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300 (R) A rock and roll historical
epic engaging to the modern teen
age sensibility, the titular 300 are the
hulked out citizen-soldiers led by
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), that
smash and grab glory from deteat at
the arrowheads of the million-man
Persian army lorded over by god-king
Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Stunning
to behold, 300 not only claims itself
king of the stylistic mountain, it carves
its own mountain from solid stone as
director Zack Snyder painstakingly
renders Frank Millerls bold panels in
three dimensions. 300 reminds me of
why I go to the movies and don't just
stay home basking in the cathode rays
of television's finest hours. Such an
imposing refinement of Sparta's monu
mental sacrifice, one of history's great
last stands, could not be achieved any
where save the big screen. If Leonidas
and his Spartans wanted their sacrifice
to be remembered, 300 makes them
unforgettable. (Beechwood, Carmike)
BLOOD DIAMOND (R) Blood
Diamond, an action movie with a
conscience directed by Edward Zwick
{Glory, The Last Samurai), intervenes,
in the civil war fought between the gov
ernment and the RUF in Sierra Leone
Diamond smuggler Danny Archer
(Leonardo DiCaprio) and fisherman
Solomon (Djimon Hounsou), journalist
Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) in
tow, struggle across the war-torn coun
try in search of a huge diamond. An en
gaging, topical action film reinvigorates
the genre. (Georgia Square 5); Shows
Friday, 3/23-Sunday, 3/25 (Tate)
BREACH (PG-13) Based on the true
story of the greatest security breach in
U S. history, the film traces the career
of FBI agent-wannabe Eric O'Neill
(Ryan Phillippe) after he is handpicked
to clerk for uber-agent Robert Hanssen
(Chris Cooper). Strong performances
here from the world-weary Cooper and
Laura Linney. A competent, engaging
character study-cum-spy movie, that
nevertheless seems dated by its musty
Cold War aroma. (Margaret Moore)
(Beechwood)
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (PG) Real
magic lies at the heart of Bridge lo
Terabithia. To combat the school bul
lies, Jess (Josh Hutcherson) and new
girl Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb), forge an
idyllic childhood friendship by creating
a kingdom across the river running be
hind their homes. The land of Terabithia
may only exist in Jess and Leslie's
minds, but the film brings their fantasti
cal creatures to life with well-crafted
CGI and the power of the audience's
own imagination (Beechwood)
CHARLOTTE’S WEB (G) E B White's
classic gets a live-action makeover
Fern (Dakota Fanning) still saves
Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay). Charlotte
(Julia Roberts) and her erudite webs
still enable Wilbur to see December's
snow Charlotle's Web, some terrific,
radiant, humble family film, wins the
blue ribbon. (Georgia Square 5)
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS (PG-13)
Tyler Perry’s latest, Daddy's Little Girls,
sorely misses his flagship character
Madea. We could certainly use some of
Madea’s broadly comic antics to relieve
just an ounce of the tension from the
ultra-dramatic struggles of single father
Monty (Idris Elba, "The Wire") to keep
his three cute, non-actor kids out of
the hands of his horrid ex-wife and
her drug dealer boyfriend. The laughs
are either forced or nonsensical. Ends
Thursday (Carmike)
DEAD SILENCE (R) See Flick Skinny.
The writers (James Wan and Leigh
Whannel) and director (Wan) of Saw
have made the year's most disappoint
ing horror flick. These guys looked
like geniuses when they helped create
the new gorno industry along with Eli
Roth—the maestro behind Hostel—
and fashioned the best post-Scream
slasher franchise. With this nonsensi
cal, ludicrous ghost story about a slain
ventriloquist who uses dolls to rip the
tongues from her screaming victims,
the pair cooked up a greasy, cheesy
slice of horribly-written, worse-acted
Z-grade horror (the best actor of the
bunch is the lesser of the two acting
Wahlbergs, Donnie). At least Whannel
can boast ot writing Saw //and III, two
perfectly acceptable genre entries; Dead
Silence, Wan’s first directorial effort
since the original Saw. makes Darren
Lynn Bousman's work on Jiggy's sec
ond and third outings look relatively
Hitchcockian (it’s not). Trie idea of killer
dummies might seem creepy in theory,
but in practice, they make for silly plot
devices unless you’re going for that
tongue-in-cheek. Child's Play vibe. Too
bad the ghost of Mary Shaw ripped
the tongue right out of Dead Silence.
(Beechwood, Carmike)
EL ABUELO (PG) 1998. The death
of his son brings an elderly man back
to Spain where he intends to discover
which of his son's two daughters is
his real granddaughter. The film by
Jo$6 Luis Garci was a nominee for
the Academy Award for Best Foreign
Language Film. Part of the Spanish
Language Film Series; Childhood
and Adolescence in Spain. Shows
Wednesday, 3/28 (GMOA)
EPIC MOVIE (PG-13) Epic Movie is a
pile of poo that stinks of everything but
the sweat of actual hard, creative labor.
A game cast can't find a single laugh
in these blunt stabs at The Chronicles
of Narnia, snakes on a Plane and
Harry Potter. (Georgia Square); Ends
Thursday (Highway 17 Theatres)
GHOST RIDER (PG-13) The idea is
simple guy—Johnny Blaze (Nicolas
Cage)—sells soul to Mephistopheles
(Peter Fonda) and becomes a flaming,
leather-clad, motorcycle-riding skel
eton supernaturally powerful enough
to punish evil. The entire cast, save for
Sam Elliott, woodenly shuttles from
scene to scene, star Cage transgresses
most Cage is that worst kind of actor, a
“consummate professional" and ‘gifted
thespian’ who believes adding quirks
builds character In spite of Cage’s
every misstep, when Blaze transforms
into the Rider, Ghost Rider changes into
the hokey, 3-list superhero fun it was
meant to be. (Beechwood, Carmike);
Ends Thursday (Highway 17 Theatres)
GIRLHOOD: GROWING UPON
THE INSIDE (NR) 2003 This heart-
wrenching documentary follows
the stories of two young women,
themselves victims, who are inmates
at a Maryland juvenile detention
center Directed by Liz Garbus and a
prizewinner at the Atlanta and SXSW
Film Festivals. Part of the ifilms series.
Shows Thursday, 2/22 (ACC Library)
HAPPY FEET (PG) Mumble the
penguin (voiced by Elijah Wood) takes
an eye-popping, breathtaking journey
from dropped egg to societal savior.
Happy Feet taps out a fresh rhythm
to which you can dance when itb not
delivering pat lessons on religious
intolerance and environmental destruc
tion. (Georgia Square 5)
THE HILLS HAVE EYES II (R)My
hopes are not as high for the sequel to
Alexandre Ajab bloody good remake of
Wes Craven's 1977 exploitation flick
New director Martin Weisz’s credit.
Rohtenburg, about Armin Meiwes.
Germany's Internet soliciting can
nibal, is no Haute Tension. Still, big
daddy Wes. along with son Jonathan,
returned to script the mutants' ruthless,
politically charged attack on a group
of National Guardsmen training in the
New Mexico desert That being said,
Craven's original 1985 sequel was tres
awful. Opens Friday (Carmike)
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
(PG-13) 1993 Argentina's Maria Luisa
Bemberg won two Havana Film Festival
awards for her feature, De eso no se
habla Three-time Academy Award
nominee and screen legend Marcello
Maslroianni stars as Ludovico who
falls in love with Charlotte, a young
woman whose mother doesn't want -
to talk about her dwarfism Part of the
Latin American film series Sjiows
Tuesday, 3/27 (UGA SLC171)
I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE (R) See
MovifPick. (Beechwood Carmike)
IN AMERICA (PG-13) 2002
Acclaimed director Jim Sheridan (My
Left Foot. In the Name of the Father).
and his two daughters, Naomi and
Kirsten, won worldwide accolades and
an Academy Award nomination for
their script about an Irish immigrant
family adjusting to life in the United
States after the death of their young
son. Real-life sisters Sarah and Emma
Bolger steal the movie almost com
pletely. Samantha Morton and Djimc i
Hounsou also received Oscar noms
Shows Thursday. 3/22 (Tate)
LA LENGUA DE LAS MARIPOSAS
(R) 1999. Monchos coming of age is
marred by the Fascist rebellion against
the Spanish Republic, to which both
his father and beloved teacher, Don
Gregorio (Fernando FernSn GPmez).
