NEW FILMS FRIDAY
APOLLO CINEMA PRESENTS . . . OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS 2004 — *** — The Oscar-winning "Harvie Krumpet" is the standout in this uneven compilation. Complete review on Page W4. Running time: 90 minutes. Not rated, probable PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex, gore, brief drugs).
BREAKIN' ALL THE RULES — * 1/2 — Jamie Foxx adds nothing to this dull comedy about romantic misunderstandings. Complete review on Page W5. Running time: 86 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, violence, brief drugs, racial epithets, nude artwork).
POWER TRIP — *** —This fascinating documentary follows an American corporation trying to bring electricity to Soviet Georgia. Complete review on Page W4. Running time: 86 minutes. Not rated, probable R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, nude artwork).
TROY — *** — Wolfgang Petersen's violent but rewarding Trojan War epic stars a miscast Brad Pitt as legendary warrior Achilles. Complete review on Page W3. Running time: 163 minutes. R (violence, gore, sex, brief nudity).
WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF — *** — This low-key Scottish comedy-drama isn't nearly as dour as the title would make it seem. Complete review on Page W5. Running time: minutes. R (profanity, brief sex, vulgarity, brief drugs, brief gore).
NEW FILMS WEDNESDAY
SHREK 2 — In this sequel to the 2001 animated hit, Shrek and Fiona's marriage is threatened by Prince Charming. To be reviewed when it opens next week. PG (animated violence, vulgarity).
MIDNIGHT MOVIES
OFFICE SPACE — *** — "King of the Hill" co-creator Mike Judge's live-action directorial debut is a crude but hilarious workplace comedy. Running time: 90 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, violence, sex, racial epithets). (Tonight and Saturday.)
SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER — *** — Mike Myers is subdued as a man with doubts about his new bride (Nancy Travis) in this surprisingly charming comedy. Running time: 94 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, sex, brief nudity). (Tonight and Saturday.)
LARGE-FORMAT FILMS
ADRENALINE RUSH: THE SCIENCE OF RISK — ** 1/2 — This adventure can't decide if it's a documentary or an "extreme-sports" travelog. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Ivan M. Lincoln
COSMIC VOYAGE — This 1996 documentary short (narrated by Morgan Freeman) takes audiences through the universe. Running time: 35 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive).
DOLPHINS — *** — Soundtrack composer Sting and narrator Pierce Brosnan are the big names but the dolphins are the stars. Running time: 44 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Diane Urbani
GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS — *** 1/2 — James Cameron and crew search the Titanic wreckage. Running time: 60 minutes. G (mild profanity).
NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE — ** 1/2 — The racing scenes are great, but the documentary aspects of this large-screen look at stock car racing are not. Running time: 40 minutes. PG (sports-related violence).
SHACKLETON'S ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE — *** 1/2 — Exploration of Ernest Shackleton's treacherous Antarctic expedition. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Diane Urbani
S.O.S. PLANET — Walter Cronkite narrates this "Earth-First" documentary blending 3-D animation and live-action photography. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive).
SPACE STATION 3-D — **** — Tom Cruise narrates, but the real stars of this breathtaking 3-D film are the International Space Station crew. Running time: 47 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Ivan M. Lincoln
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
BROKEN BLOSSOMS — Lillian Gish stars in director D.W. Griffith's 1919 drama about an ill-fated love affair. Black and white. Live musical accompaniment. Made before ratings, probable PG (adult themes). (Thursday: Organ Loft, 7:30 p.m.)
THE SALT LAKE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL — The Wagner Jewish Community Center presents this six-day festival featuring works by Jewish filmmakers (among the selections are "The Hebrew Hammer" and "The Fiddler on the Roof Sing-Along"). For a schedule of films, go to either www.sljcc.org or www.brewvies.com. (Saturday-Thursday: Brewvies.)
CONTINUING FILMS
13 GOING ON 30 — *** — Star Jennifer Garner is the reason to see this silly, familiar comedy-fantasy (basically a remake of "Big"). Running time: 99 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, drugs, mild profanity).
AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON — * — Teen spy Frankie Muniz heads to Merry Old England in this irksome sequel. Running time: 101 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief drugs).
THE BEST TWO YEARS — *** — KC Clyde and Kirby Heyborne are LDS missionaries in this surprisingly warm and funny comedy-drama. Running time: 108 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence).
