Scheduled to Open Wednesday/Thursday
STAR WARS: EPISODE III -- THE REVENGE OF THE SITH (PG-13) -- The darker Sith benefits from the best of what has come before. In this last act, director and writer George Lucas has recaptured the series' swagger and vitality, mostly by pumping up the action quotient and undoubtedly by bringing Darth Vader back to the big screen. Lucas trusts the still-vibrant outlines of his original threads and themes and brings us back to the beginning quite nicely, showing the death of the Republic and the birth of Lord Vader. (Carlson) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8, Prytania
Scheduled to Open Friday
LOOK AT ME (PG) -- This romantic comedy from writer-director Agnes Jaoui and writer/co-star Jean-Pierre Bacri traces the love life of seven characters who circulate in Paris' book-publishing industry. In French with English subtitles. Canal Place
THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL (G) -- Documentarian Judy Irving chronicles the exploits of homeless musician Mark Bitner, who befriends an expatriated flock of parrots in San Francisco's Telegraph Hill neighborhood. Canal Place Now Showing A LOT LIKE LOVE (PG-13) -- Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet are longtime acquaintances who belatedly fall in love in this romantic comedy directed by Nigel Cole. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (R) -- The sleeper 1974 thriller hit about a family that buys a severely haunted house gets the remake treatment with a script by Scott Kosar. Directed by Andrew Douglas and starring Jimmy Bennett, Melissa George and Philip Baker Hall. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, North Shore Square
THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE (R) -- Terminally ill ex-hippie Daniel Day-Lewis brings back ex-lover Catherine Keener and her two teen sons to help daughter Camilla Belle get used to life without him in this drama from writer-director (and Day-Lewis' wife) Rebecca Miller ( Personal Velocity ). Canal Place
BEAUTY SHOP (PG-13) -- Queen Latifah tries to keep her wacky, sassy employees in line in this Barbershop spin-off. Grand
CRASH (R) -- The lives of Los Angelenos of almost every racial and ethnic stripe and class intersect with sometimes tragic results in this drama featuring the directing debut of Million Dollar Baby screenwriter Paul Haggis. We've seen this type of narrative approach before in films like Magnolia , and while it wanders into portentousness more often than it should, Crash benefits from Haggis' desire to approach racism with intelligence and perspective. A fine ensemble cast includes Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Thandie Newton, Jennifer Esposito, Larenz Tate and a particularly amusing Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges. Haggis co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Moresco. (Simmons) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Grand, Holiday 12, North Shore Square
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (NR) -- Proceeding from a book by business reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, writer/director Alex Gibney's documentary details the noxious rise and scandalous collapse of the energy conglomerate. This film about the largest white-collar crime in history will make you furious and will make you hope that top Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling get what they will no doubt escape life without parole when they go on trial in January 2006. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Canal Place
FEVER PITCH (PG-13) -- Directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly show their softer side, selecting this fun-but-forgettable story of a sweet geometry teacher (Jimmy Fallon) trying to love his team (the Boston Red Sox) and his girl (Drew Barrymore) at the same time. The film gets by largely on its leads' personal likeability (as opposed to their acting talent), but scores points for treating Fallon's loony loyalty with respect. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12
FORCES OF NATURE (NR) -- George Casey's documentary about natural phenomena. Narrated by Kevin Bacon. Kenner MegaDome
GUESS WHO (PG-13) -- Extremely loose remake of the 1967 message film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner , with gruff father Bernie Mac none too thrilled about his daughter (Zoe Saldana) marrying an impish white guy (Ashton Kutcher). Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan ( Barbershop 2 ). AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12, Movies 8
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (PG) -- Douglas Adams' 1979 classic British radio series and novel survives the adaptation to the big screen better than most expected. The sparseness of the radio show and the wittily methodical writing in Adams' books are too often replaced by special effects, but those charms still shine through on occasion. The movie has an unexpected note of political satire, as the bad guy aliens are the universe's ultimate bureaucrats, and Sam Rockwell plays galaxy president Zaphod Beeblebrox as a younger George W. Bush. Still, putting such a distinctly British book through the Hollywood process created a movie that's little more than a charming, odd distraction. Co-stars Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel and the voice of Alan Rickman. (Rawls) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
HOUSE OF WAX (R) -- A bunch of friends get trapped in a small town's wax museum only to find two murderous brothers have made wax figures out of visitors -- and are looking for more victims! Stars Jared Padalecki and Chad Michael Murray, with Jaume Collet-Serra making his directing debut. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
THE INTERPRETER (PG-13) -- Sidney Pollack's first film in six years stars Nicole Kidman as a U.N. translator and Sean Penn as the Secret Service agent assigned to protect her when she reports overhearing a death threat made against an African leader. Fine performances and a compassionate heart make this well worth seeing, even though the picture could use an extra trick or two. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
INTO THE DEEP (NR) -- IMAX cameras take a journey through the undersea world. Entergy IMAX
KICKING AND SCREAMING (PG-13) -- Soccer dad Will Ferrell is forced to coach his son's team against his father's (Robert Duvall) in this comedy directed by Jesse Dylan ( American Wedding ). AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
KING'S RANSOM (PG-13) -- Businessman Anthony Anderson decides that faking his own kidnapping is the best way to thwart his wife's plan to take half his money through a divorce, only to find out he's not the only one planning a kidnapping. Co-starring Loretta Devine and Jay Mohr. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (R) -- Director Ridley Scott's crusader tale is a lovely lamentation of the weary fight of faith against fanaticism. As a young widower driven to the Holy Land in search of God's forgiveness, Orlando Bloom ably steps into a leading role, supported by the exotic Eva Green, as Sibylla, sister to Jerusalem's king. The film is beautifully shot, from the wind coming off the desert dunes to the churning legs of a line of cavalry horses charging into battle. Massive battle sequences punctuate the film with their chaotic choreography, a particular specialty of Scott's. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square, Prytania
KUNG FU HUSTLE (R) -- Writer, director and star Stephen Chow has created a love letter to Hong Kong martial-arts movies by taking them to the next level. Working with veterans from the 1960s and 70s, as well as Matrix choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, Chow spins an exhilarating tale about a wannabe gangster (Chow) who finds himself trapped in a battle between the gang he wants to join and a tenement he tries to dominate. AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4
MELINDA AND MELINDA (PG-13) -- Woody Allen's latest is staged as a contest between two playwrights. They are to take common ingredients and knead them into two separate tales, one a tragedy, the other a comedy. The result is the best Allen film since 1999's Sweet and Lowdown , but it is, alas, still only a middle-tier Allen effort. (Barton) Causeway 4
MINDHUNTERS (R) -- A group of FBI agents receiving training on psychological profiling on a remote island learn that of one of them is a serial killer in this thriller directed by Renny Harlin and starring Val Kilmer, Christian Slater and LL Cool J. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand
MONSTER-IN-LAW (PG-13) -- Professional dog walker Jennifer Lopez finally finds the perfect man in boyfriend Michael Vartan but runs into a brick wall in his mother Jane Fonda in this comedy directed by Robert Luketic ( Legally Blonde ). AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
NO MORE JOY (NR) -- Director David D'Entremont and producer A.J. Roquevert's melancholy documentary tells the story of the local film exhibition industry, from Vitascope Hall in 1896 through the dominance of the grand movie palaces on Canal Street to the advent of the mall cinemas in the 1960s and their replacement by today's stadium seating megaplexes. (Barton) Chalmette 9
OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D (NR) -- The Great Barrier Reef and the Bahamas are explored, with a focus on the diversity of marine and coral life. Entergy IMAX
THE PACIFIER (PG) -- Vin Diesel portrays a Navy SEAL who takes on his toughest assignment: baby-sitting! Directed by Adam Shankman and co-starring Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Brad Garrett, Tate Donovan and Carol Kane. AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12
PALINDROMES (NR) -- Director Todd Solondz ( Happiness ) is back with another thought-provoking film, this time about a 13-year-old girl (Valerie Shusterov) whose desire to give birth sets her off on a bizarre odyssey (including being portrayed by eight different people). Co-stars Ellen Barkin. Canal Place
ROBOTS (PG) -- Ice Age director Chris Wedge returns with this CGI tale about a young 'bot (Ewan McGregor) whose idea of creating fellow robots who serve only a higher purpose is thwarted by corporate type (Mel Brooks). Co-stars Halle Berry, Robin Williams, D.L. Hughley, Paul Giamatti and Jim Broadbent. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4, Chalmette 9, Grand
SAHARA (PG-13) -- Explorer Matthew McConaughey and sidekick Steve Zahn explore the fabled desert looking for a lost battleship and run into comely doctor Penelope Cruz in this adventure directed by Breck Eisner. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12, Movies 8
SHARKS 3D (NR) -- Jean-Michel Cousteau presents this underwater, 3D look at such famous sharks as the Great White and the Hammerhead. Entergy IMAX
SIN CITY (R) -- Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez ( Desperado ) and Quentin Tarantino create a modern classic. Based on Miller's graphic novel series of the same name, Sin City is a vicious, funhouse romp through a captivating underworld of corrupt powerbrokers (Powers Boothe, Rutger Hauer), hard-bitten cops (Bruce Willis), questionable good guys (Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen) and Amazonian supermodel prostitutes and strippers (Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba). The script is brilliantly structured (if a tad long), and the movie boasts a visual vivacity like none other, with its mixture of black-and-white photography, green-screen effects and liberal use of color. Comic-book chic. (Carlson) Movies 8
UNLEASHED (R) -- A slave (Jet Li) who has been raised to know only how to fight learns a little bit about life, love and music from on-the-lam piano tuner Morgan Freeman in this film directed by Louis Teterrier. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA -- Actor Ed Harris narrates this look at life 12,000 feet below sea level. Entergy IMAX
XXX: STATE OF THE UNION (PG-13) -- Ice Cube takes over for Vin Diesel in this sequel to the 2002 hit, with the Cube playing a master criminal hired by the government to take on a renegade general (Willem Dafoe) who plans a coup. Lee Tamahori directs. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8 Special Screenings GERMAN FILM SERIES -- The Deutsches Haus film series continues. This week: Erich von Stroheim's 1922 silent classic Foolish Wives . 7 p.m. Thursday at Deutsches Haus
IRON RAIL COLLECTIVE -- Screening series continues. This week: Philly Zine Fest 2004 , a film about the popular zine fest. 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Iron Rail collective
MOOLAADE (NR) -- Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene's Moolaade might just be the most critically acclaimed film of 2004 you didn't see, which makes this surprisingly accessible exploration of female genital mutilation in Africa a great choice for the New Orleans Film Festival's ongoing series of special screenings. The plot may be simple -- a village woman (Fatoumata Coulibaly) uses a tribal 'waiver' of sorts (the 'moolaade') to protect four young girls who do not want to go through the aforementioned ritual. But it reveals the complexities of tribal customs in the face of modernization. (Simmons) (Reviewed in this issue.) 7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, May 16-17, at the Prytania
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CINEMA -- Classic film series continues. This week: Raiders of the Lost Ark . 9 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the Hi-Ho Lounge
