AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER (PG-13) -- A-
Perhaps the funniest of the Austin Powers trilogy, Goldmember introduces
the eponymous bad guy, a Dutch madman maimed in a smelting accident (Mike Myers),
as well as Powers patriarch, Nigel (Michael Caine). Myers has ratcheted up the
bathroom humor to great effect, proving that silly can be a satisfying, side-splitting
and sophisticated venture. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20, Chalmette, Plaza, Prytania
THE BOURNE IDENTITY (PG-13) -- C
Doug Liman's spy thriller seems an
odd artifact in the post-9/11 world. Matt Damon stars as an amnesiac assassin
on the lam from his own CIA handlers. Franka Potente is the innocent passerby
who becomes his companion and romantic interest. (Barton) AMC Palace 16, AMC
Palace 20
CHASING BUDDHA (NR) -- NOT RATED
Amiel Courtin-Wilson documents the
efforts of Robina Courtin to teach inmates in Kentucky about Buddhism. Courtin
introduces the film and discusses her life's work. 8 p.m. Friday at Zeitgeist
THE COUNTRY BEARS (G) -- NOT RATED
You've seen the Disney attraction,
now see the movie! A bear named Beary (Haley Joel Osment's voice) who was raised
by humans decides to seek his real, pawed family in Tennessee. AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette
THE CROCODILE HUNTER: COLLISION COURSE (PG) -- NOT RATED
Steve and Terri
Irwin, hosts of the popular TV show, chase around wildlife in the movie feature.
The Big Question: will Paul Hogan make his rumoured cameo? AMC Palace 20
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer,
Scarlett Johansson and Doug E. Doug co-star in this campy homage to the radioactive
sci-fi/monster movies of the 1950s. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20, Chalmette
HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (R) -- NOT RATED
They say the eighth time is
the charm, eh? Since Halloween: H2O was such a success, here we go yet
again, with six gullible teens holing up in Michael Myers' old home to host
an Internet chat about the killer, who shows up and kills. And, yes, Jamie Lee
Curtis is back. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Plaza
K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (PG-13) -- B
Kathryn Bigelow's naval drama tells the story of a Cold War Soviet submarine
that suffers a nuclear accident which threatens a lot more than fish. Harrison
Ford is the mission-focused captain and Liam Neeson his crew-loyal executive
officer. Heads inevitably butt. Important points are at least tangentially made.
But we've seen this movie more than once before. (Barton) (Reviewed in this
issue.) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
LIKE MIKE (PG) -- NOT RATED
Lil' Bow Wow plays a little kid who, through
a freak accident, becomes an NBA star. Features cameos by NBA stars including
Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16,
AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Plaza
LILO & STITCH (PG) -- B-
Disney kicks it old school with this hand-painted
animation effort. Unfortunately, some of Disney's other old habits resurface,
like cultural stereotyping. A meandering storyline and an inexplicable Elvis
soundtrack often are overcome by the arresting animation. (Simmons) AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
LOVELY AND AMAZING (R) -- B+
Nicole Holofcener's (Walking and Talking) family drama examines the
low self-concept that sometimes cripples people who have more going for them
than they recognize. The characters here aren't likable, but fine performances
by Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener and Emily Mortimer help us to care about
them in spite of themselves. (Barton) Canal Place
MARTIN LAWRENCE LIVE: RUNTELDAT (R)
The comic presents his first concert
performance on film since 1994's wildly popular You So Crazy. AMC
Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Downtown Joy, Plaza
THE MASTER OF DISGUISE (PG) -- NOT RATED
Dana Carvey gets an opportunity
to showcase his talent for mimicry (George Bush, Ross Perot, Johnny Carson,
etc.) in this spoof comedy. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20,
Chalmette, Plaza
MEN IN BLACK II (PG-13) -- B+
The sequel to the 1997 box office barn burner Men in Black is fresher
and funnier -- although even more familiar -- than ever. Tommy Lee Jones, Will
Smith and Rip Torn obviously relish the opportunity to reprise their roles.
(Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20,Chalmette
MINORITY REPORT (PG-13) -- B+
Steven Spielberg presents one of his most
assured works in years, with Tom Cruise as a futuristic cop who prevents murders
before they occur, only to find himself accused as a killer. (Simmons) AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
MR. DEEDS (PG-13) -- C-
Loosely based on the 1936 classic Mr. Deeds
Goes to Town, this Adam Sandler "comedy" is neither a remake nor an homage.
It's more like a raised middle finger to cinema history and a yawn of indifference
to contemporary audiences. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (PG) -- NOT RATED
Nia Vardalos wrote and stars
in the screen adaptation of her autobiographical one-woman play about the misadventures
of a Greek woman marrying a non-Greek man. AMC Palace 20, Canal Place
REIGN OF FIRE (R) -- NOT RATED
Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey fight fire-breathing dragons in a
futuristic England in this science-fiction confection from Rob Bowman.AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
ROAD TO PERDITION (R) -- C
Sam Mendes' rampantly disappointing follow-up
to American Beauty is a Depression-era crime drama that ought to be about
a father's search for redemption but is instead about a father's search for
revenge. Great cinematography by Conrad L. Hall and a terrific cast can't save
a story that proceeds from plodding to preposterous to predictable. (Barton)
AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Chalmette
SIGNS (PG-13) -- B-
M. Night Shyamalan continues what feels like a downward
career trajectory after his thrilling debut, The Sixth Sense, with this
manipulative, choppy and ultimately thin exploration of a creeping alien invasion.
Delightful nods to War of the Worlds and Night of the Living Dead
can't cover up Shyamalan's weak themes and Mel Gibson's depth-free acting. The
shock scenes and humorous moments often cover up the film's flaws. (Simmons)
(Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal
Place, Chalmette
STUART LITTLE 2 (PG) -- B
This sequel still doesn't measure
up to E.B. White's book, but it easily tops the first film in whimsy and age-appropriateness.
This time, the mousy hero meets a new feathered friend and embarks on adventures
throughout a lovingly photographed New York -- in fact, the opening panorama,
set against Mary Mary's version of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," plays
as a post-9/11 valentine to the city. Michael J. Fox voices the squeaky hero
and James Woods is a villainous falcon, but Nathan Lane gets the film's best
laughs as a bitchy housecat. (Tisserand) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC
Palace 20, Chalmette, Plaza
SUNSHINE STATE (PG-13) -- A
John Sayles' melancholy look at
two Florida beach communities undergoing the wrenching transition from mom-and-pop
motels to corporate resort development offers an array of sharply drawn characters
and the director's trademark determination to afford dignity to one and all.
(Barton) Canal Place
