Cinemas - What’s still showing & where - 19/9/08

Sep 19 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

BEFORE I FORGET (18) (Clwyd Theatr Cymr, Mold, Tuesday only)

JACQUES Nolot’s study of self-reflection seen through the eyes of a 58 year old man with HIV.

STAR RATING: ***

THE DARK KNIGHT (12A) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

AN ASTONISHING combination of thought-provoking ideas, compelling character interplay and breathtaking action sequences, Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel sets a new standard for the comic book genre which is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.

STAR RATING: ****

DISASTER MOVIE (12A) (All major cinemas)

FROM the ‘creative’ team that brought us Epic Movie and Meet The Spartans comes another selection of lame movie spoofs and cameos from desperate B list stars.

STAR RATING: *

THE DUCHESS (12A) (All major cinemas)

THE Diana parallels have lent a topical air to this intelligent account of what befalls 19 year old Georgiana (Keira Knightley), a fun-loving, intelligent young woman who ends up in what turns out to be a loveless mariage with the older Duke of Devonshire, played with characteristic elegance by Ralph Fiennes.

STAR RATING: ***

EDEN LAKE (18) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

EVERY Daily Mail reader’s nightmare comes true in this expertly crafted, deeply disturbing horror movie which has serious things to say about conflicts between the haves and have nots in British society today.

STAR RATING: ***

GET SMART (12A) (All major cinemas)

STEVE Carell and Anne Hathaway team up for a revival of the 60s spoof spy show which has been mooted for some time and features an impressive support cast that includes Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and Bill Murray.

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (12A) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

GUILLERMO Del Toro comes up with a welcome sequel to his under-rated comic book fantasy which sees Hellboy (Ron Perlman) once again trying to save humanity from mythical forces of evil.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH (PG) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks, weekend matinees)

THERE is very little of Jules Verne in this latest version of his classic adventure which has Brendan Fraser leading a bunch of kids through what is a glorified cinematic series of theme park rides that borrows more heavily from everything from Jurassic Park to Narnia and Indiana Jones. STAR RATING: **

KUNG FU PANDA (PG) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks, matinees)

A GREAT title is further assisted by the presence of Jack Black providing the voice for the unlikely titular hero in an animated adventure that is purely for kids but manages to remain witty enough to keep older audiences happy.

STAR RATING: ***

MAMMA MIA! (PG) (All major cinemas)

A BUNCH of non-singing actors come together to belt out some of the greatest pop songs every written and somehow it works! Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan take on the best of Abba in a Greek island setting for this guaranteed hit based on the successful stage musical. STAR RATING: ***

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (12A) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

THIS seems to be the summer of the belated lacklustre blockbuster with Indiana Jones and The X-Files now being followed down the path of humdrum by The Mummy series which sees Brendan Fraser return, Maria Bello replace Rachael Weisz and the likes of Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh brought in to broaden appeal.

STAR RATING: **

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (15) (All major cinemas)

MORE explicit comedy from the Judd Apatow stable with Seth Rogen and James Franco on the run from a drugs lord and a corrupt cop in a film which is like a slightly older Superbad with more violence. STAR RATING: ***