FlixFebruary
Updated February 28, 2003
Capsule Reviews

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Abandon<--click here for in depth review
A psychological thriller about Katie Burke (Katie Holmes), a senior at one of America's most prestigious universities. Under enormous pressure to complete her thesis and earn a top job at one of the world's most competitive consulting firms, Katie is still coping with the sudden, unexplained disappearance of her first love, Embry Langan (Charlie Hunnam), two years prior. Newly sober Detective Wade Handler (Benjamin Bratt) is called in to investigate and uncovers some disconcerting facts. (1:39. PG-13 for for drug and alcohol content, sexuality, some violence and language.)

About Schmidt
Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has spent his entire life selling insurance, coming home every evening to his pleasant-enough family. But after retirement, Schmidt packs up his things and sets out in his brand-new Winnebago to crash his daughter's (Hope Davis) wedding to a hapless waterbed salesman. (2:04. R for some language and brief nudity.)

Adaptation
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman writes a script about himself… writing a script. Based on his own real-life experience, Kaufman (played by Nicholas Cage) is struggling to adapt Susan Orlean’s novel “The Orchid Thief” – and failing miserably. Overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, Kaufman seeks out the source: Orlean (Meryl Streep) and the orchid thief himself (Chris Cooper). (1:54. R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images.)

Analyze That<--click here for in depth review
Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal return for the sequel to their 1999 hit, ‘Analyze This.’ Mob boss Paul Vitti can't quite stomach life in the pen. After suffering an emotional breakdown, Vitti is released into the care of his former psychotherapist, who reluctantly agrees to help the mobster find peace of mind and a piece of work. (1:40. R for language and some sexual content.)

Antwone Fisher
Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke) is an angry young sailor who is ordered to see a Navy psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) after fighting with shipmates. At first, Antwone doesn’t open up, but soon he reveals a traumatic childhood. Their therapy sessions motivate Antwone to look for the family that abandoned him as a baby. (2:00. PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse.)

Biker Boyz
In the world of underground motorcycle clubs, the undefeated Smoke (Laurence Fishburne) is known as the “King of Cali.” But Smoke’s reign is challenged by a young, talented racer called Kid (Derek Luke), who sets out to win Smoke's helmet and title. (1:51. PG-13 violence, sexual content and language.)

Bowling For Columbine
Documentarian Michael Moore delves into the issue of violence in America, traveling across the country to examine the nation’s obsession with firearms. His journey takes him to Columbine High School, a bank that gives away a rifle to anyone who opens an account, South Central Los Angeles and NRA President Charlton Heston’s home. (2:00. R for some violent images and language.)

Chicago
In this long-awaited film version of the Broadway hit, Chicago chorus girl Roxie Hart (Zellweger) lands in jail after shooting her lover. There she meets Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones), another chorus girl and murderess. Soon, they're competing for the legal services of slick lawyer, Billy Flynn (Gere), and for attention from the media. (1:47. PG-13 for sexual content and dialogue, violence and thematic elements.)

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell) lives a double life. By day, he’s the game-show impresario behind “The Gong Show” and “The Dating Game.” By night, he’s a CIA agent who makes hits while champeroning contestants who’ve won vacation prizes. You decide what to believe in the zany biopic from 'Adaptation' screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. (1:543. R for language, sexual content and violence.)

Cradle 2 the Grave New This Week

The leader of a crew of urban diamond thieves (DMX) must join forces with a Taiwanese agent (Jet Li) after his daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom by a brutal crime boss (Mark Dacascos of 'Brotherhood of the Wolf') who wants the precious gems to finance a deadly enterprise. (1:40. R for violence, language and some sexual content.)

Daredevil
Marvel's legendary comic hero -- known as the Man without Fear -- is at last adapted for the big screen. Attorney Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck) is blind, but his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness. By day, Murdock represents the downtrodden; by night, he is Daredevil, a masked vigilante stalking the dark streets of the city, a relentless avenger of justice. (1:38. PG-13 for action/violence and some sensuality.)

