Opening Films

by Inlander Staff


Americano -- The spirit of Papa Hemingway hangs heavily over Americano, written and directed by originally-from-Spokane Kevin Noland. Three American college graduates navigate the crowded streets and seedy dens of Pamplona - where one (Joshua Jackson) finds an almost stereotypically perfect Spanish senorita while his friends find themselves coming up against life-changing decisions. A kinetic cinema verite approach to urban festivity gives way to calming scenes of rural beauty and near-worshipful shots of trout fishing in Spanish streams. Dennis Hopper helps out as a mysterious nightclub owner. (Sheri Boggs) Not Yet Rated. At the Met Theater June 28-30.





Bewitched -- The idea is a good one: Instead of just doing a movie version of the popular sitcom about a witch who marries a regular guy, this goofy stab at Hollywood is about the people who are making a new version of the series for TV, with Will Ferrell as the actor playing Darren, and Nicole Kidman in the Samantha role. Shirley MacLaine as Endora is the show-stealer, but everyone's game, and most are good. Some of the length and fluff content could be trimmed, but it'll still please crowds. (ES) PG-13





George A. Romero's Land of the Dead -- "Zombies, man. They creep me out." So utters Dennis Hopper's character in George A. Romero's return to the genre he so masterfully created almost 40 years ago with the original Night of the Living Dead. In Land, the zombies have taken over the world while the last surviving members of the human race have barricaded themselves inside a walled city. But there is trouble brewing within and without as the living dead begin evolving and coordinating their assaults on the city of man to get at the last few pieces on Earth of fresh, yummy brains. Also starring John Leguizamo and Asia Argento, daughter of Italian horror master (and erstwhile Romero collaborator) Dario Argento. (MC) Rated:





Herbie: Fully Loaded -- Dear Hollywood, I have been a faithful movie watcher since I was very little. The images, the sounds, the visions and spectacles that you have created have been the stuff of my sleeping and waking dreams. Your brilliance and creativity have fueled my own imagination for decades. Which, I guess, is why I'm writing. I'm worried about you, Hollywood. I'm worried that you're losing steam, that you've run out of fresh ideas. Case in point: you're remaking every movie or TV series that ever made a dollar, just to make more dollars. A remake of Herbie the Love Bug? Seriously? The original was so nice. Why ruin the original with (admittedly hot) freakin' Lindsay Lohan as a NASCAR wanna-be? Why? I used to worship you, Hollywood. Now you're dead to me. (JS) Rated: G





Rocking the Corps -- The title here should be pretty self-explanatory. Cedric the Entertainer (along with Jay Mohr and Louie Anderson) hosted this April 1, 2005, "patriotic thank you" for our boys and girls at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego. Submitted for your musical approval are Hootie and the Blowfish, Destiny's Child, Ted Nugent, KISS, Richie Sambora, Godsmack and Ja Rule. Not Rated.