BIG FISH — **** — Director Tim Burton bounces back with this charming fantasy about a father-and-son relationship. Running time: 110 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex).
BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS —** 1/2 — The real Bobby Jones deserves a rousing cheer; the movie of his career (starring Jim Caviezel) gets a polite golf clap. Running time: 128 minutes. PG (profanity). — Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times
BUBBA HO-TEP — *** — An aging Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell) battles a soul-sucking mummy in this cheeky tale. Running time: 92 minutes. R (vulgarity, violence, profanity, gore, brief sex, brief drugs, brief nudity).
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT — * 1/2 — Ashton Kutcher is unintentionally funny in this depressing sci-fi thriller. Running time: 113 minutes. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, sex, gore, nudity, drug use, racial epithets).
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN — * 1/2 — Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt struggle in vain to retain their dignity in this charmless slapstick comedy. Running time: 99 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, vulgarity).
CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN — ** — Lindsay Lohan stars as a spoiled teen in this limp comedy, based on the best-selling pre-teen novel. Running time: 86 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity).
CONNIE AND CARLA — ** — Nia Vardalos stars in this strained rip-off of "Some Like It Hot" and other gender-bender comedies. Running time: 98 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, drugs, mild profanity).
DAWN OF THE DEAD — *** — Gory but scary tale about people trying to escape from undead flesh-eaters. Running time: 100 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, sex, nudity, vulgarity).
ELLA ENCHANTED — ** — This "Cinderella" spoof, starring Anne Hathaway, has only a few worthy gags. Running time: 94 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).
ENVY — * 1/2 — A minefield of poor taste and comedic misfires. Ben Stiller and Jack Black star. Running time: 96 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence). — Anthony Breznican, Associated Press
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND — *** 1/2 — Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are terrific in this mind-blowing comic fantasy. Running time: 108 minutes. R (profanity, drug use, vulgarity, brief sex, violence, nude artwork).
EUROTRIP — ** — Raunchiness outweighs laughs in this crude comedy about a teen's European road trip. Running time: 93 minutes. R (vulgarity, nudity, profanity, sex, violence, drugs, torture, racial epithets).
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR — *** — Elisha Cuthbert shines in this crude but funny comedy about a porn star trying to reform. Running time: 109 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, violence, nudity, brief drugs).
GODSEND — * 1/2 — This thriller about cloning (starring Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn Stamos) starts out dull and gets progressively more ludicrous. Running time: 102 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity, brief gore, brief drugs).
GOOD BYE, LENIN! — *** — Charming comedy about a man trying to conceal the fall of the Berlin Wall from his ill mother.German, with subtitles.Running time: 118 minutes. R (profanity, violence, brief sex, brief nudity, vulgarity).
HELLBOY — *** — Ron Perlman is terrific in this violent but fun horror-action movie about a heroic demon. Running time: 122 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, gore).
HIDALGO — ** — This supposedly true horse-racing adventure film is hobbled by star Viggo Mortensen. Running time: 136 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, brief gore, mild profanity, racial epithets, brief torture, brief drugs).
HOME ON THE RANGE — *** — Disney's latest animated feature has a great cast. Judi Dench and Roseanne Barr star as the voices of heroic cows who must save their ranch. Running time: 75 minutes.PG (violence, vulgarity).
JERSEY GIRL — *** 1/2 — Ben Affleck is solid in Kevin Smith's charming comedy-drama about single parenting. Running time: 103 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, brief sex, violence, brief gore).
JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION — * 1/2 — This loutish comedy could be the lost cousin to the "National Lampoon Vacation" movies. It should have stayed lost. Running time: 97 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief drugs). — David Germain, Associated Press
KILL BILL, VOL. 2 — *** 1/2 — Quentin Tarantino's action thriller, starring Uma Thurman, comes to a bloody satisfying conclusion. Running time: 135 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, brief drugs, racial epithets, nude photos).
LAWS OF ATTRACTION — * 1/2 — Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore have zero chemistry as divorce lawyers in this clumsy romantic comedy. Running time: 87 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, violence, brief drugs).
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING — *** 1/2 — Peter Jackson's multiple-Oscar-winner finale to the fantasy trilogy is enthralling. Running time: 218 minutes. PG-13 (violence, gore).
