filmland / By Scott Renshaw

Holy Crap!

Howard & Hanks’ Angels & Demons is a messy load of incense-stinky hoohah

(May 21, 2009) Previews

You ever think that filmmakers exploit the sequel thing? Seriously, how many Rocky movies, Star Trek or High School Musical movies have been made? Criminy! Whether you are pro or anti-sequel, you must agree that one chain of films that could possibly be considered never-ending sequel-worthy is definitely Terminator. Maybe it’s a sore spot for us Californios, what with the Gubernator in office and all, but hey, people love that cyborg stud-muffin stuff. On that note, the fourth in the “T” series, Terminator Salvation, opens this weekend. In this ongoing saga, an adult John Connor, played by Christian Bale himself, must lead the human struggle against Skynet and its army of Terminators. Oh shit! Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language. 115m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek, the Minor and Fortuna.

GALLERY >

A much more light-hearted film opening this weekend is Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (another sequel), starring Ben Stiller as Larry, a security guard who receives a distress call from a miniature cowboy named Jedediah, played by Owen Wilson. Why the distress? Turns out an Egyptian ruler Kahmunrah has teamed up with Ivan the Terrible, Napolean Bonaparte and Al Capone in order to take over the Smithsonian, then the world. Sounds like a history lesson that’s sure to be fun. Definitely one for the kids. Rated PG for mild action and brief language. 105m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.

Last up on the list of new films coming to the Redwood Curtain is Dance Flick, a full-on Wayans Brothers collaboration. The film was written by five of the Wayans bros, was directed by a Wayans bro and, yeah, it stars a Wayans bro too. Seems like those bros have a real solid working relationship. Right? So yeah, the film is about two oddly-paired dancers and it should be a kick in the pants considering the cast has a bunch of quality funny Hollywood folk. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout and language. 83m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Continuing their run of classic films, the Arcata Theatre Lounge brings Charade to its big screen this Sunday. The 1963 dark comedic thriller stars film faves Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and features Walter Matthau and James Coburn. The film, which was made on location in Paris, follows a young American (Hepburn) as she tries to elude a trio of crooks that are after the fortune that her dead hubby stole from them. Her only friend is a suave, mysterious stranger (Grant). Get start times and more info at www.arcatatheater.com.

— Emily Hobelmann

Review

ANGELS & DEMONS: Dan Brown gets a bad rap for his unique brand of beach-reading literature, but maybe he just should have been born 60 years earlier. If his work was going to be turned into cinema, it really should have been for 1930s serials.

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