belong Director Jos6 Luis Cuerdas
film won one Goya for Best Adapted
Screenplay and was nominated for 12
others. Part of the Spanish Language
Film Series. Shows Wednesday. 3/21
(GMOA)
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (R) I
wish I were reviewing The Last King
of Scotland in December when my
assessment of Forrest Whitaker's
aping of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin
as powerful, charismatic, and award-
worthy would seem more prophetic and
less piagiaristic Whitaker's Best Actor
coronation is most decidedly deserved
Whitaker channels every oit of the
crazed megalomaniacal paranoia most
certainly not coursing through the veins
of Hollywood's universally accepted
‘good guy.' I ,ust wish Last King had
even one more reason for commenda
tion. I spent most of the film sorting the
acidic fact from the fictional base With
enough true horror stories from which
to choose your adventure, why focus on
made-up melodrama? (Beechwood)
THE LAST MIMZY (PG) New Line
honcho Bob Shaye makes his directo
rial debut with this truly puzzling family
film. Based on the acclaimed sci-fi
short story by Lewis Padgett, The Last
Mimzy concerns two kids who develop
special powers after discovering a
strange box of toys. Shaye is unproven,
and the screenwriting team of Bruce
Joel Rubin (Ghost) and Toby Emmerich
(Frequency) is hardly surefire. Your
guess on this one is as good as mine.
With Timothy Hutton. Joelv Richardson
and Rainn Wilson Opens Friday
(Carmike. Highway 17 Theatres)
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Girlhood: Growing Up on the Inside (NR) 7:00 (Th.
3/22)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Beechwood's new schedule was unavailable at press time.
Listings are only accurate through Th. 3/22. Please visit
www.flagpole.com for updated information.
300 (R) 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Breach (PG-13) 4:20, 9:40
Bridge to Terabithia (PG) 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00 *
Dead Silence (R) 4:35, 7:35, 9:50
Ghost Rider (PG-13) 6:55
I Think I Love My Wife (R) 4:40, 7:25, 9:50
Last King of Scotland (R) 4:05, 6:50, 9:35
Music and Lyrics (PG-13) 7:20
Norbit (PG-13) 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
The Number 23 (R) 9:30
Premonition (PG-13) 4:25, 7:15, 9:40
Wild Hogs (PG-13) 4:00, 7:10, ^35
Zodiac (R) 4:30, 8:00
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
300 (R) 1:00, 1:55, 4:00, 4:45, 7:00, 7:30, 9:45,
10:00 (new times F. 3/23: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45)
Daddy's Little Girls (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:20, 7:25,
9:35 (ends Th. 3/22)
Dead Silence (R) 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50
Ghost Rider (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30
The Hills Have Eyes H (R) 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:30,
9:40 (opens F. 3/23)
I Think I Love My Wife (R) 1:05, 3:20, 5:35, 7:50,
10:00
The Last Mimzy (PG) 1:15, 3:25, 5:35, 7:45, 9:55
(opens F. 3/23)
Norbit (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30 (ends Th. 3/22)
The Number 23 (R) 1:05, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
(ends Th. 3/22)
Old Joy (NR) 1:00, 3:00, 7:00, 9:30 (opens F. 3/23)
Premonition (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5 30, 7:45. 10:00
Pride (PG) 1:30, 4:00, 7:00, 9:35 (opens F. 3/23)
Shooter (R) 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 (opens F. 3/23)
TMNT (PG) 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40 (opens F.
3/23)
The Ultimate Gift (PG) 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40 (ends
Th. 3/22)
Wild Hogs (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
Zodiac (R) 1:00, 4:20. 7:45 (ends Th. 3/22)
GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (706-542-4662)
El Abuelo (PG) 7:30 (W. 3/28)
La Lengua de las Mariposas (R) 7:30 (W. 3/21)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Georgia Square Five's new schedule was unavailable at
press time. Listings are only accurate through Th. 3/22.
Please visit www.flagpole.com for updated information.
Blood Diamond (R) 4:00, 7:00, 10:00
Charlotte’s Web (G) 4:10
Epic Movie (PG-13) 4:05, 7:05, 9:40
Happy Feet (PG) 4:20. 7:20, 9:55
A Night At the Museum (PG) 4:15, 7:15
Pursuit of Happyness (PG-13) 7:10, 9:50
Stomp th<? Yard (PG-13) 9:45
HWY 117 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706-213-7693)
Epic Mcvie (R) 8:00 (ends Th. 3/22)
Ghost Rider (PG-13) 8:00 (ends Th. 3/22)
The Last Mimzy (PG) 8:00 (opens F. 3/23)
Norbit (PG-13) 8:00-
Reno 911!: Miami (PG-13) 8:00 (starts F. 3/23)
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
Blood Diamond (R) 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 (F. 3/23-Su.
3/25)
In America (R) 8:00 (Th. 3/22)
UGA STUDENT LEARNING OR. (706-542-7000)
I Don't Want To Talk About It (NR) 7:30 (Tu. 3/27,
Room 171)
Screaming Queens- The Riot's at Compton's
Cafeteria (NR) 7.00 (W. 3/28, Room 150)
Stranger Inside (NR) 7:00 (Tu. 3/27, Room 248)
I told you, camo goes with everything.
MUSIC & LYRICS (PG-13) Music
and Lyrics had me at Hugh Grant Alex
Fletcher (Grant), once a member of
popular ‘80s band Pop, has a week to
write a hit song if he wants another
shot at stardom Fletcher hires failed
poet Sophie (Drew Barrymore) to help
him craft "Way Back Into Love," which
is a route the songwriting duo discover
for themselves. (Beechwood)
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG) A
barely amusing romp due in large part
to everyone but its star (Ben Stiller),
showcases the comedian in all his
childish unlikability After taking a job
as a night guard at the Museum of
Natural History, he discovers the dis
plays come to life when the sun goes
down (Georgia Square 5)
NORBIT (PG-13) Nice guy Norbit
(Eddie Murphy) is married to Rasputia
(Murphy again), a large woman as hid
eous on the outside as she is within.
When Norbit’s soulmate. Kate (Thandie
Newton), returns, the mild-mannered
nebbish must find a backbone and
fight for his and Kate's happiness It’s
sad to see Murphy slumming again.
(Beechwood, Highway 17 Theatres);
Ends Thursday (Carmike)
THE NUMBER 23 (R) A numerolo-
gist's wet dream. The Number 23 relies
heavily on clichBd familial interactions
to set up its Everyman, Walter Sparrow
(the rubber-faced Jim Carrey), and
his Everyfamily By establishing the
Sparrows as a perfect family, their de
generation after Walter loses his mind
over the number 23 holds no emotional
charge Watching Carrey battle the
number 23 is like watching Tom Cruise
play a divorced dockworker in War
of the Worlds Both men have far too
much star power to be mistaken for me
or everyone else like me (Beechwood)
Ends Thursday (Carmike)
OLD JOY (NR) A picturesque postcard
from the Pacific Northwest. Old Joy
slowly meanders through a camping
trip two old friends take to get reac
quainted with each other Mark (Daniel
London) is soon to be a father. Kurt
(Will Oldham) is a carefree layabout.
Those facts are all we learn about Mark
and Kurt in director Kelly Reichardt's
beautifully repetitive compilation of
nature photography Not much hap
pens in Old Joy, and by much. I mean
anything. Based on a short story by
Jonathan Raymond, the minimalist
picture glides by on its looks and the
charms of Oldham, who imbues Kurt
with contented sorrow—what the film
calls “worn out joy" It's rare that I
choose to uncomfortably camp with my
own friends on our way to a cleansing,
healing (metaphorically and literally)
hot spring It's even more rare for me to
spend 70 minutes watching two guys
of whom I know nothing do the same,
no matter how scenic the vistas Opens
Fridav (Carmike)
PREMONITION (PG-13) A much
better, more intriguing film than its
“Medium" channeling trailer lets on.
Premonition really nails the whole “is
she crazy or isn't she 9 " ethos with sur
prising gravitas, thanks to its talented,
easily overlooked star, Sandra Bullock
When the world of Linda Hanson
(Bullock) collapses in on itself upon
the accidental death of her husband.
Jim/Julian McMahon), the housewife
breaks starts experiencing that fateful
week out of order. Structured on the
skeleton of Memento, where causes are
elucidated from effects, Premonition
doesn't quite put all the puzzle pieces
back in the proper places Several piec
es are missing entirely as Linda's ac
tions would have consequences we are
never privileged to see Still, I'm buying
everything Bullock’s selling, be it crazy,
tough, or just flat-out heartbroken,
and neither the obligatory, inscrutably
pseudo-revelatory ending nor the out-
of-left-field detour into Christianity can
douse Bullocks surefire performance.
(Beechwood. C# mike)
14 FLAGPOLE.COM • MARCH 21,2007
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