MOVIE MINUTE

September 5, 2008

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED

PG-13, for bare bottoms and alcoholic stupors. 133 minutes.

The film adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel is luxurious and rich. Some might say the whole thing is too cool and detached for its own good. But does it really matter? Horseback riding. Fox hunts. And did you see those marvy sweaters? Delicious. (John Petkovic)

COLLEGE

R, includes sex, nudity, copious alcohol consumption, naughty language. 97 minutes.

Yet another tiresome fraternities-are-wild offering in which three high school seniors take a weekend trip to a college campus and have, like, a totally insane time. Chances are it won't disappoint those looking solely for unadulterated raunch. (New York Times)

THE DARK KNIGHT

PG-13, for intense sequences of violence and some menace. 152 minutes.

Director Christopher Nolan's follow-up to "Batman Begins," starring Christian Bale, is really about the maniacal Joker (Heath Ledger) and the fine line between heroes and villains. (Clint O'Connor)

DEATH RACE

R, for strong violence and language. 104 minutes.

Of all the Z-movies in the Roger Corman catalog, they had to remake "Death Race 2000." Paul W.S. Anderson, director of video-game adaptations such as "Resident Evil," re-imagines this cars-and-carnage thriller as a video game come to life. (Orlando Sentinel)

DISASTER MOVIE

PG-13 for language and gross humor. 90 minutes.

The name says it all. This is the latest juvenile attempt by writer/directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer to milk laughs out of the formulas used in their "Scary Movie," "Date Movie" and "Epic Movie." (Fresno Bee)

ELEGY

R, for sexuality, nudity and language. 106 minutes.

Ben Kingsley, in an Oscar-worthy performance, plays an aging professor who falls for his gorgeous student (Penelope Cruz). Brimming with powerful themes and rich characters. Based on Philip Roth's riveting "The Dying Animal." (Clint O'Connor)

FROZEN RIVER

R, contains strong language and violence. 90 minutes.

A recent Sundance winner has some of the grim cliches of that festival: blue-collar casualties, depressed small towns, tough single moms. Director Courtney Hunt transcends them with an anything-for-my-kids story of illegal immigration. (Newhouse News Service)

GET SMART

PG-13, for some rude humor, action violence and language. 110 minutes.

A fun little action-packed comedy and perfect mindless summer relief. Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, as agents 86 and 99, try to save the world from KAOS. Nicely samples the vintage TV series without ruining it. (Clint O'Connor)

HAMLET 2

R, for language, brief nudity and some drug content. 92 minutes.

A quirky little lark of a comedy about a dreadful high school drama teacher (Steve Coogan) who produces a sequel to "Hamlet" with some twists: Jesus, Einstein and songs. (Clint O'Connor)

HANCOCK

PG-13 for some intense sequences of action and violence, and language. 92 minutes.

There's fun and fury hanging with the not-so-super superhero John Hancock. Will Smith is terrific as the modern-day mystery man with special powers and bad PR. But the film flies in a new direction in the less entertaining second half. (Clint O'Connor)

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

PG-13, for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and some language. 120 minutes.

Director Guillermo del Toro unleashes a clever collection of other-worldly creatures. But there isn't much driving the second outing for Hellboy, despite another smart turn by Ron Perlman as the red beast. (Clint O'Connor)

THE HOUSE BUNNY

PG-13, for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language. 98 minutes.

This is a showcase for Anna Faris, star of the "Scary Movie" franchise, and her sunny disposition and comic timing make it more enjoyable than it should be. She plays Shelley, a Playboy bunny who becomes as sorority house mother. (Associated Press)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

PG, for intense adventure action and some scary moments. 92 minutes.

Brendan Fraser leads a dicey expedition in search of core values. While not exactly riveting, the 3D visual gimmicks provide good family fun with a friendly PG sheen. Warning: Not all theaters are showing this in digital 3D. Check before you go. (Clint O'Connor)

THE LONGSHOTS

PG, for some thematic elements, mild language and brief nude humor. 90 minutes.

