NEW FILMS FRIDAY
REDBELT — ** — A martial-arts movie by David Mamet is intriguing. But it still adheres to the same hackneyed conventions. Complete review on Page W6, running time: 99 minutes, R (profanity, violence) — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
SPEED RACER — ** — The Wachowski brothers' hyperactive, live-action adaptation of the once-popular cartoon series is pretty violent and mean-spirited for a kids film. Complete review on Page W3, running time: 134 minutes, PG (violence, profanity, torture, brief gore, vulgarity, brief drugs)
THE VISITOR — *** 1/2 — There are no big names in its cast, but this low-key comedy-drama about cultural misperceptions makes up for that by having a lot of character. Complete review on Page W5, running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, violence, slurs)
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS — * — Stars Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz are normally likable, but this painfully unfunny comedy makes you dislike them. Complete review on Page W4, running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, profanity, violence, drugs, slurs)
YOUNG @ HEART— *** 1/2 — This music documentary shows there's something enjoyable about seeing senior citizens perform with youthful energy. Complete review on Page W4, running time: 108 minutes, PG (profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs)
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE — ** 1/2 — This silly 1989 comedy, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as dim-witted, would-be musicians, has a few genuine laughs. Running time: 90 minutes, PG (profanity, vulgarity, slapstick violence) (Tonight and Saturday: Tower)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
THE BLACK PIRATE — Douglas Fairbanks plays the title character in this swashbuckling adventure. Live musical accompaniment, black and white, running time: 94 minutes, made before ratings (1926), probable PG (violence) (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
HAWAIIAN FILM FESTIVAL — Three days of "stories of enrichment," including films featuring Hawaiian characters and themes. A schedule is available at www.myspace.com/hawaiianculturalcenter. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.: Hawaiian Cultural Center, 741 W. Smelter, Midvale)
IN BRUGES — See listing under "Continuing films." (Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Park City Library)
LOCOMOTION YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL — Short documentaries and other works from teens, including some participants in the local Spy Hop youth program. This program is not rated. (Today, 11 a.m.: Salt Lake City Library)
PANGEA DAY FILMS — Two dozen short films that are intended "to inspire, transform and allow us to see the world through another person's eyes." A schedule is available at www.ecclescenter.org/pangea-day.htm. (Saturday, noon: Eccles Center, Park City)
REEL CLASSICS SERIES — This month's film is the 1936 dramatic thriller "The Petrified Forest," starring Humphrey Bogart. Running time: 83 minutes, made before ratings, probable PG (violence) (Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Park City Library)
LARGE-FORMAT FILMS
DINOSAURS 3-D: GIANTS OF PATAGONIA — *** — The makers of this IMAX science film get us about as close as we'd ever want to be to these enormous creatures. Running time: 48 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) — Jeff Strickler, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)
DINOSAURS ALIVE! — Large-screen documentary featuring computerized re-creations of Jurassic-era carnivores and other creatures. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence)
THE HUMAN BODY — The 2001 documentary short looks at digestive processes and other functions of humans. Large screen format, running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (vulgarity)
MUMMIES: SECRETS OF THE PHARAOHS — Christopher Lee narrates this 2007 documentary short, which examines ancient Egyptian culture and burial rites. Large screen format, running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence)
SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE — *** —What makes this IMAX mini-feature stand out from the pack is its eye-popping visuals. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) —John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
SPACE STATION 3-D — Tom Cruise narrates this documentary short about the International Space Station crew. Running time: 47 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive)
SPEED RACER IMAX — The new action/kids film, shown in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
U2 3D IMAX — *** 1/2 — The concert film — showing the Irish rock band on its worldwide "Vertigo" tour — is the next best thing to being at one of the concerts in person. Large-screen format, running time: 85 minutes, G (nude artwork) (Jordan Commons)
CONTINUING FILMS
10,000 B.C. — ** 1/2 — An over-the-top spectacle that doesn't quite match the powerful popcorn standards of director Roland Emmerich's other films. Running time: 108 minutes, PG-13 (violence) — Betsy Pickle, Scripps Howard News Service
21 — ** — The first hour of this fact-based gambling is pretty good. But it grows increasingly ridiculous and laughable. Running time: 122 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity, slurs, brief partial nudity, brief gore)
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS — ** — Not as eye-gougingly awful as expected, this live-action version is simply mediocre and immediately forgettable. Running time: 92 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, mild profanity)
BABY MAMA — *** — An inconsistent comedy that works because of its appealing star, former "Saturday Night Live" head writer Tina Fey. Running time: 99 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, drugs, profanity, violence)
THE BUCKET LIST — ** — Stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman can't save this predictable, "Grumpy Old Dying Men" comedy. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, drugs, vulgarity)
CARAMEL — ** 1/2 — A well-acted but sticky sweet, comedy-drama confection from Lebanon that has a lot in common with 2005's "Beauty Shop." Arabic with subtitles, running time: 94 minutes, PG (profanity, brief sex, violence, brief drugs, slurs)
THE COUNTERFEITERS — *** 1/2 — The morally gray shadings enrich this Oscar-winning drama about Jewish counterfeiters in a concentration camp. German with subtitles, running time: 99 minutes, R (violence, profanity, slurs, nudity, brief sex, brief gore, vulgarity, brief drugs)
DEFINITELY, MAYBE — *** — This "mystery love story" does have considerable appeal — including Ryan Reynolds' performance. Running time: 111 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs, slurs, brief sex)
DR. SEUSS' HORTON HEARS A WHO! — *** — This mostly charming comic fantasy is rendered in state-of-the-art digital animation and includes more of the actual Seuss material. Running time: 88 minutes, G (comic violence, mild vulgarity, brief drugs, slurs)
DRILLBIT TAYLOR —*** — There may be some questionable humor, but this Owen Wilson vehicle recalls the cultily adored 1980 hit "My Bodyguard" in the right way. Running time: 102 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief partial nudity, drugs, brief sex, slurs)
EMMA SMITH: MY STORY — ** 1/2 — The locally produced drama about the wife of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith is episodic but is also well-acted and beautifully shot. Running time: 98 minutes, PG (violence)
FLAWLESS — ** — Despite its misleading title, this caper film starring Demi Moore has a number of serious storytelling flaws. Running time: 110 minutes, rated PG-13 (profanity, violence)
FOOL'S GOLD — * 1/2 — A charmless romantic comedy-adventure that's dumber even than the recent "National Treasure" sequel. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief partial nudity)
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM — ** 1/2 — A silly martial-arts fantasy that forces Jackie Chan and Jet Li to play second-fiddle to a American teen. Running time: 108 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, slurs, profanity, brief drugs, brief gore)
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL — *** 1/2 — As with all the movies produced by Judd Apatow, this romantic comedy is extremely R-rated. It's also appealingly sweet. Running time: 115 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, sex, nudity, drugs, violence, slurs, brief gore)
HAPPY VALLEY — *** — A surprisingly powerful piece, this locally produced documentary examines the drug-addiction "epidemic." Running time: 90 minutes, PG-13 (drugs, mild profanity, vulgarity, slurs)
HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY — ** — This stale, flat-footed sequel to the 2004 stoner comedy hit repeats the original film's best jokes. Running time: 102 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, violence, nudity, sex, slurs, rape, brief gore)
IN BRUGES — *** — Those who can withstand this darkly comic thriller's verbal assault on their sensibilities will be rewarded. Colin Farrell stars. Running time: 101 minutes, R (profanity, violence, gore, drugs, vulgarity, slurs, brief sex, nude art)
IRON MAN — *** 1/2 — An exciting, enthralling action-thriller that ranks among the best comic book-based movies to date. Robert Downey Jr. stars. Running time: 126 minutes, PG-13 (violence, torture, profanity, brief gore, brief sex, slurs, vulgarity)
JUMPER — ** — A science-fiction adventure film doesn't do anything with its cool premise. It also has a wooden lead, Hayden Christensen. Running time: 88 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex)
LEATHERHEADS — *** — George Clooney's crowd-pleasing, screwball/period sports comedy is surprisingly, refreshingly effective at times. Running time: 114 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, slurs)
MADE OF HONOR — ** — This predictable Patrick Dempsey vehicle owes considerable debts to both "When Harry Met Sally" and "My Best Friend's Wedding." Running time: 101 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief nudity, slurs, brief sex)
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY — *** — The delightful acting ensemble that helps save this pre-World War II period comedy from its humdrum direction. Running time: 92 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief partial nudity, violence, brief sex)
NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS — ** — Not without a few goofy thrills, but we've seen most — if not all — of this done better before. Running time: 124 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
NEVER BACK DOWN — ** — The mixed-martial arts fighting drama is watchable — if you can stand the sight of people pummeling each other. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, slurs, brief gore, vulgarity, brief sex)
NIM'S ISLAND — ** — Jodie Foster is clearly trying too hard, as is this dopey children's fantasy/adventure film based on the best-selling book. Running time: 95 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs)
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL — ** — This costume drama features a yawn-inducing, sketchy and fairly questionable version of historical events. Scarlett Johansson stars. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (sex, violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief gore, slurs)
PENELOPE — ** 1/2 — This modern-day fairy tale is generally charming but is seriously thin on laugh-out-loud moments. Christina Ricci stars. Running time: 85 minutes, PG (vulgarity, profanity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
PROM NIGHT — * — A slow, obvious and pulse-deadening thriller, based on the 1980 hit. Running time: 88 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
THE RUINS — ** — The movie version of the best-selling vacation nightmare tale is full of cheap scares and graphic, often gruesome gore moments. Running time: 91 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, brief nudity, brief sex, vulgarity, brief drugs)
RUN FATBOY RUN — ** 1/2 — British comic actor Simon Pegg gets more mileage out of this predictable, romantic comedy material than you'd expect. Running time: 100 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief partial nudity, slurs, brief drugs)
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES — *** — It's too creepy for little ones, but this is also the best fantasy movie to come along in a while. Running time: 97 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, slurs)
STEP UP 2 THE STREETS — ** — The same movie as the 2006 step-dancing hit, at least in terms of story arc. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
UNDER THE SAME MOON (LA MISMA LUNA) — ** 1/2 — Some child-in-peril situations leave a bit of a bad aftertaste, but this immigration drama does have its sweetly appealing moments as well. Spanish with subtitles, running time: 109 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, violence, slurs, brief drugs, vulgarity)
VANTAGE POINT — * 1/2 — A hopelessly convoluted and contrived thriller clearly trying to duplicate the style and feel of the vastly superior television series "24." Running time: 90 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, gore, brief drugs)
THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION — *** 1/2 — A mostly charming, coming-of-age tale with some poignant, surprisingly tender moments. Portuguese with subtitles, running time: 104 minutes, PG (vulgarity, slurs, profanity, violence)
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