Rating
Rating 5 Outstanding
Rating 4 Very Good
Rating 3 Good
Rating 2 Fair
Rating 2 Poor
OPENING
Darling Companion
(Star) A lonely woman (Diane Keaton) loves her dog more than her husband (Kevin Kline), and when her husband loses the dog at a wedding, she enlists the guests in a frantic search. PG
The Words
Rating 2 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Empire University 4, SilverCity) Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana play the central couple in this drama with endless ambitions, but only limited abilities. Cooper plays Rory, a novelist who has yet to publish his work. When he finds an anonymous manuscript, he submits the work as his own, only to reap every reward he ever dreamt of - except the knowledge he succeeded on his own merit. A self-conscious and frequently cheesy piece of author clich脙漏, The Words wanted to be a proof of transcendence, but like so many failed novels and screenplays, it's really just horny shlock with a nice cover. - Katherine Monk. (NR)
CONTINUING
The Amazing Spider-Man 3D
Rating 3 1/2
(Caprice, Roxy, IMAX) A reboot of the superhero franchise with Andrew Garfield as a leaner, more intense Spider-Man and Emma Stone as his love interest. It's a more intimate telling of a familiar story, including the part about a giant lizard that threatens New York. - Jay Stone. PG
Bernie
Rating 3 1/2
(Star) Jack Black gives a delicate and winning performance as Bernie Tiede, a real-life mortician in Carthage, Texas, who commits a terrible crime but is forgiven because everyone loves him. Using actors and real-life townspeople, director Richard Linklater creates a dark and eerily comic piece of the American mosaic. - Jay Stone. PG
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Rating 3
(Caprice) An all-star cast of veterans led by Judi Dench and Maggie Smith stars in this new film from John Madden that takes us to an old-folks home in India. Hoping to revitalize his dilapidated hotel with English guests, Sonny (Dev Patel) takes on a group of crusty personalities who eventually transform the hotel, as well as each other. Contrived and laden with clich脙漏, the movie still pulls off some gentle comedy because the acting is so solid. - Katherine Monk. G
The Bourne Legacy
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire University 4, SilverCity) Another mysterious black-ops agent follows in the footsteps of Jason Bourne in this fourth instalment of the espionage franchise. PG
Brave
Rating 3 1/2
(Caprice, Empire Capitol 6) The latest Pixar movie is a spectacularly rendered fable about a young Scottish princess (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) who rejects her mother's plans for her to get married.There are exciting scenes of archery, a witch's magic spell and fearsome bear attacks, but the movie never becomes the defining legend it is trying to be. - Jay Stone. G
The Campaign
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local tourism centre. Starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. 14A
Celeste and Jesse Forever
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg), a couple who have been together for a long time, struggle to maintain their close friendship while exploring new relationships with other people.14A
The Dark Knight Rises
Rating 4 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity Imax) Christopher Nolan delivers everything his third Bat-movie required as he pits Bruce Wayne against his own alter ego, and the world against a raving madman in a mask. While it follows genre formula to a T, this epic reel also picks up on the bloody threads of the French Revolution as Nolan gives form to the Occupy movement, and the public desire to hang corporate bankers from the highest tree. Smart, cinematic and skilfully executed at every level, The Dark Knight Rises proves you can make a socially provocative and politically subversive statement and sell it as top-notch escapism. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman star. - Katherine Monk. PG
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Rating 1 1/2
(Caprice) An adolescent boy tries to survive summer misadventures in such fraught situations as swimming at the public pool and going camping. The stories by Greg Heffley have appealed to millions of readers, yet the same stories don't work in a live-action setting. With Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick. - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune. G
The Expendables 2
Rating 2 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity) After a seemingly routine mission goes awry, a band of mercenaries seeks revenge against an adversary and stumbles onto a global threat. The result is a showcase of muscles, an impressive load of firepower and not much else. With Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li. 14A
Hit and Run
Rating 2 1/2
(Empire Capitol 6) A former getaway driver ditches a witness protection program to drive his girlfriend to Los Angeles so she can land her dream job, but federal agents and criminals are on their trail. Actor-writer-director Dax Shepard tries to find the right friction point between muscle cars and political correctness - a job that could stall any vehicle. This one can be entertaining at times. With Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell and Bradley Cooper. - Katherine Monk.14A
Hope Springs
Rating 3
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Empire University 4, SilverCity) After 30 years of marriage, a middle-age couple attends an intense, week-long counselling session to work on their relationship. The therapy scenes are exquisitely acted and paced. Without a single special effect, it's a summer movie with punch. Starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. - Christy Lemire, Associated Press. PG
Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D
Rating 3
