Thursday, April 01, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Film shorts

Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk

Not reviewed (NR, 38 min.) Marc Fafard's 2002 Imax movie examines the risks of skydiving and BASE jumping, and includes footage of an experimental jump using a pyramid-shaped parachute based on a 1485 design by Leonardo da Vinci. Filmed in the Mojave Desert, the Florida Keys and the fjords of Norway.--AA

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London

2 1/2 stars (PG, 93 min.) Frankie Muniz reprises his role as an undercover CIA agent, tracking down the bad guys with an implant device that can control people's actions. Director Kevin Allen understands the appeal of this 007 for grade schoolers. There are lots of gadgets and chases and kids outsmarting adults. And although the few clever moments make the many bad ones stand out, it's surprisingly not too torturous.--ADV

Along Came Polly

2 stars (PG-13, 90 min.) John Hamburg's "sparkless" romantic comedy is as risk-averse and unamusing as Ben Stiller's overly cautious character, who falls for flaky free spirit Jennifer Aniston.--TM

Barbershop 2: Back in Business

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 106 min.) Kevin Rodney Sullivan's sequel improves on Tim Story's 2002 talkfest, targeting the Starbuckization of the planet. With Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Queen Latifah.--AA

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Not reviewed (PG, 86 min.) New York teen Lindsay Lohan copes with the ultimate indignity: moving to New Jersey. With Adam Garcia, Carol Kane.--AA

Dawn of the Dead

3 1/2 stars (R, 100 min.) Forget George Romero's 1978 horror original. Zach Snyder's remake works on its own terms. James Gunn's script is one big chase. The idyllic suburban life of nurse Sarah Polley is shattered when she wakes up to witness a child zombie biting the neck of her husband. Graphic violence, but slam-bam pop entertainment. Don't be late; the first 10 minutes are very exciting.--ADV

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

2 stars (PG-13, 86 min.) Blushing WASP Romola Garai itches to dance with hot Cuban waiter Diego Luna. Guy Ferland's sequel is the nadir of Hollywood's efforts to rediscover the magic of the 1987 flick.--JC

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

4 1/2 stars (R, 107 min.) Jim Carrey learns he's been erased from ex-lover Kate Winslet's memory. From this simple idea, which director Michel Gondry credits to artist Pierre Bismuth, Being John Malkovich screenwriter Charlie Kaufman forged a characteristically complex mix of romance, black humor and existential philosophizing. Given the scarcity of films this good, Jim's advice to Kate, as they face the existential angst of knowing how their romance will end before it begins, seems apt: "Enjoy it." With Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood.--AA

50 First Dates

1/2 star (PG-13, 96 min.) The problem is all inside Drew's (Barrymore) head, you see; Her short-term memory is screwy, can't take it logically; (Adam) Sandler's motto: it's lucrative to be crude, his non-character misconstrued; There must be 50 ways to leave this loser. Just avoid (Dan) Aykroyd; Make a new plan, (Sean) Astin; Don't need to be a slob, Rob (Schneider), just listen to me; Hop on the bus, (Lusia) Strus; Don't need to discuss much; Just channel E.T., and get yourself free.--TM

Haunted Castle

Not reviewed (PG, 38 min.) Aspiring rock star Jasper Steverlinck visits dead mom's spooky English mansion and learns that rock 'n' roll really is the devil's music in this 2001 3-D Imax horror flick from Belgian director Ben Stassen.--AA

Hidalgo

1 1/2 stars (PG-13, 136 min.) Joe Johnston's plodding, Middle Eastern horse race saga, ostensibly based on the "true" story of dispatch rider Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is jingoistic twaddle. Johnston uses cheesy accelerated footage, an unreal digital sandstorm and locusts, and dragged Omar Sharif out of retirement. Why are we surprised that Muslim fanatics want to destroy Western civilization?--AA

Japanese Story

2 1/2 stars (R, 107 min.) Sydney software exec Toni Collette accompanies client Gotaro Tsunashima across the Australian outback. Writer Alison Tilson and director Sue Brooks' movie employs a dramatic device so manipulative that Jackie Collins might chunder. Unimaginative in its observations and obvious in its emotional epiphanies. Dull, sincere cross-cultural fare, like sushi sold at Wal-Mart.--RC

Jersey Girl

2 1/2 stars (PG-13, 103 min.) Manhattan publicist/widower Ben Affleck dumps his baby on Dad (George Carlin) in New Jersey. Clerks' Kevin Smith, who made underachieving cool, has grown up. But watching his corny film is like being kidnapped by Hallmark. Bland, boring Affleck's ongoing ability to find work is one of cinema's great mysteries, though Liv Tyler's relaxed performance is a great surprise. With Raquel Castro.--JC

The Ladykillers

2 stars (R, 104 min.) Tom Hanks' gang tunnels into a Mississippi casino count room from widow Irma P. Hall's basement. Hanks' performance is courageously out-there, cinematographer Roger Deakins provides atmosphere and there's foot-tapping music from the Abbot Kinney gospel choir. But Joel and Ethan Coen's remake of the moldy old English comedy is an unhappy hybrid: a heist spoof with Southern fried Gothic flavoring. With Tzi Ma, J.K. Simmons, Marlon Wayans.--AA

Latter Days

3 1/2 stars (NR, 110 min.) Hunky, closeted Mormon Steve Sandvoss (Elder Aaron) charms self-absorbed gym-bunny neighbor Wesley A. Ramsey in Jay Cox's indie filmfest fave. One of the best gay flicks of the past five years, which is less of a backhanded compliment than it sounds.--MP

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 200 min.) Frodo and Sam (Elijah Wood, Sean Astin) are led to Mordor by Gollum (Andy Serkis); Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli (Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies) awaken the Army of the Dead; and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) heads for Minis Tirith. With scandalously beautiful images, Peter Jackson's epic fantasy is an astonishing achievement.--JC 11 Oscars: picture, director, adapted screenplay, art direction, costumes, makeup, editing, sound mixing, visual effects, score, song "Into the West."

Monster

3 stars (R, 108 min.) Charlize Theron's monstrous appearance, and her performance, steamroller everything in Patty Jenkins' film about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, including Christina Ricci's magnificent turn.--JC Oscar: actress Theron.

Mystic River

4 stars (R, 137 min.) A brutal murder forces a reunion between boyhood Boston buddies Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins, in Clint Eastwood's dark film of Dennis Lehane's novel.--JC 2 Oscars: actor Penn, supporting actor Robbins.

NASCAR: The Imax Experience

2 1/2 stars (PG, 48 min.) Simon Wincer's flagrant promo flick for "America's largest spectator sport" is expensive entertainment that requires those tiresome 3D glasses to watch. But it includes superb footage delivering some of the visceral, ear-shattering excitement of race day and Kiefer Sutherland's narration, written by Mark Bechtel, packs in a wealth of detail.--AA

Never Die Alone

No stars (R, 90 min.) Drug kingpin Clifton Powell orders a hit on gangsta DMX. Journalist David Arquette witnesses the attack. Ernest Dickerson's film of Donald Goines' novel glamorizes misogynistic murderers who dispense destruction, gorge on materialism and violate women. An offensive grab for cash by filmmakers lusting to capitalize upon depravity.--TM

Ocean Wonderland 3D

Not reviewed (NR, 44 min.) Filmed in the Bahamas and Australia, this Imax doc features rays, sharks, dolphins and other marine life in glorious 3D.--AA

The Passion of the Christ

2 1/2 stars (R, 127 min.) Mel Gibson's exceedingly gory crucifixion drama, with blood-spattered Jim Caviezel, isn't apt to inspire; it must merely be endured. With the inevitable accusations of anti-Semitism, Mel must have known he was asking for trouble, and priceless publicity, and his pedestrian style only exacerbates the agony. With Mattia Sbraglia (Caiaphas), Hristo Naumov Shopov (Pilate), Maia Morgenstern (Mary), Monica Bellucci (Magdalene). (Aramaic and Latin dialogue, with subtitles.)--AA

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

2 stars (PG, 85 min.) Fred (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby (voiced by Neil Fanning) chase a mastermind monster maker. Raja Gosnell's sequel to his 2002 spinoff from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series is mostly mediocre. But its endearing goofiness makes some of the imperfections bearable. With Peter Boyle, Seth Green, Alicia Silverstone.--TM

Seabiscuit

4 stars (PG-13, 140 min.) Gary Ross' film is more than just the story of three men and a racehorse. There's a dream cast (Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire), meticulous period detail and documentary-style interludes narrated by historian David McCullough. But this nostalgic trot down memory lane doesn't quite achieve movie magic. With William H. Macy.--AA

Secret Window

2 stars (PG-13, 96 min.) Stung by a charge of plagiarism, depressed writer Johnny Depp plays a cat-and-mouse game with his accuser (John Turturro) that involves Mort's estranged wife Maria Bello, her lover Timothy Hutton and detective Charles S. Dutton. Depp gives a beautifully nuanced turn as the increasingly unhinged wordsmith. But David Koepp's thriller, based on Stephen King's 1990 novella Secret Window, Secret Garden, fails to thrill, mainly because the plot twist is painfully predictable.--AA

Spartan

3 stars (R, 106 min.) Special ops officer Val Kilmer leads a secret mission to retrieve kidnapped President's daughter Kristen Bell. The swirl of plot and counter-plot is pure David Mamet. Kilmer coughs up hairballs of staccato, assaultive dialogue as efficiently as Mamet regulars Ed O'Neill and William H. Macy. But, lacking the personality to counter Mamet's essential heartlessness, he never makes us believe there's a soul beneath the Kevlar, and the plot's machinations finally overwhelm the story's humanity. With Derek Luke.--JC

Starsky & Hutch

2 1/2 stars (R, 100 min.) Uptight cop Ben Stiller and rule-bending slacker Owen Wilson get in their Coke can on wheels (Starsky's beloved Ford Gran Torino) to go after Bay City cocaine kingpin Vince Vaughn. Todd Phillips' spoof isn't exactly your daddy's "Starsky & Hutch." But this imperfect take on that beloved 1970s show provides pure escapist entertainment. With Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell.--TM

Taking Lives

1 1/2 stars (R, 103 min.) FBI profiler Angelina Jolie alienates Quebecois cops Olivier Martinez and Jean-Hugues Anglade while hunting a murderous identity thief. The comparison with Jodie Foster is invidious: Jolie's Special Agent Scott is no Clarice Starling. Though director D.J. Caruso includes one really scary moment, Jon Bokenkamp's adaptation of Michael Pye's novel is preposterous. With Ethan Hawke, Gena Rowlands.--AA

Twisted

1 star (R, 97 min.) Hunting a serial killer, cop Ashley Judd discovers all the victims are her own, recent lovers. Philip Kaufman's thriller is so predictable it's enough to make your Hitchcock-starved hair curl. With Andy Garcia, Samuel L. Jackson.--AA

You Got Served

Not reviewed (PG-13, 93 min.) In Christopher Stokes' musical drama, Marques Houston and Omarion set out to win a street dance contest.--AA

Reviews by: AA: Anthony Allison; ADV: Anthony Del Valle; JC: Jeannette Catsoulis; MP: Mike Prevatt; RC: Robert Chancey; TM: Tammy McMahan