Feb. 9-15
a disservice. Seemingly unable to settle on a tone or visual style, the filmmakers pad the movie with incongruous music, editing and camera angles. By cutting away from Streep’s Thatcher again and again, they undermine the work of a great actor in what could have been a great role. PG13. 105m. At the Minor. THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a hauntedhouse story set on the misty northern coast of England. Daniel Radcliffe plays an attorney dispatched to a dismal little village to settle the affairs of a recently deceased widow. He is struggling with the loss of his own wife, who died in childbirth. The village he visits is noteworthy mostly for its high rate of child mortality. It’s immediately obvious that his presence is unwelcome. Even more clear is that some creepy shit is going down out at Eel Marsh House. We get some exposition about a mother and child forced apart: The boy drowned in the inky mud of the marsh, at which point Mom went bonkers. Then the real unpleasantness began. As a genre piece, Woman is fairly effective; it delivers a few exciting scares. The house’s suitably off-putting atmosphere is accompanied by an assortment of the freakiest wind-up toys I’ve ever seen. Radcliffe does a convincing-enough turn as the heartsick protagonist. Ciaran Hinds, playing the only villager willing to give him the time of day, makes the most of an underwritten part. But in the third act the movie runs out of steam and coasts to an unsatisfyingly pat resolution on fumes of creepiness. PG13. 95m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna. —John J. Bennett
Previews
SAFE HOUSE. The Denzel paradox works like this: The less likeable his character (see: Training Day), the more I like the guy. Here he plays a dangerous CIA renegade opposite Ryan Reynold’s rookie operative. R. 115m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna. JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson leads a family friendly adventure to the isle of 3D effects. Jules Verne barfs in his grave. PG. 94m. In 3D and 2D at the Broadway and Mill Creek, 3D only at the Fortuna. STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 - THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D. Have your childhood memories re-befouled, in 3D. PG. 140m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna. THE VOW. Newlyweds (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) get in a car crash. The wife emerges from a coma with amnesia, so the hubby sets out to woo her anew. PG13. 104m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek. THIS MEANS WAR. Two hunky CIA operatives discover that they’re both dating Reese Witherspoon. Cue penis-measuring contest. This doesn’t officially open until Feb. 17, but there will be Valentine’s Day “sneak peaks” at both the Broadway and Fortuna. PG13. 98m. Lotsa movies at the Arcata Theatre Lounge
this week, starting with a pair of aquatic docs at the monthly Ocean Night, a benefit for Ocean Conservancy, Humboldt Surfrider and Humboldt Baykeeper. Lost in the Ether, a surfboarddesign documentary from acclaimed Aussie artist Andrew Kidman, will be followed by the 28-minute Ancient Sea Turtles Stranded in a Modern World. Doors at 6:30 p.m. $3 donation. On Friday, Demi Moore erotically fingers wet clay while getting caressed by Patrick Swayze’s Ghost (1990). PG13. 8 p.m. Saturday night brings Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam’s epic 1988 fantasia The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. PG. 126m. 8 p.m. The quirky-and-comedic adventure theme spills into Sunday with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), starring Bilbo-to-be Martin Freeman and Mos Def. Don’t Panic. PG. 109m. 6 p.m. If Valentine’s Day makes you grumpy, you might get some catharsis from Sci-Fi Pint and Pizza Night, featuring Godzilla (aka Gojira, 1954), an allegory for the devastation wrought on Japan by the atomic bomb. (The anti-American sentiments were removed in the poorly dubbed English-language version.) Destroy All Monsters (1968) is like the all-star game for giant monsters. (Kumonga, represent!) The fun starts at 6 p.m. —Ryan Burns
Continuing
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN. Steven Spielberg’s motion-capture adaptation of the classic Belgian comic follows a young reporter and his dog, Snowy. PG. 107m. At the Garberville through 2/13. THE ARTIST. Mostly silent, black-and-white homage to cinema’s mostly silent, black-and-white early years, nominated for 10 Academy Awards. PG13. 103m. At the Minor and the Broadway. THE DESCENDANTS. George Clooney plays a Hawaiian parent and land baron thrust into real life after his wife’s jet-boating accident. R. 115m. At the Minor. THE GREY. Liam Neeson vs. wolves. Seriously. R. 117m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna. HUGO. Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret returns to local theaters boasting 11 Academy Award nominations. PG. 127m. In 3D and 2D at the Broadway. ONE FOR THE MONEY. Worst-movie-ofthe-year candidate stars Katherine Heigl as a bail bond agent charged with hauling in her high school ex. PG13. 106m. At the Broadway. RED TAILS. The dogfight action scenes rule, but otherwise this is an uneven and simplistic account of the Tuskegee Airmen. PG13. 125m. At the Broadway. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY. John le Carré’s classic Cold War espionage novel comes to the big screen with an ensemble cast led by Gary Oldman. R. 128m. Starts 2/14 at the Garberville. UNDERWORLD AWAKENING. Kate Bekinsale squeezes into a leather catsuit to battle vampires and werewolves. R. 88m. In 3D and 2D at the Broadway. •
Thurs - Ocean Night Film Screening, Doors 6:30 p.m. $3 All ages Fri - Ghost, Doors 7:30 p.m. $5 Rated PG-13 Sat - Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Doors 7:30 p.m. $5 Rated PG Sun - Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doors 5:30 p.m. $5 Rated PG Wed - Sci Fi Pint & Pizza Night feat. Godzilla (1954) 6-10 p.m. All ages
arcatatheatre.com • 822-1220 • 1036 G St.
Open 7 days New Thai
307 2nd St. Old Town Eureka 269-0555
The Sea Grill Make your reservations for
Valentine’s Day Tuesday, February 14th 316 E ST. • OLD TOWN, EUREKA • 443-7187 DINNER MON-SAT 5-9 •LUNCH TUE-FRI
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Valentine’s Day Room Package*
• Roaring Start Breakfast Buffet • Champagne or sparkling cider • Strawberry/Chocolate Covered Strawberries • Late Check Out • $20 Food Credit
Special Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu *valid 2/14/2012 only 4th and V Streets (HWY 101 S) Eureka • 441-4705
Bayfront Restaurant One F Street, Eureka, CA 443-7489 Open Daily 11-9:30pm | BayfrontRestaurant.net
southeast asian cuisine
Thai • Lao • Vietnamese corner of 4th & L Eureka • 443-2690 ••• OPEN Mon.-Sat Lunch & Dinner • We cater, too! •
northcoastjournal.com • North Coast Journal • Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
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