An agreeable variation on the kid sports movie formula with family-friendly messages that outweigh its corny over-familiarity. It's set in the world of youth football, with Keke Palmer as a pioneering girl player. (Orlando Sentinel)

MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE

PG-13, for some sex-related comments. 108 minutes.

A big-screen adaptation of the stage musical built around ABBA songs. Donna (Meryl Streep) is preparing for her daughter's wedding, unaware that her daughter has invited three men from Donna's past to see which is her biological father. (Julie E. Washington)

MIRRORS

R, for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity. 107 minutes.

"Mirrors" is about demons that try to suck souls from this world into their world behind the silvered glass. It's a grisly, high-gloss horror picture with barely a scare in it. Kiefer Sutherland is better than this. Or should be. (Orlando Sentinel)

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR

PG-13, for adventure action and violence. 114 minutes.

Fans of Brendan Fraser mummy movies will be disappointed in the third installment. The action moves to China and surrounds an ancient emperor (Jet Li) who must be stopped from taking over the world when he reawakens in 1940s Shanghai. (Julie E. Washington)

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

R, for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence. 111 minutes.

A stoner and his dealer run afoul of some bad guys, steal guns and start shooting. Not exactly high-concept cinema, but as summer diversions go, "Pineapple Express" is fairly amusing. James Franco is a hoot as the dealer. (Clint O'Connor)

SEX AND THE CITY

R, for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language. 135 minutes.

The much-anticipated movie version delivers for fans of the show. We catch up with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda four years later, as they deal with life in their 40s, maintaining long-term relationships, and big wedding plans. (Clint O'Connor)

THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2

PG-13, for mature material and sensuality. 117 minutes.

America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel reprise their roles as lifelong friends who stay connected through a lucky pair of jeans. The girls go off to various summer adventures that teach them about love, family and friends. (Julie E. Washington)

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

PG, for sci-fi action violence, brief language and momentary smoking. 121 minutes.

This disappointing effort shows events between the second and third prequel movies. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are leading the Jedi Knights and the clone army against Count Dooku's forces. (Julie E. Washington)

STEP BROTHERS

R, for crude and sexual content, and pervasive language. 97 minutes.

Splendidly stupid and furiously foul-mouthed, this comedic absurdity actually features two believable performances from Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as adolescent-brained louts forced to co-exist. (Clint O'Connor)

TELL NO ONE

Not rated, contains nudity and violence. 125 minutes.

Guillaume Cauet's thriller is the movie equivalent of a puzzle deconstructed then reassembled. Francois Cluzet is great in a man-on-the-run role, as a doctor who's been framed for the murder of his wife. (John Petkovic)

TRAITOR

PG-13, for intense violent sequences, thematic material and brief language. 105 minutes.

Assumptions are overturned in "Traitor," a nuanced thriller that works as a political film and a violent action movie. Don Cheadle is mesmerizing as a man whose background makes him a prime recruit for anti-American terrorists. (Julie E. Washington)

TROPIC THUNDER

R, for pervasive language, violent content and drug material. 107 minutes.

A fabulously funny action-comedy from writer-director-star Ben Stiller. When five actors shooting a war epic get lost in the jungle, they must learn to fight actual bad guys. Hilarious performances, especially from Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. (Clint O'Connor)

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

PG-13, for mature thematic material involving sexuality. 97 minutes.

A terrifically enjoyable film from Woody Allen, in which Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, and Rebecca Hall share love, lust and libations in beautiful Barcelona. (Clint O'Connor)

WALL-E

G. 106 minutes.

Pixar can add this animated gem to its roster of modern classics. It's a love story between a lonely trash-collecting robot, Wall-E, and the sleek, flying probe Eve, who takes Wall-E on an intergalactic adventure. Suitable for kids 8 and older. (Julie E. Washington)

COMING ATTRACTIONS NEXT FRIDAY

Righteous Kill: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, play bitter, hard-edged New York City detectives on the trail of a serial killer.

The Women: Meg Ryan returns to major filmdom in this updating of George Cukor's 1939 version with Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford (from Clare Boothe Luce's play).