Ratings as appeared in Beacon Journal film critic and wire-service reviews:
♥=Weak
♥♥=Mediocre
♥♥♥=Worth Seeing
♥♥♥♥=Shouldn't Be Missed

Opened Wednesday
HAMLET 2 — ♥♥♥
(R — language including sexual references, brief nudity and some drug content) British comedian Steve Coogan stars as the harassed flywheel of a drama teacher in a Tucson high school. Threatened with a shutdown of his program, he desperately stages a sequel to Hamlet, using a time machine to bring back all the characters, as well as Jesus and Einstein. Manic and funny, with a perfect cameo by Elisabeth Shue, as herself — sort of. 1 hour, 32 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10

TRAITOR — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — intense violent sequences, thematic material, brief language) — An FBI agent (Guy Pearce) heads a conspiracy investigation that initially susses out a prime suspect: Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), a former special ops officer with strong ties to Afghan rebels in the Middle East. As the agent chases Horn around the world, however, a tangled web of contradictory evidence is revealed. 1 hour, 53 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7

Opening Friday
BABYLON A.D.
(PG-13 — intense sequences of violence and action, language, some sexuality) A mercenary (Vin Diesel) escorts a woman from Russia to China. He discovers his client is carrying a virus that could bring about the end of humankind. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Cinemark Aurora 10, Garrettsville Cinemas, Great Oaks Cinema, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Wooster Movies 10, Magic City Drive-In, Midway Drive-In

COLLEGE
(R — pervasive crude and sexual content, nudity, language, drug and alcohol abuse) — A wild weekend is in store for three high school seniors who visit a college campus as prospective freshmen. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Wooster Movies 10

DISASTER MOVIE
(PG-13 — crude and sexual content throughout, language, drug references, comic violence) Parody. Over the course of one evening, a group of 20-somethings is bombarded by a series of natural disasters and catastrophic events. With Carmen Electra, Matt Lanter and Kimberly Kardashian. 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Cinemark Aurora 10, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Wooster Movies 10

FLY ME TO THE MOON — ♥♥
(G) A well-intentioned exercise at blending education and family entertainment, this 3-D animated tale ends up being only mildly educational and not all that entertaining. It's the story of three flies that tag along with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on Apollo 11's moon shot. Despite its unusual story line, the movie is routine and on the cusp of boring for audiences accustomed to such meatier animated flicks as WALL-E and Kung Fu Panda. 1 hour, 29 minutes.
Massillon 12

FROZEN RIVER — ♥♥♥
(R — language, violence, children in peril) — Melissa Leo and Misty Upham play two mothers, one white, one American Indian, who live without male support in shabby house trailers on the U.S.-Quebec border: Mohawk territory. In desperate economic need, they engage in the smuggling of aliens across the border, which involves a perilous car trip across the frozen river. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2008. 1 hour, 37 minutes.
Cedar Lee

TELL NO ONE — ♥♥1/2
(Not rated — violence, sexual situations, nudity) A nifty — if overly complicated — thriller based on Harlan Coben's international best seller. In French with English subtitles. 2 hours, 5 minutes.
Cedar Lee

Playing Friday
through
next week
BOTTLE SHOCK — ♥♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — brief strong language, some sexual content and a scene of drug use) Based on the true story of how in the bicentennial year of 1976, unknown Napa Valley vineyards defeated famous French wines in a blind taste-testing. With Alan Rickman superb and funny as the Brit who arranges the competition, and Bill Pullman and Chris Pine as the feuding father and son whose struggling vineyard triumphs. We know the outcome, but the movie makes it exciting anyway. 1 hour, 52 minutes.
Cedar Lee, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Montrose 12

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED — ♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — some sexual content) An unimpeachable yet ultimately unmoving adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's classic novel about social ambition, religious conflict and doomed love. With Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain. 2 hours.
Cedar Lee

THE DARK KNIGHT — ♥♥♥3/4
(PG-13 — intense sequences of violence and some menace) Batman isn't a comic book anymore. Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is a big, thoughtful, pain-laced, violence-streaked, unsettling movie in which the late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is one of many virtues. 2 hours, 32 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Cinemark Aurora 10, Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10, Blue Sky Drive-In

DEATH RACE — ♥1/2
(R — strong violence and language) A race car driver (Jason Statham) is framed for murder and sent to a prison overseen by a warden (Joan Allen), who has created the country's most popular sport: a kill-or-be-killed car race in which her inmates compete for their freedom. 1 hour, 44 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10

ELEGY — ♥♥♥♥
(R — sexuality, nudity and language) Ben Kingsley as a crafty literature professor who singles out one female student every semester for his attentions. Penelope Cruz plays the prey who gets to him — gets under his skin and inflames his jealousy. Then the story takes a dramatic turn. With Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper, Peter Sarsgaard. 1 hour, 46 minutes.
Cedar Lee

HANCOCK — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language) An apathetic, hard-living superhero (Will Smith) hooks up with a public-relations professional who wants to improve the superhero's image. 1 hour, 32 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10, Montrose 12, Tower City Cinemas

HENRY POOLE IS HERE — ♥♥♥
(PG — thematic elements, some language) Luke Wilson plays a man whose neighbor believes she sees the face of Jesus on his house wall. Henry warns her to stay out of his yard and stop praying to his bad stucco job, but one thing leads to another. An elegant, intimate tale of faith and doubt told with a comforting charm and conviction. 1 hour, 36 minutes.
Montrose 12

THE HOUSE BUNNY — ♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language) A Playboy bunny (Anna Faris) becomes the new house mother for a sorority in jeopardy. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Cinemark Aurora 10, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Tinseltown USA, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL — ♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — adventure violence, scary images) — Harrison Ford returns as the iconic adventurer who picks up a new sidekick (Shia La Beouf) and an old flame (Karen Allen) for this ride. 2 hours, 4 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10

IRON MAN — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content) Robert Downey Jr. dons a metal suit to fight evil in this Marvel comic adaptation directed by Jon Favreau (Elf). With Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard. 2 hours, 6 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH — ♥♥1/2
(PG — intense adventure action and some scary moments) There is a world inside our own, populated by glowing birds, man-eating plants, giant-fanged fish and a T-Rex. Reaching it via a series of dizzying falls, a geologist and his nephew realize Jules Verne must have seen it before writing his novel. With Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem. Three-dimensional effects are amazing. 1 hour, 33 minutes.
Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Massillon 12, Valley View 24, Midway Drive-In

KUNG FU PANDA — ♥♥♥
(PG — sequences of martial arts action) Po (Jack Black), a reluctant panda bear, is recruited by a team of kung fu masters and trained in the ways of the ancient martial art to protect the Valley of Peace from an evil snow leopard. 1 hour, 26 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10

THE LONGSHOTS — ♥♥♥
(PG — some thematic elements, mild language and brief rude humor) Based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer, 11, from the Chicago suburb of Harvey, who in 2003 became the first girl to play quarterback in the Pop Warner football tournament. Starring Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) and Ice Cube as a niece and her uncle, who teaches her all he knows about quarterbacking. Sidesteps many of the usual cliches of the genre, is warm and touching. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10

MAMMA MIA! — ♥♥1/4
(PG-13 — some sex-related comments) Movie version of the hit stage musical, with Meryl Streep as the villa owner on a Greek isle and Amanda Seyfried as her about-to-be married daughter. The girl doesn't know who her father is, but finds an old diary and invites three likely candidates to her wedding: Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard. Wall-to-wall ABBA songs. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
Great Oaks Cinema, Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Linda Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Valley View 24

MAN ON WIRE — ♥♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — some sexuality and nudity, and drug references) The story of how a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit crossed on a wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center on Aug. 7, 1974. Combines actual and restaged footage. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
Cedar Lee

MIRRORS — ♥1/2
(R — strong violence, disturbing images, language, brief nudity) An ex-cop and his family are the target of an evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home. Stars Kiefer Sutherland and Paula Patton. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Massillon 12, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Midway Drive-In

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR — ♥♥1/2
(PG-13 — adventure action and violence) Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li). It's the same cheesy mix of digitized monsters and lame comic relief we've come to expect from this series. 1 hour, 52 minutes.
Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Montrose 12, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS — ♥♥♥
(R — pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence) Written by the Superbad duo of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (with story assist from Judd Apatow), this is a drug-fueled caper that doesn't stint on chronically loopy characters and ridiculously funny situations. Rogen's Dale Denton is a likable loser of a process server who suddenly finds himself on the lam along with his permanently baked drug dealer. 1 hour, 52 minutes.
Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas 8, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Magic City Drive-In

