"The Alamo"
About as interesting as fifth-grade history class, this revisionist telling of the fateful battle builds up for 3/4 of the film, only to deliver a lackluster battle.
Rated PG-13 2½ stars
"Dawn of the Dead"
Zombies overtake the country, forcing a small group of survivors to take refuge in a shopping mall. Fast-paced, gory and fun, this redux of the George A. Romero classic is a perfect popcorn flick for horror fans.
Rated R 4 stars
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Jim Carrey leads a solid ensemble in this romantic comedy/drama about mind erasure and the destructive power of love. Mad scientist screenwriter Charlie Kaufman pens yet another intriguing, wholly original film that is equally great and uneven.
Rated R 4 stars
"Hellboy"
An imaginative, visually stunning adaptation of the popular comic book, "Hellboy" reels you in with an intelligent, stimulating first half - only to get progressively dumber and more redundant in the second.
Rated PG-13 3 stars
"Home on the Range"
Disney screws its hand-drawn legacy with this amateurish, unfunny tale of old west cows that is as badly written as it is drawn.
Rated PG 2 stars
"Jersey Girl"
Kevin Smith goes soft in this overly weepy yet somewhat touching story of a working-class widower raising his 7-year-old daughter. Weepy wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so forced.
Rated PG-13 3 stars
"Johnson Family Vacation"
Cedric the Entertainer is the only thing worth watching in this uninspired road flick that takes the premise of the Chevy Chase classic "Vacation," but none of its laughs.
Rated PG-13 2 stars
"The Ladykillers"
Tom Hanks and Irma P. Hall star in the Coen brothers' story of a wordy southern professor planning a heist and the opposition he faces from his landlord, a sweet, crotchety old lady. Imaginatively dark with great characters, the Coens have created a piece of tongue-in-cheek mastery.
Rated R 4 stars
"The Passion of the Christ"
Mel Gibson's brutal retelling of the crucifixion of Christ is a fine piece of cinema, though those unfamiliar with the New Testament likely will walk away with little insight, as the film dwells more on the violence of the event than the spiritual implications.
Rated R 4 stasr
"Walking Tall"
The Rock brings justice to a corrupt boondocks town in this mediocre action/drama. The former professional wrestler shows potential as a leading man, while co-star Johnny Knoxville delights fans with a quirky performance. Sadly, neither actor's charisma can overcome the poorly developed script.
Rated PG-13 3 stars
(Reviewed by Maggie Bernardi)
"The Whole Ten Yards"
Did we really need a sequel for "The Whole Nine Yards?" Nope. But at least this horrid piece of cinema, with Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry stimulating no sparks, will ensure there will be no more.
Rated PG-13 1 star
