originally published October 10, 2007

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

(PG-13) Director Julie Taymor's latest film follows a group of young people (Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy, Jim Sturgess as Jude, Joe Anderson as Max, Dana Fuchs as Sadie - get it? And no, Max is not a serial killer) finding their way during the turmoil of the late 1960s. This film is Hair (same basic story, even) where all the hippies are cleaner and more attractive - and only sing Beatles songs. Stay home and watch Hair while listening to Let It Be. [Margaret Moore] (Beechwood)

BLOOD CAR

(NR) See Movie Pick. Members of the cast and crew will be present for a Q&A at the Friday midnight screening. Meet Mike Brune (lead actor, Archie), Katie Rowlett (lead actress, Denise) and Hugh Braselton (story writer, Second Unit Director). Shows Friday, 10/12–Sunday, 10/14, Tuesday, 10/16–Wednesday, 10/17 (Ciné)

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

(PG-13) Director Paul Greengrass returns with a third entry that elevates the series’ threat level to midnight. Shot and edited at a breakneck pace, Ultimatum is bursting with brutal beatings, deadly double crosses and revelations about Bourne’s (Matt Damon) past. (Georgia Square 5)

CRASH

(R) 2005. With a strong, improbable ensemble and a script balancing acerbic wit, devastating loss and prickly racism, Paul Haggis’ Oscar-winning Crash asks why anything at all happens to anyone at all, especially people as imperfect as the characters. Shows Wednesday, 10/10 (UGA SLC)

A CRUDE AWAKENING

(NR) “Oil is our God” aptly describes the world’s current oil crisis and our refusal to acknowledge our continuing dependence on depleting fossil fuels. A Crude Awakening is a documentary that uncovers the ignorance and blind faith most of the world lives with: that oil will always be a viable resource, fueling most of the world’s economy. With a stream of startling facts (98 percent of transportation energy comes from oil) and shocking photos (before and after shots of an oil boom town), this documentary makes bold conclusions that leave its audience feeling somewhat helpless in the wake of a seemingly bleak future. A cast of experts ensures the audience that this oil crisis needs to be dealt with now, if not for us then for future generations. There will be an ECO-CINE reception at the Ciné Lab on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m., followed by the 7:15 p.m. screening with speaker Dorinda Dallmeyer, Director of the UGA Environmental Ethics Program. [Maggie Summers] Shows Friday, 10/12–Sunday, 10/14, Tuesday, 10/16–Wednesday, 10/17 (Ciné)

DANGEROUS LIVING: COMING OUT IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

(NR) 2003. Dangerous Living explores the lives of gay and lesbian people in the Global South. This documentary has increased relevance on the heels of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s recent comments about the absence of homosexuality in his country. Sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center & International Student Life. Shows Thursday, 10/11 (UGA SLC)

DIXIE FILM FESTIVAL '07

(NR) See story here. Shows Friday, 10/12 & Saturday, 10/13 (Carmike, Lyndon House Arts Center)

THE DUNGEONMASTER

(PG-13) 1985. It took Charles Band and six other directors to make this technological sword and sorcery flick. In order to save his girlfriend, computer whiz Paul (Jeffrey Byron) must do battle with evil wizard Mestema (Richard Moll). With metal band W.A.S.P.. Shows Monday, 10/15 (Flicker)

EASTERN PROMISES

(R) The plot of David Cronenberg's latest is centered on a midwife (Naomi Watts), a baby girl and a diary. The child (and the diary) belong to a young Russian prostitute who dies during childbirth. A clue in the diary leads the midwife to the Russian mob's newest driver/ butcher, Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen). Despite seeing someone get their throat cut in the opening scenes, there is surprisingly little gore for a David Cronenberg film. However, the fight scene where a nude Nikolai gets jumped in a public bath is painfully realistic. This film is filled with award-worthy performances, especially from Mortensen and Watts. [Alex Moore] (Beechwood)

ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE

(PG-13) Shekhar Kapur’s 1998 Oscar winner returns Cate Blanchett to the throne as Elizabeth I. Golden Age explores the relationship between the Virgin Queen and Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) as England faces the might of Spain’s Philip II (Jordi Molla). Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

