The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Johnny Depp, Colin Ferrell -- the last film that Heath Ledger made. I wouldn't began to tell you what it is about -- you'll have to see it. I thought this film was very good. I would rate it a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

The Badge

Bobby Bob Thorton, Patricia Arquette, Sela Ward, William Devane -- A murder mystery set in Louisiana. Bobby Bob Thorton plays a Sheriff. Kind of like the "Harper" (Paul Newman) series. I would rate it 3 1/4 out of 5 stars. (2002-R)

The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt, Paul Bettany, Rupert Friend -- Once, in a land far, far away, there lived a princess. A month after 18th birthday, she became Queen. The End. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG)

Homecoming

Mischa Barton, Matt Long, Jessica Stroup -- A guy (Matt Long) returns home to retire his high school football jersey. His former girlfriend (Mischa Barton) can't let go. Kind of like "Misery" only without the good acting. "He didn't get out of the Cock-A-Doodie car!". I would rate it a 2 1/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Peacock

Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon, Bill Pullman, Keith Carradine -- A really wierd tail. I am still digesting it. I do know this, it takes place in the 60s. I would rate it a 2 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

John C. Reilly, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, Patrick Fugit, Chris Massoglia -- A light fare designed around tweens seeing their first vampire movie. It was okay. I would rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Tenderness

Russell Crowe, Laura Dern, Jon Foster, Sophie Traub -- Russell Crowe is a detective nearing the end his career. Jon Foster is a serial killer just released from prison. Sophie Traub plays a girl obsessed with him. Three days to make it from Buffalo to Albany by car? I would rate it 3 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2008-R)

Tenure

Luke Wilson, Gretchen Mol, David Koechner -- A college professor (Luke Wilson) teaches English at a small college in Pennsylvania. He is expecting tenure in the spring. Along comes another English teacher from Yale (Gretchen Mol) who is on the fast track to tenure. In spite of himself, Charlie, the professor, is smitten with her. Not all that bad. Good job by Bob Gunton (he was in "The Shawshank Redemption" as Warden Norton) as the father. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Ninja Assassin

Rain, Noamie Harris - During the first five minutes, I said to myself "Ah, a really killer kung fu movie". An hour and a half later I said "So much for a really killer kung fu movie". Other than the original fight scene, it was bitterly disappointing. Raizo (Rain) is a ninja. He gets into a dispute with other ninjas. Mika Coretti (Noamie Harris) is a Europol agent who figures out the ninjas are doing political hits. Blah, blah, blah.....The End. I would give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (The first five minutes were awesome.) (2009-R)

The Fourth Kind

Milla Jovovich, Will Patton, Corey Johnson -- Despite what they say is a "true story", it is completely made up. The last half hour seemed as though it was three hours long. I couldn't wait for it to end. I rated it 1 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Wrong Turn

Eliza Dushku, Jeremy Sisto -- Ah, the queen of "B" movies. Six city-slickers and three mountain men. You figure it out from there. Typical teenage movie fare. Inane but scary. Should've called AAA. I would rate it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2003-R)

Armored

Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno -- What - no cell phones? I am surprised that Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne were a part of the movie. So improbable it defies imagination. Six guards plan a armored car robbery. Remember the old adage: "Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead". I would give it a 2 1/2 stars out of 5. (2009-PG-13)

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary Steenburgen, Sam Elliott -- A New York City couple witness a murder so they are placed in a witness protection program. They go out west to Wyoming. Further hijinks ensue. I thought Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen were the real stars. I can't help but think of the "South Park" episode when I think of Sarah Jessica Parker. I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)