All week
“The Monuments Men” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Despite a powerhouse cast and an intriguing true-life story (historians try to rescue priceless art stolen by the Nazis), early reviews for this George Clooney-directed drama have not been kind.
All week
“I, Frankenstein” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Didn’t realize Frankenstein had such a firm grasp of grammar. Also didn’t realize that he was so hunky, at least in the persona of demonslayer Aaron Eckhart, who probably doesn’t throw a little girl in the lake in this one.
All week
“Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Yep, this is it, the only new movie in wide release this weekend. The fifth installment of the found-footage series moves the malevolent demon to a Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles, which early reviews say seems to freshen up a series that was growing stale.
All week
“Saving Mr. Banks” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) tries to charm a frosty British author (Emma Thompson) into letting him make a movie of her book, which happens to be “Mary Poppins.” Since it’s a Disney movie, I’m guessing he wins?
All week
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema, Sundance) — The first installment of Peter Jackson’s overinflated three-film adaptation of a trim fantasy novel was flabby and frenetic, but the reviews say this one is better. Bonus points for saying “Sma-oog” correctly when you buy the ticket.
All week (opened Wednesday)
“Oldboy” (Point) — Spike Lee attempts an American remake of Park Chan-wook’s cult classic about revenge, long-held secrets, and unfortunate octopi. Josh Brolin plays an ordinary jerk who gets imprisoned for 20 years, then tries to figure out who did it, and why.
All week
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema, Sundance) — My full review is here. The second installment of the blockbuster series sends Katniss back to the Hunger Games, but goes bigger and deeper than the first film.
All week
“The Best Man Holiday” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — “Tron: Legacy” proved you can never have too big a gap between an original film and its sequel, as the 1999 ensemble comedy returns with a holiday edition.
All week
“Thor: The Dark World” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — My full review is here. The golden-maned prince of Asgard returns to fight Dark Elves to save the universe and propel the Marvelverse relay race forward to “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” next spring.
All week
“The Counselor” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema, Sundance, Cinema Cafe) — It’s no country for young men, either, as Cormac McCarthy writes this bleak thriller about a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who gets entangled in a Mexican drug cartel.
Madison Movie 