2009.1.23 NOW PLAYING

Changeling (18)

Crime, Drama / 141 min. / English

See full review, left.

Valkyrie (12)

Thriller, Action / 120 min. / English

This movie is based on the true story of Nazi officers who stood against Adolf Hitler’s massacre of Jews in World War II.

In 1943, Count Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise), a lieutenant colonel in the German army is disgusted with Hitler’s slaughter of the innocent. He swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler, he says, but he feels he owes more to his country.

Von Stauffenberg realizes he’s not the only one who feels this way, and with a band of like-minded dissenters, plans an intricate plot to stop Hitler.

This film is directed by Bryan Singer (“X-Men”) and co-written by Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”) and Nathan Alexander.

It also stars an acclaimed cast, including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp.

Bedtime Stories (All)

Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy / 99 min. / English

Skeeter (Adam Sandler) is a gifted storyteller but his daily life is a drudge - he’s a maintenance man in a new hotel that replaced his father’s motel. Wendy (Courtney Cox), Skeeter’s sister, hires Skeeter to babysit her two children.

There is nothing like imagination to win over children. The kids are fascinated by Skeeter’s bedtime story, which begins its journey from the Colosseum and winds its way into outer space.

However, something strange happens in Skeeter’s life. Everything the kids say in the story crosses over into life.

Skeeter tries to take advantage of this but it doesn’t work out so well for him.

Will the bedtime story bring him fortune or misery?

Whatever Lola Wants (12)

Drama, Romance / 115 min. / English, Arabic

Lola (Laura Ramsey) is so enthusiastic about dance that she can’t distinguish reality from fantasy. Her conservative boyfriend Jack (Assaad Bouab) is anything but supportive about her dream career and breaks up with her.

Knowing that Jack has gone to Cairo, she tracks him down but discovers that he’s already engaged to someone else.

Lola channels her frustrations into belly dancing, meeting Ismahan (Carmen Lebbos). She encounters sexual discrimination, but works hard to overcome difficulties, making every effort possible to become the best.

The Butterfly (All)

Drama / 83 min. / French

Julien (Michel Serrault), an elderly butterfly collector, leaves on a journey to find the remarkable but rare butterfly, Isabelle. Elsa (Claire Bouanich), Julien’s cute neighbor, is curious as to what he’s up to and unsuccessfully tries to convince him to take her with him.

On the first day of his trip, Julien finds the most unexpected creature in his car - Elsa. Julien tries to take her back home but relents when he sees her tears.

Throughout the journey, Elsa asks Julien questions that help him see the world with innocent eyes. Elsa also receives the love she’s been craving from the elderly people they encounter along the way.

But their journey is interrupted when Elsa’s mother calls the police and reports her as having been kidnapped.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (12)

Animation, Comedy, Adventure / 89min/ English

After their journey to Madagascar, Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) head back to New York City on Air Penguin. However, they run out of fuel and land in an unknown world which turns out to be the real wilds of Africa. In Africa they each meet new friends. Alex reunites with his long-lost parents; Marty meets companions who are just his kind of zebra. Melman, who’s been suffering from melancholia, is worshipped as a sorcerer, and the chic hippo Gloria falls in love with hot Motomoto (will.i.am). But the peaceful land of Africa is thrown into chaos because of a drought. Can our four animal musketeers save the wildlife?

Defiance (15)

Action, Drama, War / 129 min. / English

Based on a true story, this movie is an epic tale of family, honor, and vengeance in World War II. Three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), and Asael (Jamie Bell) fight against the Nazis. They are shocked by the massacre of Jews in Poland. Tuvia kills some Nazi soldiers and the brothers flee into the Belarussian mountains, where they gain a following of Jews with nowhere else to turn. Zus is alarmed by the number of people gathering, afraid they will be detected. He leaves the refuge and joins the Russian army. Tuvia and Asael try their best to give the people a normal life, opening a school and holding festivals. But how long can this happiness last before they are discovered by the Nazis?

The Mutant Chronicles (18)

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi / 111 min. / English

In 2707, there are only four corporations left after constant wars. One day, the deep dark door to the underworld opens and mutants come out of The Machine to convert civilians and the army into creatures like them. The task falls to eight warriors to save the Earth as prophesized by the Chronicles. Following the guidance of the Chronicles, they begin a war against the mutants from outer space.