MAN ON FIRE — ** 1/2 — Denzel Washington's fiery performance as a revenge-minded bodyguard is the selling point of this violent thriller. Running time: 146 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, torture, vulgarity, brief sex, racial epithets).
MEAN GIRLS — *** 1/2 — It's crude, but this dark comedy starring Lindsay Lohan as a manipulative high school student rings true. Running time: 97 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief sex, brief drugs, racial epithets).
MIRACLE — *** 1/2 — Kurt Russell stars in this exciting sports drama about the 1980 Miracle on Ice. Running time: 135 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, profanity).
MY BABY'S DADDY — * 1/2 — A lifeless litany of familiar jokes about men's general ineptitude with infants. Running time: 86 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence, brief drugs). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
MYSTIC RIVER — ** 1/2 — Clint Eastwood directed Sean Penn and Tim Robbins' Oscar-winning performances in this emotionally aloof mystery-drama. Running time: 137 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief gore, brief sex).
NEVER DIE ALONE — * Lurid and laughable thriller staring DMX as a drug dealer seeking redemption. Running time: 82 minutes. R (violence, profanity, drug use, gore, sex racial epithets, vulgarity, brief nudity).
NEW YORK MINUTE — * — The Olsen twins' latest is a painfully unfunny screwball comedy. Running time: 87 minutes. PG (vulgarity, slapstick violence, mild profanity).
OSAMA — *** — This effective Afghani drama examines treatment of women under Taliban rule. Dari with subtitles. Running time: 83 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, torture).
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST — ** — Mel Gibson's controversial biblical drama about the final 12 hours of Jesus (Jim Caviezel) is too graphically violent. Latin with subtitles. Running time: 127 minutes. R (violence, gore, torture, mild profanity, vulgarity).
THE PRINCE & ME — ** — Julia Stiles is too dour in this romantic comedy about a college student who unwittingly falls in love with a Danish prince. Running time: 109 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence, profanity).
THE PUNISHER — * 1/2 — The second movie based on the Marvel Comics character is even more brainless than the first. Running time: 124 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, torture, vulgarity, brief drugs, brief sex).
THE RECKONING — ** — A good cast (Paul Bettany and Willem Dafoe) goes to waste in this dull murder-mystery set in the Middle Ages. Running time: 110 minutes. R (violence, vulgarity, brief sex, profanity).
SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED — * 1/2 —Scooby and the gang are back in this only slightly more tolerable but still tasteless sequel. Running time: 88 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs).
SECRET WINDOW — ** 1/2 — Johnny Depp shines in this uneven suspense-thriller about an author accused of plagiarism. Running time: 97 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief gore, vulgarity, brief sex).
STARSKY & HUTCH — *** — Stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson make this tongue-in-cheek movie version of the '70s TV show work. Running time: 97 minutes. PG-13 (violence, drug use, profanity, vulgarity, brief partial nudity, racial epithets).
TAKING LIVES — ** — Ridiculous thriller starring Angelina Jolie as an FBI profiler on the trail of a killer "chameleon." Running time: 103 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, sex, nudity, vulgarity, brief drugs).
TOUCHING THE VOID — *** 1/2 — This gripping docudrama tells the true story of two mountaineers who miraculously survived a treacherous 1985 ascent in the Andes. Running time: 106 minutes. Not rated, probable R (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief drugs).
TOUCHING WILD HORSES — ** — The horses are the real stars of this touchy-feely family drama starring Jane Seymour. Running time: 92 minutes. Not rated, probable PG (mild profanity, violence).
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE — *** 1/2 — This quirky but appealing animated adventure from France may remind some of early silent comedies. Running time: 77 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, brief nudity).
VAN HELSING — ** — Hugh Jackman stars as the legendary monster-killer in this big, dumb, loud action piece. Running time: 132 minutes. PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, brief partial nudity).
WALKING TALL — ** — This loose remake of the '70s revenge thriller, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is dumb and has a really mean streak. Running time: 78 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief gore, brief sex).
THE WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE — *** — The hit Nickelodeon cartoon comes to the big screen in this charming animated adventure. Running time: 85 minutes. PG (animated violence, vulgarity).
WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON! — *** — There's some charm to this familiar tale about a girl who dates a Hollywood star. Running time: 95 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs).
YOU GOT SERVED — * 1/2 — The break-dancing scenes are the only highlight of this silly urban drama. Running time: 94 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, drugs).