goes by the name Richard Parker. Surviving on a 26-foot lifeboat, Pi continues his journey in the magical adventure film directed by Ang Lee and based on the novel by Yann Martel. LINCOLN ***@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. Daniel DayLewis immerses himself in his characters; this is the latest of successful transformations. “Lincoln” doesn’t try to capture the president’s entire life; instead, it focuses on the final four months of his administration as he struggles to end the Civil War and cement the concept of permanent freedom for slaves he began with the Emancipation Proclamation. The great cast includes Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook, James Spader and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. MONSTERS, INC. ***G Rated G • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. The 2001 Pixar film about blue behemoth Sully (John Goodman) and one-eyed green guy Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) gets the 3D treatment. The story of monsters collecting kids' screams sets up a sequel. NOT FADE AWAY *G@@ Rated R • AMC Regency Square, Cinemark Tinseltown We wonder how a drama about a New Jersey garage band got its title from a song by Lubbock, Texas’s, favorite son Buddy Holly, but whatevs. The ’60s were a pivotal time: Drugs were for fun, music genres were clearly defined – soul, rock, pop, folk, acid (oh, wait, that’s drugs), chick, surfer – and kids were forced to interact face to face. The soundtrack alone is worth the ticket price: heavy on The Rolling Stones, with some Rascals, Small Faces, Lead Belly, Bob Dylan and even the Hazelwood/Sinatra (no, Nancy) duet “Some Velvet Morning.” Cast includes Jack Magaro, Jack Huston (Walter’s great-grandson), Bella Heathcote and James Gandolfini. Created by David Chase of “The Sopranos.” PARENTAL GUIDANCE **G@ Rated PG • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. Old-school Artie (Billy Crystal) and his wife Diane (Bette Midler) look after their three grandkids. The family film elicits a little humor from the supposed generational clash, with a few touching moments. PROMISED LAND ***@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. Matt Damon and Frances McDormand play Steve and Sue, reps for a natural gas corporation tasked with going into a small suburban town and getting as many people as possible to sign their property away. All is well until the high school science teacher (Hal Holbrook) asks probing questions at a town meeting, setting off a chain of events that lead to a vote on whether to allow the company in the town. Environmentalist Dustin Noble (John Krasinski) arrives and starts rallying folks against drilling for natural gas. Director Gus Van Sant’s drama sizzles due to a great cast and an intelligent story. RISE OF THE GUARDIANS ***@ Rated PG • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Cinemark Tinseltown, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. The animated Dreamworks movie features a League of Extraordinary Mythical Characters, reinventing those classic characters in its vision of old friends as a group of mythical avengers. It quickly jumps into the fray as they battle Pitch Black. Kids like this, but think twice about taking ones 4 and younger. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. After eight months in a mental institution, Pat (Bradley Cooper) leaves under dubious circumstances. He was there after his wife’s adultery sent him over the edge, but he’s determined to fix the marriage. Problem is, he isn’t allowed to contact her. And he knows his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver) are keeping something from him, which makes him more unstable. He meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a reformed slut who claims she’ll get a message to Pat’s wife in exchange for a favor: She wants Pat to take dance lessons with her. He resists, then acquiesces, as writer/director David O. Russell’s predictable story plays on. SKYFALL **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. “Skyfall” jumps off with a rip-roaring opening gambit. Enjoy it while it lasts – it’s the lone highlight. Bond, an aging, beat-up
agent who may no longer be up to the task, is missing and presumed dead after getting shot during a failed mission. TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. Leatherface is back for another round in 3D, sure to excite horror fanatics wanting to see him wreaking another massacre. This time, a young woman seeks her inheritance in Texas, but the chainsaw-wielding maniac awaits. Of course! THIS IS 40 **G@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Fleming Island, Clay Theatre, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd. This “sort-of” sequel bears little connection to “Knocked Up,” following Pete (Paul Rudd) and Deb (Leslie Mann) as they deal with their two daughters, financial struggles and their fathers. The dramedy, directed by Judd Apatow (Mann’s husband), delivers many big laughs, but the dramatic segments boil down to Pete and Deb yelling at each other. TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2 **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues The franchise ends on a high note. It’s still full of lame dialog, wooden acting, illogical plotlines and cheesy visual effects, but darn if this action-packed finale doesn’t find a way to work. The action is up-tempo and reasonably well done, even if the wolves still look fake. The picture also looks cleaner than in the past; colors pop, and some nifty post-production editing using slow motion, dissolves and visual effects make it a pleasant experience on the eyes. WRECK-IT RALPH ***@ Rated PG • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Regal Avenues Typecast as the villain, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) has reason to feel unappreciated. He’s still smarting from 30 years of being dropped off a building into the mud by Fix-It Felix. Ralph just wants to be the hero. Director Rich Moore balances gamer cool and kid-friendly fun. ZERO DARK THIRTY ***@ Rated R • Opens Jan. 11 Reviewed in this issue.
OTHER FILMS
WORD IS OUT This 1978 documentary regarding GLBT identity is screened 5 p.m. Jan. 13 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., Five Points. Proceeds benefit a non-profit organization that supports GLBT needs. 359-0047. sunraycinema.com MEDITATION, CREATIVITY, PEACE A documentary on director David Lynch’s tour to speak about Transcendental Meditation is screened 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., Five Points. A local TM representative discusses the organization. Free. 359-0047, sunraycinema.com, davidlynchfoundation.org FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL A program of odd, hilarious videos salvaged from thrift stores across North America, including a Waffle House training video and exercise tapes including “The Sexy Treadmill Workout,” part of a 50-state tour, is led by Nick Prueher of “The Colbert Report” and Joe Pickett of “The Onion.” 9:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., Five Points. $10. sunraycinema.com, foundfootagefest.com WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME IMAX THEATER “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is screened with “Deep Sea 3D” and “To The Arctic 3D” at World Golf Hall of Fame Village, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine. 940-IMAX. worldgolfimax.com
NEW ON DVD & BLU-RAY
DREDD This dark, super-violent remake is more fun than Sly Stallone’s original, and it’s closer to the source material. Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is all mouth under the iconic helmet serving as judge, jury and executioner. FRANKENWEENIE Tim Burton’s black-and-white animated film pays warm-hearted homage to classic horror icons. Telling a story deeply rooted in sentimentality, the high-quality 3D stop-motion animation looks crisp and clear. It has some genuinely funny moments, and it’s a bit wicked in its own way. Horror fams will like it, and it’s kid-friendly, too. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET In this thriller/horror film, Jennifer Lawrence stars as Elissa, who moves with mom Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) into their dream house. Elissa befriends Ryan (Max Theriot), the boy next door, whose sister years ago killed their parents then disappeared. As Elissa finds out, this neighborhood is still plenty dangerous.
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