originally published June 13, 2007

300

(R) The titular 300 are the hulked-out citizen-soldiers led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), who smash and grab glory from defeat at the arrowheads of the million-man Persian army. Stunning to behold, director Zack Snyder painstakingly renders Frank Miller’s graphic novel in three dimensions. (Georgia Square 5)

AMERICAN MOVIE

(R) 1999. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, American Movie brought a great deal of attention to filmmakers Chris Smith and Sarah Price, but also to the movie's fascinating subject, Mark Borchardt, who continues his dream of shooting his short film Coven. Shows Wednesday, 6/13 (Georgia Theatre)

ARE WE DONE YET?

(PG) Kid-hater turned lovable thug Nick Persons (Ice Cube), his pregnant wife (Nia Long), and their two tweens decide to move to the country, biting off more than they can chew with the fixer-upper from Hell. This sequel to Are We There Yet? has a slightly more solid construction than the 2005 surprise smash. (Georgia Square 5)

THE ARISTOCRATS

(NR) 2005. Take a joke as old as vaudeville itself and allow America’s top comedians to tell it any which way but clean. Why would you wish to watch 100 comedians repeat the same unfunny joke for 90 minutes? It’s funny; that’s why. The Aristocrats, a masturbatory excuse for modern jesters to crack each other up while concurrently shocking audiences, proves that jokes, like movies, need no point when they are so painfully, disgustingly hilarious. Part of Ciné’s Special Summer Midnite Comedy Series. Shows Friday, 6/15 & Saturday, 6/16 (Ciné)

AWAY FROM HER

(PG-13) 2006. Acclaimed Canadian actress Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter, Dawn of the Dead) adapted Alice Munro’s “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” for her directorial debut. A husband (Gordon Pinsent) must cope with losing his institutionalized wife (Julie Christie) twice, as her mental health deteriorates and she falls in love with a fellow patient (Michael Murphy). Away from Her has already picked up accolades from the ACTRA Awards and the Sedona International Film Festival. With Olympia Dukakis. (Ciné)

BE GOOD, SMILE PRETTY

(NR) 2003. “Be Good, Smile Pretty” is Tracy Droz Tragos’ attempt to meet her father, who died at 25 on a swift boat in the Mekong Delta. Tragos travels from Selma to the U.S. Senate, searching for anyone - war buddies, roommates from the Academy - who can shed more light on the father she did not know. Best Documentary winner at the News & Documentary Emmys and the Los Angeles/IFP West Film Festival. Part of the ACC Library’s iFilms series. Shows Thursday, 6/14 (ACC Library)

THE BIG LEBOWSKI

(R) 1998. Filmmaking siblings Ethan and Joel Coen (Fargo) veer into bizarre comic territory with this quirky and well-made "mistaken identity" flick. Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), mistaken for millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski by gangsters, becomes entangled in a hilariously complicated plot when he goes to visit his namesake. Shows Wednesday, 6/13 (Georgia Theatre)

DIGGERS

(R) 2006. Ken Marino (MTV’s “The State”) makes his writing debut with this slice of Long Island clam-digging life. In the late 1970s, four buddies struggle to survive in a family business slowly being strangled by a nearby big fishery. Marino’s script generates some genuinely funny moments and costar Paul Rudd continues to get better and better with each subsequent film. Ends Thursday (Ciné)

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER

(PG) Now that FF2 is here, I’m more excited about the Silver Surfer (body by Doug Jones, voice by Laurence Fishburne), groovy harbinger of planet devourer Galactus, than I am about seeing the somewhat miscast Fantastic Four (I’m down with Michael Chiklis’ Thing and Chris Evans’ Human Torch; Ioan Gruffudd’s Mr. Fantastic is just okay; Jessica Alba is completely wrong as Sue Storm) save Earth. Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

GEORGIA RULE

(R) Out-of-control teen Rachel (Lindsay Lohan) is taken by her mother (Felicity Huffman) to spend the summer with her strict grandmother (Jane Fonda) in Mormon country. Though not a black comedy, Georgia Rule tries to milk laughs from child molestation. Sick. Starts Friday (Georgia Square 5)

GHOST RIDER

(PG-13) When Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) sells his soul to Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda), the stunt rider becomes a flaming, leather-clad, motorcycle-riding skeleton supernaturally powerful enough to punish evil. In spite of Cage’s every misstep, when Blaze transforms into the Rider, the film changes into the hokey, B-list superhero fun it should be. Shows Wednesday, 6/13 (Tate)

HOSTEL: PART II

(R) Jovial, self-gratifying but ultimately cowardly, Hostel Part II breaks no new gorno ground (the Saws are sharper) and flays fit filmmaker Eli Roth to expose the underdeveloped musculature of a deranged frat boy underneath. After two films, I don't know what I expected from ol’ Eli, but after his Thanksgiving trailer, I know what I wanted and he didn’t deliver. Illuminating the Hunting Club’s process was a smart direction to travel, and swapping genders works. Centuries of chivalry ensure Beth, Whitney and Lorna (Lauren German, Bijou Phillips and Heather Matarazzo) receive at least a whit more compassion than Hostel’s all-male revue. Still, I have to believe if Roth treated his characters more humanely in the first act, I’d end up caring more in the second and third. Grotesquely entertaining (Roth has a blissful sense of black humor), the flick goes pretty far - the end’s downright nasty - without going far enough. Mid-franchise Friday the 13th contained more ingenious methods of mutilation. (However, if you want to see Dawn Wiener naked, here’s your chance.) Nonetheless, give me Roth any day over the multitude of watered-down PG-13 horror soon to fill multiplex screens after the surprising spring success of Disturbia. (Carmike)

KNOCKED UP

(R) When Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl, radiant in a star-making turn) decides to keep the result of a one-night stand with smooshy, man-boy/ Internet porn entrepreneur Ben (Seth Rogen, the secret weapon of “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared”), she sets in motion a riotous two-hour journey that mocks the ups and downs of pregnancy, courtship and marriage on the way to a heartfelt happily ever after. Our greatest synthesist of bawdy sex comedy and sincere romantic comedy, Jude Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) has delivered a healthy funny movie that could rank as 2007’s best were comedy to be given its proper due by those critical personages capable of bestowing such an honor. (Beechwood, Carmike); Starts Friday (Highway 17 Theatres)

MEET THE ROBINSONS

(G) When orphan Lewis’ newest experiment blows up in his face, he is whisked to the future by Wilbur Robinson, eldest son of the future’s first family. Despite its visual wow factor, Robinsons is obnoxiously madcap, hyperactively zany, and quite tedious. Meet the Robinsons needs to go back to the future and stay there. Shows Wednesday, 6/20 (Tate)

MR. BROOKS

(R) See Flick Skinny. Not as bad as its decades-old premise (a brilliant serial killer is being hunted by a determined cop) or its decade-past-their prime stars, Kevin Costner and Demi Moore, portend, Mr. Brooks niftily riffs on Costner’s image with a violently supportive look at a regretful killer. (Carmike); Ends Thursday (Beechwood)

NANCY DREW

(PG) The teen detective gets a long-delayed update. Leaving the confines of River Heights for Hollywood, the proto-Veronica Mars (young up-and-comer Emma Roberts, Aquamarine) sets out to solve the legendary, mysterious murder of actress Dehlia Draycott (Laura Harring). Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

NEXT

(PG-13) This latest Philip K. Dick adaptation starring Nicolas Cage is boring. A Vegas magician (Cage),must use his ability to see two minutes into the future to save America from some leftover “24” plot device. With Jessica Biel. (Georgia Square 5)

OCEAN’S THIRTEEN

(PG-13) See Movie Pick. (Beechwood, Carmike)

PERFECT STRANGER

(R) Say what you will about Basic Instinct 2. At least that slutty flick put out; Perfect Stranger is a tease. Investigative journalist Rowena Price (Halle Berry) runs into her next story when her old friend, Grace, ends up murdered. With Bruce Willis. Ends Thursday (Georgia Square 5)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END

(PG-13) Darker than the first two films, At World’s End rediscovers Black Pearl’s quirky sense of humor. Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) has never seemed more addled, more sun-stroked and more fey than when he is rescued by Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) on their way to Shipwreck Cove, where the Brethren Court is meeting to discuss the East India Trading Company’s genocidal assault on the sea’s population of buccaneers, brigands and bandits. The film feels reenergized by Jack’s return to his proper role as reluctant, brainless, lucky anti-hero. A three-hour behemoth, At World’s End is one clever swashbuckler fueled by Depp’s slapstick coconut rummy and some banging FX. (Beechwood, Carmike)

PLAGUES AND PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA

(NR) 2004. As summed up by filmmakers Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer, Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea “features: Hungarian Revolutionaries, Christian Nudists, Pop Stars, Land Sharks, Hard Drinkers, Empty Cities, Failed Resort Towns, Tons of Dead Fish, A Dying Cafe, & a Man Who Built a Mountain.” Cult filmmaker John Waters narrates this award-winning chronicling of the Southern California body of water. Co-director Metzler will be present for a post-screening Q&A, where he’ll also be encouraging audience members to fill out postcards in memory of Sonny Bono to be sent to California’s gubernator discouraging delay of scheduled water transfers. Shows Tuesday, 6/19 (Flicker)

PREMONITION

(PG-13) When the world of Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) collapses upon the accidental death of her husband Jim (Julian McMahon), the housewife breaks from reality and starts experiencing that fateful week out of order. I’m buying everything Bullock’s selling. Ends Thursday (Georgia Square 5)

SEARCHING FOR THE WRONG-EYED JESUS

(NR) 2005. Alt-country singer Jim White tours the South, exploring the vitality of one-road towns, roadside diners, bars, prisons and churches while illuminating what the region, its people and its very human foibles mean to him. Along the way, the truth of the South is revealed through the words of novelist Harry Crews and the music of The Handsome Family, Johnny Dowd, 16 Horsepower and David Johansen. Presented on 6/15 & 6/16 by Jim White. Starts Friday (Ciné)

SHREK THE THIRD

(PG) After the death of King Harold (voiced by John Cleese), Shrek (v. Mike Myers), Donkey (v. Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (v. Antonio Banderas) strike out in search of the youthful Artie (v. Justin Timberlake). Meanwhile, Fiona (v. Cameron Diaz) and her sisters in tiaras (v. Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris, Maya Rudolph and Cheri Oteri) must deal with Prince Charming (v. Rupert Everett), who has banded together with Far Far Away’s villains. Shrek the Third is far, far away the least of the franchise’s three films. (Beechwood, Carmike, Highway 17 Theatres)

SPIDER-MAN 3

(PG-13) In his third adventure, Spidey (Tobey Maguire) must out-duel fan favorite Venom (Topher Grace), the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and himself, as Marvel’s most popular hero has swapped his red and blue underwear for a black costume/ alien symbiote. The bloated Spider-Man 3 packs on far too many pounds of fatty story. Still, a chunky Spider-Man 3 sprints where bony-ass comic book adaptations like Ghost Rider limp. (Beechwood, Carmike); Ends Thursday (Highway 17 Theatres)

STROKES OF GENIUS

(NR) 1984. A documentary film series, Strokes of Genius explores the Abstract Expressionist movement through the personal lives and artistic contributions of its principal players. The June 13 screenings, “Arshile Gorky” and “Franz Kline Remembered,” document the former’s influence upon the birth of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism and revelations of the latter’s iconoclastic spirit. On June 20: “Jackson Pollock: Portrait” offers rare footage of the provocative American artist in all his energetic, canvas-splashing glory. Part of the Georgia Museum of Art’s Wednesday Night Films in June series. Shows Wednesday, 6/13 & 6/20 (GMOA)

SURF’S UP

(PG) See Flick Skinny. A mockumentary of up-and-coming surfer and penguin Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LeBeouf), the mildly amusing, never hysterical Surf’s Up has a hard time finding its wave, but once it does, settles into a nice comedic rhythm, thanks to some multi-generational gags (including a stoned chicken and a wily masturbation reference) and a sensationally deep vocal characterization by Jeff Bridges. After escaping his Antarctic hometown of Shiverpool, Cody bombs his first run and winds up in the jungle with an old surf bum, Geek (v. Bridges). The lessons are all pat and the documentary P.O.V. dropped whenever it becomes dramatically inconvenient. Still, soothingly beautiful ocean animation and terrifically amusing performances from LeBeouf, Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, John “Napoleon Dynamite” Heder, Mario Cantone (“Sex and the City”), James Woods and Diedrich Bader make Surf’s Up a nice little wave to catch. (Beechwood, Carmike, Highway 17 Theatres)

VACANCY

(R) A crackerjack, scary-as-hell premise - visitors to a remote motel are forced to star in cheapo snuff films - make this cheapo, thrills-only slasher flick not so different than the snuff films-within-the-film. With Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson. (Georgia Square 5)

WAITRESS

(PG-13) The year’s sweetest film, Waitress, the late Adrienne Shelly’s love letter to her daughter, is also most “tragically cute.” Unhappily married and pregnant, Jenna (Keri Russell) whiles away her days creating fabulously delicious pies. When Jenna begins having an affair with the town’s new ob-gyn (Nathan Fillion), she rediscovers her worth outside her suffocating marriage. This indie romcom might turn a few off with its pro-infidelity, but I prefer to think of it as anti-lovelessness. (Beechwood)

WILD HOGS

(PG-13) Four middle-aged suburban eunuchs - John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy - try to regain their masculinity by hitting the open road on their bikes. This flick’s just coasting on the fumes of its stars’ fading charms. Starts Friday (Georgia Square 5)

Drew Wheeler