(Caprice, Roxy) A group of Paleolithic animal pals tries to survive a continental cataclysm in the fourth instalment of the Ice Age series. The script has a cheap habit of copying other cartoon material, but the results are both entertaining and life affirming. With the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah. G
The Intouchables
Rating 3
(Star) A sentimental but wry French buddy comedy about an uneducated black immigrant (Omar Sy) who becomes the caregiver to a rich white connoisseur (Fran莽is Cluzet). They both learn lessons in an obvious but undeniably charming way. In French with English subtitles. - Jay Stone. PG
Lawless
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire University 4, SilverCity) Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits. Stars Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hardy. 14A
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Rating 4
(Caprice, Roxy) An animated film that's vertiginous, explosive, ridiculous, frantic and antiCanadian (they joke about our "work ethic"). Inspired 3-D and non-stop silliness make this the most fun you can have at the movies so far this summer. - Jay Stone. G
Magic Mike
Rating 31/2
(Caprice) Channing Tatum shows off his many talents as a male stripper in this entertaining, if somewhat predictable, romantic drama based on his own life. Mike thought he had it all until he introduced a struggling buddy (Alex Pettyfer) to the world of buff dancing and watched it change him for the worse. Director Steven Soderbergh maps every clich脙漏, and elegantly avoids most, as he offers an entertaining piece of escapism that gently pokes at gender-based hypocrisy. - Katherine Monk. 14A
Marvel's The Avengers
Rating 31/2
(Empire Capitol 6) The summer season lifts off with this mega-budget action movie about a group of superheroes who band together to stop a hostile takeover of planet Earth. With Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk sharing the screen time, director Joss Whedon is forced to spend most of his time dealing out the dramatic cards - without creating genuine dramatic suspense. A movie that seems to hover without effort, The Avengers looks good suspended in the sky, but it doesn't actually go anywhere. - Katherine Monk. PG
Moonrise Kingdom
Rating 21/2
(Caprice) Wes Anderson tells the story of two outsider kids who fall in love during the summer of 1965 and attempt to realize the happy-ever-after ending. While the movie looks good, and the performances from an ensemble cast that includes Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis and Ed Norton are solid, the movie feels like a work in miniature where everything is drawn to scale, but carries little emotional heft. - Katherine Monk. PG
Odd Life of Timothy Green
(Empire University 4, SilverCity) A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears. G
The Possession
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore. Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) The divorced parents of a 10-yearold girl are troubled by her increasingly erratic behaviour, which seems to be linked to an antique wooden box she purchased at a yard sale. With Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick. 14A
ParaNorman
Rating 3 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity, Star) An expertly designed stopmotion animated film about a boy who sees the dead, particularly the witches who were hanged 300 years earlier. - Jay Stone. PG
Premium Rush
Rating 2 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity, Star) For an intrepid New York City bike messenger, a routine delivery turns into a life-or-death chase. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. Thanks to Shannon, stunt cyclists and Google Maps, we have something interesting to look at for 90 minutes. The plot, however, keeps slipping out of gear. - Katherine Monk. 14A
Robot and Frank
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) In the near future, an aging former cat burglar's two adult children buy him a humanoid robot helper, with whom he forms an unexpected partnership. With Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden and Liv Tyler. PG
Ted
Rating 3
(Caprice) A crude comedy with Mark Wahlberg as a 35-year-old slacker who is being held back by his best friend and roommate, a talking teddy bear (voiced by director Seth MacFarlane). The vulgar jokes push envelopes you didn't know existed, but there's a sweetness to the film, and it's often very funny. - Jay Stone. 14A
To Rome With Love
Rating 21/2
(Star) When Woody hits your eye like a big pizza pie, it's amor脙漏 - and probably a little cheese. An entirely formulaic exercise set on the sun-dappled streets of Rome, this new reel feels like leftovers from Midnight in Paris warmed under a bare light bulb. Despite strong turns from Alec Baldwin, Greta Gerwig, Jesse Eisenberg and Penelope Cruz, Allen's romantic shtick feels stale. - Katherine Monk. PG
Total Recall
(Caprice, Roxy) In the future, a factory worker's role-playing mental vacation as a super-spy goes awry, leaving him a hunted man and blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. PG
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Last Night Of the Proms Live: BBC Proms 2012 (Saturday, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity)
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (Saturday, Cineplex Odeon Westshore) Madam Butterfly 3D - Royal Opera House (Sunday and Monday, SilverCity)
CINECENTA
Prometheus - Toonie Madness: - 14A (Fri. and Sat., 7 and 9: 25 p.m.)
Take This Waltz - 14A (Sun., 3, 7 and 9: 15 p.m.; Mon., 7 and 9: 15 p.m.)
The Intouchables - PG (Tue., Wed., Thur., 7 and 9: 15 p.m.)
IMAX FILMS
Go to imaxvictoria.com for showtimes.
Air Racers
The Amazing Spider-Man: The Imax Experience
To the Arctic
Rocky Mountain Express
Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia
