems.
I find that I rarely have to make a complaint about the length of a film, but "Couples Retreat" is much longer than it needed to be. It runs about 109 minutes and makes you feel every minute of it. The filmmakers could have easily cut out about 20-30 minutes of the film, leaving what little plot there is fully intact. They obviously didn't have enough material to fill this time, making the film feel as though it is stretched very thin and even longer by sticking to the standard romantic comedy formula.
That was the film's other big problem: there is nothing in it that can't be seen coming from a mile away. The couples come to the island and realize they have problems, so, of course, we can expect the obligatory scenes of fighting amongst the couples, scenes where we think that they are going to break up, emotional heart-to-heart talks, and the eventual reconciliation. There are no surprises because they are stuck on a very familiar path.
Along the way, they try to infuse humor into it, but fail at almost every turn. There are a few moments that garner a smirk, but nothing that actually gets a big laugh, or even a little one. Most of the big set-ups and one-liners are met with awkward silences. The actors try their best to make it seem funnier than it is, but it seems that even they know that the material is just not funny enough.
The first act starts off alright, aside from some low-brow bathroom humor, and once they get to the island, it continued to be an average film, but then it quickly loses its way for the entire second and third acts. It stops being the least bit interesting (not that it really was in the first place) when it suddenly becomes about trying to find one of the character's, Shane (Faizon Love), girlfriend, Trudy (Kali Hawk).
They mount a kind of rescue mission to the other side of the resort, the singles' side, and act like they really want to find Trudy, but are not too convincing in hiding their desire to go their to party. While traveling to the island, they have awkward conversations about how terrible they are at being husbands just based on recent events at the resorts, all the while they are trying to go party under the guise of looking for Trudy, Shane being the only one serious about doing so.
The romance never truly comes alive because we know exactly where it is going and how it will end up. It certainly doesn't help that the characters never develop and that they feel like two-dimensional cardboard cutouts. In the end, we don't care about these characters and their relationships at all, partly because we have seen what kind of people they are.
With the talent involved in this project, Vince Vaughn (who now has another entry in his long list of terrible comedies), Jon Favreau, and Jean Reno (as the workshop instructor), this could have been something decent at the very least, but it decides to forgo trying anything the least bit original and instead falls back on formulas and clichés and takes the comedy and romance right out of the equation. 2/4 stars.
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: 'THE INVENTION OF LYING'
British Premise Grasps Manna from Heaven… An Original Plot
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Is it always a sin to tell a lie?
Cuddled sweetly between the credits of “The Invention of Lying” descends pieces of manna from Heaven. Just partake tongue firmly in cheek.
Putting a solid fist in the gut of a society that worships appearance, wealth and power, Ricky Gervais’s "The Invention of Lying" envisions a world in which man and woman ate the apple, sinned and were banished from Eden, but genetically compelled to always tell the truth.
That banishes those police responses to “How are you?” or “What do you think of my new dress?” Instead, character render straight faced verbalizations of “What an ugly ratty baby” or “You look fat in that dress.”
Pummeling etiquette books on polite niceties , the story has a chubby, stubby nosed loser Mark (Gervais) and beautiful, genetically correct Anna (Jennifer Garner) who’s been too honest about landing a mate. He tells her he has $300 in the bank and is about to get fired. She says he makes her feel good but brutally reserves Date Number Two’s decision to “I’m worried about fat snub nosed kids; I’ll call you if I like you when I sober up.”
Hit by the gloom of life as it is, Mark drops by a Sad Place for Hopeless Old People to visit his ailing mother. At the apartment, a neighbor speaks of last night’s failed suicide attempt --- he took only enough pain killers to make him throw up.
Splendidly rocketing moaning repartee (“see you tomorrow, if I’m not dead”) could become a depressing exercise if not for, the lie. Mark’s dying mom shivers at the bleakness of the blackened nothingness of eternity after death, so to make her feel better, he tells of a Man in the Sky who has prepared a mansion for those who perish on earth. Mom passes with a smile; the doctors and nurses , though, hear the revelation and Mark’s an afterlife prophet .
What places this flick above others --- be it fantasy, spoof, or dark comedy --- is the world of believers. Since no one can lie, Mark’s telling the truth. That leads to a consistent array of inverted consumer scenarios, such as a bank teller apologizing that the system is wrong. The gullibility of the populace sprints higher and higher until he and his friends recognize the power they have gained (or will gain) through manipulation.
Unlike Monty Python’s acidic mocking and disrespectful irreverence, “Lying” has a sugar coated, smiles and butterflies mood.
You must now temporarily face with mostly straight lips daunting philosophies and values, such as what make one a winner or a loser? If it’s success versus failure, how do you define those terms? The amount of zeros at the end of your bank account equals monetary wealth, but does lots of money automatically mean happiness?
When Gervais steps out of the apartment with his Ten Commandments on two Pizza Hut boxes, the premises antes up another notch: Delivering the simple, now, Gervais has to answer qualifiers of good and bad behavior. Into this world, gray is also born.
Garner’s role allows her to be a blend of indecisiveness and control, which prevents the show from falling of the edge of disbelief. You cannot help but love her repeated , “I don’t want little fat kids with snub noses” lines. (Chef Jamie are you reading?)
Norms, values, politically correct, civility, politeness, respect… the adjectives potentially redefining society are endless, under both the “no lie” and “when is it a sin to tell a little white lie” scenarios? One scene brings a little “Life of Brian” recollection, but that sordid religious indictment by Python’s crew, but Gervais astutely does not allow the more heathen concept to divert attention from the absolutely original premise: What would a world without lying be like and how would the first lie impact that civilization?
True, no belly hoots and cackles. Consider, however, the possibilities... obviously, during that time you did not think about life outside of what's on the big white screen.
1/2 out of
HOLD OVERS:
9: In this animated film, the setting is post-apocalyptic after most of mankind has succumbed to fearsome machines. Nine little robot/sack creatures team to defeat the machine set on wiping out the world. From the studio which released, “Coraline,” it’s the second computer animated film to receive a PG-13 rating.
DISNEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D: How many times has the Dickens novel been told on screen? IMDB suggest at least eight times. However, the newest version has Robert (“The Polar Express”) Zemeckis at the helm and he’s out to top the previous production which set new animation standards. Early word of mouth: Scary, exquisite and funny. Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth provide voices
FAME: A can’t wait to see re-booting of a 1980 film in which talented members of the New York City High School of Performing Arts have a chance to live out their dreams which come from hard work, dedication, honing talent, and the ability to over comes plagues of self-doubt in a school where every friend in class can be a competitor at an audition.
Final Destination IV add 3D: Remember, it’s all about premonitions and avoiding the predicted demise of persons seen in the vision. This one adds 3-D and a NASCAR race track. Finally, a non-family animated flick picks up the 3D concept. Let’s hope this Destination has imaginative tricks, treats, and will leave you ducking and scraping the blood off your top. The car wash and NASCAR scenes evoke tension and you find sufficient appendages hurling.
FOURTH KIND: No, the Alaskan snow has no role for the former governor, this one’s about individuals allegedly abducted by aliens relating their traumatic recollections of what the E.T.’s did to them. The state has the most reports of “missing” persons in the 70s when this UFO thriller occurs.
JULIE & JULIA: Unknown to one another, a disgruntled secretary (Amy Adams) spices up her boring life by attempting to cook 524 Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) recipes in a year. Directed by Nora (“Bewitched,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Mixed Nuts”) Ephron, the appetite inducing film has started inspiring kitchen inspirations , such as Herb-Roasted Chicken and Butter Poached Main Lobster.
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS: Where did they get this title? Actually, George Clooney tells a reporter (Ewan McGregor) that the US Army has a special paranormal battalion. Flick may have award season potential and just this side of mainstream.
TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF: America’s pistol packing grandma, Madea, catches three kids looting her home so she sends the delinquents to their only relative --- Aunt April, an alcoholic nightclub singer. She’s going to have lots of choices to make.
NO MORE ROCKY HORROR: The Cinema Theatre has ended Friday showings of the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The floor show producers are looking for another venue.
Starting Nov 20 - Nov 27
HUNTINGTON, WV
MARQUEE PULLMAN: (Now ALL digital projection): Twilight Saga: New Moon, 11:30-12:15-1:00-2:30-3:15-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:30-9:50; Blind Side, 12:45-3:40-6:45-9:40; Planet 51, 11:45-12:15-2:10-2:40-4:30-5:00-6:50-9:10; CONTINUING: 2012, 11:25-12:30-2:45-4:15-6:10-7:45-9:35; Pirate Radio, 1:15-4:10-7:10-9:15; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 11:40-12:10-2:00-2:30-4:20-4:50-7:00-9:30; ADVANCE TICKETS SPECIAL EVENT BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; SPECIAL SHOWING Twilight (the original) , Thursday, Nov. 19 only @ 9 p.m. ; TIME CHANGES: Michael Jackson’s This Is It (one print), 7:15-9:50 only ; Box 7:00-9:45; Couples Retreat, 7:10-9:50; Where the Wild Things Are, 11:45-2:15-4:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Amelia, Astro Boy, Stepfather, Saw VI, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs; For Full Schedule, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9219
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: Admission: $3. After 6 p.m., $2 before 6 p.m. and all day Tuesday: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 5:20-7:20-9:20, S/S/Tues Mat. 1:20-3:20; Saw VI, 5:30-7:30-9:30, Sat/Sun/Tues Mat. 1:30-3:30; Astro Boy, 5:15-7:20-9:25, S/S/Tues Mat. 1:05-3:10; Zombieland , 7:15-9:15; Aliens in Attic, 5:10, Sat/Sun/Tues Mat. 1:10-3:10; FLASHBACK CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL STARTS MONDAY NOV. 30, Wizard of Oz at 4 and 7 p.m. ; ENDS THURSDAY: Informat, Final Destination,Tyler Perry, All About Steve; For full schedule click and select date: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/cinema/index.html
ASHLAND, KY
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Planet 51, 12:10-3:00-5:20-7:40-9:55; Blind Side, 12:30-3:30-6:30-9:35; Twilight Saga New Moon, 11:30-1:00-2:30-4:00-5:30-7:00-8:30-10:00; 2012, 11:40-1:20-3:10- 4:50-6:40-8:20-10:10; TIME CHANGES: Paranormal Activity 3:40-10:05; Box 12:50-7:10; ENDS THURSDAY: Vampires Assistant , Stepfather, This is It; For full times, http://www.cinemark.com/metropolitan_opera.asp
PHOENIX 10 KYOVA MALL: Twilight Saga, 12:00-1:00-3:15-4:15-6:30-7:30-9:45-10:30; Planet 51, Blind Side, Times TBA; 2012, 12:15-2:45-4:00-6:15-7:30-9:40 (Fri/Sat/Sun times only); TIME CHANGES: TBA; ENDS THURSDAY: TBA; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight: New Moon 12 Midnight Thursday, Nov 19, Starts Fri Nov 20 at 12:00-3:15-6:30-9:45; Full schedule: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=10480
BARBOURSVILLE, WV
CINEMARK HUNTINGTON MALL 12: Planet 51, 12:10-2:35-5:00-7:20-9:40; Blind Side, 12:05-3:00-6:25-9:25; Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-1:00-2:00-2:50-3:55-4:55-6:15-7:15-8:15-9:05-10:10-11:10-11:40* (*Digital, Fri/Sat ); 2012, 1:05-2:40-4:30-6:05-8:05-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, the original, “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m., ; MIDNIGHT SHOWING: Twilight: New Moon; ADVANCE TICKETS: New Moon; SPECIAL EVENT: Thursday, Dec 3 and Dec. 10, Glenn Beck’s Christmas Sweater 8 p.m. only; TIME CHANGES: Law Abiding Citizen 1:15-4:10-7:00 only; Paranormal Activity 9:45 p.m. only; The Box, 9:35 only; Couples Retreat, 1:20-4:00-6:40 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Fourth Kind, This is It, Where Wild Things Are; For full schedule, check: http://www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=1046
BECKLEY, WV
GALLERIA CINEMAS: (Now All Digital Projection!): Blind Side, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:45; Planet 51, 12:00-2:20-4:35-6:55-9:15; Twilight Saga: New Moon, 12:00-12:30-1:00-3:00-3:30-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:20-9:50; CONTINUING: Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-12:30-2:20-2:50-4:40-5:10-7:30-9:50; Fourth Kind, 1:10-4:10-7:00-9:40; Men Who Stare at Goats, 12:10-2:30-4:50-7:10-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19, “Twilight” (the original) @ 9 p.m. ONLY; SPECIAL EVENTS BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Stepfather , 7:20-9:45 only; Where the wild Things Are, 12:10-2:30-4:50 only; Box 7:00-9:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI, This is It, Law Abiding Citizen; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=10115
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!): Blind Side, 12:50-3:45-6:50-9:40; Planet 51, 12:30-2:45-5:00-7:15-9:30; Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; 2012, 12:40-4:15-7:45 ; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-2:20-4:40-7:10-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY the Original , “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Couples Retreat, 1:10-4:20-7:05 only; Box 9:45 p.m.; ENDS THURSDAY: This is It, Fourth Kind; For full schedule: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9196
CHARLESTON, WV
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: (Now All Digital Projection!): Twilight Saga: New Moon, 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-6:30-7:00-9:30-9:50; Planet 51, 12:15-2:35-4:55-7:15-9:35; Blind Side, 12:55-3:50-6:45-9:40; CONTINUING: 2012, 11:30-1:00-2:50-4:30-6:15-8:00-9:40; Disney’s Christmas Carol 3D, 12:00-2:25-5:00-7:20-9:45; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, “Twilight,” @ 9 p.m. in digital on big screen; SPECIAL EVENTS: BALLET IN CINEMA, The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky), Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m. and Sunday. Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: NONE; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=6021
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-7:00-7:45-10:00; Planet 51, 12:40-2:45-5:00-7:05-9:25; Blind Side, 12:55-3:55-7:05-10:05; 2012, 1:05-4:10-8:00; CONTINUING: Disney’s A Christmas Carol 3D, 12:50-3:00-5:10-7:15-9:30; THURSDAY NOV 19: One Showing Only, “Twilight” 9 p.m. on big screen; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Midnight , Thursday. Nov. 19; TIME CHANGES: Box 1:20-4:10-7:10; Amelia 9:50 only; ENDS THURSDAY: This is It, Vampire’s Assistant, Where the Wild Things Are, Couples Retreat; For full listing: http://www.ourshowtimes.com/parkplace/index.html
HINTON, WV
RITZ THEATRE: Open Fri/Sat/Sun; For full schedule, click: http://www.ritzwv.com
HURRICANE, WV
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Twilight Saga New Moon, 10:00*-10:30*-1:00-1:30-4:00-4:30-7:00-7:30-10:00-10:30; Blind Side, 10:15*-1:15-4:15-7:15-9:45; Planet 51, 10:45*-12:30-2:45-5:00-7:45-9:30; 2012, 10:00*- 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-6:30-7:00-7:45-9:30-10:00; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Thursday Nov. 19, “Twilight” at 9 p.m. on the big screen; Midnight showing Thursday night , Nov. 19, “New Moon;” TIME CHANGES: Amelia, 5:30 ONLY; Men Who Stare at Goats, 11:00*-1:10-3:20-7:40-9:50 only; Box, 10:40*-2:50-7:10 ; Fourth Kind, 12:55-5:10-9:35; Paranormal Activity, 1:15-5:30-9:50 ; Couples Retreat , 11:00*-3:15-7:45 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, This is It , Where the Wild Things; (*Early Show Friday/Saturday only); For full schedule click: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/allstar/movies?v=2756
LEWISBURG, WV
SENACA SHOWPLACE: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; Disney’s Christmas Carol 12:00-2:15-4:30-6:45-9:30; ONE DAY ONLY: THURSDAY NOV 20, 12 MIDNIGHT , TWILIGHT SAGE NEW MOON; (*Late Evening after 9 p.m. showings and Matinees Thanksgiving Week ); ENDS THURSDAY: Paranormal Activity; For advance tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4500
LOGAN, W.VA.