Dark Blue
Based on a story by James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential), a maverick L.A. detective (Kurt Russell) whose brutal and racist style puts him at odds with his boss (Ving Rhames) investigates a multiple homicide with a new rookie partner during the tense days leading up to the Rodney King verdict. (1:53. R for violence, language and brief sexuality.)

Darkness Falls
A young man (Chaney Kley) fears that an evil spirit lurks in his small town taking on the form of the Tooth Fairy, but no one believes him except his childhood girlfriend (Emma Caulfield) and her younger brother, who may turn out to be the spirit’s next victim. (1:16. PG-13 for terror and horror images, and brief language.)

Deliver Us From Eva
Three young African-American men pay a ladies’ man (LL Cool J) to put the moves on their perfectionist sister-in-law (Gabrielle Union) who drives them crazy by constantly meddling in their lives. But when boy meets girl, everyone is surprised by how things turn out. (1:45. R for sex-related dialogue.)

Die Another Day<--click here for in depth review
This 20th film in the James Bond series stars Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, Oscar-winner Halle Berry, John Cleese, Judi Dench, and (drum roll) Madonna, who also composed the movie's title song. The plot revolves around an evil North Korean leader who uses an experimental "facial mutation" device that allows him to constantly take on new appearances. (2:03. PG-13 for action violence and sexuality.)

Drumline
New York teen Devon Miles (Nick Cannon) receives a music scholarship to a Southern university, where he hopes to be part of the award-winning marching band. At first, the independent, brash Devon struggles to adapt to the new environment, and soon learns that it takes more than talent to lead the band to victory. (N/A. PG-13 for innuendo and language.)

8 Mile<--click here for in depth review
Eminem stars in this film, which parallels his own life story, as Jimmy Smith, Jr., an aspiring rapper in Detroit who uses music to deal with his anger. Can he push through the "8 Mile," the physical and psychological boundary around Detroit, separating the haves and have-nots, and achieve superstardom? (1:58. R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use.)

Empire<--click here for in depth review
John Leguizamo (Moulin Rouge) stars as Vic, a wealthy drug dealer whose success attracts the attention of an investment banker (Peter Sarsgaard). As Vic is lured into use his skills in the high-stakes world of Wall Street, he finds the price to go legit is more than he ever expected. (1:30. R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content and some sexuality.)

Far From Heaven
Director Todd Haynes peeks at the underside of 1950s romantic melodramas in this story of a suburban housewife (Julianne Moore) whose idyllic Eisenhower-era existence unravels when she broaches romance with her African-American gardener after discovering her husband (Dennis Quaid) in bed with a man. (1:47. PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, brief violence and language.)

Final Destination 2
In this sequel to the 2000 sleeper hit, a young woman (A.J. Cook) foresees a horrific highway pileup en route to a getaway with her friends. After narrowly escaping death, she and the other motorists delayed by her vision realize death is out to get them and enlist the help of Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), the lone survivor of Flight 180. (1:40. R for strong violent/gruesome accidents, language, drug content and some nudity.)

Formula 51<--click here for in depth review
Samuel L. Jackson stars in this action-comedy as Elmo McElroy, an American chemist who travels to England to sell his new, and very illegal, designer drug. But Elmo’s last big deal goes awry when his guide to the Liverpool rave scene turns out to be an anti-Yank, and the chemist soon becomes entangled in a web of double-dealing and double-crosses. NA. R for strong violence, language, drug content and some sexuality.)

Friday After Next<--click here for in depth review
This third installment in the series that began in 1995 takes place during the Christmas season back in Craig's (Ice Cube) old neighborhood, where he and cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) now share a rundown, but festive, apartment. Everything's great until a ghetto Santa Claus breaks in and steals their Christmas presents and the rent money. (1:33. R for language, sexual content and drug use.)

Gangs of New York
This highly-anticipated epic from director Martin Scorsese recreates 1840s New York, when Irish gang members clashed with other immigrants. A young man (DiCaprio) joins the fight against a gang leader (Day-Lewis) who killed his father. (2:48. R for intense strong violence, sexuality/nudity and language.)

