movie review

If you saw "Hangover," the flag-waver for the series, you know what "Hangover Part 2 (or II, it wavers) is all about. You probably know it so well that there's not a lot of attraction to seeing "Part 2.) Same cast, same story (but switched to Bangkok) same gags, same car chases (although a car chase in a Bangkok market with the good guys being chased by two motorcycle killers is a bit different, but not really).

"Bridesmaids," a snappy film now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, has been billed as a distant version of "Hangover," but I think that stretches things a bit.

It's hard to say whether the mythical adventure film "Thor" currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy in Carson City is the best adventure film since "Fast Five," or whether it is a messy marketing adaptation of Scandinavian myth with no logic and sense to the story other than luring the kids in.

Whoo, boy, if adventure thrillers are your meat, dine at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City where "Fast Five," fifth in the series of "Fast and Furious" is whooping it up. Director Justin Lin has a ball with car chases, crashes, explosions and good crooks vs. bad crooks in Rio de Janeiro.

I did not have the luck to see the first three versions of the "Scream" franchise, so I can't compare "Scream 4" currently  playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City. But I suspect this version is just as bloody as the earlier three. Where's the Red Cross when  you really need it?

If thrillers are your favorite kind of movie, there's a new one in Carson City that more than beats most of the recent examples; it's "Source Code" and is at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex.

The movie "Red Riding Hood," currently showing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, makes s couple of nods to the fairy tale story but goes into more violent and wayward actions.

In a way, this is a ludicrous film, with Amanda Seyfried as Valerie (Red Riding hood), who certainly has the wide-eyed look of a naive young lady (not as a young girl, need a little more sex than a girl could offer) and in one scene almost becomes engaged in a bit of sex.

Plenty of good snow up there, but if you're in the mood for a fine crime thriller you could certainly enjoy "The Lincoln Lawyer," currently playing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City.

The cast is solid, with craggy Matthew McConaughey as criminal lawyer Mickey Heller, who runs his law practice from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client who is working off his legal fees.

The film "Beastly," currently playing at the Casino Fadango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City is a modern version of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast." It's set in a high school context with Vanessa Hudgens a Lindy Taylor (the Beauty) and Alex Pettyfer (the Beast).

Take My Home Tonight" is supposed to be, I think, a blast from the past about 1988. It's playing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City where the sound system is up to the wild and rocking music, luckily, since the music is the best thing in the film, even to non-rock fans like me.

The movie "Drive Angry," currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is practically one long car-chase movie, starring Nicholas Cage and Amber Heart.

To fully enjoy this film you have to believe totally that there is an actual physical Heaven and Hell, not that the two are metaphors of consciousness. But don't fret about it; religious ideas don't count here.

The romantic comedy "Just Go With It," currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is the latest Hollywood genre poke that, though has its moments, chiefly those involving Jennifer Aniston, it is marred by stupid toilet jokes aimed at making kids laugh and a couple of easily disliked young actors.

The film "Unknown," currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is the kind of movie one wonders if anyone really read the script before proceeding.

"The Eagle," an action period film of roughly 180 A.D., currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is that rarity of a Roman legions movies that has no love interest, and barely any women in the cast. There's also a lot of flashy scenes that have nothing to add to the story as well as a lot of ankle-height shots showing troops or horses or somebody moving along. Honest.

The highly touted English film "The King's Speech" has finally made its way to the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, in time the for the Academy Awards next month where it is a strong favorite to win an Oscar or two. It's nominated for 12 awards.

So it took its time to reach us, but the wait was worthwhile as this is clearly a superior historical drama with a fine cast.

I was prepared to write off "The Green Hornet" as just another superhero movie, aimed at comic-book readings kids. Well, I was partly wrong. The film now playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City is aimed at the lower levels of intelligence, but along the way offers some humor and an incredible chase-crash-shootout scene. So all is not lost when sitting in the Galaxy stadium seats.

"Season of the Witch," currently playing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is a movie that can't decide if it's a thriller fantasy or a buddy picture or a tour through muddled 14th century history. Maybe it's none of the above but instead just a mess.

It starts out with three alleged witches hanged and drowned (talk about overkill!), one of which comes back to do in the priest who condemned the three.

The family-aimed film "Gulliver's Travels," now playing at the Fandango's Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, has very little to do with the book (or books) Johnathan Swift wrote in satire on the English government in the 18th century. Gone is the wit, the clever writing, the book that many of us read in high school or English Lit 103.

"Bad Manners” is very much what its title says: four people spend a weekend together seeing how bitter and tricky they can be. It’s available at video stores or at the Carson City Library.