Capsule reviews of films in area theaters for the week of Nov. 20-27. For movie times and trailers, see the blue MovieFinder in the right -hand column.
"QUANTUM OF SOLACE": HHH Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas. Bond films are all "greatest hits'' packages these days, and this one references "Goldfinger,'' "Live and Let Die'' and "For Your Eyes Only.'' Picking up on the heels of "Casino Royale's" climax, it's the shortest Bond film since "Goldfinger,'' and certainly the most brisk. Director Marc Forster masterfully handles the breathless action, and Daniel Craig is on his way to becoming what could be the best Bond ever. Rated PG-13.
"MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. More an encore than a sequel, it revives many of the popular characters and happenings from the 2005 original. It also borrows heavily from "The Lion King." The animation is an improvement over the original, but it's still too talky. However, if your kids laughed the last time, they will again. Rated PG.
"ROLE MODELS": HHH MC, PPSC. The premise is completely formulaic and potentially cheesy, but the execution is what makes this outrageous comedy laugh-out-loud funny. Strong direction by David Wain and excellent performances by stars Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott are buoyed by a fantastically funny supporting cast. Rated R.
"SOUL MEN": HH1/2 PPSC. One of Bernie Mac's final performances, it's a great one. The movie is a shaggy, indifferently directed road comedy that benefits from inspired casting - pairing Mac with Samuel L. Jackson as two has-been soul singers - and a sad afterglow. The road pitfalls are "Blues Brothers'' standard issue, but the moments onstage are a stitch. Rated R.
"CHANGELING": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. A period piece, a true-crime mystery and a slice of history, it's vintage Clint Eastwood in many ways. The mystery here is deep, with layers of meaning built into it, and there's no shortage of villains. But in the end, it's a film without the urgency that the subject demands. Rated R.
"THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY": H1/2 PPSC. Think of it as a horror movie for the squeamish. Rated PG-13, it's the ungoriest slasher movie yet, a mix of "Carrie" and "Mean Girls" that has a couple of intriguing ideas but fails to thrill. Rated PG-13.
"ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. A raunch-heavy comedy, it's more convincing with the raunch than the love, and that's OK. Like all of director Kevin Smith's movies, it is uneven, but when it's funny (and that's often) it's a scream. Seth Rogen has the best comic timing in the movies today, and Elizabeth Banks has comedy chops to spare. Rated R (appealed from NC-17).
"HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. The first big screen project in the "HSM" franchise, it's not intended for general audiences; it's meant for its legion of diehard tween and teen fans. The musical numbers aren't as memorable as in the past movies, but the bigger and better dance numbers balance that out. A big problem for the future of the franchise is the weak acting of the new students brought in to carry the East High torch. Rated G.
"SAW V": H MC, PPSC. It boasts little of the cleverness and ingenuity that has made "Saw" a surprisingly consistent slasher series. Its story is a retread of the second "Saw" and, it loses touch with the moral ambivalence that was so intriguing in the other "Saw" films. Rated R.
"FIREPROOF": N/A MC. A religious romantic drama starring Kirk Cameron as a firefighter on the verge of divorce who realizes that he has to get his relationship with God in order before he can improve his marriage. Rated PG.
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CLOSING TODAY: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "W."
OPENING FRIDAY: "Bolt 3D," "Twilight"
KIDTOONS: "Barbie in A Christmas Carol," 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Marquee Cinemas. Tickets $3.50. Call 744-3456 or visit www.marqueecinemas.com.
"QUANTUM OF SOLACE": HHH Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas. Bond films are all "greatest hits'' packages these days, and this one references "Goldfinger,'' "Live and Let Die'' and "For Your Eyes Only.'' Picking up on the heels of "Casino Royale's" climax, it's the shortest Bond film since "Goldfinger,'' and certainly the most brisk. Director Marc Forster masterfully handles the breathless action, and Daniel Craig is on his way to becoming what could be the best Bond ever. Rated PG-13.
"MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. More an encore than a sequel, it revives many of the popular characters and happenings from the 2005 original. It also borrows heavily from "The Lion King." The animation is an improvement over the original, but it's still too talky. However, if your kids laughed the last time, they will again. Rated PG.
"ROLE MODELS": HHH MC, PPSC. The premise is completely formulaic and potentially cheesy, but the execution is what makes this outrageous comedy laugh-out-loud funny. Strong direction by David Wain and excellent performances by stars Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott are buoyed by a fantastically funny supporting cast. Rated R.
"SOUL MEN": HH1/2 PPSC. One of Bernie Mac's final performances, it's a great one. The movie is a shaggy, indifferently directed road comedy that benefits from inspired casting - pairing Mac with Samuel L. Jackson as two has-been soul singers - and a sad afterglow. The road pitfalls are "Blues Brothers'' standard issue, but the moments onstage are a stitch. Rated R.
"CHANGELING": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. A period piece, a true-crime mystery and a slice of history, it's vintage Clint Eastwood in many ways. The mystery here is deep, with layers of meaning built into it, and there's no shortage of villains. But in the end, it's a film without the urgency that the subject demands. Rated R.
"THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY": H1/2 PPSC. Think of it as a horror movie for the squeamish. Rated PG-13, it's the ungoriest slasher movie yet, a mix of "Carrie" and "Mean Girls" that has a couple of intriguing ideas but fails to thrill. Rated PG-13.
"ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. A raunch-heavy comedy, it's more convincing with the raunch than the love, and that's OK. Like all of director Kevin Smith's movies, it is uneven, but when it's funny (and that's often) it's a scream. Seth Rogen has the best comic timing in the movies today, and Elizabeth Banks has comedy chops to spare. Rated R (appealed from NC-17).
"HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR": HH1/2 MC, PPSC. The first big screen project in the "HSM" franchise, it's not intended for general audiences; it's meant for its legion of diehard tween and teen fans. The musical numbers aren't as memorable as in the past movies, but the bigger and better dance numbers balance that out. A big problem for the future of the franchise is the weak acting of the new students brought in to carry the East High torch. Rated G.
"SAW V": H MC, PPSC. It boasts little of the cleverness and ingenuity that has made "Saw" a surprisingly consistent slasher series. Its story is a retread of the second "Saw" and, it loses touch with the moral ambivalence that was so intriguing in the other "Saw" films. Rated R.
"FIREPROOF": N/A MC. A religious romantic drama starring Kirk Cameron as a firefighter on the verge of divorce who realizes that he has to get his relationship with God in order before he can improve his marriage. Rated PG.
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CLOSING TODAY: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "W."
OPENING FRIDAY: "Bolt 3D," "Twilight"
KIDTOONS: "Barbie in A Christmas Carol," 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Marquee Cinemas. Tickets $3.50. Call 744-3456 or visit www.marqueecinemas.com.
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