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Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
BABY MAMA (PG-13) Former “SNL"
Weekend Update anchors Tina Fey
and Amy Poehler have reteamed lor a
seriously funny movie about infertility
and surrogacy, not exactly two subjects
naturally associated with yuks. Baby
Mama is not simply an "SNL* sketch
stretched beyond its limits.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
PRINCE CASPIAN (PG) The return
trip to Narnia is not nearly as magical
as the first, 2005's The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe. All 144 minutes of
Prince Caspian are either preparation
for a massive battle or the bloodless,
kid-friendly conflict.
COLLEGE ROAD TRIP(G) Martin
Lawrence is Chief James Porter, the
overprotective policeman father who
decides to accompany - and mortify -
his daughter, high xhool senior Rachel
(Raven-Symonr 4 ), on a cross-country
trip to pick a college.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR (PG-13) This
Judd Apatow production may lack the
raunch of its older siblings. Knocked
Up and Superbad, but the flick still
packs its share of juvenile laughs.
THE FALL (R) This film was shot over
the course of four years on locations in
18 countries, from Fiji to Namibia, and
paid for by its co-writer and director,
Tarsem Sing. In this visual stunner,
details of an epic tale are played out
using exotic locales, romantic duels
and fantastic spectacles.
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
(PG-13) Jackie Chan and Jet Li's first
on-screen pairing is the only excit
ing aspect of the listless Forbidden
Kingdom. Modern American teen,
Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano).
gets transported to ancient China
when he discovers a magical staff in
a pawn shop The fighting sequences
are well-choreographed Crouching
//^/•knockoffs at which Li could excel
blindfolded, and the 54-year-old Chan
retains his comic charm. However,
every scene than doesn't involve fight
ing is poorly paced and blandly shot.
The silly story has potential; this family
friendly chopsocky flick would have
been a perfect English-language debut
for Kung Fu Hustlds Stephen Chow.
GET SMART (PG-13) In 2008, Steve
Carell comfortably steps into the shoe-
phone of the late, irreplaceable Don
Adams in an inoffensive, slightly bor
ing big-screen adaptation the series'
second (1980's The Nude Bomb). The
new Get Smart enjoys some of the best
TV-to-big screen casting in some time.
Carell is sublime as always. I'm not
as sold on Anne Hathaway as Roger
Ebert, but her 99 is adequate. Dwayne
Johnson's Agent 23 is a suave new
addition, and love, in the form of swell
casting, is shown to memorable sup
porting characters Larabee, Siegfried,
Starker, Hymieand Agent 13. Get Smart
isn’t stupid, but it misses by that much.
THE GROUND TRUTH (R) 2006
With The Ground Truth: After the Killing
Ends, director Patricia Foulkrod makes
sure America's soldiers are heard above
the cacophonous Iray of explosions
and political rhetoric. Focusing on a
number of soldiers before, during and
after Iraq, The Ground Truth really gets
serious once these ordinary patriots
return home to face a growing anti-war
sentiment, an ungrateful government,
and their own private demons. The
Ground Truth was nominated for the
Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury
Prize. Part of the ACC Library's iFilms
series.
THE HAPPENING (R) The Happening
sheds the pounds of pretention
Shyamalan's films have been gaining
and harnesses the power of corny dia
logue and silly acting to
nostalgically travel back
to the sci-fi silliness of
the 1950s while playing
in the backyard of those
pissed off nature movies
that so intrigued the 70s.
Mark Wahlberg goofs it
up as a science teacher
stumbling through the
Pennsylvania backwoods
in the hope of outrun
ning some unnamabte,
inescapable, fatal afflic
tion, and lo and behold,
The Man Who Would Be Auteur proves
he can have fun - with himself, his
characters and the audience. Hints of
a misanthropic Walden and War ot the
Worlds mingle with some seriously
R-rated, non-gory scares in a rare hor
ror movie for adults.
HORTON HEARS A WHO! (G) The
1954 children's classic about Horton
the elephant (v. Jim Carrey), whose
giant ears allow him to communicate
with the tiny speck that is the town of
Whoville is one of the good doctor's
most beloved tales, right behind Green
Eggs and Ham. The laughs in Horton
are never cheap or juvenile, yet they are
perfectly pitched for little ones' ears.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (PG-13)
Unlike any other comic book movie.
Ang Lee composed his film using
panels like an actual comic book. The
Incredible Hulk improves upon its
predecessor, but not by the leaps and
bounds one would expect from the
proximity of the two films. The Green
Goliath looks more realistic (relatively),
smashes more (and more frequently)
and has an opponent - Abomination,
worthy of the serious ass-kicking Ol'
Green Genes is capable of dishing out.
Nonetheless. Marvel Studios' second
effort looks a little green next to the
nearly perfect Iron Man, a superhero
film to rival the genre's masterpiece,
Spider-Man 2. Although the three
X-Men movies and Spider-Man 1 and
3 look poorly next to Iron Man, The
Incredible Hulk is easily on par with
those solid Marvel movies.
INDIANA JONES AND THE
KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL
SKULL (PG-13) Crystal Skull is a
cinematic rollercoaster ride that only
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas
could build, delivering the most con
stant amusement of the year.
IRON MAN (PG-13) When Stan Lee
created billionaire industrialist/playboy
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) in
1963. the comic took legend could not
have imagined how relevant he would
remain in 2008. One of Marvel's great
est heroes. Iron Man lacks the celebrity
quotient of Spider-Man, and Iron Man
director Jon Favreau (Elf) takes shrewd
advantage of that relative anonymity.
Downey makes the most of a screen
play that never takes itself too seriously
without ever making its metal-clad
superhero a joke Iron Man opens the
summer season with the ideal bang of
effects, brawn and brains. -
KUNG FU PANDA (PG) Jack Black
fans may not be too pleased with
Kung Fu Panda, but I was. JB keeps
himself pretty well in check as the
out-of-shape panda. Po, who comes
off like "Losf 's Hurley, a lovable couch
potato thrust into an unlikely hero's role
when his wildest dreams come true.
Dreamworks, the home of Shrek, may
just be milking the family film cash cow
again, but the awesomeness of Kung Fu
Panda ensures that you will not care
THE LOVE GURU (PG-13) See Movie
Pick.
MEET THE BROWNS (PG-13)
Perry's last faith-driven dramedy is
especially atonal - screeching gospel
one moment, giant drippy ballad the
next, and silly novelty song the next.
These Browns aren’t worth meeting.
MR. MAGOHIUM’S WONDER
EMPORIUM (G) Edward Magorium
(Dustin Hoffman), the proprietor of
the Wonder Emporium, has decided
it’s time to retire, and he hopes the
store will profit on under the watchful
eye of store manager Molly Mahoney
(Portman). In his feature debut, writer-
director Zach Helm strives to build a
less dark Chocolate Factory, but fails.
THE MUMMY (NR) 1932. Boris
Karloff is the man! Universal was just
looking for another hit along the lines of
Frankenstein and Dracula when Karloff
imprinted his second horror icon upon
the public memory. Acclaimed cinema
tographer and Oscar winner Karl Freund
(The Good Earth) made his Hollywood
debut with this mysterious and poignant
horror film. The Mummy
surely deserves its place in the
Universal pantheon. This clas
sic is screening in conjunction
with the library’s “Get Wrapped
Up in Reading’ Summer
Reading Program.
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
(PG) A barely amusing romp
due in large pari to everyone
but its star (Ben Stiller), show
cases the comedian in all his
childish unlikability. After tak
ing a job as a night guard at the
Museum of Natural History, he
discovers the displays come to life when
the sun goes down.
RUN, FATBOY, RUN (PG-13)
Clueless, slightly overweight Dennis
is another of the “so lame he's cool’
protagonists in which Pegg specializes,
and his abject uselessness may well
make him the lamest. Five years ago,
Dennis left his pregnant fiance. Libby
(Thandie Newton), on their wedding
day. Dennis still hasn't grown up, but
the entrance of new beau Whit (Hank
Azaria) forces Dennis to prove he has
changed. Thus, he decides to run in a
charity marathon. Written by Pegg and
Michael Ian Black, Run. Fatboy, Run has
a subtle, steady. British hilarity about it
SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE
(R) Sex and the City: The Movie has
everything for which fans of the popu
lar, Emmy-winning HBO series have
been waiting and dreaming these last
four years. Their fairy tale lives have
moved on in our absence, but the four
ladies remain as true to each other as
the day the show began in 1998 Writer/
director Michael Patrick King does a
wonderful job enlarging the show tor its
big screen debut. The writing is snappy,
and the direction breezy. The film wears
its two-and-a-half-hour running time
like Carrie wears Dolce: well.
