RATINGS
Rating 5 Outstanding
Rating 4 Very Good
Rating 3 Good
Rating 2 Fair
Rating 1 Poor
OPENING
Midnight's Children
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) A pair of children, born within moments of India gaining independence from Britain, grow up in the country that is nothing like their parent's generation. Stars Satya Bhabha, Shahana Goswami and Rajat Kapoor. PG
Skyfall
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, Empire University 4, SilverCity Imax, Star) James Bond's (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested when her past comes back to haunt her and top-secret MI6 files are leaked - meaning the identities of each and every undercover agent placed in terrorist rings around the world may be compromised. Also starring Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. PG
CONTINUING
Alex Cross
(Caprice) A homicide detective and psychologist matches wits with a serial killer while trying to keep his family safe. With Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox and Edward Burns. PG
Argo
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, Empire University 4, SilverCity) During the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, a CIA agent leads a daring mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats by disguising them as members of a Hollywood film crew. With Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman. PG
The Bourne Legacy
(Caprice, Roxy) Another mysterious black-ops agent follows in the footsteps of Jason Bourne in this fourth instalment of the espionage franchise. PG
Chasing Mavericks
Rating 2 1/2
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) A young surfer under the tutelage of a local legend aspires to ride Northern California's most dangerous wave. It's an entertaining dip into a world many talk about, but few have ever sampled. With Jonny Weston, Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue.
- Roger Moore. G
Cloud Atlas
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, SilverCity, Star) Six separate but interlocking stories unfold across the globe and over centuries. With Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent and Hugo Weaving. 14A
The Dark Knight Rises
Rating 4 1/2
(Imax) Christopher Nolan delivers everything his third Bat-movie required as he pits Bruce Wayne against his own alter ego, and the world against a raving madman in a mask. While it follows genre formula to a T, this epic reel also picks up on the bloody threads of the French Revolution as Nolan gives form to the Occupy movement, and the public desire to hang corporate bankers from the highest tree. Smart, cinematic and skilfully executed at every level, The Dark Knight Rises proves you can make a socially provocative and politically subversive statement and sell it as top-notch escapism.
Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman star. - Katherine Monk. PG
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
(Caprice) An adolescent boy tries to survive summer misadventures in such fraught situations as swimming at the public pool and going camping. With Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick. G
End Of Watch
Rating 3
(Caprice) A frightening on-the-run down the streets of South Central Los Angeles with two policeman (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena) whose teasing banter provides a funny counterpoint to the drugs, murder and child abuse outside. The drama is piled to the sky, but there's a humanity that draws us in. - Jay Stone. (18A)
Flight
Rating 3
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, SilverCity) Sharing similarities with his earlier film Cast Away, this Robert Zemeckis feature offers up a spectacular start to what amounts to a survival story.
The only difference is where Tom Hanks was seeking a way to get off a deserted island in Cast Away, Flight features Denzel Washington as a commercial pilot struggling to come clean after a tragic crash.
Washington is nothing short of tremendous as the boozy flyboy Whip Whitaker, but the script moves in circles as it tries to separate the idea of personal responsibility from perceived heroism without success.
- Katherine Monk. 14A
Fun Size
(Caprice, Star) On Halloween night,
a high school girl misplaces her preteen brother. One too many jokey references to child molestation ensue. With Victoria Justice and Thomas Mann. - Michael Phillips. PG
Hotel Transylvania
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity, Star) In this animated film, Dracula has his hands full with a birthday for his daughter at his monster resort, and things get complicated when an ordinary human stumbles onto the scene. With the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Kevin James and Selena Gomez. G
Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D
Rating 3
(Caprice, Roxy) A group of Paleolithic animal pals tries to survive a continental cataclysm in the fourth instalment of the Ice Age series. The script has a cheap habit of copying other cartoon material, but the results are both entertaining and life-affirming.
