NEW FILM FRIDAY
LA DANSE: LE BALLET DE L'OP?A DE PARIS — ★★½ — A fly-on-the-wall documentary for fans of ballet/dance only. French with subtitles; running time: 158 minutes; not rated, probable PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief gore, vulgarity, slurs)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
AVATAR 3-D — James Cameron's new science-fiction thriller, shown in 3-D. (Carmike 12, Century Sandy, Century South Salt Lake, Cinemark American Fork, District, Gateway, Holladay Centre, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Layton Hills, Provo Towne Centre, Ritz, Thanksgiving Point, Tinseltown Ogden, Tinseltown Layton, University Mall, Wynnsong)
BREWVIES SPECIAL SCREENINGS — Films include the Monday Munchies selection. A schedule is available at www.brewvies.com. (Jan. 4, 10:30 p.m.: Brewvies, must be 21 or older)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3-D — The new animated comedy-fantasy, shown in 3-D. (Carmike 12, Century Sandy, Century South Salt Lake, Cinemark American Fork, Jordan Landing, Layton Hills, Provo Towne Centre, Ritz, Tinseltown Ogden, Tinseltown Layton, University Mall, Wynnsong)
ORGAN LOFT SPECIAL SCREENINGS — This week's film is "Oliver Twist" (1922). A schedule is available at www.organloftslc.com. (Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
PARK CITY FILM SERIES — This week's film is "Pirate Radio." A schedule is available at www.parkcityfilmseries.com. (Jan. 1 and 2, 8 p.m.; Jan. 3, 6 p.m.: Park City Library)
LARGE-FORMAT
AVATAR: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE — James Cameron's new science-fiction thriller, shown in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
BUGS! — ★★★ — This British-made documentary about insects has plenty of "wow" moments. Shown in 3-D. Running time: 40 minutes; not rated, probable G (violence) (Thanksgiving Point)
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. Shown in 3-D. Running time: 48 minutes; not rated, probable PG (violence) (Thanksgiving Point) — Jeff Strickler, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)
THE LIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS — Locally produced animated short with a holiday theme. Running time: 31 minutes; not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) (Clark Planetarium, Thanksgiving Point)
MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D — ★★★½ — This minifeature on manned space missions is as entertaining as it is educational. Shown in 3-D. Running time: 40 minutes; not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) (Clark Planetarium)
SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3-D — An expanded version of a 1997 TV short with Jonathan Winters as the voice of Santa Claus. Shown in 3-D. Running time: 35 minutes; not rated, probable G (animated violence) (Clark Planetarium)
CONTINUING FILMS
9 — ★★½ — It's a pity the story for this animated feature didn't get the attention and creativity the animation designs did. Running time: 79 minutes; PG-13 (violence, slurs, brief drugs)
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER — ★★★★ — A simple, refreshingly honest comedy. Running time: 95 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, slurs, violence, nude art)
2012 — ★★½ — Don't think too hard about this dopey science-fiction thriller and its sketchy plotting. Running time: 158 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, brief nudity, slurs)
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL — ★½ — A completely unnecessary follow-up to the surprising 2007 hit. Running time: 88 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs, mild profanity)
ASTRO BOY — ★★ — An animated feature cobbled together from parts of earlier, better movies. Running time: 94 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs)
AVATAR — ★★½ — James Cameron's latest is a feast for the eyes, though it fails in terms of plot. Running time: 161 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, slurs, brief drugs, brief partial nudity, brief gore, vulgarity, brief sex)
THE BLIND SIDE — ★★★ — This cinematic "comfort food" goes down pretty well. Sandra Bullock stars. Running time: 126 minutes; PG-13 (violence, slurs, vulgarity, brief drugs, profanity, brief gore, brief sex)
THE BOONDOCK SAINTS II: ALL SAINTS DAY — ★ — Cloaking vigilante justice in religion turns this revenge-thriller into a distasteful movie. Running time: 117 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity) — Jake Coyle, Associated Press
THE BOX — ★ — This science-fiction thriller provokes laughs. Cameron Diaz stars. Running time: 115 minutes; PG-13 (violence) — David German, Associated Press
A CHRISTMAS CAROL — ★★ — An unengaging adaptation of the much-told tale. Running time: 96 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, slurs, mild profanity)
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS —★★★½ — A delicious farce that may be the funniest animated film of the year. Running time: 81 minutes; PG (mild profanity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
COUPLES RETREAT — ★★ — They should have scrapped this crude relationship comedy entirely. Running time: 109 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, brief partial nudity, brief drugs, brief gore, slurs)
