MOVIE MINUTE

APPALOOSA

R, for some violence and language. 114 minutes.

An interesting, well-acted Western from Ed Harris, who stars, directed, and co-wrote the script from Robert B. Parker's novel. Harris and Viggo Mortensen are lawmen whose friendship is threatened by the arrival of a woman (Renee Zellweger). (Clint O'Connor)

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA

PG, for some mild thematic elements. 89 minutes.

Those savvy market research-readers at Disney have discovered that kids love chihuahuas, especially talking ones. Thus, they decreed that "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" take one of the little bug-eyed rats on a journey from Los Angeles to Mexico. (Orlando Sentinel)

THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

PG-13, for thematic materials. 93 minutes.

A Holocaust fable where the father plays the monster instead of the clown, it tries so hard to achieve ironic detachment from its subject matter that it's unlikely to connect with anyone moved by "Life Is Beautiful." (Los Angeles Daily News)

BURN AFTER READING

R, for pervasive language, some sexual content, and violence. 96 minutes.

Sharp-edged humor from the Coen brothers, a first-class cast, and a hilarious performance by Brad Pitt make this a winning dark comedy about double-crossing in D.C. With George Clooney and Frances McDormand. (Clint O'Connor)

CHANGELING

R, for some violent and disturbing content and language. 140 minutes.

Angelina Jolie and director Clint Eastwood teamed for this less than compelling drama about a woman's search for her lost son and the corrupt police department standing in her way. Based on the Christine Collins case from 1928. (Clint O'Connor)

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)

THE DUCHESS

PG-13, for sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material. 105 minutes.

Excellent acting, opulent sets and eye-catching costumes are among the many pleasures in "The Duchess." Keira Knightley is the Duchess of Devonshire, a woman caught in a loveless marriage with the Duke (Ralph Fiennes). (Julie E. Washington)

EAGLE EYE

PG-13; contains violence and strong language. 118 minutes.

A paranoid cyber-thriller, with Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan as a young, thrown-together couple on the run from bad guys and good guys, and spied on at every turn. (Newhouse News Service)

FIREPROOF

PG, mostly for some tantrums. 122 minutes.

A firefighter (Kirk Cameron) is headed for divorce until he and his wife try a caring-for-marriage regimen with a Christian underpinning. It's a decent attempt to combine faith and storytelling that will register with its target audience. (New York Times)

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

R, for language. 118 minutes.

Not much happens in this film. But what does, happens to Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a 30-year-old teacher who lives with her buddy, parties with her girlfriends, and tries to spread her cheery light to the grim and grumpy of London. (Clint O'Connor)

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR

G. 100 minutes.

Zac Efron proves he'll have a post-Disney career as he leads the cast in the rollicking yet bittersweet "HSM3." The Wildcats face adult decisions about their futures while pulling together to put on one last musical extravaganza. (Julie E. Washington)

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 it's 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)

LAKEVIEW TERRACE

PG-13, for violence, sexuality, language and some drug references. 106 minutes.

Samuel L. Jackson plays a policeman determined to make life hell for his new neighbors (Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington). Their crime? Their interracial marriage. Slick, savvy and well-executed by director Neil LaBute. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

THE LONGSHOTS

PG, for some thematic elements, mild language and brief rude 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)

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA

PG, for some mild crude humor. 94 minutes.

Another bloated sequel that isn't as good as the original. Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith are back lending their voices to the New York zoo animals who are adjusting to living in Africa while trying to go home. (Julie E. Washington)

MAX PAYNE

R; contains violence, drug abuse, sexuality and strong language. 99 minutes.

A grim, gray and completely joyless action movie, in which Mark Wahlberg faces down mad soldiers and hallucinatory demons, and an enormous gunfight erupts every 10 minutes. The whole thing is less exciting than depressing. (Newhouse News Service)

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA

R, for strong war violence, language, and some sexual content/nudity. 166 minutes.

Spike Lee's powerful, stirring, and epic-sized World War II drama has many strains. But mostly it's an insightful take on racism, brotherhood, and faith. With Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, and Omar Benson Miller. (Clint O'Connor)

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE

PG-13; contains some sensuality, strong language and alcohol abuse. 97 minutes.

A sentimental but satisfying grown-up romance, with Richard Gere, Diane Lane and a picturesque seaside inn as the setting for their successful discovery of each other. It's a bit of a tearjerker, but at least it earns its sobs. (Newhouse News Service)

QUANTUM OF SOLACE

PG-13, for intense sequences of violence and action, and sexual content. 106 minutes.

Daniel Craig is solid in his second outing as James Bond, but the film lacks a driving dramatic force, the action is arbitrary, and the whole enterprise becomes a Jason Bourne wannabe. (Clint O'Connor)

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

R for language and brief sexuality. 114 minutes.

Anne Hathaway should receive an Oscar nomination for her performance as Kym, the edgy neurotic who makes her sister's wedding weekend a hellish family reunion. With Rosemarie DeWitt and Bill Irwin. (Clint O'Connor)

RIGHTEOUS KILL

R for violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and brief drug use. 101 minutes.

A standard police procedural, a long episode of "Law & Order," unremarkable but for the pairing of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It meanders from one shooting to the next until the climactic, bombastic confrontation between our two hammy stars. (Associated Press)

ROLE MODELS

R, for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity. 99 minutes.

Paul Rudd offers a few funny moments, but there's not much else to recommend in this flat comedy about two careless dudes forced to become mentors. (Clint O'Connor)

SAW V

R, for sequences of grisly violence and torture, language and brief nudity. 95 minutes.

Another All Hallow's Eve, another "Saw" movie. It's so predictable that the mind wanders. Has Tobin Bell, a little-known character actor, cashed in big-time from these little horror pictures? Is he investing wisely? (Orlando Sentinel)

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

PG-13; for thematic material and some violence. 110 minutes.

A drama about a runaway girl (Dakota Fanning) and the nurturing family that protects her. It tackles racism, civil rights, love, forgiveness, sisterhood, and honey-making. Based on Sue Monk Kidd's popular novel. With Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys. (Clint O'Connor)

SEX DRIVE

R; for crude and sexual content, nudity, language, drug and alcohol use. 104 minutes.

A messy and overlong road-trip comedy about a teen driving 800 miles to lose his virginity. He has hooked up on the Internet with a girl who may or may not be as hot as her Web photo, but who has promised to "go all the way." (Orlando Sentinel)

SOUL MEN

R, for pervasive language and sexual content including nudity. 98 minutes.

A shaggy, indifferently directed road comedy that benefits from inspired casting - pairing Samuel L. Jackson with Bernie Mac as two has-been soul singers - with a sad afterglow. The film ends with a tribute to Mac, who died in August. (Orlando Sentinel)

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK

R, for language and some sexual content/nudity. 124 minutes.

Another mind-bending movie from the genius that is Charlie Kaufman. Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as a director whose life becomes a never-ending play that he's directing. A strange concoction somewhere between brilliant and boring. (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)

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

R, for crude sexual content including graphic nudity and foul language. 101 minutes.

Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are likable as longtime friends who hatch a crazy money-making scheme. Raunchy comedy fluff with some laugh-out-loud moments. (Clint O'Connor)

COMING ATTRACTIONS WEDNESDAY

Four Christmases: Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star in a comedy about a couple that needs to visit all four of their parents separately, on the same day.

Transporter 3: Jason Statham returns for the third installment in the fast-cars-and-guns series.