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-1:00-3:00-4:00-7:00-7:45-10:00; Blind Side, 12:55-4:05-7:10-9:50; Planet 51, 12:30-2:30-4:30-7:20-9:25; ONE NIGHT ONLY: Thursday Nov. 19 only @ 9 p.m. the original, “Twilight;” ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon Starts 12:01 a.m. November 20; TIME CHANGES: Fourth Kind, 12:20-2:25-7:25-9:45; Amelia, 4:20; ENDS THURSDAY: Law Abiding Citizen, Saw VI, Box; 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: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; Blind Side, 12:30-3:45-6:40-9:30; 2012, 12:45-4:15-7:40 ; Disney’s Christmas Carol in 3D, 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:20-9:40 ADVANCE MIDNIGHT SHOWING THURSDAY NOV 19, “Twilight : New Moon; ” ENDS THURSDAY: Astro Boy, Saw VI, Where the wild, This is It; For advance tickets: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=4499
WELCH, WV
MCDOWELL 3: Twilight Saga New Moon, 1:00-4:00-7:00-9:50; 2012, 1:00-4:30-8:00; Disney’s Christmas Carol, 12:00-2:20-4:50-7:10-9:25 ; ADVANCE SHOWING THURSDAY NOV 19 12 MIDNIGHT, Twilight Saga: New Moon; ENDS THURSDAY: Couples Retreat, Astro Boy; For Advance Tickets, http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=9609
WHEELING, WV
Marquee Highlands 14: (All Digital DLP Projection): Blind Side, 12:45-3:45-6:45-9:45; Planet 51, 12:30-2:50-5:10-7:30-9:50; Twilight Saga New Moon, 12:00-12:30-1:00-3:00-3:30-4:00-6:00-6:30-7:00-9:00-9:20-9:40; 2012, 11:30-2:55-6:15-9:35; Disney’s Christmas Carol in 3D, 12:00-2:20-4:40-7:00-9:20; THURSDAY NOV 19 ONLY, “Twilight” @ 9 p.m. only ($5) on big screen; SPECIAL EVENTS: BALLET IN CINEMA: The Nutcracker, Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m.; ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE: Twilight Saga New Moon, Thursday, Nov. 19 Midnight; TIME CHANGES: Couples Retreat 7:15-9:55 only; Box, 7:00-9:50 only; Where the Wild Things Are, 12:00-2:20-4:40 only; ENDS THURSDAY: Amelia, Saw VI, Astro Boy, Stepfather; For full schedule click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com/location.asp?location=11469
UPCOMING RELEASES (Dates Subject to Change; not all films in all areas)
November 25: Old Dogs, Ninja Assassin, Nine, Fantastic Mr. Fox
December 4: Armored, Everybody’s Fine, Brothers, Transylmania
December 11: Lovely Bones, Invictus
December 18: Avatar 3D, Did You Hear About the Morgans
December 25: Alvin and the Chipmunks, It’s Complicated, Sherlock Holmes
January 8: Daybreakers, The Last Song
· Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.
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