Ghost Ship<--click here for in depth review
A salvage crew finds the long-lost remains of a 1953 passenger ship in a remote part of the Bering Sea. As they tow the “ghost ship” back to harbor, strange things begin to happen. (1:28. R for strong violence/gore, language and sexuality.)

Gods & Generals
This Civil War epic -- a prequel to the 1993 saga 'Gettysburg' -- chronicles the life and battles of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson (Stephen Lang). Filmed on location on historic battlefields of the South, from Antietam to Chancellorsville, with Robert Duvall as General Robert E. Lee. (3:49. PG-13 for sustained battle sequences.)

A Guy Thing
A groom-to-be (Jason Lee) wakes up the morning after his bachelor party with no memory of the night before, but with a beautiful stranger (Julia Stiles) in bed next to him. As he tries to cover up what happened from his fiancée (Selma Blair), his lies only lead into more comic mayhem. (1:41. PG-13 for language, crude humor, some sexual content and drug references.)

Half Past Dead<--click here for in depth review
Steven Seagal stars in this high-octane thriller as an FBI agent working undercover in a high-tech prison where he must foil the attempts of a criminal mastermind (Morris Chestnut) bent on infiltrating the prison to force a Death Row inmate to reveal the whereabouts of a fortune in gold. (1:38. PG-13 for pervasive action violence, language and some sexual content.)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<--click here for in depth review
More adventures await young wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) when he returns to Hogwarts for his second year. Along with friends Ron and Hermione, Harry sets out to find out who is turning his classmates into statues. Is the mystery tied to the talking diary that he found? On top of that, he’s still got to deal with a new professor, Quidditch matches and nemesis Draco Malfoy. (2:41 PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language.)

The Hot Chick
After making fun of a fellow classmate, a popular but snobby high school cheerleader wakes up to discover she’s been cursed to inhabit the body of a 30-year-old man (Rob Schneider). As Jessica tries to lead her normal life, she realizes how shallow and mean she has been in the past. (1:41. PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and drug references.)

The Hours
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the film interweaves the stories of three women in different eras. In 1923, the author Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), depressed and suicidal, is writing the novel 'Mrs. Dalloway.' In 1949, pregnant Los Angeles housewife Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is planning a birthday bash for her husband, but can't stop reading that novel. And in present day, New York City book editor Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep) is throwing a party for friend and former lover Richard (Ed Harris), who is dying of AIDS and gave her the nickname, Mrs. Dalloway. Directed by Stephen Daldry and also starring Toni Collette, Claire Danes and Allison Janne. (1:54. PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some disturbing images and brief language.)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
A ladies’ man (Matthew McConaughey) bets his friends that he can stay in a relationship for more than 10 days, but he may have met his match in his latest date (Kate Hudson) who is trying to get rid of him just as fast. Loosely based on the book of the same name. (1:56. PG-13 for some sex-related material.)

I Spy<--click here for in depth review
In this loose adaptation of the 1960s TV series, secret agent Alex Scott (Owen Wilson) is sent on a mission to recover a prototype stealth fighter. But to infiltrate the thief’s organization, he needs the help of an unlikely civilian: cocky boxing champ Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy). (1:36. PG-13 for action violence, some sexual content and language.)

Jungle Book 2
 In Disney’s animated sequel to the original classic, Mowgli gets restless in his new village and heads back to the “bare necessities” of the jungle where he reunites with his old friend Baloo and must face his past nemesis, the villainous tiger Shere Khan, who wants to settle old scores. (1:12. G.)

Just Married
A young couple in love (Ashton Kutcher, Brittany Murphy) ties the knot despite the objections of the bride’s blue-blood parents, who, desperate to break them up, send her ex-boyfriend (Christian Kane) to follow them on their ill-fated honeymoon in Europe. (1:35. PG-13 for sexual content, some crude humor and a brief drug reference.)

Kangaroo Jack
Two friends from Brooklyn (Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson) are forced to deliver $100,000 in mob money to Australia. They have a great time, until one of them puts his red jacket on a kangaroo while posing for a picture. Unfortunately, the kangaroo hops away -- with the money in the jacket pocket! A wild chase through the Outback ensues. (N/A. PG for language, crude humor, sensuality and violence.)

The Life of David Gale
Professor David Gale (Kevin Spacey), a passionate death penalty opponent, is falsely convicted of the rape and murder of a fellow activist. Three days before his execution, he grants an interview to a reporter (Kate Winslet), who races against the clock to discover the truth behind the crime -- before it's too late. (2:10. PG-13 for violent images, nudity, language and sexuality.)

Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers
The action continues where 'Fellowship' left off, with Frodo and Sam journeying to Mordor to destroy The One Ring. Meanwhile, Aragorn and companions search for their kidnapped hobbit friends and find that the wizard Gandalf may yet help them. And as the Dark Lord's armies press closer, mankind must unite for battle. (2:59. PG-13 for epic battle sequences and scary images.)

Maid in Manhattan
Jennifer Lopez stars in this Cinderella tale as Marisa Ventura, an independent single mother who lives in the Bronx with her son and works as a maid in a first-class Manhattan hotel. There, she meets and falls for a handsome politician (Ralph Fiennes), who mistakes her for a wealthy guest. Will the truth about Marisa's background derail the romance? (1:45. PG-13 for some language/sexual references.)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Nia Vardalos stars in the film adapation of her one-woman autobiographical play. When Toula, a young Greek woman, falls in love with a non-Greek man (John Corbett), she attempts to convince her family to accept their impending marriage, all the while learning more about her own heritage. (1:35. PG for sensuality and language.)

Narc
A burned-out undercover cop (Jason Patric) teams up with a slain cop's partner (Ray Liotta) to investigate the dead officer's brutal slaying. But as they go deeper into the drug underworld, not everything is as is seems. (1:42. R for strong brutal violence, drug content and pervasive language.)

National Security
A white ex-cop (Steve Zahn) takes a job as a security guard where he’s teamed up with the black man (Martin Lawrence) he was once accused of assaulting. But when they discover a smuggling ring, they must put aside their differences to bring down the criminals and save their skins. (1:30. PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.)

Nicholas Nickleby New This Week
This adaptation of the Dickens novel directed by Douglas McGrath (“Emma”) follows the story of a young man (Charlie Hunnam) whose family lived a comfortable life until his father died, leaving them penniless and seeking refuge with an uncle (Christopher Plummer) who splits the family apart. (2:12. PG for thematic material involving violent action and a childbirth scene.)

Old School
Three thirty-something guys desperate to relive their glory days move into a house near their old college and form an "unofficial fraternity" where students can party without abiding by the university's rules. Soon, however, the realities of their past lives catch up with them. (1:31. R for some strong sexual content, nudity and language.)

The Pianist
Adapted from an autobiography, this is the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew who survived World War II. A composer and pianist, he avoided concentration camps by hiding in the Warsaw ghetto. As he struggled to stay alive, music gave him strength. (2:28. R for violence and brief strong language.)

Punch-Drunk Love<--click here for in depth review
Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson ('Boogie Nights,' 'Magnolia') returns with this story of a social and emotional misfit (Adam Sandler) who has a plan to collect pudding coupons for frequent flyer miles. At the same time, he's being blackmailed for money after calling a phone sex line. Then, he meets a woman (Emily Watson) who changes everything.(1:29. R for strong language and naughty sexual dialogue.)

Rabbit Proof Fence
Set in 1931 Australia, this film tells the true story of three aboriginal girls who are forcibly taken from their families by the government to be trained as domestic servants. The girls make a daring escape and embark on a 1,500-mile journey home -- following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the continent -- with the Australian authorities in aggressive pursuit. (1:34. PG for emotional thematic material.)

The Recruit
A brilliant young CIA rookie (Colin Farrell) is chosen by his boss (Al Pacino) to root out a double agent who may be spying for the Chinese. But as he learns the tricks of the spy trade, he starts to wonder whom he can truly trust. (1:45. PG-13 for violence, sexuality and language.)

The Ring<--click here for in depth review
This is an English-language remake of the 1998 Japanese film 'Ringu.' A female journalist (Naomi Watts) discovers a profoundly disturbing videotape with a bizarre history -- for starters, everyone who has watched its contents has died within seven days. Will our heroine be next? (1:49. PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, language and some drug references.)

The Santa Clause 2<--click here for in depth review
Tim Allen returns in this sequel to 1994's 'The Santa Clause.' Scott has been Santa for eight years, and his loyal elves think he's the best one ever. But his world is turned upside down when he's dealt some bad news: not only has his son landed on this year's "naughty" list, but if Scott doesn't marry by Christmas Eve (only a month away) he'll cease to be Santa forever! (1:45. G)

Shanghai Knights
After taming the wild west in 2000's 'Shanghai Noon,' Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) and Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) travel to London to pursue the man who murdered Chon's father. While Chon seeks vengeance, Roy falls for his partner's sister. (n/a. PG-13 for action violence and sexual content.)

Solaris (2002)<--click here for in depth review
Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh helms this adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's sci-fi novel. Upon arriving at a space station orbiting an ocean world called Solaris, a psychologist (George Clooney) discovers that the station's commander has mysteriously died -- and that this is only the tip of the supernatural iceberg. (1:35. PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, brief language and thematic elements.)

Star Trek: Nemesis
This tenth film in the franchise sees the return of the "Next Generation" characters. The crew of the Enterprise is diverted to the planet Romulus when its longtime Federation foes indicate that they are willing to begin peace negotiations. Once Picard (Patrick Stewart) and crew arrive, they uncover an unprecedented threat to Earth. (1:56. PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and peril and a scene of sexual content.)

Sweet Home Alabama
In this romantic comedy, New York fashion designer Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor (Patrick Dempsey). But Melanie's past holds a lot of secrets, including Jake (Josh Lucas), the redneck husband who refuses to divorce her. Melanie sneaks back home to Alabama to set things straight, only to find that you can take the girl out of the South, but you can never take the South out of the girl. (1:42. PG-13 for some language/sexual references.)

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Talk to Her
Director Pedro Almodovar (All About My Mother) returns with this offbeat romantic comedy/drama about two lonely men who become acquainted in a hospital waiting room, brought together in kinship by their obsessive love for two women who lie unconscious in comas. (1:56. R for nudity, sexual content and some language.)

Treasure Planet
In this animated, futuristic version of the classic adventure “Treasure Island,” an adventurous teen named Jim Hawkins discovers a map to the greatest hidden treasure in the galaxy. To reach the treasure, Jim becomes a cabin boy on a space galleon, helping the crew fight black holes and space storms. But someone Jim trusts also wants that treasure…. (1:35. PG for adventure action and peril.)

Two Weeks Notice
In the ultimate romantic comedy matchup, Sandra Bullock plays a stressed-out lawyer to Hugh Grant’s charming but self-absorbed millionaire. Lucy is sick of practically baby-sitting George through life and calls it quits. After she finds him a replacement and gets ready to go on a vacation, George realizes he isn’t ready to let her go. (1:40. PG-13 for some sex-related humor.)

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Wes Craven Presents: They<--click here for in depth review
After witnessing a horrific and traumatic event, Julia Lund (Laura Regan), a young psychology student, is reminded of a terrifying incident from her own past. She gradually comes to the realization that everything which scared her as a child, including her paralyzing fear of the dark, could be real…and it could be coming back to get her. (1:30. PG-13 for terror/violence, sexual content and language.)

The Wild Thornberrys Movie
In this animated film based on the Nickelodeon show, 12-year-old Eliza is granted the power to talk to animals by an African shaman. But she can’t tell anyone else about her gift – or she’ll lose it. So when Eliza discovers poachers planning to kill an elephant herd, she has to save the day with only the help of her pet chimp, Darwin. (1:19. PG for some adventure peril.)

Synopsis courtesy of Moviefone.com

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