Opening Films

by Inlander Staff


Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D -- Don't be deterred by the kiddie-friendly name. In fact, this new flick is directed by Robert Rodriguez, the man with the plan behind Sin City, the El Mariachi trilogy, From Dusk 'til Dawn and one of the Four Rooms vignettes. Granted, he also did Spy Kids, but unlike a screening of The Jetsons Movie or some My Little Pony flick, Rodriguez has probably packed enough action into this kid-centric film to keep you awake. Kid-at-heart David Arquette leads the cast of kids in this story about a boy who is joined by his imaginary superhero buddy for a whole gaggle of adventures. Rated: PG





High Tension -- This quietly inserted horror film could be the sleeper screamfest of Summer 2005. Luc Besson directs this tauter-than-piano wire story of two French college students who head for an old farmhouse in the French countryside, owned by the father of one of the girls. Their intention is to study for finals in peace and quiet, but a psychopathic visitor has quite a different vision for how their stay will go. Rated: R





The Honeymooners -- Why? Why? As if it weren't enough to bastardize the cherished TV memories of our youth (The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo), why do they have to go and make them completely unrecognizable? Case in point: this racially reinvented version of The Honeymooners, with Cedric the Entertainer filling Jackie Gleason's bus-driving shoes, Mike Epps as best buddy Ed Norton and Gabrielle Union and Regina Hall as their long-suffering wives. It's not even set in the '50s but in the hip-hop here and now. What's next? Sanford and Son starring Tommy Lee Jones and Ashton Kutcher? I Love Lucy with Queen Latifah and John Leguizamo? Grrrr. Rated: PG-13





Mr & amp; Mrs. Smith -- Beyond its relentless gunfights and car chases -- so many bullets are fired, it feels like a full-blown war -- the only thing Mr. & amp; Mrs. Smith offers its audience is the attractive onscreen union of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. John and Jane Smith are a married couple of hired assassins who have managed to keep their similar occupations concealed from one another until a double-booked hit pits them against each other. The film toys with role reversals and marital therapy, but in the end it falls flat because there's (ironically) no real relationship to work out. (Cole Smithey) Rated: PG-13





Publication date: 06/09/05