SHINE A LIGHT (NR) The Rolling
Stones have received the big screen
treatment before (Gimme Shelter and
Sympathy tor the Devil), but Mick.
Keith. Ron and Charlie had never been
Scorsesed. The Oscar winner returns
to a music genre he's done well with in
the past (The Last Waltz, No Direction
Home: Bob Dylan) to grant a career-
spanning look at The Stones that .
features concert footage from the recent
A Bigger Bang Tour. Look for guest
appearances from Christina Aguilera.
Jack White and more.
SON OF RAMBOW (PG-13) Like the
bulk of VH1's programming. Son ot
Rambowcharms through the nostalgic
high provided by ethereal fumes of
the '80s. Sweet little Will Proudfoot
(Bill Milner), a member of the cult-
ish Plymouth Brethren, befriends
the school scamp, Lee Carter (Will
Poulter), equally hated by children and
adults. Together. Will and Lee make
a movie inspired by the first Rambo
movie. First Blood. More importantly,
they find the connection both boys
were missing. Son of Rambow is
mischievous with a good heart and
woefully neglected by the people it
needs most.
THE STRANGERS (R) The Strangers
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
The Ground Truth (R) 7:00 (Th. 6/26)
The Mummy (NR) 3:00 (Su. 6/29)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Due to production deadlines. Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through June 26. Visit www.flagpole.com for
updated times.
Get Smart (PG-13) 12:30, 1:15, 3:00, 4:00, 5:30,
7:15, 8:15, 9:45
The Happening (R) 12:55. 3:05, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
The Incredible Hulk (PG-13) 1:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00,
7:00, 8:00, 10:00
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
(PG-13) 1:05. 4:10, 7:05. 9:55
Iron Man (PG-13) 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:40
Kung Fu Panda (PG) 12:30, 2:45, 5:00. 7:15, 9:30
The Love Guru (PG-13) 12:40, 2:55, 5:10, 7:25, 9:35
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G) 10:00 (Th.
6/26)
A Night at the Museum (PG) 10:00 (Th. 6/26)
Sex and the City: The Movie (R) 12:35, 3:40, 6:45, 9:50
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (PG-13) 1:30, 4:20,
6:55, 9:35
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince of Caspian (PG)
1:00, 4:30, 8:00 (new times F. 6/27: 1:00, 4:30)
Get Smart (PG-13) 1:30, 1:45, 4:15, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50
(new times F. 6/27: 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50)
The Happening (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
The Incredible Hulk (PG-13) 1:00, 1:45, 4:00, 4:30,
7:00, 9:45 (new times F. 6/27: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
(PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Iron Man (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00 (ends Th. 6/26)
Kung Fu Panda (PG) 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:45
The Love Guru (PG-13) 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:00, 7:30,
9:20, 9:40 (new times F. 6/27: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30,
9:40)
Sex and the City: The Movie (R) 7:00, 10:00 (ends
Th. 6/26)
Son of Rambow (PG-13) 1:15, 4:15, 7:00. 10:00
The Strangers (R) 7:30, 9:45
WALL*E (PG) 1:00, 1:30, 1:45. 3:20, 4:15, 4:30, 5:40,
7:00, 8:00, 9:30 (opens F. 6/27) (add'l time F. 6/27 &
Sa. 6/28: 10:15)
Wanted (R) 1:15, 1:45, 4:15. 4:45, 7:00, 7:30, 9:30,
10:00 (opens F. 6/27)
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15,
7:00, 9:35 (new times F. 6/27: 7:00, 9:35)
CINE (706-353-3343)
The Fall (R) 4:30, 7:30, 9:45 (starts F. 6/27)
Shine a Light (NR) 4:30, 7:30, 9:45 (ends Th. 6/26)
Then She Found Me (R) 4:15, 7:15. 9:30 (starts F.
6/27)
Young @ Heart (PG) 4:15, 7:15, 9:30 (ends Th. 6/26)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines. Georgia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through June 26. Visit www.flagpole.
com for updated times.
Baby Mama (PG-13) 4:00, 9:30
College Road Trip (G) l:05j 3:10, 5:15, 7:30, 9:35
The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13) 1:10, 4:10, 7:10,
9:45
Horton Hears a Who! (G) 1:00, 7:25
Meet the Browns (PG-13) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 9:40
What Happens in Vegas... (PG-13) 1:15, 4:15, 7:15,
9:50
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706-213-7693)
Sex and the City: The Movie (R) 9:00
What Happens in Vegas... (PG-13) 9:00
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
Drilibit Taylor (PG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (W. 6/25)
Run, Fatboy, Run (PG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (M. 6/30 &
W. 7/2)
E.T. Phone Home...
- a shotgun blast of genuine domestic
terror, delivered to the gut. then the
chest, and finally the face - is the scari
est film I've seen in years and. quite
possibly, the most frightening film I've
ever seen in a theater. The Strangers
lacks a lick of the fun irony of the post-
Scream horror genre and has been
cleansed of the malicious good humor
of Hostel as well as the overstimulation
of Saw First-time writer/director Bryan
Bertino pulls no punches, and he knows
how - and where - to land them most
effectively. The Strangers is not a fun
horror movie, but it is a cathartic one.
THEN SHE FOUND ME (R) 2007 In
her directorial debut, Helen Hunt also
stars as a 40-year-old woman who
hopes to have a baby, but learns she
is pregnant only after her split with her
husband. To add to the mix, she is also
tracked down by her own birthmother.
Also starring Colin Firth and Bette
Midler.
WALL* E (PG) Disney/Pixar’s new
est is one of the movies expected to
blow up at the box office this summer.
(It'll probably find its way to an Oscar
nomination too.) In 2700. cute little
WALL*E (short for Waste Allocation
Load Lifter Earth-Class) spends every
day cleaning up a deserted Earth. But
when a spaceship lands, WALL*E
learns there's more to life than what he
was programmed to do. From the Oscar
winning writer/director of Finding
Nemo, WALL *£has a slam-bang
trailer that will excite everyone.
WANTED (R) I wasn't terribly excited
about this actioner starring James
McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan
Freeman until I realized the comic book
adaptation is the English language
debut of Nightwatch and Daywatch
director Timur Bekmambetov. The
tale of a young nebbish (McAvoy)
turned world class assassin bears the
laws of physics-breaking markers of
Bekmambetov's fantastic Russian films.
I just wish they had released this flick
on its original March release date when
it could have made a real spiash.
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS...
(PG-13) How funny you find Vegas
will depend greatly on how well you
tolerate selfishness in others and how
entertaining/cute you find the two mis
matched stars Kutcher spends much of
the film being nauseatmgly obnoxious
(and this after he'd started to grow on
me). Diaz shows little of her own comic
spark. Corddry supplies a few insuf
ficient, idiotic laughs. Like the ads say.
What Happens m Vegas... should stay
in Vegas
YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE
ZOHAN (PG-13) Though You Don't
Mess with the Zohan starts out thud-
dingly, explosively unfunny, the
latest Adam Sandler comedy actually
improves over its 112-minute running
time. The opening sequence establish
ing Zohan as an Israeli James Bond,
a curly-haired, macho man who loves
hummus, hacky sack and hairdressing,
comes off like another in the noxious
(insert genre) A-fowe franchise. Rather
than fighting terrorism, the former
Mossad man is tasked with keeping
peace amongst his new Arab and
Israeli neighbors You don t mess with
the Zohan. but you can laugh at him;
he's actually pretty funny.
YOUNG @ HEART (PG) This sum
mer's tender documentary splash.
Young'dHeart, has a lot to recommend
it. The septuagenarians, octogenar
ians and nonagenarians that make up
the Young at Heart Chorus - a group
whose renditions of rock and roll tunes
by Sonic Youth. The Clash. Coldplay,
James Brown and many more have
pleased sold-out audiences worldwide
- have so much life left to live, and
this film entertainingly exposes their
not-very-secret secret. Too bad the film
moves about as fast as its songbirds.
Drew Wheeler
20 FLAGPOLE.COM • JUNE 25, 2008 NEWS & FEATURES I CALENDAR I MOVIES l A&E I MUSIC-1 COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS