Yahoo! Movies: New Action/Adventure DVD Releases

Braveheart

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:59 -0000

Mel Gibson directs and stars in this Academy Award-winning epic based on the life of legendary thirteenth century Scottish hero William Wallace. Returning to his homeland following the death of an heirless king, Wallace (Mel Gibson) finds the political landscape precarious. Edward the Longshanks, King of England (Patrick McGoohan), has captured Scotland's throne and threatens the freedom of all Scottish people, as tyrannical policies instituted by the English plague the Scots. Initially, Wallace is content to stand by the wayside, yearning for the simple life of building a home and raising a family. However, when the woman he loves (Catherine McCormack) suffers a cruel fate at the hands of English soldiers, Wallace takes a stand against the new rule. With his fierce patriotism and determination, he gathers an amateur but passionately rebellious army. Although this makeshift force may be outnumbered by the English troops, their desperation and love for their land surpass any military maneuvers, as evidenced in the film's breathtaking battle sequences. (2 hrs. 59 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009

Batman Begins

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:58 -0000

Christopher Nolan's film explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He treturns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city. (2 hrs. 20 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:57 -0000

In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry faces his greatest challenges and dangers yet. When he is selected under mysterious circumstances as a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, Harry must compete against the best young wizards from schools all over Europe. But as he prepares, signs begin to point to the return of Lord Voldemort. Before long, Harry is playing not just for the Cup, but for his life. (2 hrs. 30 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

V for Vendetta

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:56 -0000

In an alternate timeline where Germany won World War II and Great Britain is now a facist state, a masked vigilante known only as "V" conducts guerrilla warfare against the government. When he rescues a normal young woman (Portman), she joins his struggle against the forces of oppression. (2 hrs. 11 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Princess Bride

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:55 -0000

Robin Wright and Cary Elwes star in this fairytale adventure about a beautiful princess and the gallant hero who rescues her from an evil villain. Directed by Rob Reiner, it's an enchanting classic the whole family will love! (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:54 -0000

A married couple (Pitt and Jolie) are getting bored with their quiet domestic life. What they don't know, however, is that they're both assassins, secretly hopping the world and killing for hire. But their separate lives are about to collide when each finds out their next target is their own spouse. (1 hr. 52 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Top Gun

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:53 -0000

A young recruit aspires to become the top fighter pilot in the prestigious naval training school he attends. (1 hr. 50 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009

Platoon

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:52 -0000

Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) is a young, naive American who, upon his arrival in Vietnam, quickly discovers that he must do battle not only with the Viet Cong, but also with the gnawing fear, physical exhaustion and intense anger growing within him. While his two commanding officers (Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe) draw a fine line between the war they wage against the enemy and the one they fight with each other, the conflict, chaos and hatred permeate Taylor, suffocating his realities and numbing his feelings to man's highest value... life (2 hrs.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Ice Age

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:51 -0000

Twenty thousand years ago, the Earth was being overrun by glaciers, and creatures everywhere were fleeing the onslaught of the new Ice Age. In this time of peril, we meet the weirdest herd of any Age: a fast talking but dim sloth named Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo); a moody woolly mammoth named Manny (voiced by Ray Romano); a devilish saber-toothed tiger named Diego (Denis Leary); and an acorn-crazy saber-toothed squirrel known as Scrat. This quartet of misfits unexpectedly, and reluctantly, comes together in a quest to return a human infant to his father. Braving boiling lava pits, treacherous ice caves, freezing temperatures and a secret, evil plot, these "sub-zeros" become the world's first heroes! (1 hr. 21 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:50 -0000

In the silver-screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, the fifth chapter in the beloved book series, everyone's favorite wizard-in-training (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself in increasingly perilous situations. Not only is Harry in trouble with the Ministry of Magic for using his abilities outside of school, his trusted mentor, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), has grown distant, and an icy new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), has arrived to bring a frightening level of discipline to Hogwarts. And waiting in the shadows is the demonic Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), an ominous figure whose very existence is questioned by the powerful Ministry, leaving Harry and his friends--most notably Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson)--to form a rebel group, Dumbledore's Army.

Helmed by little-known British director David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg (the first scribe to fill the boots of Steve Kloves), THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX continues the darker tone of the two preceding POTTER installments and deftly follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they face new foes and impending adulthood. While Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson all continue to imbue their characters with vitality and complexity, Staunton steals the show as the strict, merciless Umbridge, though the story, which lacks some of the special-effects-heavy set pieces of past chapters, happily leaves room for other actors to shine, most notably Alan Rickman (as the ever-enigmatic Severus Snape), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Remus Lupin), and Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange). Another fine offering of POTTER movie magic, PHOENIX may not astound quite the way that THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN did, but it easily stands as one of the best films in the series. (2 hr. 18 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

The Matrix

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:49 -0000

In the near future, a computer hacker named Neo discovers that all life on Earth may be nothing more than an elaborate illusion created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence, for the purpose of placating us while our life essence is "farmed" to fuel the Matrix's campaign of domination in the "real" world. He joins like-minded Rebel warriors Morpheus and Trinity in their struggle to overthrow the Matrix. (2 hrs. 16 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:48 -0000

Starting during the summer before Harry's third year at Hogwarts, this is the adventure that happens when he has to go on the run after an incident where he was unable to control his anger... getting on a bus, he hears about Sirius Black, a renegade wizard who was a Prisoner at Azkaban. What Harry doesn't suspect is that Black escaped to look for... him. (2 hrs. 21 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:47 -0000

The follow-up to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone finds young wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to discover a dark force that is terrorizing the school. (2 hrs. 41 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

Rocky

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:46 -0000

Director John G. Avildsen's ROCKY is the stand-up-and-cheer saga of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), an underdog boxer who gets his million-to-one shot at love, self-respect, and the world heavyweight title. Rocky is a down-on-his-luck Philadelphia southpaw who works at a meat-packing factory while fighting at a local club. He's given the chance of a lifetime when the world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), chooses him as an unlikely opponent in his championship bicentennial fight. What was originally planned as a publicity stunt becomes a chance for Rocky to prove himself as a prizefighter while training with his cantankerous manager, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), to rise to the challenge. Thrilling scenes of Rocky's arduous training, including his unforgettable run up the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, are interspersed with a sweet and touching love story between the fighter and his best friend's shy sister, Adrian (Talia Shire). With the love of Adrian on his side, Rocky struggles to overcome the odds, fighting with all his heart in the glorious and brutal finale. Shot with gritty realism on the mean streets of Philadelphia, ROCKY introduced a new American cinematic hero, spurred on by rollicking action sequences and a rousing soundtrack. A triumph for star and screenwriter Stallone, who himself came from nowhere to reach the top, ROCKY is crowd-pleasing entertainment at its finest. (1 hr. 59 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Happy Feet

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:45 -0000

Set deep in Antarctica, into the land of Emperor Penguins, where each needs a heart song to attract a soul mate, a penguin is born who cannot sing. Our hero Mumble, son of Memphis and Norma Jean, is the worst singer in the world...however, as it happens, he is a brilliant tap dancer! (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

Jumper

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:44 -0000

A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

The Terminator

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:43 -0000

James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR is one of the tightest, tensest sci-fi films ever made and a landmark in the genre. In the year 2029, battles rage between the superintelligent machines that rule the world and the last vestiges of humanity. In late-20th-century Los Angeles, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) suddenly finds herself stalked by an unstoppable killing machine--a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent from the future to kill her and her unconceived son, John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance. Sarah can rely only on Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier sent from the future to protect her from the seemingly indestructible Terminator and save humanity. This low-budget masterpiece was the breakthrough film for director Cameron, who weds special effects, thrills, and understated romance to create one of the finest action films of the 1980s, which spawned many imitations but few equals. Science fiction author Harlan Ellison sued over the film's similarities to his own works, especially the OUTER LIMITS episode "Demon with a Glass Hand," and won acknowledgement in the film's credits. Schwarzenegger will forever be known as the relentless Terminator, a heartless killing machine who returns (in a kinder, gentler form) in 1991's TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY. (1 hr. 48 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Battle of Britain

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:42 -0000

A powerful and colorful portrayal of an understaffed, technically inferior royal air-crew who valiantly holds off the superior forces of the German Luftwaffe. This pivotal battle of World War II could have led to the Germans winning the war. The incredible cast includes Michael Caine, Robert Shaw, Curt Jurgens, and Laurence Olivier. Based on the actual events. (2 hrs. 12 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:41 -0000

Based on the bestselling series of children's fantasy novels of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES follows the adventures of the Grace family, newly transplanted from New York City to an inherited home in the remote New England woods. Angry with his mother (Mary-Louise Parker) about the move, the sulky Jared (Freddie Highmore) begin to explore the strange old house, and discovers a magical tome written by his great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn). Soon Jared and his twin brother, Simon (also played by Highmore with the aid of seamless special effects), are drawn into a realm of goblins, boggarts, and ogres--a reality that coexists with the human world. By the time the boys' older sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), is in on their secret, the siblings are steeped in a conflict with the evil shape-shifting ogre Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), who will stop at nothing to get Spiderwick's book.

Directed by Mark Waters (THE HOUSE OF YES, MEAN GIRLS) and scripted in part by lauded filmmaker John Sayles (THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH), SPIDERWICK succeeds as an engaging kid-oriented movie that also offers up genuine thrills and chills for adults. Highmore and Bolger impressively mask their British and Irish accents, respectively, and display a convincing brother/sister bond, while Martin Short and Seth Rogen provide comic relief as the voices of unlikely CGI allies. Intentionally smaller in scope than other like-minded literary adaptations such as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE GOLDEN COMPASS, SPIDERWICK is rooted in a beautifully earthy, antique aesthetic that provides the perfect setting for its likable protagonists and bizarre-yet-naturalistic creatures. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009

Billy Jack

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:40 -0000

A box-office success with an attractive plot for modern-day youth. Laughlin stars as a half-breed (half Indian, half white) war hero who fights bigotry and injustice with Karate-trained effectiveness. (1 hr. 55 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

The Spy Who Loved Me

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:39 -0000

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, the 10th film in the James Bond series, ventures not only into the depths of the ocean but into the deep topic of betrayal and morality as well, placing it among the boldest of the 007 films. James Bond (Roger Moore) is coupled with Russian agent Anya "Triple-X" Amasova (Barbara Bach) to recover stolen Soviet submarines from evil oceanographer Carl Stromberg (Curt Jurgens) and his gigantic lackey, Jaws (Richard Kiel). When Triple-X learns that Bond killed her husband on a mission in the Alps, she must overcome her selfish notions of revenge and work with 007 for the good of the world.

In addition to the Bond staple of girls and gadgetry, the film features beautifully shot footage of the Austrian Alps, Venice, and the Egyptian pyramids. Furthermore, director Lewis Gilbert uses the film to push the cinematic envelope with stunning underwater action sequences, that leave the viewer gasping for air and a vodka martini--shaken, not stirred. (2 hrs. 5 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Bourne Identity

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:38 -0000

Set against dramatic European backdrops, THE BOURNE IDENTITY is the story of a man (Matt Damon), salvaged, near death, from the ocean by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. When he recuperates, the man suffers from total amnesisa. He is completely without identity or background, but possesses a range of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistic skills and self-defense that speak of a dangerous past. He sets out on a desperate search�assisted by the initially rebellious Marie (Franka Potente) to discover who he really is, and why he is being pursued by assassins. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: May 24, 2009

The Longest Day

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:37 -0000

An all-star cast enlists for this epic recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy. Academy Award Nominations: 5, including Best Picture. Academy Awards: Best (Black-and-White) Cinematography. (3 hrs.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Galaxy Quest

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:36 -0000

For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector donned their uniforms and set out on thrilling and often dangerous missions in space - then their series was cancelled. Twenty years later, the five stars of the classic '70s series "Galaxy Quest" are still in costume, making appearances at sci-fi conventions for legions of die-hard fans - but some of those fans are a little more far out than the actors could have ever imagined. A group of aliens who have mistaken intercepted television transmissions for "historical documents" arrive at a convention and whisk "Commander Peter Quincy Taggart" and his crew into space to help them in their all-too-real war against a deadly adversary. With no script, no director and no clue about real space travel, the actors have to turn in the performances of their lives to become the heroes the aliens believe them to be. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Pagemaster

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:35 -0000

A paranoid young boy is swept into the animated worlds of fantasy, horror and adventure when he trapped inside a public library. Guided by three books, he battles his way to the exit and conquers his fears along the way. Features the voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy and more. (1 hr. 15 min.) Release date: Jul 7, 2009

The Matrix Revolutions

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:34 -0000

In the third installment, the epic war between man and machine reaches a thundering crescendo: the Zion military, aided by courageous civilian volunteers like Zee and the Kid, desperately battles to hold back the Sentinel invasion as the Machine army bores into their stronghold. Facing total annihilation, the citizens of the last bastion of humanity fight not only for their own lives, but for the future of mankind itself. But an unknown element poisons the ranks from within: the rogue program Smith has cunningly hijacked Bane, a member of the hovercraft fleet. Growing more powerful with each passing second, Smith is beyond even the control of the Machines and now threatens to destroy their empire along with the real world and the Matrix. The Oracle offers Neo her final words of guidance, which he accepts with the knowledge that she is a program and her words could be just another layer of falsehood in the grand scheme of the Matrix. With the aid of Niobe, Neo and Trinity choose to travel farther than any human has ever dared to go - a treacherous journey above ground, across the scorched surface of the earth and into the heart of the menacing Machine City. In this vast mechanized metropolis, Neo comes face to face with the ultimate power in the Machine world--the Deus Ex Machina--and strikes a bargain that is the only hope for a dying world. The war will end tonight, with Neo's destiny and the fate of two civilizations inexorably tied to the outcome of his cataclysmic confrontation with Smith. (2 hrs. 10 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:33 -0000

Two 19th-century train robbers keep one step ahead of the law until finally tracked down in Bolivia. (1 hr. 50 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Pebble and the Penguin

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:32 -0000

In an ancient Antarctican penguin ceremony, a lovable but introverted penguin named Hubie (Martin Short) must present a special betrothal pebble to the bird of his dreams before the festival is over--or lose his chance with her forever. He just manages to pluck up the nerve when the evil Drake (Tim Curry) knocks him off the ice, and Hubie is swept away. Picked up and caged by a ship, he meets the streetwise Rocko (James Belushi), whose only wishes are to live in sunny climates and learn to fly. Together they escape, and Hubie convinces Rocko to help him find his way home. In this lighthearted animated fable, good music (composed by crooner Barry Manilow) and expert animation enhance a cast of talented voices. The real adventure of Don Bluth's THE PEBBLE AND THE PENGUIN lies not only in Hubie's journey but in the challenge of defeating his worst enemy, Drake, and helping Rocko face his issues about flying. Children will be entertained and learn a lesson or two about friendship from this lively story. (1 hr. 19 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Flyboys

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:31 -0000

FLYBOYS is a good old-fashioned historical drama concerning the Lafayette Escadrille, a French regiment of American volunteer airmen serving the allied cause in WWI before the U.S. became officially involved. James Franco plays Blaine, a Texas rancher; he bunks with Eugene (Abdul Salis), an African American boxer whose been living in Paris as an ex-patriate to get away from American racism. Other fighters include a pampered New York scion (Tyler Labine) and a lanky, lazy Kansan (David Ellison). They all train under the patient hand of the French commander, succinctly embodied by the wondrous Jean Reno (THE PROFESSIONAL). Martin Henderson (TORQUE) is good and brusque as a jaded flier with a bunch of kills under his belt and an obsession with an ace German fighter; he wont let the new kids drink in the officer's club until they've shot down their first planes. It all unfolds in a no-nonsense linear narrative that reminds one of early films like THE DAWN PATROL (1930) and WINGS (1927); and there's a comfortingly familiar orchestral score that's heavy with the cloud-invoking wooden flute. But the CGI-enhanced aerial dogfight scenes are the crux of the biscuit here, and history fans should be frothing at the mouth with all the zeppelins, dogfights and enemy chivalry. There's plenty of well-researched period detail and even some ooh-la la romance in the form of a good girl gone semi-bad from a nearby brothel (the very charming Jennifer Decker). (2 hrs. 9 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

I Am Legend

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:30 -0000

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable...and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City...and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by "the Infected"--victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville's every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Garfield

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:29 -0000

Life couldn't be sweeter for Garfield, everyone's favorite feline. Parked on a comfortable chair in front of the television, feasting on his favorite dish, lasagna, and hurling insults at his beleaguered owner Jon, Garfield is the master of his universe. When Jon takes Garfield to visit beautiful veterinarian Liz Wilson, she gives Jon a pepped-up, tail-wagging, panting creature that represents everything that Garfield loathes. Garfield, meet Odie, a lovable, dim-witted dog. The wise-cracking cat is, for the first time in his nine lives, left speechless. The clueless Odie chases his tail till he's dizzy, crashes into walls, and barks without cause, all to the unbridled delight of Jon who eagerly welcomes Odie into his home. Odie turns Garfield's perfect world upside down. Garfield's solution: OUT, DARN DOG. When the hapless hound disappears into the evil clutches of local celebrity Happy Chapman, you would think Garfield would rejoice. But he feels responsible for t! he fate of another. With uncharacteristic energy, courage and selflessness, Garfield manages to pull himself away from his lazy life and spring into action. He's on the unlikeliest of impossible missions: to save Odie. (1 hr. 25 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Spaceballs

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:28 -0000

In this spoof of STAR WARS and a handful of other sci-fi flicks from the 1970s and '80s, space-bum-for-hire Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-dog/half-man sidekick, Barf (John Candy), must rescue a spoiled Druish princess (Daphne Zuniga) from the evil Lord Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) in time to pay off Pizza the Hut. With SPACEBALLS, director Mel Brooks is at it again, this time with a science-fiction parody with all the blue-screen special effects and weird makeup (though in this film, things are always slightly off-kilter and unpolished). Here, maverick space travelers set out to save the planet Druidia, which is being harassed by the Spaceballs, a sinister group attempting to pilfer Druidia's air resources. Among the many gags and jokes is a hilarious parody of a classic scene from ALIEN. Mel Brooks himself makes one of his funniest acting appearances as Yogurt, a send-up of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK's Yoda. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

The Matrix Reloaded

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:27 -0000

Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, and the rest of their crew continue to= battle the machines that have enslaved the human race in the Matrix. Now,= more humans are waking up out of the matrix and attempting to live in the= real world. As their numbers grow, the battle moves to Zion, the last= real-world city and center of human resistance. (2 hrs. 19 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Big Momma s House 2

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:26 -0000

The adventures of master-of-disguise, FBI special agent Malcolm Turner continue. This time he must go undercover as Big Momma to nail his ex-partner's murderer. While undercover in the house of the suspected criminal, Malcom grows attached to the suspect's three childen. (1 hr. 38 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Hitman

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:25 -0000

Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the frame-up and retribution-packed odyssey of Number 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed with a barcode on the back of his head. There's lots of BOURNE SUPREMACY-style flash-edits and superhuman stunt work as 47 seeks to find out why moderate Russian presidential nominee Belicoff (Ulrich Thomsen) was the client for his own assassination, a hit that 47 pulled off perfectly, except for one hitch: the target's still alive. For romantic interest we have Olga Kurylenko as a foxy Russian prostitute sold into slavery by the evil Belicoff. She and 47 wind up on the lam together but they'll never be safe as long as Belicoff is still alive. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) has been tracking 47 for years; he's on the scent and about to close in. Luc Besson was the producer on this, and fans of his TRANSPORTER, THE PROFESSIONAL and LA FEMME NIKITA films will eat it up, as it's got the same narrative arc, same hyper-kinetic shoot-em-up flavor, vividly saturated colors, swooping camerawork, tightly choreographed fights, and lots of blood flying from the copious bullet wounds. Vin Diesel executive produced, and one wonders what stopped his big bald head from filling the screen in the lead, but no matter, as Olyphant does a thorough job, speaking in a measured drawl that recalls, of all people, Clint Eastwood in his DIRTY HARRY days. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

The Sand Pebbles

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:24 -0000

One of the most exciting and heart-wrenching epics ever made, THE SAND PEBBLES is a masterpiece of storytelling, with exceptional performances by a stellar cast. The complex tale begins simply enough in 1926 China, where a group of American soldiers are patrolling the Yangtze River on a gunboat called the San Pablo. The crew members, who call themselves Sand Pebbles, includes Jake Holman (Steve McQueen), a dispassionate but capable navy machinist, and his only friend, Frenchy (Richard Attenborough), a sailor in love with an English-educated Chinese girl, Maily (Marayat Andriane), who has been sold into prostitution. Strong feelings of nationalism have been sweeping through China, however, and when Chiang Kai-shek moves against the feudal warlords, the United States decides to treat the upheaval as a civil war, and the San Pablo is ordered to confine its function to protection of American civilians in the area. Included among them are Mr. Jameson (Larry Gates), a missionary, and Shirley Eckert (Candice Bergen), a schoolteacher with whom Jake falls in love. Soon Jake finds himself in the middle of an international military crisis when his native assistant, Po-han (Mako), is brutally tortured in an attempt to draw the San Pablo's fire, and the boat's inexperienced and prideful captain (Richard Crenna) wants to give his humiliated ship and disgraced crew a chance for glory. THE SAND PEBBLES--with its expert cinematography, moving score, and riveting locations--is a memorable viewing experience brought to life by the multitalented director Robert Wise. (3 hrs. 13 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Thin Red Line

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:23 -0000

Terrence Malick returns to Hollywood after a two-decade hiatus with this adaptation of the classic WWII novel by James Jones. The story follows the efforts of an army platoon to capture the Japanese-controlled island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Ocean, which will have a major effect on the outcome of the war. The members of C-for-Charlie Company are all fighting for different reasons: some to achieve glory, some to fight for democracy, and some simply to remain alive. They spend the quieter moments reflecting upon their existence, searching for meaning amid the senselessness of war.

Malick's reputation as one of cinema's most brilliant directors, based on his masterworks BADLANDS and DAYS OF HEAVEN, enabled him to pull together one of the largest ensemble all-star casts in Hollywood history. The result is a sprawling epic that carries itself like a poem read in a dream, a feeling that is greatly enhanced by John Toll's floating camerawork and Hans Zimmer's haunting score. Rather than concentrating solely on the violence and destruction of war, Malick uses the situation to address philosophical questions such as man versus nature, war versus peace, and good versus evil. THE THIN RED LINE proves that after a 20-year layoff, Malick hasn't lost a step. (2 hrs. 50 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Virtuosity

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:22 -0000

In 1999 Los Angeles, an imprisoned ex-cop is given one last shot at redemption when he's turned loose to track down a virtual killer who has escaped the confines of cyberspace. Computer-generated special effects--and a pre-stardom performance from Russell Crowe as the digital killer--enhance this thriller from the director of 1992's THE LAWNMOWER MAN. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Von Ryan's Express

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:21 -0000

The thrilling VON RYAN'S EXPRESS stars Frank Sinatra as a POW colonel who leads a daring escape from Nazi Germany by taking over a freight train, but he has to win over the British soldiers he finds himself commanding. Excellent performances by the great Trevor Howard and Luther Adler highlight this fast-paced picture directed by Mark Robson (PEYTON PLACE, THE HARDER THEY FALL). Academy Award Nominations: Best Sound Effects. (1 hr. 57 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:20 -0000

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns in this third installment of the popular sci-fi action saga as a cyborg from the future once again becoming involved in the affairs of twentysomething John Connor and his first battles with the SkyNet machine network. (1 hr. 48 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Men of Honor

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:19 -0000

The inspirational, true-life exploits of Carl Brashear, who becomes the Navy's first African-American deep-sea salvage retrieval diver. Brashear runs into formidable opposition in Billy Sunday, a rebellious senior officer and master diver who ultimately helps Brashear fight racism and bureaucracy and make military history. (2 hrs. 9 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Casino Royale

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:18 -0000

This swinging spoof of Ian Fleming's spy hero features an aging James Bond (David Niven), reluctantly dragged out of retirement to chase down the evil crime clique called SMERSH. In order to confound the forces led by the villainous Le Chiffre (Orson Welles), the Secret Service enlists five other agents, also under the name "Bond," and all six converge on the titular casino. Meanwhile, Woody Allen, as the retiring secret agent's nephew, causes havoc at every turn.

The gleefully chaotic product of five directors, numerous screenwriters, and the late 1960s in general, CASINO ROYALE revels in its psychedelic spy satire premise. The comedy features a legion of stars in roles both large and small: Niven, Welles, Allen, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, William Holden, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jacqueline Bisset, Deborah Kerr, and many more. (Apparently, Sellers and Welles despised each other, and Sellers would frequently not show up for his scenes.) Amid the wackiness, there are genuine moments of hilarity, making the film a surreal romp through Bond lore and the more eccentric aspects of 1960s pop culture. (2 hrs. 11 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Magnificent Seven

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:17 -0000

A group of seven tough gunslingers are hired by a Mexican village to put a stop to the vicious bandit and his gang who have been pillaging it for years. (2 hrs. 6 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:16 -0000

A parody of the much-done medieval English tale of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS also directly lampoons the politically correct ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES, which starred the hearthrob of the time, the very un-British Kevin Costner. English hearthrob Cary Elwes gets a turn in the role of the hero of Sherwood Forest who robs from the rich to give to the poor when he returns from the Crusades to find his beloved King Richard (Patrick Stewart in an amazing Sean Connery imitation) usurped by the evil Prince John (Richard Lewis) and his henchman, the Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees). In typical Brooks fashion there is much satire, some gross jokes, a dash of screwball farce, and a Jewish spin put on gentile characters: Hence, Friar Tuck is transformed into Rabbi Tuckman (Mel Brooks), who is eager to perform circumcisions on the dim-witted Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Tracey Ullmann further livens up the ensemble as the witchlike cook Latrine. Those familiar with other Brooks films will also note moments parodying some of the director's own past spoofs, including HIGH ANXIETY and BLAZING SADDLES. (1 hr. 54 min.) Release date: Jul 14, 2009

True Lies

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:15 -0000

Secret agent Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a busy man; when he's not saving the world from terrorists, he's under cover as a boring computer salesman, juggling the everyday needs of his wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), and his daughter. While Harry and his partner, Gib (Tom Arnold), work to stop a gang of international terrorists from getting their hands on missing nuclear weapons, Helen, feeling neglected, begins a covert affair with a sleazy used car salesman pretending to be a spy. When Harry finds out, he decides to give Helen a lesson in spy games, which backfires when the couple is kidnapped and stuck in the middle of an international terrorist crisis. Director James Cameron topped his previous spectaculars with this action-comedy extravaganza (the most expensive film ever made before TITANIC), featuring amazing stunts and special effects. TRUE LIES is based on a 1991 French spy comedy entitled LA TOTALE! (Translation: THE JACKPOT). (2 hrs. 21 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Raising Arizona

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:14 -0000

A petty crook falls in love with the woman cop who always arrests him, but when they find out she can't bear children, they steal one, hit the road, and lots of mayhem ensues. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Congo

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:13 -0000

An African mountain gorilla who's been taught sign language by a young primatologist is returned to the jungles of the Congo in this adaptation of Michael Crichton's 1980 sci-fi adventure novel. During their journey they cross paths with greedy corporate scavengers searching for a hidden cache of diamonds. (1 hr. 49 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Dogs of War

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:12 -0000

A mercenary soldier and his hired killers become involved in a scheme to remove a dictator in West Africa. From the Frederick Forsyth novel. (2 hrs. 2 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Marked for Death

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:11 -0000

A retired DEA agent returns to his bucolic hometown only to discover that a dangerous drug lord has taken over. When the agent ventilates one of the drug lord's gunmen, he finds himself marked for death. In retaliation, he goes after the bad guys...with a vengeance. (1 hr. 34 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Bill and Ted s Excellent Adventure

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:10 -0000

The excitement and fun begin when a trio of interplanetary rulers dispatch a cool hipster from the 27th century to send two teenage boys - who should have been studying history instead of playing rock music - on a trip through time and history. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:09 -0000

A decade after Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) destroyed the original Terminator, a second unstoppable killing machine (Arnold Schwarzenegger) arrives from the post-apocalyptic year 2029. But this time his mission is to stop an even deadlier Terminator, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), made entirely of shape-shifting liquid metal and determined to kill young John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the human resistance. Sarah, John, and the Terminator counter by going after the scientist responsible for developing Skynet, the computer system fated to destroy humanity, leading to an explosive and spectacular clash with the fate of humanity in the balance. Whereas James Cameron's original THE TERMINATOR was a low-budget marvel of efficiency and speed, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY is an action-packed blockbuster with some of the most amazing stunts ever filmed and ground-breaking, Academy Award-winning special effects. Star Schwarzenegger was paid in the form of a $15 million dollar jet to revisit his most famous role as the Terminator, this time made kinder and gentler against the silent, relentless T-1000. One of the most popular films of the 1990s, James Cameron's action masterpiece is both a thoughtful look at violence in human nature and an exciting, nonstop thrill ride. (2 hrs. 15 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

We re No Angels

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:08 -0000

Two escaped convicts on the run (Robert De Niro and Sean Penn) try to outsmart the law by masquerading as priests. Their goal is to find a way into Canada before they are discovered. The plan is complicated, however, when one of them falls in love with a hot-tempered woman (Demi Moore) with some unanswered prayers of her own. This updating of the 1955 Humphrey Bogart film of the same name was scripted by playwright David Mamet.
(1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:07 -0000

This adaptation of John Fox Jr.'s novel was the first feature to be shot outdoors in Technicolor. It tells the tale of a railroad engineer who inadvertently fans the flames of an ancient family feud when he arrives to build a line through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Academy Award Nominations: Best Original Song ("A Melody From the Sky"). (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Jul 7, 2009

Nim's Island

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:06 -0000

Based on the popular children's novel of the same name by Wendy Orr, NIM'S ISLAND follows the adventures of Nim Rusoe (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE's Abigail Breslin), a spirited young girl who lives on a remote island with her scientist dad, Jack (300's Gerard Butler), and a host of animal companions, including an iguana, a sea lion, and a sea turtle. Nim's idyllic life gets shaken up, however, when her father goes missing while on an ocean outing. Seeking help to find Jack, Nim contacts her favorite literary hero, explorer Alex Rover (also played by Butler), who, in reality, is uptight--and distinctly unadventurous--author Alexa Rover (Jodie Foster). Against her better judgment, Alexa journeys to Nim's faraway home, setting a series of thrilling and funny moments in motion.

Directed and written (in part) by the husband/wife team of Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, NIM'S ISLAND revels in its fanciful premise, never getting hung up on its unrealistic plot points. (E-mail on an extremely secluded island?) While Breslin and Butler are charming, the real revelation is witnessing the oft-serious Foster ham it up in a role requires plenty of slapstick, fish-out-of-water moments. Although teens might roll their eyes at NIM'S unapologetically sugary scenes, younger children will enjoy the giddy mood present of the ISLAND. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Death Sentence

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:05 -0000

A white-collar revenge fantasy in the vein of DEATH WISH (and based on a novel by the same author, Brian Garfield), DEATH SENTENCE ponders the nature and limits of retribution, asking if murder can ever be justified. Director James Wan (SAW) delivers a high-end exploitation film, complete with a washed-out, grainy appearance and some startling violence, but with complex, thrilling action sequences.

Kevin Bacon is Nick Hume, a successful businessman with two children and a lovely wife (Kelly Preston). While driving home from his older, college-bound son's hockey game, Nick must pull into a gas station in a tough part of town. When the boy goes into the store to buy a drink, his throat is slit during a bloody robbery attempt. Nick identifies the killer, but with him as the only witness, the case is unable to go to trial. Discovering that the murder was merely a gang initiation, Nick is pushed over the edge, taking on the deadly gang headed by the fierce Billy Darley (Garrett Hedlund). Payback becomes all-encompassing for Nick: it not only takes over his life, but it also causes a startling physical transformation. Wan forgoes emotional impact in favor of souped-up, visceral, and occasionally thrilling setpieces. Bacon makes Nick's transformation from a suburban, suit-and-tie family man into a gaunt, shaved-headed angel of death startling and believable. Full of interesting contradictions, DEATH SENTENCE lets viewers have it both ways--fulfilling their bloodlust while ensuring that Nick's targets are despicable people who deserve their fates. Ultimately, though it serves to remind us that, as a solution, violence only begets more violence. (1 hr. 50 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Everyone s Hero

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:04 -0000

A young boy finds himself at an extraordinary crossroads: He has a chance to be a hero - and make a difference against incredible odds - or he can play it safe. With faith in himself instilled by his family, he teams up with a sassy young girl and some off-the-wall sidekicks and embarks on a sometimes perilous, often funny, cross-country quest. In the process, he restores his family's honor, befriends the world's biggest sports superstar, and reveals the hero within. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:03 -0000

A blockbuster biopic immortalizing 18th century Chinese folk hero Fong Sai Yuk, a Han loyalist whose love for the Manchu governor's daughter gets him into plenty of hot water. Fortunately, he's a master of the Invincible Magic Fist, and his nimble kung-fu fighting mom is along to help out. (1 hr. 52 min.) Release date: May 26, 2009

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:02 -0000

Las Vegas showroom magician Cris Johnson has a secret which is a gift and a curse which torments him: he can see a few minutes into the future. Sick of the examinations he underwent as a child and the interest of the government and medical establishment in his power, he lies low under an assumed name in Vegas, performing cheap tricks and living off small-time gambling "winnings." But when a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, government agent Callie Ferris must use all her wiles to capture Cris and convince him to help her stop the cataclysm. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009

Beau Geste

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:01 -0000

The theft of an enormous gem, the Blue Water, sends the three notoriously adventuresome Geste brothers into the French Foreign Legion. Gary Coper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston boldly play the three loyal siblings who have taken the rap to save the female culprit. Assigned to a desert command, they suffer cruelties under the heavy hand of Sergeant Markoff (Brian Donlevy) and then come upon a mysterious tragedy at their fort. Produced in a giant sweep with hard-edged realism by director William Wellman, this version of BEAU GESTE is the classic one, featuring fine turns from Cooper, Milland, and Preston as well as Donlevy and Susan Hayward. Based on the epic novel by Percival Christopher Wren, the film has been remade and parodied several times. Don't miss the beginning--the haunting opening sequence is one of the most famous in Hollywood history. (1 hr. 43 min.) Release date: Jul 7, 2009

The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:23:00 -0000

THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE superbly achieves what few other movies do: a successful blend of thrills, style, comedy, drama, suspense and action. It is the precursor for many thrillers of the 1990s, from indie hits like Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, and more popular, Hollywood vehicles like SPEED.

The story focuses on four criminals who hijack a subway car and demand one million dollars from the mayor of New York, threatening to kill one hostage per minute if their demands aren't met. The hijackers are Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw), the crafty and efficient leader; Mr. Green (Martin Balsam), the train driver; Mr. Gray (Hector Elizondo), the hothead; and Mr. Brown (Earl Hindman), a nervous, stuttering man. New York City transit lieutenant Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) goes above and beyond his call of duty to play negotiator with the hijackers. The camera grabs the viewer by taking him down into dark gritty hallows of the subway tunnels and into the midst of the harrowing situation on the hijacked car. Based on the book by John
Godey, TAKING OF PELHAM is a true classic that depicts the dark, crime-ridden climate of 1970s New York city. (1 hr. 44 min.) Release date: Jun 9, 2009

The Blues Brothers

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:59 -0000

In roles made famous by their famed SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi star as Ellwood and Jake Blues in this extremely entertaining and successful comedy. Upon Jake's release from prison, the brothers are reunited and visit the orphanage they grew up in--only to discover that it is in danger of being shut down by the county for failure to pay taxes. With a little help from James Brown as a revival preacher, the Blues Brothers are divinely inspired to raise the $5,000 that the orphanage needs to stay open. On their mission from God, they must reunite their old band and raise the money by playing various gigs around town. The wild adventures of the band include dodging evil neo-Nazis, playing in a rowdy redneck bar, and narrowly escaping the crazed Carrie Fisher as Jake's ex-fianc�e, who is out to see him dead. Finally, the boys have to get to a gig at the Palace Hotel Ballroom and deliver the $5,000 to the county assessor's office--leading to one of the most wild and hysterical car-chase smash-ups in film history. John Landis has spiced this wonderful romp with fabulous rhythm-and-blues numbers from such greats as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles. (2 hrs. 13 min.) Release date: May 26, 2009

Fanboys

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:58 -0000

STAR WARS zealots, rejoice, for thy movie is at hand: an odyssey across America with a van full of hardcore science-fiction-loving geeks that drop STAR WARS quotes at the drop of a vintage collector's-item Darth Vader helmet. Their mission: to infiltrate Skywalker ranch--or die trying--and heist a pre-release print of THE PHANTOM MENACE. With stops along the way for bad internet dates and general misbehavior (as well as some drama concerning one of the fanboys dying of cancer), their mission becomes a whole STAR WARS-style adventure in itself, their van doubling for the Millennium Falcon plunging through the outer space of the Midwest. There's sci-fi-convention-collectible eye candy, surreal car chases, and moments from the STAR WARS films (such as the trash compactor scene) recreated with loving detail. Dan Fogler (BALLS OF FURY) supplies the hairy guy momentum and Kristen Bell (FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL) is surprisingly funny as the requisite way-out-of-their-league hot chick, who just happens to love STAR WARS too (those lucky nerds). The hilarious Seth Rogen shows up in several mangy roles, and there are cameos by Billy Dee Williams (as Judge Reinhold), Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Boba Fett, Darth Maul, an actor playing a kung fu version of Aint it Cool's Harry Knowles, and even William Shatner. Kevin Spacey was one of the film's producers. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

A Fistful of Dollars

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:57 -0000

The first true Spaghetti Western follows the exploits of a nameless drifter (Clint Eastwood) who wanders into a town torn apart by greed, corruption, and revenge. The clever, tough-talking gunslinger then plays the town's two feuding families off each other to his own benefit. As members of each family are planted in the ground, the gold in his pockets gets heavier and heavier.

This violent remake of Akira Kurosawa's YOJIMBO made Eastwood a star, and sparked two sequels--FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY--to form what is now referred to as the Man with No Name trilogy. All three films starred Eastwood, featured Ennio Morricone's distinctive musical compositions, and were directed--in a wonderfully gritty style--by Sergio Leone. Although the film was not released in the United States until 1967, it was produced and released internationally in 1964. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Operation Amsterdam

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:56 -0000

This high adventure tale is an accurate dramatization of an event which actually occured in Amsterdam in 1940 just prior to the German invasion. Four heroic Dutch agents struggled to keep millions of dollars worth of diamonds from falling into Nazi hands. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

A Life Less Ordinary

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:55 -0000

Petulant, rich honeypie Celine and scruffily adorable janitor Robert find themselves on the road to romance after he kidnaps her to avenge his firing by her callous father. But what they don't realize is that their love is celestially predetermined, as a pair of gun-toting angels gives chase to force the issue. A quixotic and inconsistent Hollywood debut from the production team of director Boyle, writer John Hodge, and producer Andrew MacDonald (SHALLOW GRAVE and TRAINSPOTTING). (1 hr. 44 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Balls of Fury

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:54 -0000

In the unsanctioned, underground, and unhinged world of extreme Ping-Pong, the competition is brutal and the stakes are deadly. Now, this outrageous new comedy serves up this secret world for the first time on-screen. Down-and-out former professional Ping-Pong phenom Randy Daytona is sucked into this maelstrom when FBI Agent Rodriguez recruits him for a secret mission. Randy is determined to bounce back and recapture his former glory, and to smoke out his father's killer � one of the FBI's Most Wanted, arch-fiend Feng (Academy Award winner Christopher Walken). But, after two decades out of the game, Randy can't turn his life around and avenge his father's murder without a team of his own. He calls upon the spiritual guidance of blind Ping-Pong sage and restaurateur Wong, and the training expertise of Master Wong's wildly sexy niece Maggie, both of whom also have a dark history with Feng. All roads lead to Feng's mysterious jungle compound and the most unique Ping-Pong tournaments ever staged. There, Randy faces such formidable players as his long-ago Olympics opponent, the still-vicious Karl Wolfschtagg. Can Randy keep his eye on the ball? Will he achieve the redemption he craves while wielding a paddle? Is his backhand strong enough to triumph over rampant wickedness? (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: May 24, 2009

Bat 21

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:53 -0000

Down behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War, an officer must rely on a scout pilot to risk his life and his military career to rescue him. Based on the book by William C. Anderson. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Pork Chop Hill

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:52 -0000

Based on S.L.A. Marsall's account of his Korean War experience, the film stars Gregory Peck as Lt. Joe Clemons, the officer charged with taking the strategically meaningless Pork Chop Hill from the Chinese, while diplomats dither about the terms of peace in Panmunjon. Some of the men under his command, which include Fedderson (George Peppard), Marshall (Martin Landau), Forstman (Harry Guardino) and Velie (Robert Blake), are doubtful about the wisdom of this order, creating a tense atmosphere. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Timeline

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:51 -0000

A mystery suspense thriller based on Michael Crichton's best-selling novel about a team of student archaeologists on a dig at a medieval site in France. When Professor Johnston, their team leader, disappears, they suddenly find themselves in 14th century feudal France on a perilous journey beyond their wildest dreams. Now, to find their missing professor and avoid a potentially catastrophic event, they won't be excavating the past, they'll be living it. (2 hrs. 18 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

A Duck, You Sucker

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:50 -0000

Sergio Leone, famous for his "spaghetti westerns," directed this humorous tale about an Irish terrorist obsessed with explosives who teams up with a down-to-earth peasant during the Mexican Revolution. A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE (aka DUCK, YOU SUCKER) stars James Coburn and Rod Steiger. (2 hrs. 30 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

633 Squadron

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:49 -0000

Cliff Robertson portrays a combat-weary pilot whose R.A.F. squadron is ordered to destroy a Nazi rocket fuel plant tucked deep into a Norwegian fjord. Based on a true story. (1 hr. 41 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Skid Marks

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:48 -0000

Lowbrow hijinks ensue when two battling ambulance companies fight to survive in this raunchy comedy. The Bayside Ambulatory Life Services takes on Downtown Intensive Care as they try to rescue as many people as possible to save their companies from being closed down. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Space Chimps

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:47 -0000

Circus monkey Ham III (voiced by Andy Samberg) works in a circus where he's regularly shot from a canon but he still lives in the shadow of his father's legacy (Ham I was the first chimp shot into space in 1961). A natural born rebel against authority, Ham the third is initially reluctant to go on a dangerous space mission to rescue a lost space probe, but away he goes, for lots of RIGHT STUFF-style astro-training alongside two highly prepared chimps, Luna and Titan (Cheryl Hines and Patrick Warburton). NASA's by-the-book methods jar with Ham's mischief-making of course, but once the space training ends, the mission begins, with myriad dangers along the way, including: a big-toothed monster and a run amok alien named Zartog (Jeff Daniels) whose harnessed the previous space probe for world-domination purposes, all good opportunities for Ham III to redeem himself. Despite all the fangs, parents shouldn't worry too much; not a hair on any chimp is seriously singed, and along the pratfall strewn way there's time for lessons about responsibility and realization of one's full potential. While the animation here is not quite up to Pixar level, it's still pretty and colorful, with a pleasing Candyland quality to the alien planet surface. Samberg brings a savvy zest to his vocal duties as the Ham, Stanley Tucci is a nefarious senator and--getting big laughs with flawlessly deadpan elan--Patrick Breen as one of the trio of egghead scientists. Kird De Micco directed; based on the computer video game. (1 hr. 21 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Rescue Dawn

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:46 -0000

Incomparable director Werner Herzog takes another strange turn in his eclectic career with RESCUE DAWN--a major studio picture starring Christian Bale (BATMAN BEGINS). The film is an adaptation of Herzog's 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, which focused on Dieter Dengler, a pilot who was imprisoned by enemy forces during the Vietnam war. Dengler escaped and his incredible reminisces about this period in his life spilled onto the screen in Herzog's documentary. Here, Bale plays Dengler, while Herzog constructs a dark masterpiece around him, inviting his audience to observe a dramatic reconstruction of the events that beset the unfortunate soldier. Bale's Dengler is aided by fellow captive Duane (Steve Zahn), and a capable cast of characters who variously play prisoners and sadistic guards. The film is split into two parts, with the harrowing experiences of prison life taking the bulk of Herzog's screen time, followed by a desperate bid for survival in the jungle.

Bale really gets a chance to demonstrate his acting chops as RESCUE DAWN unravels, with the actor heading on a rapid downward spiral as the film progresses. Herzog rarely allows the tension to drop throughout, and while most audiences may expect some relief as Dengler escapes his confines, things get much worse as he heads into the perilous Vietnamese jungle. Herzog presents plenty of raw emotion and a rough, at times barely watchable, portrayal of the human spirit, as Dengler's sanity is severely tested, and often only held together by his companionship with Duane. RESCUE DAWN requires a strong stomach, but it's a rewarding trip, and another wonderful addition to the Herzog canon. (2 hr.) Release date: May 19, 2009

Girl on a Motorcycle

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:45 -0000

Jack Cardiff's GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE follows the on-and-off-road adventures of Rebecca (Marianne Faithfull), a beautiful young woman who can only find freedom on two wheels. Rebecca leaves her nice-guy husband (Roger Mutton) and--wearing nothing but a fur-lined leather jumpsuit--hops on her beloved motorcycle to meet up with her lover (Alain Delon). This 1968 erotic film combines trippiness, existentialism, and gorgeous footage of the European countryside to create a unique and intriguing tale. The lovely young Faithfull, then-girlfriend of Mick Jagger and a singer in her own right, was a major sex symbol of the Swinging London scene. Her sexy role here garnered plenty of attention. The movie is one of only a handful of films directed by Cardiff, a renowned and prolific cinematographer. Release date: May 19, 2009

The McKenzie Break

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:44 -0000

A British intelligence agent investigates an impending escape by a group of unruly German prisoners of war. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Twelve O'Clock High

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:43 -0000

Dashing Gregory Peck stars as General Frank Savage, commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II. Loosely based on the true story of Major General Frank A. Armstrong, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH begins with Savage appearing to be a fearless fighter with almost no compassion for his men. Told in flashback from the perspective of Major Harvey Stovall (Dean Jagger), the story unfolds as Savage takes over Stovall's Bomb Group in 1942. The company has suffered numerous losses, morale is at an all-time low, and the tired pilots and their crews are immediately antagonized by Savage's obsession with discipline, leaving Savage and Stovall with the onerous task of rebuilding the pride of a fighting force that despises its leader. Jagger received an Oscar for his efforts, but the real star is Peck, exhibiting a vast repertoire to portray a complicated character. Using actual combat footage from both American and German cameras, director Henry King creates an environment in which bravery and heroism count but war itself is anything but romantic. (2 hrs. 12 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Magnificent Seven Ride

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:42 -0000

Lee Van Cleef stars as Marshal Chris Adams in this rollicking continuation of the popular "Magnificent Seven" series. This time around, Chris has lost his wife and is on a new mission to rescue a group of women who have been captured by evil bandits. With the help of a motley group of convicts, Chris embarks on his latest battle with danger. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:41 -0000

IN THEATRES JANUARY 16, 2009: Coming off the finale of television's popular sitcom THE KING OF QUEENS and 2007's I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY, funnyman Kevin James takes the role of a single dad in this largely physical comedy, which the actor also co-wrote. Paul Blart (James) is a hard worker, but has never landed his dream job of being New Jersey state trooper due to his excess weight. Determined to support his mother and his daughter, Blart takes the slightly less glamorous post as the security guard at his local shopping mall. He never complains, approaching the job with impressive diligence and pride, but doesn't get much respect for it. It's only when a group of misfits in Santa's Helper disguises take hold of the mall and several hostages that Blart's would-be cop smarts come in handy and he gets a chance to shine. With a deadly situation on hand, Blart may finally be able to show the world (and his romantic interest, who just happens to be one of the hostages) what he's made of. Though the villains have several advantages over him, Blart has a Segway scooter and a big heart on his side.

While many of its jokes come at the expense of James's extra pounds, the film ultimately makes its star out to be a hero. With his everyman appeal, James is well-suited to play Blart, showing that even average Joes can make a difference with the right attitude. PAUL BLART: MALL COP takes the banal out of the shopping mall, infusing a familiar setting with energy, laughs, and high-stakes drama. (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: May 19, 2009

Doc

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:40 -0000

The story of notorious criminals Wyatt Earp (Harris Yulin) and Doc Holliday (Stacy Keach) in a revisal fashion. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

Zulu

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:39 -0000

Based on an actual historic event, this is the story of a group of British soldiers stationed in Africa who are forced to defend their tiny outpost against an attack by powerful Zulu warriors. They are outnumbered 40-1 but are still ready to fight to the finish. Michael Caine is outstanding in Cy Endfield's powerful drama. Narrated by Richard Burton. (2 hrs. 18 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Desert Fox

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:38 -0000

James Mason is utterly convincing as Nazi Field Marshall Rommel (a role that became something of a specialty: see The Desert Rats, 1953) who gained notoriety for his successful North African campaigns. The big-budget actioner portrays not only his victories and ultimate defeat, but also his personal doubts and conflicts with his superiors back in Berlin. Release date: May 12, 2009

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:37 -0000

Ali Baba, son of the murdered Caliph, returns with his posse of forty thieves to save Baghdad, free his captured love, and reclaim the throne. This Arabian adventure is pure Technicolor escapism and the second pairing of Hall and Montez. Release date: Jul 7, 2009

Fast Lane

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:36 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Jun 23, 2009

City of Ember

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:35 -0000

The lights are going out in the City of Ember, a time-limited underground haven created some 200 years ago by the higher-ups of humanity in a world on the brink of disaster. Meanwhile, many of its literally and figuratively in-the-dark citizens don't suspect a thing. The only wise ones are two plucky teenagers (Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway) who are devoted to finding--with or without the help of the cagey Mayor Cole (Bill Murray)--the exit from Ember. Screenwriting credit for CITY OF EMBER, a refreshing fantasy film based on the first novel in author Jeanne DuPrau's sci-fi/adventure series for young adults, belongs to none other than Caroline Thompson. She's a silver screen veteran of family-friendly otherworldliness who's collaborated on many of Tim Burton's most definitive projects, and indeed she's brought to this live-action sophomore effort from enthusiastic movie-geek director Gil Kenan (MONSTER HOUSE) a miniaturist sensibility reminiscent of the condensed and simply plotted eccentricity of CORPSE BRIDE and A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. In stark contrast to some of the more epically turgid fantasy films released in the wake of Harry Potter's first outing, EMBER harks back to the modestly scaled ethos of cinematic spectacle typically embodied by the whimsical adventure movies made for children in the 1980s. When the film's farfetched premise meets its unadorned storytelling to unfold in a neatly contained, nearly real-time episode, it renders the image of ordinary children traversing an architectural phantasmagoria with the kind of paradoxical patina of fluffy-yet-provocative fantasy that can stimulate the imaginations of both kids and adults. The movie's neon-filamented aesthetic, a post-apocalyptic pastiche of industrialization, is sometimes evocative of German expressionism. Still, including cinematographer Xavier Perez Grobiet's kinetic tracking shots, Kenan's film is not without its 21st-century elements. (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Elephant Tales

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:34 -0000

Zef and Tutu are two young elephant brothers without a care in the world. They are only just learning to enjoy the sprawling wild plains of Africa that are at their disposal when their entire family and herd are suddenly snatched out of sight by some kind of strange, malevolent force. Can Zef and Tutu muster the stoutheartedness to rescue their clan? This live-action French-Australian adventure will inspire every member of the family. Release date: Jun 16, 2009

Gran Torino

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:33 -0000

For his fourth directorial feature in the span of two years, Clint Eastwood tells the story of a grizzled Korean War vet's reluctant friendship with a Hmong teenage boy and his immigrant family. Set in contemporary Detroit, GRAN TORINO tackles the shifting cultural and economic landscape of not only the Motor City, but America as well. Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, an unabashed bigot who never heard a racial insult he didn't love. Bitter, haunted, and full of pride, Walt refuses to abandon the neighborhood he's lived in for decades despite its changing demographics as he clings desperately to a mindset long since out of step with the times. When his Hmong neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized muscle car as part of a gang initiation, Walt is forced to grapple with the world around him.

GRAN TORINO's approach to the complicated issue of race relations is equal parts Archie Bunker and CRASH. That is to say, there is nothing subtle about Walt's bigotry, yet his misanthropy knows no bounds, and Eastwood does a remarkable job of finding the humor in Walt's equal opportunity racism. More than simply a racial morality tale, however, GRAN TORINO is about the unlikely bonds that people form to navigate the subtle complexities every day life. Like MILLION DOLLAR BABY, GRAN TORINO explores the challenging yet rich new world that can open up when individuals let down their guard, even if for just a moment. Estranged from his family and his church, and without any sense of personal peace, Walt offers all that he has to Thao and his family, namely wisdom and protection. When tragedy strikes the family, Eastwood allows a little classic Harry Callahan to poke through, but the surprising finale posits a hero that Dirty Harry would never have the guts to be. It's a potent symbolic gesture to Eastwood's own growth as a storyteller. (1 hr. 56 min.) Release date: Jun 9, 2009

Defiance

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:32 -0000

DEFIANCE is a different kind of World War II movie, one that looks at the Holocaust from a unique angle--telling the true story of a group of Jews in Eastern Europe who fought back. On the run from the Germans and the local police, the three Russian Bielski brothers--Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), and Asael (Jamie Bell)--hide out deep in the forest. Their numbers swell as more and more refugees join them, coming together to form a community while also patrolling with guns and shooting the enemy to stay alive. But Tuvia and Zus have a falling-out over what future direction to take: Tuvia thinks it best to remain in the forest despite the coming vicious winter, but Zus wants to join the Russian resistance, which is aggressively attacking the Nazis. Complicating the situation are the women in their lives, known as forest wives--Lilka (Alexa Davalos) shows interest in Tuvia, Bella (Iben Hjelje) grows close to Zus, and young Chaya (Mia Wasikowska) and Asael flirt with the tingles of first love. As food grows scarce, diseases increase, and the Nazis become determined to find and kill them, the Bielski Otriad struggles to survive, battling back when necessary, including taking up arms.

Directed by Edward Zwick (GLORY, BLOOD DIAMOND) and based on the nonfiction book by Dr. Nechama Tec, DEFIANCE is a powerful thriller filled with tense human emotion, a gripping story about brotherly love and the basic human instinct to survive against all odds. Craig (LAYER CAKE, CASINO ROYALE), Schreiber (EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED), and Bell (BILLY ELLIOTT) are terrific as the Bielski brothers, three very different individuals who simply refuse to just lie down and die. (2 hrs. 17 min.) Release date: Jun 2, 2009

Killshot

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:31 -0000

In an adaptation of Elmore Leonard�s best-selling crime novel, the beautiful Carmen Colson (Diane Lane) and her husband Wayne (Thomas Jane) become entangled in a scam with a bumbling, small time con artist (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and his over-the-hill hitman partner the Blackbird (Mickey Rourke). Ultimately, it all comes down to one wife, one husband, two killers... and one lethal killshot. A Quentin Tarantino presentation. (1 hr. 24 min.) Release date: May 26, 2009

Outlander

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:30 -0000

Science fiction, fantasy, and Viking adventure clash in this film starring James Caviezel and Sophia Myles. In eighth-century Norway, the Vikings are at war, but a strange craft from space arrives with Kainan (James Caviezel) on board. But he is not alone: along for the ride is his mortal enemy, a monster called the Moorwen. Soon, the Moorwen begins attacking the Vikings, and they unite with Kainan to take down their mutual foe. Fans of genre fare will be pleased to see Caviezel�s co-stars, HELLBOY's Ron Perlman and John Hurt. (1 hr. 55 min.) Release date: May 26, 2009

Zabriskie Point

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:29 -0000

This is a poetic chronicle of counterculture America. (1 hr. 52 min.) Release date: May 26, 2009

Valkyrie

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:28 -0000

In a country in the grips of evil, in a police state where every move is being watched, in a world where justice and honor have been subverted, a group of men hidden inside the highest reaches of power decide to take action. Based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known.

A proud military man, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a loyal officer who serves his country all the while hoping that someone will find a way to stop Hitler before Europe and Germany are destroyed. Realizing that time is running out, he decides that he must take action himself and joins the German resistance. Armed with a cunning strategy to use Hitler's own emergency plan - known as Operation Valkyrie - these men plot to assassinate the dictator and overthrow his Nazi government from the inside.

With everything in place, with the future of the world, the fate of millions and the lives of his wife and children hanging in the balance, von Stauffenberg is thrust from being one of many who oppose Hitler to the one who must kill Hitler himself. (2 hrs.) Release date: May 19, 2009

North West Frontier

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:27 -0000

During a bloody revolt in 1905 India, a British army officer guides a young Hindu prince to safety on a dilapidated train. Helping Captain Scott on his journey aboard the Victoria is a group of brave civilians, including Mrs. Wyatt, an American widow. But danger lurks everywhere. In addition to the threat raised by an army of vicious tribesmen, there's a traitor on the train who's ready to kill the prince when the opportunity arises. As the old locomotive makes its way along the hazardous route, tension mounts among the passengers. Will they complete their 300-mile journey alive? (2 hrs. 10 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

The Pride and the Passion

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:26 -0000

An intrepid band of resistance fighters battle for Spanish independence in 1810. In order to achieve their objective, they must first haul a six-ton cannon across the wide expanse of Spain's mountains. During their perilous journey, a dramatic love triangle emerges between a dashing resistance fighter (Frank Sinatra), his sultry mistress (Sophia Loren), and a British Navy captain (Cary Grant) recruited for the cause. (2 hrs. 12 min.) Release date: May 12, 2009

A Plumm Summer

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:25 -0000

In this family comedy, it's 1968, and all is well in the tiny town of Peaks View, Montana. That is, until someone kidnaps beloved TV star (and puppet) Froggy Doo. His costar Happy Herb (Henry Winkler) and the rest of Peaks View can't imagine that someone would kidnap their most popular resident, and soon the FBI arrives to investigate. Based on a true story, A PLUMM SUMMER also stars Jeff Daniels, Billy Baldwin, Lisa Guerrero, Brenda Strong, and Peter Scolari. (1 hr. 41 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009

Fly Me to the Moon 3-D

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:22:24 -0000

This animated film--the first to be produced solely in 3-D format--answers the question: What if a trio of juvenile insects had stowed away on the 1969 Apollo 11 rocket launch to the moon? The answer is, they would save the day, and learn valuable lessons, and spill space food into viewers' laps (virtually speaking). The trio of go-getter (sort of) young bugs are Nat (voiced by Trevor Gagnon), his brainiac friend I.Q. (Phillip Bolden), and their obsessive and obese ant buddy, Scooter (David Gore). They're motivated by the stories of Nat's eccentric grandfather (Christopher Lloyd), who once flew with Amelia Earhart. He encourages the boys to follow their yen for adventure and soon they're stowing aboard the ship, complete with their own homemade space suits. The moon launch and other space treats are covered with a--pardon the expression--fly-on-the-wall attention to detail (NASA supplied actual blueprints and recordings from the event), which the state-of-the-art 3-D captures with breathtaking clarity. Kids will dig the standard fly pratfalls and detours into bathroom humor while adults can dig the 1960s trappings and the outrageous retro-Russian accents of the Cold War fly spies (Nicollette Sheridan and Tim Curry), who come out of the woodwork to sabotage the mission (and liven up the plot with some fights and chases). Real-life astronaut Buzz Aldrin appears as himself, lending the film authenticity and gravitas, and there's some great period rock music on the soundtrack. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: May 5, 2009