along with its emotional vexations to the very edge of soap opera yet never abandons the rich themes suggested by its title. (DJP) Sun., Mar. 30, 4:30pm,
Peabody is too well plotted and not half as well written as what the Bullwinkle gang mustered half a century ago. (DJP) Fairview (2-D)/Fiesta 5 (2-D)
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Muppets Most Wanted (107 mins.; PG: some mild action)
NOW SHOWING ✯ 300: Rise of an Empire
(102 mins.; R: strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity, some language)
Greek general Themistocles leads his army against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes. This sortof sequel to is primarily aimed at the heart of the young-ish male demographic, where fans of artful blades ’n’ blood choreography, computer-gaming excess, and occasional female wiles meet. (JW) Camino Real (2- D)/Metro 4 (2-D)
God’s Not Dead (113 mins.; PG: thematic material, brief violence, an accident scene)
A college student’s faith is tested when he meets a philosophy professor who doesn’t believe in God. Fiesta 5
✯ The Great Beauty
(142 mins.; NR)
On his 65th birthday, a man receives a shock from his past that forces him to reevaluate his present. Like Fellini’s films, The Great Beauty deftly mixes up its underlying themes of existential and spiritual malaise with ravishing sensory bedazzlement. (JW) Riviera Mr. Peabody & Sherman (92 mins.; PG: some mild action, brief rude humor)
Inventor, scientist, and adventurer Mr. Peabody travels back in time with his adopted boy to fix a rift in time. Despite some moments of punny brilliance, this
In the midst of a world tour, the Muppets get wrapped up in a European jewel-heist caper plotted by an evil Kermit the Frog look-alike and his sidekick. Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais star. Fairview/Fiesta 5 Need for Speed (132 mins.; PG-13: sequences of reckless street racing, disturbing crash scenes, nudity, crude language)
A wrongly accused street racer gets out of jail and enters a cross-country race to seek vengeance on the man who framed him. A stellar cast makes this crazy — and crazy beautiful — car-racing movie well worth watching. (DJP) Metro 4 (2-D) Non-Stop (106 mins.; PG-13: intense sequences of action and violence, some language, sensuality, drug references)
An air marshal (Liam Neeson) is called upon during a transatlantic flight when he receives a series of text messages demanding that the airline transfer money into an offshore account. In the end, it’s all a bit pulpy, but Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra shrewdly takes advantage of the claustrophobic quarters, creating an effective pressure-cooker situation. (JW)
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Tim’s Vermeer (80 mins.; PG-13: some strong language)
An inventor investigates the technique behind the paintings of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer. Plaza de Oro
CALL FOR Summer Camp
stories
The Independent’s annual Summer Camp issue hits the stands on April 10, and we thought it would be fun to include camp memories from Santa Barbarans. - Submit a 300-word piece about one of your summer camp experiences - Include your full name and contact information - Attach a digital photo of you at said camp (if possible) - Stories must be appropriate for all ages
Email campstories@independent.com with the subject line: Camp Stories Contest PORTRAIT OF THE INVENTOR: Tim Jenison sets out to solve one of art history’s great mysteries in the Penn & Teller documentary Tim’s Vermeer .
Deadline: Monday, March 31 march 27, 2014
THE INDEPENDENt
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