Unattributed film synopses indicate movies not yet reviewed by HW staff.

Indicates films of particular interest

Opening

Dear John, You totally promised me you wouldn’t reenlist but you did anyway so I’m marrying another guy even though you’re Channing Tatum and have great abs. Anyway, because this is an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, it will probably end in deep, mushy romance. Duh. Kisses, Amanda Seyfried.

From Paris With Love A thriller high on machismo and low on thrill. When the aid to the U.S. Ambassador in Paris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) gets asked to stop a terrorist attack, he gets paired with a gun-happy detective, played by a bald and mustached John Travolta.

Shinjuku Incident Tired of being the kung-fu kicking punch line, Jackie Chan takes a step toward the more serious side of cinema, starring in this action flick as an illegal Chinese immigrant navigating the yakuza-studded streets of Shinjuku. Compared to his last release, in which he played soccer mom to his girlfriend’s kids, it’s like Hamlet.

Continuing

Avatar Yes, the proceedings are involving, rousing and occasionally heartbreaking, but so was The Princess and the Frog. But before we pan the thing, the movie gets undeniably exciting in its spear-versus-machine climax. –Ryan Senaga

The Book of Eli Of course, hot on the heels of The Road and 2012, there’s not much we don’t know about Armageddon…This time it’s in the form of Denzel Washington, a solitary figure wandering the bleak landscape 30 years after an apocalyptic event known as the “flash.” –Dean Carrico

Crazy Heart See review on page 17.

Edge of Darkness See review on page 16.

Legion Toward the end, one of the characters wonders why God chose to exterminate humans. “Maybe He got tired of all the bullsh*t.” After seeing Legion, we’re tired of it too. –R.S.

Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle purists will totally lose their irregularities after seeing what happened to their beloved creation, but in a way, that’s part of this film’s excessive charm. –R.S.

The Spy Next Door An atypical Jackie Chan production: meaning for every cool kung-fu chop, Chan also gives us reason to giggle at his F.O.B. naiveté.

A Single Man Writer-director Tom Ford, making his helming debut, has done a credible, savvy version of the Christopher Isherwood novel, making it visually telling and guiding his actors to near-perfection. –Bob Green

Tooth Fairy Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson spends most of this children’s flick fluttering around in a pink tutu and fairy wings. It’s funny in the same “ironic” way the high school quarterback would dress up as a girl for Halloween. Which is to say, not very.

Up in the Air George Clooney gives a terrific performance in Jason Reitman’s equally terrific movie. –B.G.

When In Rome, take a coin from the “fountain of love” and you steal someone’s heart. Not necessarily a bad thing–unless the suitors happen to be Danny DeVito, Jon Napoleon Dynamite Heder and a self-absorbed dweeb played by Dax Shepard.

Doris Duke Theatre

3rd Annual Bollywood Film Festival runs through March 2 and features 10 of Mumbai’s best. See [www.honoluluacademy.org] for showtimes and movie prices.

Movie Museum

The Boys are Back (Australia/U.K., 2009) After his wife’s sudden death, a witty Australian sportswriter (Clive Owen) is left to raise his 6-year-old son, an exercise that yields disastrous, terrifying and ultimately heartwarming results (like frolicking on the beach).

Thu 2/4, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

After Midnight (Italy, 2004) The watchman at a local silent movie theater comes to the aid of Amanda, a charming fast-food cook on the run from the law, setting up a romantic triangle with her gangster boyfriend.

Fri 2/5, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

Zombieland (2009) A hilarious, brainless horror/comedy/road-trip flick about a cop (Woody Harrelson) trying to eradicate the surge of zombies threatening to overthrow his county. Featuring more blood than a Lady Gaga concert.

Sat 2/6, 12:15, 2, 3:45, 5:30, 7:15 & 9pm.

Bright Star (Australia/U.K./France, 2009) A poetic period piece based on John Keats’s relationship with Fanny Brawne, an outspoken fashion student.

Sun 2/7, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45 & 7pm.

So Long at the Fair (U.K., 1950) A festive night at the Moulin Rouge goes sour when Vicky’s (Jean Simmons) brother disappears, sending her on a chase with a romance artist.

Mon 2/8, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30pm.

The Proposition (Australia/U.K., 2005) A thriller, written by Nick Cave, set in 1880s Australia. After getting caught by the police, an outlaw (Guy Pearce) is faced with a daunting proposition: Kill his older brother, a barbaric psychopath, or his younger brother gets hung.

Mon 2/8, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

University of Hawaii

For the Next 7 Generations (2007) A documentary featuring the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, a group of shamans and medicine women based in upstate New York dedicated to forming an alliance of healing, education and prayer for Mother Earth. Narrated by Ashley Judd.

Sun 2/7, 5pm.

Truth Be Told (2007) When television producer Renee Donovan gets assigned to investigate the high death rate in a public housing facility in Singapore, her focus instead turns to her past, something she’s been running from for the past ten years. Awarded the Best Original Film at the 5th Asian Film Festival of Rome in 2007.

Wed 2/3, 6:30pm, Korean Studies Auditorium, Free.

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