Apocalypto (R, 138 minutes) For the follow-up to his worldwide smash, The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson has chosen this dark adventure drama set in the fading days of the Mayan empire. The story centers around Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), a young man chosen for human sacrifice who flees the kingdom to avoid his fate. In Maya with English subtitles. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Blood Diamond (R, 138 minutes) Leonardo DiCaprio stars as an opportunistic South African smuggler who teams up with an enslaved farmer (Djimon Hounsou) to hunt down a fabulous pink diamond. With the help of an American journalist (Jennifer Connelly), the two men embark on a quest that could return one man to his family and offer great wealth to the other. Amid the adventure and thrills are some pointed comments about Africa’s unscrupulous diamond industry. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Babel (R, 142 minutes) Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of 21 Grams and Amores Perros) contributes another weighty ensemble piece. This complex, occasionally sluggish rumination on communication (or the lack thereof) in modern-day society takes place in three places at once. In Morrocco, a couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) gets involved in a shooting crisis. In California, a housekeeper tries to get to her son’s wedding down Mexico way. In Japan, a deaf-mute girls tries desperately to shed her virginity. The film is relentlessly grim, and the message may be lost on some; but as always, Iñárritu deserves credit for making a film that is actually about something. In English, French, Japanese, Spanish, Berber and Arabic with English subtitles. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Black Christmas (R, 84 minutes) If you like a little gore in your holidays, then this remake of the 1974 stalk-and-slash is right up your grubby, dimly lit alley. It’s Christmas Eve and a bunch of sorority sisters find themselves being menaced by a crazy serial killer who chopped up his family inside the sorority house decades ago. Former TV gals Michelle Tractenberg (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Katie Cassidy (“7th Heaven”) and Lacey Chabert (“Party of Five”) are there to up the body count. Opening Christmas Day; check local listings
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (R, 82 minutes) Is he funny because he’s an annoying jerk or is he funny because he’s pretending to be an annoying jerk? Either way, the end result is the same. Rabid fans of Brit comedian Sasha Baron Cohen (“Da Ali G Show”) will love this embarrassingly rude faux documentary about a Kazakhstani journalist (Cohen) who comes to America to make a film. Non-fans will simply be aghast at the endless footage of fat, fully nude guys wrestling that comprises this film’s humor. Most of the run time is simply made up of “Jackass”-style pranks in which the racism and xenophobia of Americans is allegedly exposed. (Although it should come as no big surprise to anyone that rednecks at the rodeo get a little mad when you make up words to the National Anthem.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Casino Royale (PG-13, 144 minutes) Forget the 1967 version of Casino Royale starring Woody Allen. (Never heard of it? Good, that saves us time.) Like GoldenEye a few years back, we’ve got a successful reboot of the James Bond series. Daniel Craig (Munich) takes over as the younger, buffer 007, sent on his first mission to stop a banker from winning a casino tournament and using the prize money to fund terrorists. Eva Green (Kingdom of Heaven) is our Bond girl of the hour, Vesper Lynd. The film is dark, gritty and relentlessly thrilling. It’s just kind of a bummer they replaced Baccarat with Texas Hold ‘Em. Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Charlotte’s Web (G, 96 minutes) This live-action adaptation of E.B. White’s much-beloved book stars adorable Dakota Fanning as plucky farm gal Fern whose pet pig Wilbur conspires with a wise spider to avoid a one-way trip to the dinner table. The requisite all-star cast (Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire, André Benjamin, Robert Redford) is on hand to provide cute animal voices. Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Children of Men (R, 109 minutes) Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón, who’s given us everything from Y Tu Mamá También to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), helms this low-tech sci-fi film set in the year 2027. Seems that in this polluted, dystopic future, mankind has lost the ability to procreate. Clive Owen (Inside Man, Sin City) is a reformed activist who agrees to help transport a mysteriously pregnant woman (multiple Oscar nominee Julianne Moore) to a sanctuary at sea, where her child’s birth may help scientists save mankind. Based on the novel by P.D. James. Opening Christmas Day; check local listings
Deck the Halls (PG, 95 minutes) Remember that 1996 movie Jingle All the Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad as two suburban dads who tried to outdo one another over the Christmas holidays? Well, this one stars Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito instead. Not a vast improvement exactly, but at least everyone learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of Christmas at the end. (Awww.) From the director of See Spot Run, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Big Momma’s House 2 and the upcoming Cats & Dogs 2: Tinkles’ Revenge. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
The Departed (R, 149 minutes) Martin Scorsese seriously reworks the 2002 Hong Kong hit Infernal Affairs, transferring the intense cops-and-robbers action from the Far East to the East Coast. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a fresh recruit from the Boston Police Academy who is put deep undercover in an Irish mob run by flamboyant gangster Jack Nicholson. At the same time, Nicholson has got his own undercover agent (Matt Damon) operating inside the police department. Much bloodshed erupts when our two moles are dispatched to find out each other’s identities. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Eragon (PG, 103 minutes) Based on the juvenile fantasy series by Christopher Paolini, this epic fantasy follows the adventures of an orphaned farm boy (newbie Edward Speleers) who finds a rare dragon’s egg, and uses his magical new friend to overthrow your basic evil king (John Malkovich). Jeremy Irons is in there too, bringing back uncomfortable memories of Dungeons & Dragons. Expect multiple sequels. Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