EVAN ALMIGHTY

(PG) Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) has just won a seat in Congress when God shows up with Ark Building for Dummies. A weak attempt to co-opt religion for box office gain, Evan Almighty is errantly, inherently unfunny. Playing first in a double feature with I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry this weekend. Shows Friday 10/12 & Saturday, 10/13 (Highway 17 Theatres)

EXILED

(R) 2006. As Portugal readies to return the colony of Macau to China in 1999, four hitmen consider what the future holds for them while preparing to protect and/ or assassinate a former associate. Exiled snagged a Golden Lion nom for Hong Kong director Johnny To. Ends Thursday (Ciné)

FEAST OF LOVE

(R) Robert Benton (Kramer vs. Kramer) directs this adaptation of Charles Baxter’s novel. Bradley (Greg Kinnear) has recently lost his wife (Selma Blair) to another woman; Chloe and Oscar are young, poor, but in love; and Diana (Radha Mitchell) is having an affair with a married man. All of this love is overseen by Morgan Freeman and Jane Alexander. Clichés and platitudes masquerade as philosophical meditations on the various states of love. Ends Thursday (Beechwood, Carmike)

FEEL THE NOISE

(PG-13) Producer J-Lo should have thrown a little extra money into the film to buy some originality. When Rob (Omarion Grandberry), a South Bronx rapper wannabe, runs afoul of some local thugs, his mother sends him to Puerto Rico to live with his father. There, Rob and half-brother Javi compose a thumping club hit that earns them a trip to New York. Feel the Noise has garnered more publicity for what it doesn’t have - a Latino lead - than what it does - lots of dancing and some catchy tunes. (Carmike)

THE FILMS OF BRENT GREEN

(NR) About an hour of Green’s films will be accompanied by live narration and improvised soundtracks from Green and his backing band, Sin Ropas. Green is truly an inventive animator on the rise. Shows Friday, 10/12 (Flicker)

THE GAME PLAN

(PG) Professional football player Joe Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) has only one thing in mind - winning a championship ring - until his daughter, sweet little Peyton (Madison Pettis), is left on his doorstep. The Game Plan needs an MVP. While Johnson should be it, Joe Kingman isn’t. Blasé characterization does not a winning lead create. Kids will love The Game Plan for two hours and promptly forget it; parents could do worse. (Beechwood, Carmike)

GOOD LUCK CHUCK

(R) More soft-core porn than actual comedy, Good Luck Chuck fails in everything it attempts. Chuck (Dane Cook) has been cursed since middle school: every girl he sleeps with falls in love with the next man she dates. This is all well and good until he meets the clumsy-yet-gorgeous Cam (Jessica Alba), the girl of his dreams, and thus, must find a way to break the curse. Riddled with vulgar sex jokes and raunchy scenes, Chuck leaves its audience feeling more violated than amused. [Maggie Summers] (Beechwood, Carmike)

GREASE

(PG) 1978. Nearly 30 years later, Grease remains the word. One of the most popular musicals of all time, this revisionist slice of 1950s nostalgia stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as the unlikely, golden-throated high schoolers, Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. Shows Thursday, 10/11 (Tate)

HAIRSPRAY

(PG) This charming picture is powered by the contagious bounce of big-haired, big-boned newcomer Nikki Blonsky, and catchy songs. In 1960s Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad (Blonsky) shows everyone some new steps when she integrates “The Corny Collins Show.” With John Travolta. Shows Friday, 10/12–Sunday, 10/14 (Tate)

HALLOWEEN

(R) Rob Zombie’s reimagining (for lack of a better term) of John Carpenter’s slasher classic redesigns the entire concept of a remake. Halloween is the franchise’s best effort in nearly 30 years, and a fitting addition to Zombie’s brief, promising filmmaking career. (Highway 17 Theatres)

HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

(PG-13) HP5 begins with more danger and intrigue than any previous Potter outing. Voldemort’s resurrection has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) fighting for his life. A solid, if not quite dazzling, transition from HP4 to HP6, HP5 will not disappoint hardcore Potterheads. (Georgia Square 5)

THE HEARTBREAK KID

(R) See Movie Pick. (Beechwood, Carmike)

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY

(PG-13) Adam Sandler’s latest comedy fails at pretty much everything it attempts: humor, characters, message, you name it. Sandler and Kevin James ("King of Queens") are Chuck and Larry, two NYC firefighters who get married to solve Larry’s pension problem. (Highway 17 Theatres)