THE ROCKER — ♥1/2
(PG-13 — drug and sexual references, nudity, language) Rainn Wilson (The Office) stars as a wanna-been drummer who never had his shot at fame, but who wins a second chance with a nephew's band, 20 years after being kicked out of his first band. 1 hour, 42 minutes.
Carnation Cinema, Cinemark Aurora 10, Garrettsville Cinemas, Great Oaks Cinema, Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, West Market Plaza 7, Wooster Movies 10, Magic City Drive-In

SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE — ♥♥♥
(R — strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language) Set four years after we last saw the ladies, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) negotiate their friendships, romances and careers in New York City. At the center of it all is Carrie's pending nuptials to Mr. Big (Chris Noth). 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10

SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — mature material and sensuality) Based on Ann Brashares' series of novels, this sequel catches up with the four friends as they embark on separate paths for their first year of college and the summer beyond. 1 hour, 57 minutes.
Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Tinseltown USA, Valley View 24

SPACE CHIMPS — ♥♥♥
(G) Space Chimps is a goofy animated space opera that sends three U.S. chimpanzee astronauts rocketing to a galaxy, as they say, far, far away. There they encounter strange life forms and the evil Zartog, who has captured an earlier space probe. Not in the same science fiction league as Wall-E, but successful, with lots of whiz-bang action and some witty dialogue. 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Hickory Ridge Cinemas 8, Jackson Township Movies 10, Montrose 12, Midway Drive-In

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS — ♥♥1/2
(PG — sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language, momentary smoking) While anything remotely Star Wars is potentially a welcome trek for hard-core fans, this will be a mixed thrill, given that the saga returns to the big screen as a cartoon. It's a fairly fun if forgettable little adventure that hurls Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the rest of the gang into a kidnapping conspiracy and rescue amid a galactic civil war between clone soldiers and android troops. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Garrettsville Cinemas, Hickory Ridge Cinema 8, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Wooster Movies 10, Blue Sky Drive-In

STEP BROTHERS — ♥1/2
(R — crude and sexual content, and pervasive language) Two adult men (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) are pulled into a new sibling rivalry after their respective single parents get hitched. 1 hour, 52 minutes.
Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24

TROPIC THUNDER — ♥♥♥
(R — pervasive language, including sexual references, violent content and drug material) Four actors shooting a war film in a foreign country are forced to step up and become real heroes when they find themselves stuck in a real, live war. With Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. 1 hour, 47 minutes.
Cinemark Aurora 10, Garrettsville Cinemas, Hickory Ridge Cinema, Highland Theatre, Hudson Cinema 10, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Kent Plaza Theatre, Macedonia Cinemark 15, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Shaker Square Cinemas, Tinseltown USA, Tower City Cinemas, Valley View 24, Wooster Movies 10, Magic City Drive-In

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — mature thematic material involving sexuality, smoking) — Woody Allen's latest, starring Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson as American college girls who spend a summer in Barcelona and become entangled in romance with a raffish painter (Javier Bardem). Complications develop with the appearance of his former wife (Penelope Cruz): They still love each other, but violence always results when they try to live together. 1 hour, 31 minutes.
Cedar Lee, Montrose 12, Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill, Valley View 24

WALL-E — ♥♥♥1/2
(G) Delightful animated story of a robot, in a world so filled with garbage that humans have escaped into orbiting spaceships. Directed by Andrew Stanton, it is a story that is intelligent and sweet. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
Garrettsville Cinemas, Huntington Street Cinema 16, Independence 10, Interstate Park Cinemas 18, Linda Theatre, Massillon 12, Montrose 12, Valley View 24

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN — ♥♥♥
(PG-13 — crude and sexual content throughout, language and nudity) An Israeli counterspy (Adam Sandler) orchestrates a scenario that will allow him to move to New York City and reinvent himself as a hairstylist. 1 hour, 53 minutes.
Jackson Township Movies 10