CINEMA
At The Movies
Opening
Alpha Dog
A drama based on the life of Jesse James Hollywood, the youngest man to ever be on the FBI's most wanted list. Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone star. See review on Page 16. (R)
Arthur and the Invisibles
In order to save his grandma's home, a boy (Freddie Highmore) sets off to find his grandpa's treasure hidden somewhere on the "other side" in the land of the Miniroys, a race of creatures that are just a tenth of an inch tall and live in perfect harmony with their environment. A partly animated movie, it features the voices of Madonna, Robert De Niro, Jimmy Fallon and Snoop Dogg. (PG)
Letters from Iwo Jima
Clint Eastwood's companion film to his "Flags of Our Fathers." This time, the battle of Iwo Jima is told from the perspective of the Japanese. When the American invasion begins, a commanding general and a young soldier find strength, honor, courage and horrors beyond imagination. Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya star. See review on Page 4. (R)
Pan's Labyrinth
Guillermo del Toro's latest film is set against the postwar repression of Franco's Spain. It's a fairy tale that centers on a lonely child who creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. See review on Page 26. (R)
Primeval
A news team's expedition turns deadly when they are dispatched to a remote area in Africa to track down a serial killer that has claimed over 300 victims. (R)
Stomp the Yard
A troubled street dancer attends a historical African American university in Atlanta where he joins a struggling fraternity and learns the true meaning of brotherhood when he tries to help the school's step team win the national championship. See review on Page 27. (PG-13)
Now Playing
G
Charlotte's Web
E.B. White's beloved children's book hits the big screen. It's a tale about a farm pig destined for the smokehouse who is saved by the friendships of a girl and an erudite spider.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 1/2
Suiting up again as the title character, Tim Allen seems bored with his own franchise. This sequel centers on St. Nick's rivalry with Jack Frost (Martin Short), who plans to turn the North Pole into a tacky theme park.
PG
Eragon
Based on the bestselling book series about a young man thrust into an incredible world of magic and power through which he and his hatchling dragon must navigate.
Flushed Away 1/2
A pampered British rat (voiced by Hugh Jackman) finds himself in an elaborate sewer-city recreation of a miniature London filled with rats, toads and slugs of varying caste. This great-looking CGI movie is only hampered by a constant hyperkinetic pace.
Happily N'Ever After
When the wizard in charge of Fairy Tale World goes on holiday, Cinderella's wicked stepmother takes over. A riff on Cinderella with a gimmick could have worked in deft hands, but this unengaging animated fantasy comes off as derivative and diluted.
Happy Feet 1/2
The best animated film of 2006. A young penguin named Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) searches for his mate, but he's incapable of belting out his own song to attract one ... but, boy, can he dance! The movie follows Mumble on a journey of discovery.
Night at the Museum 1/2
Ben Stiller stars in the story of a night watchman dealing with dinosaur skeletons, statues and wax figures that come to life at a museum. Despite inventive visual effects, the movie comes off as unimaginative.
Open Season 1/2
An animated feature about a domesticated grizzly bear (voiced by Martin Lawrence) who gets deposited in the woods during hunting season. He and a one-antlered mule deer (Ashton Kutcher) rally the forest animals to turn the tables on a poacher (Gary Sinise).
Rocky Balboa 1/2
Sylvester Stallone's iconic boxer steps out of retirement, pitting himself against a new rival (played by real-life boxer Antonio Tarver).
We Are Marshall
Based on the true story of a tragic plane crash that decimated a West Virginia university's football program in 1970, and how a young coach (Matthew McConaughey) rebuilt the program and rejuvenated the spirit of the community.
PG-13
Casino Royale 1/2
Daniel Craig takes over the iconic role of James Bond, in a movie about the secret agent's first mission. While lighter in action scenes, what the movie has in those regards is riveting, clever and well-choreographed.
Code Name: The Cleaner
Cedric the Entertainer plays an amnesiac janitor who is duped into thinking he's an undercover agent carrying a dangerous secret. Cedric, unfortunately, doesn't have a big enough persona to fill a film, and he's not helped by a stale script.
Déjà Vu 1/2
Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott have made a smart movie with powerful emotions and riveting suspense. Washington is superb as a federal agent who suspects foul play behind a fatal accident in New Orleans.
Dreamgirls
Former "American Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson absolutely walks away with this splashy dazzler of a picture, based on the 1981 Broadway musical about the rise of a Supremes-style vocal trio. Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé Knowles star.
Freedom Writers
A heart-tugger, this movie is based on the true story of an idealistic teacher who inspires her high school students. She's so full of gee-whiz decency that she can only be played by Hilary Swank, who holds the movie together, even when its many elements -- gang violence, the Holocaust, spousal abuse -- threaten its focus.
The Prestige
A mystery-drama about the rivalry between two turn-of-the-20th-century stage magicians, one a brilliant showman (Hugh Jackman), the other a brilliant technician (Christian Bale), and the beautiful assistant (Scarlett Johansson) they both desire.
The Pursuit of Happyness 1/2
Will Smith stars in the true story of a homeless single father who works to become a successful stock broker. Smith portrays a real-life hero who builds a life for himself and his child (played by Smith's son Jaden).
The Queen 1/2
Helen Mirren gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Queen Elizabeth II, during the time of the tragic death of Princess Diana. Mirren gives the role a restrained soulfulness that reinvents the monarch.
Stranger Than Fiction
Will Ferrell plays a man who discovers that an unseen narrator is chronicling the events of his life. A literature professor (Dustin Hoffman) helps him figure out that he's caught up in the work-in-progress of a British novelist (Emma Thompson).
R
Apocalypto
Mel Gibson applies the same breathtaking production values and attention to detail of his previous films to this epic adventure set during the decline of the Mayan civilization.
Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio stars a South African mercenary who joins a Mende fisherman (Djimon Housou) on a quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan 1/2
British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen portrays an absurdly clueless Eastern European "journalist" on a culture-clashing trip across the United States. The comedy is an instant classic, as Cohen stays in character as he interacts with real people.
Children of Men 1/2
Director Alfonso Cuarón helped adapt this tale for the screen. Set in the near-future, a flu pandemic results in complete infertility in women. A former activist is recruited by an old flame -- now the leader of a terrorist group -- into smuggling a young woman, who may be fertile, out of the country. The thriller, a thoughtful study of humankind's resilience, is carried by Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine and Clare-Hope Ashitey.
The Curse of the Golden Flower
Director Zhang Yimou reunites with actress Gong Li in this opulent costume drama of intrigue concerning the volatile balance of power between a king, his queen and their sons.
The Good Shepherd
Robert De Niro directs the story of the covert beginnings of the Central Intelligence Agency as seen through the eyes of its co-founder, agent Edward Wilson (Matt Damon). A story like this needs sweep and scope and the operatic melodrama of betrayal, but instead the movie's pace is slow, measured and cold.
Harsh Times 1/2
Christian Bale stars as an ex-Army Ranger on a destructive search for thrills through the streets of South Central Los Angeles. Writer-director David Ayer boils down his violence-and-machismo formula to its bare minimum, ending up with uninteresting characters.
The History Boys
The Tony award-winning, bittersweet, comic play is adapted for the screen by original writer, Alan Bennett. It's the story of an unruly class of bright students in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge.
Little Children 1/2
In a town full of "perfect" parents devoted to rearing their children for Ivy League futures, Sarah, a stay-at-home mom, has an affair with Brad, an ex-jock stay-at-home dad. With strong direction by Todd Field, the film stars Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson.
Saw III
This latest installment in the horror franchise is just a hodgepodge of gruesome moments and a weird love story that's even more cringe-inducing than the gory scenes.
NR
Samoan Wedding
A group of Samoan emigre buddies in Auckland, New Zealand, are challenged to find proper girlfriends to bring as dates to a wedding.
Art House | Revival
THE DORIS DUKE THEATRE, HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
900 S. Beretania St.; $7 general; $6 seniors, students and military; $5 Academy members (532-8768):
Artists and Film series:
Shortbus
See review on Page 18. (NR) At 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matthew Barney: No Restraint
At 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 1 p.m. Jan. 16.
Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?
See review on Page 17. (NR) At 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Jan. 17 and 18; and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16.
MOVIE MUSEUM
3566 Harding Ave.; $5, $4 members; reservations recommended due to limited seating (735-8771):
House of Sand (Casa de Areia)
At 12:30, 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday.
Quinceañera
At 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 18.
Bandidas
At 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday.
Broken Silence
At 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Jan. 15.