RATINGS 5 Outstanding 4 Very Good 3 Good 2 Fair 1 Poor
OPENING
Alex Cross
(Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) 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
Paranormal Activity 4
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) The arrival of new neighbours coincides with the advent of strange phenomena that are captured on video. NR
Samsara
(Empire Capitol 6) A documentary filmed over a period of almost five years and in 25 countries, Samsara transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders with the use of images and music. G
Searching For Sugar Man
(Empire University 4) A documentary depicting musician Sixto Rodriguez, once the most popular musician in South Africa, who stood for anti-establishment through his music, creating an anthem for a generation of revolutionary people standing up against Apartheid. PG
CONTINUING
Argo
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, Empire University 4, SilverCity, Star) 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) Another mysterious black-ops agent follows in the footsteps of Jason Bourne in this fourth instalment of the espionage franchise. PG
The Dark Knight Rises Rating 4 1/2
(Cinecenta, 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
The Expendables 2 Rating 2 1/2
(Caprice) After a seemingly routine mission goes awry, a band of mercenaries seeks revenge against an adversary and stumbles onto a global threat. The result is a showcase of muscles, an impressive load of firepower and not much else. With Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li. 14A
Here Comes the Boom Rating 2
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity) A middle-aged and middling science teacher tries to save his failing school's music program by entering a mixed-martial arts fight to raise $50,000. Experience? Well, he did some wrestling in high school, and he verbally spars with his stuck-up principal.
Cue a flurry of comedic punches, only a few of which make contact. MMA fans may appreciate the efforts at cage-fighting reality, but most film-goers will find this a swing that misses with a mild love story attached. - Andre Ramshaw. PG
Hotel Transylvania 3D
(Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire Capitol 6, Empire University 4, SilverCity) 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
House At the End Of the Street
(Caprice) A recent divorcee and her daughter move into a dream house in an upscale town, only to find that their new home hides dark secrets. With Jennifer Lawrence and Elisabeth Shue. PG
Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D Rating 3
(Caprice, Cinecenta, 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. G
The Intouchables Rating 3
(Caprice) A sentimental but wry French buddy comedy about an uneducated black immigrant (Omar Sy) who becomes the caregiver to rich white connoisseur (Françis Cluzet). They both learn lessons in an obvious but undeniably charming way. In French with English subtitles. - Jay Stone. PG
Lawless
(Roxy) Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits. Stars Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hardy. 14A
Looper Rating 3
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity, Star) 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 so far this summer. - Jay Stone. G
The Master
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria) A young drifter is taken under the wing of a charismatic intellectual whose new spiritual organization is catching on in postwar America. With Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams. 14A
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
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 Victoria, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, Empire University 4, SilverCity) 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
Premium Rush Rating 2 1/2
(Roxy) For an intrepid New York City bike messenger, a routine delivery turns into a life-or-death chase. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. Thanks to Shannon, stunt cyclists and Google Maps, we have something interesting to look at for 90 minutes. The plot, however, keeps slipping out of gear. - Katherine Monk. 14A
Resident Evil: Retribution 3D Rating 1
(Caprice) The videogame franchise about a woman infected with a zombie virus scrapes the bottom of the petri dish in this low-budget and altogether boring exercise in formula. Milla Jovovich tries to bring some substance to a vacuum, but it's sucked out faster than an eyeball in a zombie's rotting maw. - Katherine Monk. 14A
Seven Psychopaths
(Empire Capitol 6, SilverCity) 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
Sinister
(Cineplex Odeon Victoria, SilverCity) 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, Cineplex Odeon Westshore, SilverCity) 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
Trouble With the Curve Rating 2
(Caprice, Star) A contrived father-and-daughter story that benefits from the lean presence of Clint Eastwood. He plays an aging baseball scout who has to prove his worth to his team and to a daughter (Amy Adams) who feels cut out of his life. Eastwood makes it worth seeing. - Jay Stone. PG
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Dracula/Frankenstein Double Feature (Sunday, SilverCity)
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day (Thursday, SilverCity)
CINECENTA
The Dark Knight Rises - PG (Fri. and Sat., 3, 7 and 10 p.m.)
Ice Age: Continental Drift - G (Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m.)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - G (Sun., 3, 7 and 9: 20 p.m.; Mon., 7 and 9: 20 p.m.)
Black Orpheus - (Tue., 7 and 9: 10 p.m.)
Kumar: The True Story Of A False Prophet - (Wed. and Thur., 7: 10 and 9 p.m.)
IMAX FILMS
Go to imaxvictoria.com for showtimes.
The Dark Knight Rises: The Imax Experience
Air Racers
To the Arctic
Rocky Mountain Express Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia
