ENTERTAINMENT
Weekend First at HNN: Weekly Movie Comings and Goings
By Tony RutherfordHuntington News Network Columnist
Huntington, WV (HNN) – New Mainstreamers … January brings Hollywood’s “left overs” which were not necessarily considered strong enough to fit anywhere else. They compete with the Christmas holdovers, including the solid word of mouth building of “We Are Marshall” and “Pursuit of Happyness.”
But, for those of us in the middle to small sized cities, the month starts the roll out of more “art” or “high brow” awards pictures that have been unreeling only in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Here are this week’s new flicks:
Code Name: The Cleaner: In a mixed race action-comedy, Cedric the
Entertainer, Lucy Liu and Nichollette Sheridan engage in cloak and
dagger
business. The crime caper has the amnesiac janitor (Cedric) believing
he’s
an undercover agent embroiled in an international arms ring.
Freedom Writers: Using the premise of music and ballroom dance applied to teach hardened children, a new teacher at Long Beach’s Wilson High School (Hilary Swank) uses writing to foster expression and compassion from the class so they contemplate life after high school.
Happily N’Ever After: An animated re-contextualization of “Cinderella” in the vein of last years “Hoodwinked.” An alliance of evil doers led by Frieda (Sigourney Weaver) attempts to take over Fairy Tale Land, but when Ella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) realizes her stepmother is out to ruin storybook land, she turns into a leader of the resistance.
Children of Men: Clive Owen and Julianne Moore star in this futuristic
tale
where human can no longer conceive. A former activist then agrees to
help
sneak a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary where the birth of
her
child could save mankind.
HOLD OVERS
We Are Marshall: The lines are starting to lessen so if you arrive a half hour before showtime , you will likely find a good seat. Of course, if you must have a particular time, the on line sales continue at many of the cinemas playing this combination uplifting story of climbing from tragedy through continuing to take the football field to honor those lost in the plane crash. The MU movie continues on three screens in Huntington, two at Marquee Southridge (Charleston), one at Park Place Stadium (Charleston) and two in Beckley. The film continues on one screen at most other surrounding cinemas.
Rocky Balboa: After considering a low-profile return to the ring, Rocky
Balboa (Stallone) is granted a shot at the title held by heavyweight
champ
Mason "The Line" Dixon (Tarver). Don’t count on much boxing time, but
you
will find insight into the ex-champ’s character.
The Good Shepherd: The history and evolution of the CIA, seen through the eyes of fictional James Wilson (Damon), one of its founding officers, and the toll his spy games took on his home life.
Night at Museum: A dim-witted guy (Ben Stiller) gains employment at the Museum of Natural History as the nighttime security guard. Tipped off by a pair of day shift old-timers (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney), his first night on the job is full of danger and surprises, as the humans and other animals on display come to life, looking for trouble
Black Christmas: Sorority sisters couped up in their house during Christmas break are terrorized by a stranger's threatening
NOTE: Cinemas that base their weekday daytime showings on “school schedules” have returned to their matinee on Sat/Sun only. Check websites to verify show times.
Limited Release /Art House Films
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Although squirt guns, rice, lighters, and other projectiles are forbidden, you can brush up on your Time Warp dance and check out those character costumes. The long running and cult favorite continues a multiple weekend run at the Cinema with the shadow cast now accompanying the on screen action. This week the troupe celebrates the 80s.
(Note: Times and Titles subject to change at discretion of film bookers. Double check websites to verify times or to purchase on line tickets. Some cinemas have changed to school session hours i.e. no matinees on weekdays. Consult individual cinema for schedule.)
HUNTINGTON, WV
Starts Friday
MARQUEE PULLMAN: Freedom Writers 1:00-4:00-6:45-9:35; Code Name: Cleaner 12:10-2:30-4:45-7:10-9:30; Happily N’ever After 12:00-2:15-4:30-6:45-9:00; Three 11:50-2:15-4:45-7:15-9:45; Children of Men 11:45-2:00-4:30-7:05-9:40;
TIME CHANGES: Black Christmas 7:20-9:50; Eragon 1:15-6:40; Holiday 3:40-9:10; Happy Feet 11:45-2:15-4:45; Ends Thursday: Santa Clause III, Deck the Halls, Nativity Story, Apocalypto, Blood Diamond
DISCOUNT CINEMA 4: (all shows after 6 p.m. $3.00; Tuesday $2; $2.00 all shows before 6 p.m.) Stranger than Fiction 4:30-7:10-9:25, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:30; Casino Royale 7:00-9:45; Unaccompanied Minors 5:20, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:10-3:15; Queen 7:25-9:30; Borat 5:15-7:15-9:15, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:15-3:15; Flushed Away 5:10, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:10-3:10; ENDS THURSDAY: Facing the Giants, The Departed; FRIDAY MIDNIGHT: “Rocky Horror Picture Show, ” Stranger Than Fiction, Borat
ASHLAND, KY
Starts Friday
CINEMARK CINEMA 10: Code Name Cleaner 1:45-4:40-7:15-9:40; Happily N’Ever After 1:40-4:30-7:05-9:20; Time Changes: Happy Feet 1:15-4:10; The Holiday 6:45-9:45; Ends Thursday: Apocalypto, Black Diamond, Nativity
MIDTOWN CINEMA 3: ($2.50/$3.50) : Turistas, Unaccompanied Minors, Déjà vu, Deck the Halls, Casino Royale, Santa Clause III
BECKLEY, WV
Starts Friday:
CROSSROADS CINEMAS: Saw III 4:55-7:20-9:50, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:20-2:40; TIME CHANGES: Turistas 9:20 only; , Let’s Go to Prison 5:10-7:20-9:45, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:40-2:55; Borat 4:30-9:25; The Prestige 3:50-6:40-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:45-3:50; Flicka 5:05 only, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:25-2:45; Marine 7:25-9:40 only; Employee of the Month 4:50 only, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:15-2:30; Open Season 4:40-7:05, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:30-2:35; Ends Thursday: Tenacious
RANDOLPH MALL CINEMAS: CLOSED SHOWPLACE CINEMAS: CLOSED
GALLERIA CINEMAS: Freedom Writers 12:35-3:20-6:35-9:40; Code Name Cleaner 12:10-2:30-4:45-7:00-9:25; Happily N’ever After 12:05-2:20-4:25-6:40-9:30; TIME CHANGES: Nativity Story 12:05-2:30-4:50; Holiday 9:45 only; Black Christmas 7:15-9:35; Ends Thursday: Apocalypto, Blood Diamond, Deck the Halls, Santa Clause III
BLUEFIELD, WV
Starts Friday:
MERCER MALL: Thr3e: 7:00-9:30, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:30-4:15; Happily N’Ever After 7:30-9:40, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00-3:10-5:00; Ends THURSDAY: Eargon, The Holiday
COMMONS 8 (Marquee Cinemas, Wytheville, Va.): Happily N’ever After 5:00-7:10-9:25, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:40-2:50; TIME CHANGES: Black Christmas 7:00-9:20, The Holiday 4:00, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00; Ends Thursday: Nativity Story
CHARLESTON, WV
Starts Friday:
MARQUEE SOUTHRIDGE: Freedom Writers 12:50-3:40-6:30-9:20; Code Name The Cleaner 12:30-2:50-5:10-7:30-9:45; Happily N’ever After 12:20-2:40-5:00-7:10-9:20; Three 11:50-2:15-4:45-7:10-9:35;
PARK PLACE STADIUM CINEMAS: Code Name: The Cleaner 1:30-3:30-5:30-7:30-9:30; Freedom Writers 1:15-4:00-7:05-9:45; Happily n’ Ever After 12:55-2:55-4:55-6:55-9:00; Children of Men 1:05-3:10-5;20-7:25-9:35; Bargain Tuesday, All Seats $4.00 limited time
Time Changes:
Marquee Southridge: Black Christmas: 7:35-9:55; Good Shepherd 5:30-9:00; We Are Marshall 12:15-1:00-3:15-4:00-6:15-7:00-9:15-9:50; Eragon 12:30-3:00; Happy Feet 11:40-2:10-4:45
Park Place Stadium Cinemas: NONE
ENDS THURSDAY
Marquee Southridge: Apocalypto, Blood Diamond, The Holiday, Nativity Story
Park Place Stadium: Black Christmas, Eragon, Blood Diamond, Happy Feet, Casino Royale, The Holiday,
HINTON, WV
Ritz Theatre: Night at the Museum, Friday, 6 and 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 6 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday 6 p.m.
HURRICANE, WV
Starts Friday
TEAYS VALLEY CINEMA 10: Code Name Cleaner: 10:50 a.m.*-1:10-3:15-5:20-7:30-9:45; Happily N’Ever After 11:00 a.m.*-1:00-3:00-5:00-7:00-9:30; Black Christmas 5:20-7:30-9:40; TIME CHANGES: We Are Marshall 10:10 a.m.*-1:10-4:10-7:10-9:55; Eragon : 1:10-4:10; Holiday : 10:00 a.m.*-7:00-10:00; ENDS THURSDAY: Nativity; (* Early Bird Show Fri/Sat Only)
LEWISBURG , WV
Starts Friday
SENECA SHOWPLACE: We Are Marshall 3:30-6:30-9:30*, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:30; Mon-Thurs. 4:45-7:30; Night at the Museum , Fri-Sun 3:50-6:50-9:30*, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:50, Mon-Thurs. 5:00-7:40; (* no Sun. Night show)
LOGAN , WV
Starts Friday
FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8: Happily N’Ever After 5:00-7:20-9:20, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:45-2:50; Code Name: The Cleaner 4:10-7:00-9:00, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:20-2:15; Ends Thursday: Eargon, The Holiday
NITRO, WV
Great Escape Nitro 12: http://greatescapetheatres.com or 769-0405
SUMMERSVILLE, WV
Starts Friday
NICHOLAS SHOWPLACE: Eragon , Fri-Sun 4:00-6:50-9:30*; Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00; Mon-Thurs. 5:00-7:20; We Are Marshall, Fri-Sun 3:30-6:30-9:25*, Sat/sun Mat. 12:15, Mon-Thurs. 4:30-7:20; Charlotte’s Web , Fri-Sun 4:40-7:00-9:20*, Sat/Sun Mat. 12:00-2:20, Mon-Thurs. 5:05-7:30, (* No late show on Sunday night)
WELCH, WV
Starts Friday:
McDOWELL 3: Rocky Balboa, Fri-Sun. 4:10-6:40-9:20*, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:30, Mon-Thurs. 5:10-7:35; We Are Marshall, Fri-Sun. 4:00-6:50-9:40*, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:00, Mon-Thurs. 4:40-7:25; Night at Museum, Fri-Sun 4:20-7:00-9:30*, Sat/Sun Mat. 1:15; Mon-Thurs. 5:00-7:30; Ends Thursday: Charlotte’s Web (*No late show Sunday night)
UPCOMING RELEASES
Jan 12: Alpha Dog, Stomp the Yard, Dreamgirls
Jan 19: Fast Track
Jan. 26: The Invisible, Catch and Release
Release dates subject to change; not all films will play in every market and/or every theatre.
On line ticket purchases for Marquee’s Huntington Pullman Square 16, Charleston Southridge, Welch Cinemas 3, Wytheville Cinemas 8 at http://www.marqueecinemas.com.
On line tickets available for Charleston theatres at: http://ourshowtimes.com (Park Place Stadium Cinemas) and http://www.marqueecinemas.com (for Southridge); for Teays Valley, http://allstarcimemas.com/Teays.asp , and for Ashland's Midtown at : http://midtowncinemas3.com.