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Movies still playing in the Fredericksburg area

December 10, 2009 12:36 am

HHH "THE BLIND SIDE" (PG-13) This is a captivating tale of a rich family that adopts a huge, poor black youth to a positive end. Thankfully, the filmmakers made two critical decisions: let the saga of Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher unfold simply, and select Sandra Bullock to be the single-minded spitfire of a mom who takes him in. Rated PG-13 for scenes involving brief violence, drugs, sexual references. 126 min. [RF, RA, M]

HH "DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL" (PG) This is worth seeing, though only because it's such an amazing piece of technology that makes grand but grimy Londontown come alive in a dazzling 3-D way. It's a shame that there's not more life or joy, as director Robert Zemeckis sticks to the Dickens tale so closely it's dry. Rated PG for scary sequences and images. 96 min. [RF, M]

HH "NINJA ASSASSIN" (R) This might have been passable if not for the grossly bloody action that has heads and limbs lopped off and blood flowing in rivers. Or the tendency to have all the Ninja battles in the dark, and the weak premise of mistreated orphans turned into killers. Those weaknesses aside, stars Rain and Naomie Harris almost make you care what happens in this overdone mess. Rated R for strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language. 99 min. [RF, RA, M]

HH "OLD DOGS" (PG) This is deadly dull as leads Robin Williams and John Travolta phone in weak efforts. The premise--a grown man suddenly has to care for children he didn't know were his--has been done to death. And in much funnier ways than this film filled with stupid slapstick. Rated PG for some mild rude humor. 88 min. [RF, RA, M]

HHH "PLANET 51" (PG) This isn't anything spectacular, but is a fun, nostalgic look back at the '50s, by way of a cartoon about an alien planet infatuated with sci-fi films like "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Along the way, it's a cute tale of a youngster on another planet who helps the "alien" who shows up in his yard, an American astronaut and a funny, dog-like robot. Rated PG for mild sci-fi action and some suggestive humor. 91 min. [RF, RA, M]

HHH "PRECIOUS" (R) This is a powerful, gut-wrenching film about a poor young woman who's abused and devalued growing up in Harlem. It's impossible to watch this and not feel for Precious, beaten by her mother and impregnated by her father. But the film fumbles its power because fledgling actress Gabourey Sidibe can't convey the pain and rage Precious feels. Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language. 109 min. [RF]

HH "2012" (PG-13) Some will find the horrendous earthquakes, tidal waves and Earth-collapsing sequences at the core of this film so overdone that it takes away from the story. But if you can set aside reality and just go with it, this is a pretty good roller-coaster thrill ride. Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language. 148 min. [RF, RA, M]

HH "THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON" (PG-13) This may not win over filmgoers who aren't already fans. But it's a marked improvement from the first "Twilight" film, largely because the special effects of young men turning into werewolves are simply fabulous. The worst part of the film is its start, where the young vampire heartthrob Edward (Robert Pattinson) leaves sweet Bella (Kristen Stewart) to keep her safe. Rated PG-13 for some violence and action. 201 min. [RF, RA, M]