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? — ★½ — One of the most surprising comedy duds of the year. Running time: 103 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs, brief sex)
AN EDUCATION — ★★★½ — A fairly classy spin on some distasteful material. Carey Mulligan stars. Running time: 95 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, slurs)
FANTASTIC MR. FOX — ★★★½ — Proof that there's quality animation being done by studios that aren't named Disney and Pixar. Running time: 87 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs)
THE FOURTH KIND — ★½ — An unconvincing alien abduction tale. Running time: 98 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief sex, brief gore, slurs, brief drugs, vulgarity)
G-FORCE — ★½ — Despite a committed voice cast, these jokes aren't all that. Running time: 90 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
INVICTUS — ★★½ — Clint Eastwood couldn't decide which movie he wanted to make — a sports drama or a biography. Running time: 132 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, slurs, vulgarity, brief drugs)
IT'S COMPLICATED — ★★½ — It's worth it just to see Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in the same film. Running time: 114 minutes; R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, sex, slurs, brief partial nudity)
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN — ★½ — A confused, contrived mess. Running time: 108 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, rape, torture, vulgarity, slurs, brief partial nudity)
ME AND ORSON WELLES — ★★★ — The stars of this theater comedy are good, and it is a fun, if slightly unoriginal, plot. Running time: 118 minutes; PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, nude art, violence, slurs, brief sex, brief gore)
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS — ★★★ — This film won't appeal to all audiences. George Clooney stars. Running time: 95 minutes; R (violence, profanity, drugs, brief nudity, torture, vulgarity, slurs)
NINE — ★★ — A clunky adaptation of the Broadway musical — as well as the beloved 1963 film "8½." Running time: 118 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, profanity, nude art, slurs, violence)
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY — ★★½ — More fun than most studio horror films that drop into theaters most weekends. Running time: 99 minutes; R (profanity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
PIRATE RADIO — ★★★½ — A well-acted ensemble piece that argues in favor of free speech without becoming too heavy-handed. Running time: 115 minutes; R (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs, slurs, brief partial nudity, violence)
PLANET 51 — ★½ — Flatulence, bodily function and other lowbrow jokes and sight gags. Running time: 91 minutes; PG (vulgarity, violence, slurs, profanity, brief drugs)
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE — ★★★ — The unflinching depiction of incest and physical abuse makes this well-acted film hard to watch. Running time: 109 minutes; R (profanity, violence, slurs, rape, vulgarity, brief drugs, brief sex, brief nudity)
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG — ★★★½ — Disney's latest traditionally animated fantasy is a rousing return to form. Running time: 97 minutes; G (violence, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs)
THE ROAD — ★★★ — As dark as this apocalyptic thriller is, it's worthwhile for its character development. Running time: 113 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, brief nudity, vulgarity, slurs)
A SERIOUS MAN — ★★★½ — The Coen brothers' most thoughtful and personal film. Michael Stuhlbarg stars. Running time: 105 minutes; R (profanity, sex, nudity, violence) — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
SHERLOCK HOLMES — ★★★ — One of the more fun, big-budget, big-studio films of late. Robert Downey Jr. stars. Running time: 128 minutes; PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, drugs, brief gore, slurs, nude art, mild profanity)
THE STEPFATHER — ★★ — The suspense is there, but it's because there's no mystery to this thriller remake. Running time: 101 minutes; PG-13 (violence, brief sex) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON — ★★ — A more ridiculous movie than its predecessor, last year's "Twilight." Running time: 130 minutes; PG-13 (violence, brief gore, slurs, brief drugs, mild profanity, vulgarity)
UP IN THE AIR — ★★★½ — This satire's observations about personal priorities really strike home. George Clooney stars. Running time: 108 minutes; R (profanity, vulgarity, slurs, brief nudity, brief sex, brief drugs)
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE — ★★★ — The long-awaited, live-action fantasy looks beautiful but is too intense for children. Running time: 104 minutes; PG (violence, mild vulgarity, mild profanity, slurs)
THE YOUNG VICTORIA — ★★½ — Emily Blunt is good, but this film glosses over some interesting parts of Queen Victoria's early life. Running time: 104 minutes; PG (vulgarity, profanity, nude art, brief drugs, slurs, violence, brief sex)
ZOMBIELAND — ★★★ — A gory horror-comedy that is "all killer and no filler." Running time: 82 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs, slurs, brief partial nudity)