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THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE (PG) Jay Wards original “Rocky And Bullwinkle" car toons of the late-1960’s—a series fol lowing wacky moose Bullwinkle and his sidekick Hying squirrel pal, Rocky— were intelligent, clever and original. This weak big screen version is a mess. Director Des McAnuff's blend of com puter animation mostly looks forced anc stiff. Jason Alexander, Rene Russo, and Robert De Niro look ridiculous. (Mall) ANTZ (PG) A neurotic ant (voiced by Woody Allen) tries to break out of the totalitarian society he lives in to win the heart of the ant princess. With the voice talents of Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd. Jennifer Lopez and Anne Bancroft. Showing Thursday, 8/4. (Beechwood) BIG MOMMA’S HOUSE (PG-13) Martin Lawrence goes “deep under cover* in inis crude comedy about a slick city detective who poses as an obese Georgia grandmother. This is a derivative comedy consisting of little more than a continuous string of gags and one-'iners revolving around the same joke, but audiences are howling anyway. (Beechwood, Carmike, Commerce Drive-In) CHICKEN RUN (G) This is the first full-length feature from Britain’s Aardman Animation (“Wallace And Gromit*), and it’s a wondedully whim sical effort like none seen before. Set in England in the 1950s, this off-beat, whimsical Claymation action-adventure follows a pack of chickens desperate to escape from the prison camp-like Tweedy's Farm. Go see it. Ends Thursday. (Beechwood, Carmike) COYOTE UGLY (PG-13) Producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s updated version of C(xJ<tail. This wild and sultry-looking comedy follows 21-year-old Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo) as she goes to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter. Her aspirations are sidelined by the notoriety she receives at her “day* job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly, the hottest watering hole in town, run by Lil (Maria Bello). The club features a team of sexy, enter prising young women who tantalize customers and the media alike with their outrageous antics. Yowza. With John Goodman and Tyra Banks. Opens Friday. (Beechwood, Carmike) DISNEY’S THE KID (PG) Director john Turteltaub’s (Phenomenon) family comedy is a warm and sentimental offering that gets syrupy (thanks espe cially to the obnoxious musical cues), but stays pretty well on track. Bruce Willis is an arrogant, sarcastic LA image consultant w.io, on the eve of his 40th birthday, gets to meet himself as an 8-year-old kid. He dismisses the phenomenon as an oncoming nervous breakdown. The pudgy kid, played with convincing charm and wit by pouty newcomer Spencer Breslin, can't under stand why he's been transplanted to his future, either. The two develop a decent rapport, however, and Willis' cold heart inevitably thaws. Look for wondedul performances from Bhtish actress Emily Mortimer and the great comedienne Lily Tomlin. (Beechwood, Carmike) “FUCKER" (NR) Friday and Saturday’s program features Yasemin, a 1988 romantic drama written and directed by German filmmaker Hark Bohm about a young German man who falls in love with a younger Turkish girl Tuesday’s and next Wednesday’s pro gram features a collection of films called “Taking Animal Films From The Golden Years Of Hollywood" consisting of three films from the 1930s with real animals (donkeys, chickens, dogs, cats and horses) that are animated to speak. Just imagine it! Call 546-0039 for more information. (Flicker Theatre) GORDY (G) 1995. A talking pig named Gordy goes on a quest to save his family from the slaughterhouse. Showing Thursday. 8/4. (Beechwood) HOLLOW MAN (R) A suspense- thriller from director Paul Verhoeven (RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic instinct} about a group of young scientists at a top-sec'et military lab who have just unlocked the secret of ‘invisibility.* The team's arrogant leader, played by Kevin Bacon, ignores the risks and decides to test the dangerous procedure on him self—only to discover his fellow scien tists (Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin) are unable to re.erse the effect. Will his new-found power turn him into a menace? Sure. Opens Friday. (Beechwood, Carmike, Commerce Drive-In) THE IN CROWD (PG-13) A sickly, implausible, uninteresting teen thriller following a foxy, naive young woman (Lori Heuring) just been released from a mental asylum who has been placed in a work program a! an East Coast country club. She’s befriended by the foxy, obsessive leader (Susan Ward) of a clique of wealthy college brats. Unfortunately, the rookie gets too far “in* and sparks a murderous series of sneaky, retaliatory events resembling the worst elements of “Melrose Place" and “Beverly Hill 90120." Directed bv Mary Lambert. Not recommended. Ends Thursday. (Beechwood, Carmike) LOSER (PG-13) Yet another flimsy romantic comedy aimed at the young college crowd. The movie has a few sweet and funny moments and almost detours into darker territories, but, like totally deserves to be tossed on the mounting heap alongside She's All That, Boys And Girls, Whatever It Takes. Gossip ad nauseam. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless, Fast Times At Ridgemont High), the plot follows a ‘loser* (Jason Biggs of American Pie and Boys And Girls,), who goes to the big city as a scholarship student where, of course, he's leased and antagonized. He befriends Dora (Mena Suvari of American Beaut}), who happens to be mixed up in an affair with a smirky literature prolessor (Greg Kinnear). Nothing much of interest or intrigue happens With briet appear ances by Dan Aykroyd, Steven Wright, David Spade and Andy Dick. Ends Thursoay. (Beechwood, Carmike) LOVE AND BASKETBALL (PG-13) Director Gina Prince's smart and warm hearted romantic drama gets at more than just college hoop dreams, it fol lows twc childhood friends, Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps), as they grow up and into a com plicated relationship in which basketball becomes a catalyst. Ends Thursday. (Malt) MAD ABOUT MAMBO (PG-13) A romantic comedy about a Catholic high school student who tries to perfect his soccer timing by practicing dance. Of course, he fal's in love with his dance partner. With Keri Russell, Brian Cox and William Ash. Written and directed by John Forte. Opens Friday. (Carmike) ME, MYSELF & IRENE (R) Jim Carrey suffers an extremely weird split personality disorder in this disap pointing “gross-out" comedy from the Farrelly Brothers. He plays a mce-guy cop living in Rhode Island in a town where everybody constantly walks all over him. One day, he totally loses it and becomes “Hank," a completely unlikable, overly aggressive, ser.ist menace. Enter Renee Zellweger (Jerry Maguire), who pouts her way through a rather drab performance as the schizo cop's love interest. With Chris Cooper, Robert Forster. Richard Jenkins. Ana and Little Tony Cox Starts Friday. (Mall) NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS (PG-13) See Movie Pick. (Beechwood. Carmike, Commerce Dnve-ln) THE PATRIOT (R) At times moving and complicated, the film assumes its audience has already brushed up heavily on its Colonial history and bounces from one scenario to another without thoroughly setting up any of them. Mel Gibson as a South Carolina farmer who resists the call to arms pro pels the film, but some scenes are so poorly written it's hard not to laugh. Heath Ledger stands out as the rebel lious eldest son determined to fight for the cause. English actors Jason Isaacs and Tom Wilkinson are fantastic as fop pish British officers. (Beechwood. Carmike) THE PERFECT STORM (PG-13) A salty tragedy, directed with a heavy hand by Wolfgang Petersen from Sebastian Junger's best-selling book. The story, set in the fishing town of Glouces’er in 1991, gradually intro duces a handful of characters struggling to make life work, be it on the sea or on land. As the boat’s serious-minded, determined skipper, George Clooney clocks in a strong performance as do Mary Elizabeth Mastranlonio (Limbo), Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, William Fichtner and the invaluable John C. Reilly. (Beechwood, Carmike) POK^MON: THE MOVIE 2000 (G) First off. if you are not familiar with the Pokemon universe, then basically Pokdmon are animals that trainers cap ture and battle for points and badges in the popular kids’ TV series and trading card game. I liked this movie, aside from small children yelling “Pikachu* in the movie theater. The main thing I liked was that this movie was not as cheesy as the first Pokfrnon movie. So if you have a couple of bucks to blow, go and see a matinee, because it is surprisingly funny. [Alex Moore] (Beechwood, Carmike) RETURN TO ME (PG) A surprisingly touching and bittersweet romantic drama from first-time screenwriter and director Bonnie Hunt. David Duchovny (“The X Files’) is a widower architect determined to construct a building hon oring his wife's life work. After a year of grieving and working, he falls in love with Grace (Minnie Driver), a gentle and charming woman who by coincidence, received h's wife’s heart in a transplant surgery. With Carrol! O’Connor. Ends Thursday. (Mall) ROAD TRIP (R) Sure; this is a big. dumb, derivative college romp filled with obligatory nudity and hit-or-miss jokes, but it’s worth a look-see if only for the inspired pertormance from gangly, neidy newcomer DJ Qualls as the gleefjlly exploited, likable geek who learns ihe ropes of life while on a ridiculous cross-country road trip. Partially filmed on the UGA campus and around Athens. Directed and co-written by Todd Phillips. (Mall) SCARY MOVIE (R) Directing from a weird script written by Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans. and others. Keenen Ivory Wayans (“In Living Color") has assembled one of the most over-the-top disgusting comedies ot the year This movie skewers scenes from Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Urban Legend (as well as a few clever “surprise" movies) and makes a satir ical attack on some of the catch-phrases and cliches produced recently by American cinema. Most of the comedy is raucous, nasty and hit-or-miss, but the "gross-out humor* surpasses that of American Pie. There's Something About Mary and the recent Me, MysellS, Irene. (Beechwood, Carmike. Commerce Drive-In) SHAFT (R) Samuel L. Jackson is a tough, smart-mouthed New York detec tive in director John Singletonts stylish update on the 1971 “Sexploitation* classic. The film maintains a cool, gritty style similar to the original and touches on serious social issues but loses its balance along the way and almost stumbles over its numerous implausi- bilities and violence. Featuring music from Isaac Hayes. Showing Wednesday, 8/2. (Georgia Theatre) SHANGHAI NOON (PG-13) A silly but MOVIE LISTINGS Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead. ACC LIBRARY (613-3650) United States Of Poetry, Parts 1-3 (NR) 7:00 (Th. 8/3) BEECHWOOD (546-1011) Antz (PG) 10:30 a.m. (Th. 8/3) Big Momma's House (PG-13) 9:30 (ends Th. 8/3) Chicken Run (G) 1:10, 3:10, 5:10 (ends Th. 8/3) Coyote Ugly (PG-13) 1:20, 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 (opens F. 8/4) Disney's The Kid (PG) 1:30, 4:00. 7:10, 9:25 Gordy (G) 10:30 a.m. (Th. 8/3) Hollow Man (R) 2:15, 4:45. 7:15, 9:55 (opens F. 8/4) The In Crowd (PG-13) 9:50 (ends Th. 8/3) Loser (PG-13) 7:20. 9:20 (ends Th. 8/3) The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (PG-13) 12:45, 2:00, 3:00, 4:15. 5:15, 7:00. 7:30, 9:15, 9:45 The Patriot (R) 1:00, 4:30. 8:00 (new rime F. 8/4:~8:00) The Perfect Storm (PG-13) 1:15, 4:10, 7:05, 9:50 (new times F. 8/4: 7:05, 9:50) Pokemon: The Movie 2000 (G) 12:55, 3:10, 5:25, 7:35 (new rimes F. 8/4: 12:55, 3:10, 5:25) Scary Movie (R) 1:25, 3:30. 5:30, 7:30, 9:30 Space Cowboys (PG-13) 1:40, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40 (opens F. 8/4) Thomas And The Magic Railroad (G) 1:00. 3:05, 5:00. 7:25 (new times F. 8/4: 1:00, 3:05, 5:00) What Lies Beneath (PG-13) 1:20, 4:10, 7:15, 9:55 (new times F. 8/4: 1:30. 4:10, 7:05, 9:55) X-Men (PG-13) 1:45, 4:20, 7:05, 9:35 (new times F. 8/4: 1:45, 4:20, 7:20, 9:35) CARMIKE 12 (354-0016) Big Momma's House (PG-13) 12:30. 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (new times F. 8/4: 5:15. 7:30, 9:45) (add! rime F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 12:00 a.m.) Chicken Run (G) 1:00, 3:00. 5:00 (ends Th. 8/3) Coyote Ugly (PG-13) 12:45. 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (add! time F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 12:00 a.m.) (opens F. 8/4) Disney's The Kid (PG) 12:20, 2:35. 4:50, 7:05, 9:20 (ends Th. 8/3) Hollow Man (R) 12:15. 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, 9:15 (add! time F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 12:00 a.m.) (opens F. 8/4) The In Crowd (PG-13) 7:10, 9:35 (ends Th. 8/3) Loser (PG-13) 7:20. 9:40 (ends Th. 8/3) Mad About Mambo (PG-13) 12:30, 2:45. 5:0C. 7:15, 9:20 (addl time F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 11:25 p.m.) (opens F. 8/4) The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (PG-13) 1:15, 1:45. 4:00. 4:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:30. 10:00 (addl rimes F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 12:00 a.m., 12: ,, 0 a.m.) The Patriot (R) 1:15, 4:45, L.90 (addl rime F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 11:15 p.m.) The Perfect Storm (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 (addl time F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 12:45 a.m.) Pokemon: The Movie 2000 (G) 12:25, 2.40, 4:55, 7:15. 9:30 (ends Th. 8/3) Scary Movie (R) 12:15. 2:30, 4:45. 7:00. 9:15 (addl time F. 8/4 & Sa. 8/5: 11:30 p.m.) Space Cowboy* (PG-13) 1:15, 4:00, 7:00. 9:30 (addl rime F. 8/4 £ Sa. 8/5: 12:00 a.m.) (opens F. 8/4) Thomas And The Magit. Railroad (G) 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 (new time F. 8/4: 1:30) What Lies Beneath (R) 1:00. 4:00. 7:00, 9:45 (addl rime F. 8/4 £ Sa. 8/5: 12:30 a.m.) X-Men (PG-13) 12:15, 2:30. 4:45. 7 00, 9:15 (addl rime F. 8/4 £ Sa. 8/5: 11:30 p.m.) COMMERCE DRIVE-IN (335-2486) All shows begin at dusk, Monday through Sunaay The Nutty Professor The Klumps (PG-13) Screen 1 (opens 7/28) Scary Movie (R) Screen 2 Big Momma's House (PG-13) Screen 3 (ends Th. 8/3) Hollow Man (R) Screen 3 (opens F. 8/4) FLICKER THEATRE (546-0039) Yasemin (NR) 8:30 (F. 8/4 £ Sa. 8/5) "Talking Animal Rims From The Golden Years Of Hollywood" (NR) 8:30 (Tu. 8/8 £ W. 8/9) GEORGIA SQUARE MALL In (543-1632) The Adventure Of Rocky And Bullwinkle (PG) 5:40, 7:50 (12:25 Sa. £ Su.) (new rime F. 8/4: 5:40) Love And Basketball (PG-13) 5:30, 8:05 (ends Th. 8/3) Me. Myself & Irene (R) 5:30, 8:10 (12:15, 2:50 Sa. & Su.) (starts F. 8/4) Return To Me (PG) 8:00 (ends Th. 8/3) Road Trip (R) 5:35, 7:55 (12:20. 2:45 Sa. £ Su.) Shanghai Noon (PG-13) 5:45, 8:05 (12:30. 3:00 Sa. £ Su.) (starts F. 8/4) litan A.E. (PG) 5:45 (ends Th. 8/3) Where The Heart Is (PG-13) 8:00 (2:55 Sa. £ Su.) (starts F. 8/4) GEORGIA THEATRE (549-9918) Shaft (R) 7:00, 10:00 (W. 8/2) entertaining martial arts Western that makes little sense but gets big laughs. Starring Jackie Chan. Lucy Liu and Owen Wilson. Starts Friday. (Mall) SPACE COWBOYS (PG-13) Grumpy old astronauts. This elaborate, comedic action-thriller follows a gang of veteran “space cowboys" (did John Glenn ever consider himsell one?) as they return to space one last time on a dangerous NASA mission involving a Russian space module-gone-haywire. The crusty cast of leading men includes Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Tommy Lee Jones, James Gamer and James Cromwell. With Loren Dean. Courtney B. Vance, William DeVane, and Rade Serbedzija. Directed by Eastwood. Opens Friday. (Beechwood, Carmike) THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAIL ROAD (G) The incredibly popular ani mated children's television series. “Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends" and tne later live action/animated “Shining Time Station" hit the big- screen for the first time in a part live- action, part animated new film. Eleven- year old Lily (Mara Wilson of Matilda) finds herself in the scenic town of Shining Time after she takes the wrong tram on a visit to see her grandpa (the smiling Peter Fonda), a once happy railway engineer who now lives a soli tary life. In Shining Time, Lily meets Mr. Conductor (Alec Baldwin) and embarks with him on an adventure via the Magic Raiuoad to an island toy world. Expect some mischief from Thomas, the tiny blue steam engine, and Diesel, the tramyard bully. (Rebecca Lake] (Beechwood, Carmike) THAN A.E. (PG-13) Computer-gener ated animation meets comic book sci-fi and “Friends’ script writing. Featuring the voices of Matt Damon, Bili Pullman. Hank Azaria, Drew Barrymore and other such stars. Ends Thursday. (Mall) “UNITED STATES OF POETRY" (NR) The first installment of a month long series of documentaries on American literature. (Athens-Clarke Library) WHAT LIES BENEATH (R) Director Robert Zemekis’ (Contact, Formst Gump) troublesome, watery' supernat ural thriller really, really wants to be this summer’s The Sixth Sense, but drowns in its own undertow of preposterous contrivances and eventually drips out like a tancy Friday The 13th sequel Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford are apparently a wealthy, happily married Vermont couple. She’s a worrisome mother dealing with her daughter's exit to college. He’s a gruff, wine-sipping geneticist with a perpetual frown living in the shadow of his late father. She starts hearing things. He dismisses it as stress-induced delusion. She suspects her neighbor of murdering his wife and becomes convinced that the wife’s ghost is crying out for help. He mutters things under his breath about workloads and his father's legacy. Taking a few cues from Hitchcock. Zemekis effect vely builds up to frightening moments, shifting from eerily slow-moving scenes set in silent, empty foyers and steam- filled bathrooms to extreme action and horror. Unfortunately, he relies too heavily on the new trick of startling the audience with a loud, sudden blast of orchestral accentuation, in other words, the movie is cheating. Clark Gregg's flaky script—which completely crum bles by the second or third big plot twist—could have used a few rewrites as well. Be warneo: your date may have fun screaming at the “scary parts* while he leaves you sitting there seething in disbelief. With Diana Scarwid, Joe Morton and Amber Valletta. (Beechwood. Carmike) WHERE THE HEART IS (PG-13) Natalie Portman plays a perky, pregnant teen stranded by her hick boyfriend at a Wal-Mart in a small Oklahoma town. With Ashley Judd, Stockard Channmg, FLAGPOLE AUGUST 2, 2000