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

(R) Overrated Oscar winning writer-director Paul Haggis (Crash) swings another message-laden mallet upside the heads of moviegoers. Retired military policeman and investigative savant Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) and a local police detective (Charlize Theron) look into the brutal murder of Deerfield's son, a soldier recently returned from Iraq. Elah manipulates base emotion by attacking soldiers to make its anti-war point. Ends Thursday (Beechwood)

THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB

(PG-13) The Jane Austen Book Club is an intriguing attempt at modernization. Rather than updating the English author’s six timeless romances, Karen Joy Fowler’s novel, adapted for the screen by writer-director Robin Swicord, proves the eternal relevance of these works by uncovering their themes in present-day California. Never-married Jocelyn (Maria Bello), unhappily married French teacher Prudie (Emily Blunt), recently-divorced Sylvie (Amy Brenneman), Sylvie’s lesbian daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace), six-time divorcee Bernadette (Kathy Baker), and young stud Griff (Hugh Dancy) all confront the romantic contrivances of Austen’s 19th century heroines. The Jane Austen Book Club is just another house of passionate cards ready to be razed and replaced by the real deal. (Beechwood)

THE KINGDOM

(R) Too jingoistic for the left, not tough enough on terrorism for the right, I’m sure many will find ideological fault with this geopolitical action thriller. Politics may be at the center of director Peter Berg’s film, but they are not the heart that beats and bleeds through two hours of the most intense, cathartic action I’ve seen in years. Just hours after terrorists attack a U.S. housing complex on Saudi Arabian soil, an F.B.I. investigative team (Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, and Jason Bateman) is given five days to assist with the investigation. Berg’s fourth feature may feel like Michael Mann, but this exemplar of action-oriented, Hollywoodized cinéma vérité looks like Berg. (Beechwood, Carmike)

LA MALA EDUCACIÓN

(R) 2004. Pedro Almodóvar’s Bad Education stars Gael García Bernal in this examination of Franco-era religious schooling. Two boys discover love, movies and fear with the assistance and hindrance of the school’s principal and literature teacher. A perplexing, beautiful film. Shows Wednesday, 10/10 (UGA SLC)

LAUGH FACTORY

(NR) Yuck it up to 100 minutes of never-before-seen stand-up comedy from the world-famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood, CA. Part of a series of Thursday night comedy events at the theater. Shows Thursday, 10/11 (Carmike)

MICHAEL CLAYTON

(R) George Clooney stars as the titular lawyer in this hostile merger of Erin Brockovich and A Civil Action. Jason Bourne’s personal screenwriter, Tony Gilroy, steps behind the camera for his directorial debut. Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

PAPRIKA

(R) 2006. This twisted anime tale blurs the line between dreams and reality. When prototypes of a machine used by doctors to enter the dreams of mental patients are stolen, members of the development team begin to experience nightmares. In Japanese with English subtitles. [Margaret Moore] Ends Thursday (Carmike)

PIERROT LE FOU

(NR) 1965. A near-perfect example of Godardian cinema, the legendarily scriptless Pierrot le fou, for which the filmmaker was nominated for the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion, meanders interminably, constantly reflecting upon its own cinematic image, as a couple (Jean Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina) hide out in southern France. Pierrot le fou is nominally constructed as a gangster film, yet the structure is merely an excuse for the filmmaker to clown around and break as many cinematic rules as possible in under two hours. The film would be extremely parodic were it not so damn full of itself. Pierrot le fou may just be Godard’s greatest work, but the film is a challenge to be admirably accomplished, not lazily enjoyed. Starts Friday (Ciné)

R.E.M. LIVE

(NR) R.E.M.’s first-ever live CD/DVD, recorded/filmed in Dublin in February 2005, is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, Oct. 16, but fans can get an early treat the night before at Ciné. See Out There! and p. 33. Shows Monday, 10/15 (Ciné)

RATATOUILLE

(G) Remy the rat (Patton Oswalt) dreams of being a top chef. Garbage boy Linguine (Lou Romano) doesn’t want to lose another job. Together they become the gastronomic sensation of Paris. Ratatouille again proves Pixar is king. Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles). (Georgia Square 5)

RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION

(R) Milla Jovovich returns as the ass-kicking, DNA-modified Alice in the third installment of the Resident Evil franchise. Chaos, of course, ensues. At least the franchise has something going for it: no wimpy PG-13 rating! [Margaret Moore] Ends Thursday (Beechwood, Carmike)

SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE

(NR) Carmike hosts its first National Geographic Giant Screen 3-D film, a documentary about prehistoric sea creatures. Photo-realistic, high-resolution computer graphics with a run time of 40 minutes. Narrated by Liev Schreiber. (Carmike)

THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING

(PG) See Flick Skinny. Based on the Newberry Medal-winning second novel in Susan Cooper’s popular The Dark Is Rising series, The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising should at least please its target audience, kids. On his 14th birthday, Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig) discovers he is one of the Old Ones (gleefully played with silly, secretiveness by Ian McShane and Frances Conroy), ancient, time-traveling warriors of the light destined to do battle with the forces of the dark, represented by The Rider (Christopher Eccleston). Excitingly staged and sometimes rousingly directed (the flick is never static), The Seeker sucks the viewer into its joining of our modern world with an Arthurian mythos. A tangible menace stalks Will’s early encounters with the dark’s minions in a mall and a crypt. But as the story unfolds and the time travel increases, the film unravels, getting sillier and sillier. (Beechwood, Carmike)

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

(PG-13) I can’t help but greet the feature version of this cultural institution with a single, “D’oh!” As “South Park” presciently declared, “Simpsons did it.” Every surreal plot turn and nonsensical gag are recycled. Ends Thursday (Georgia Square 5)

STARDUST

(PG-13) Director Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman ably streamline Tristran’s (Charlie Cox) quest for fallen star Yvaine (Claire Danes), while expanding his crusade to save his true love from the evil witch (Michelle Pfeiffer). Too bad the film lacks the star power or the cohesive marketing campaign to connect with its audience. Starts Friday (Georgia Square 5)

SYDNEY WHITE

(PG-13) Amanda Bynes continues her cutesy teen roles with her turn as Sydney White (as in Snow White, get it?), an anti-sorority girl who likes comic books and wears Converse sneakers. A cute comedy for teen girls. [Maggie Summers] Ends Thursday (Beechwood)

THIRD WARD TX

(NR) The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers returns with Andrew Garrison’s filmed document of the palliative gentrification undergone by a left-for-dead inner-city Houston neighborhood, known as the Third Ward, as a result of the guerrilla art exhibit “Project Row Houses.” To be introduced by filmmaker Garrison. Shows Wednesday, 10/17 (GMOA)

TRANSFORMERS

(PG-13) The good-guy Autobots befriend young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who aids them in their quest to stop the evil Decepticons from eradicating mankind. Transformers is the best adaptation of a cartoon ever. (Georgia Square 5)

VALENTÍN

(PG-13) 2003. In Buenos Aires, an eight-year-old boy (Silver Condor winner Rodrigo Noya) is being raised by his grandmother. When she dies, young Valentín must solve all of his family’s problems on his own. Written and directed by The Lake House’s Alejandro Agresti. Shows Wednesday, 10/10 (GMOA)

THE WAY I SPENT THE END OF THE WORLD

(NR) 2006. A seven-year-old boy plots to assassinate Romanian dictator Ceausescu after his 17-year-old sister is sent to reform school for knocking over a bust of the communist leader. Co-written and directed by Palme d’Or winner Catalin Mitulescu, The Way I Spent the End of the World was honored with an NHK Award from the Sundance Film Festival and Petre won an Un Certain Regard for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. Part of the ACC Library’s iFilms series. Shows Thursday, 10/11 (ACC Library)

WE OWN THE NIGHT

(R) Looking this much like The Departed is more a hindrance than a help. Nightclub owner Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) must save his policeman brother (Mark Wahlberg) and poppa (Robert Duvall) from the Russian mafia. Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

WHY DID I GET MARRIED?

(PG-13) Tyler Perry (he again acts, writes, and directs) transports his popular stage play about marriage and fidelity to the big screen. Four couples gaze long and hard at the reasons behind their various unions after an adulterous incident mars a mountain getaway. Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmike)

THE WILD BUNCH

(R) 1969. One of Sam Peckinpah’s many masterpieces, The Wild Bunch is an aging gang of outlaws, led by Pike (William Holden) and Dutch (Ernest Borgnine), whose way of life is doomed by America’s booming expansion and industrialization. Ends Thursday (Ciné)

Drew Wheeler