For Your Consideration (PG-13, 86 minutes) From the folks who brought us A Mighty Wind, Best of Show, Waiting for Guffman and, of course, This is Spinal Tap, comes another ripe mockumentary. This one follows the cast members of a dreary period drama (titled Home for Purim), who learn their respective performances are generating awards-season buzz. Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Jennifer Coolidge: The gang’s all here, poking sharp fun at the Hollywood hype machine. Playing at Vinegar Hill Theatre
The Good Shepherd (R, 160 minutes) Robert De Niro finally gets around to directing another film (after 1993’s A Bronx Tale). This one’s a detailed drama about the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency. Matt Damon plays an idealistic young man recruited to become the prototypical superspy. Angelina Jolie is his unsuspecting wife who watches her husband grow more paranoid and jaded as the Cold War wears on. The tone is grave and the pacing measured, but De Niro has created a Godfather-like saga about the Powers That Be. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Happy Feet (G, 87 minutes) Wouldn’t March of the Penguins have been so much more interesting if the birds could sing and tap-dance? Well, that’s the premise of this CGI musical featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving and Robin Williams. (Couldn’t rehab kept Robin out of at least a few movies this year?) Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
The History Boys (R, 112 minutes) Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George, The Crucible) directs this story of a class of history students in pursuit of a spot at Oxford or Cambridge. Richard Griffths, Stephen Campbell Moore, Frances de la Tour and Clive Merrison are all aboard as the adult figures in the boys’ lives. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
The Holiday (PG-13, 138 minutes) Two romance-hungry ladies (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) engage in a cross-continent home swap for the holidays. In America, Winslet meets Jack Black, while in England, Diaz hooks up with Jude Law. Another star-driven RomCom from writer/director by Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give). Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Nativity Story (PG, 100 minutes) Director Katherine Hardwicke makes an interesting subjective jump from her previous work (Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown) with this reverent, fairly realistic take on the Biblical tale of the Immaculate Conception. Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) stars as the timid but resolute Mary, chosen by God to birth the Messiah. Newby Oscar Isaac is the faithful Joseph who takes his mysteriously pregnant wife on the long, dangerous journey to Bethlehem. The film treads a fine line between the secular and the religious, benefitting from some credible actors (Ciarán Hinds, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Alexander Siddig) and some realistic settings. (The film was shot in Italy and Morocco.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Night at the Museum (PG, 108 minutes) Ben Stiller stars in this fantasy-filled adaptation of the best-selling children’s book of the same name. In it, he plays a bumbling new security guard at the Museum of Natural History who accidentally lets loose an ancient curse causing all of the displays to come to life. Hijinks ensue. Cameos include Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Mickey Rooney and Owen Wilson. Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (R, 145 minutes) German director Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, Run) directs this sensory assaulting adaptation of Patrick Süskind’s best-selling historical thriller about an 18th-century Parisian who goes to murderous lengths to create the ultimate perfume. Süskind’s ironic prose and olfactory obsession are hard to re-create on screen, but the film looks great (in a grungy way) and moves fast. The film’s main role is thesped by relative newcomer Ben Whishaw, but old-timers Alan Rickman, Dustin Hoffman and John Hurt are around to fill in the smaller roles. Coming Wednesday; check local listings
The Pursuit of Happyness (PG-13, 117 minutes) Will Smith stars in this tear-jerking can-do drama as a struggling, largely homeless single father who takes custody of his young son (real-life offspring Jaden Smith). Unable to support himself, Dad makes a life-changing decison—to get a job as an unpaid intern on Wall Street. This “inspired by a true story” tale is just as schmaltzy as you would expect, but Smith the Elder does give a emotional, award-hungry performance. Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
Rocky Balboa (PG, 102 minutes) Sylvester Stallone returns to his beloved boxer for the sixth time. You’ve got to give him credit, though, for making it a gritty, heartfelt drama along the lines of the Oscar-winning original. Hard up for money and grieving over his dead wife (Adrian!), our aging pugilist accepts an exhibition match with the reigning heavyweight champ. Does Rocky still have what it takes to go the distance? Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
Stranger Than Fiction (PG-13, 113 minutes) This brainy, existential comedy (along the lines of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Truman Show) finds a humble IRS auditor (Will Ferrell) going slowly insane because he believes a narrator only he can hear is dictating every event in his life. Turns out, it’s the work of a reclusive novelist (Emma Thompson), who’s planning on killing off her main character. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah join in on the fun. Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
We Are Marshall (PG, 127 minutes) This inspirational sports drama is based on the true, tragic story of a 1970 plane crash that wiped out nearly all of the Marshall University football team. Despite some emotional oposition, the team’s new coach (Matthew McConaughey) tries to revive the team as well as the spirits of his traumatized community. Playing at Carmike Cinema 6