With the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah. - Katherine Monk. G
Looper
Rating 3
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity) In the future, a low-level hired gun who disposes of mob targets sent back in time has to chase down an escaped target - a future version of himself. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. - Jay Stone. 14A
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Rating 4
(Caprice, Roxy) An animated film that's vertiginous, explosive, ridiculous, frantic and anti-Canadian (they joke about our "work ethic"). Inspired 3-D and non-stop silliness
make this the most fun you can have at the movies. - Jay Stone. G
The Man With the Iron Fists
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, SilverCity) In a village in feudal China, warriors, assassins and a lone blacksmith clash over a fortune in gold. With Russell Crowe, Rza, Lucy Liu. 18A
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
(Caprice) A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears. G
The Paper Boy
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) In a muggy Florida backwater, an idealistic reporter enlists his hotshot writing partner, his aimless younger brother and a sexpot death-row groupie to investigate the case of a convicted killer. With Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, David Oyelowo and Nicole Kidman. 14A
Paranormal Activity 4
Rating 1
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) The surveillance cameras are on again in this story of a spooky kid (Brady Allen) who goes to live with the family across the street, bringing with him an invisible friend. We watch webcams and cell-phone cameras, waiting in vain for something to happen.
- Jay Stone. 14A
ParaNorman
Rating 3 1/2
(Caprice, Roxy) An expertly designed stop-motion animated film about a boy who sees the dead, particularly the witches who were hanged 300 years earlier. - Jay Stone. PG
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) A high school freshman with dark secrets befriends two misfit seniors and navigates the pitfalls of adolescence. With Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Mille. PG
Pitch Perfect
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6) An introverted college freshman is persuaded to join an all-girls a cappella group and helps enliven their old-fashioned approach to performing. With Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow. PG
Searching For Sugar Man
Rating 4
(Empire University 4) Malik Bendjelloul's movie about a little-known folk singer named Rodriguez is easily the feel-good movie of the season and promises to surprise even the most jaded cynic with its heart, humour and historical significance. I'd tell you more, but I'd spoil the sweet sense of surprise. - Katherine Monk. PG
Seven Psychopaths
(Empire Capitol 6) A frustrated screenwriter inadvertently gets mixed up with the criminal underworld when his friends kidnap a gangster's dog. With Colin Farrell,
Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson. 18A
Silent Hill: Revelation 3D
(Caprice, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) On the eve of her 18th birthday, a young woman troubled by nightmares and the disappearance of her father is transported to a demonic realm. With Sean Bean and Deborah Kara Unger.
Sinister
(Caprice) After discovering a box of mysterious old home movies at his family's new home, a true-crime novelist unleashes an evil supernatural presence. With Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio and James Ransone. 14A
Taken 2
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) Having saved his daughter from a European sex-slave ring, an ex-CIA agent is targeted for revenge and must once again fight to protect his family. With Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace. PG
Wreck-It Ralph 3D
Rating 3
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, Empire University 4, SilverCity) A 3-D animated film about a video game villain (voiced by John C. Reilly) who wants to be a hero. He migrates to another game - a children's candyland fantasy - and helps a little girl (Sarah Silverman) find herself. It's a familiar plot, helped by ingenious design. - Jay Stone. G
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
The Metropolitan Opera: The Tempest Live (Saturday, Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity, Star)
The Simpsons Movie (Saturday, Cineplex Odeon Westshore)
Lawrence of Arabia (Sunday and Wednesday, SilverCity)
Twelfth Night (Thursday, SilverCity)
CINECENTA
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - G (Fri. and Sat., 3, 7 and 9: 20 p.m.)
Brave - G (Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m.)
Hope Springs - PG (Sun., 3, 7 and 9 p.m., Mon., 7 and 9 p.m.)
Mystery Movie - ( Tue., 7: 15 p.m.)
We Are Legion: The Story Of the Hacktivists - (Wed. and Thur., 7: 15 and 9 p.m.)
IMAX FILMS
Go to imaxvictoria.com for showtimes.
The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea
The Dark Knight Rises: The Imax Experience
Air Racers
To the Arctic
Rocky Mountain Express
