These are Maui Scene's mini-reviews, excerpts of wire service reviews and previews provided by studios and other sources.
Opening Friday
"Predators" R, 1:46, Maui Mall Megaplex and Front Street Theatres.
As if one "Predator" wasn't threatning enough, "Predators" - plural - promises even more beasts in the latest sequel to John McTiernan's 1987 original. A group of mercenaries - Adrien Brody as the former Arnold Schwarzenegger star; a Mexican drug cartel veteran (Danny Trejo); a Brazilian black ops sniper (Alice Braga); and a Yakuza assassin (Louis Ozawa Changchien) - finds itself assembled, ready to square off against a gang of alien predators. As with the original film, viewers are treated to the aliens' blurry, red-and-orange point-of-view, which remains the most interesting visual of the series. However, combine fighting among the motley crew members and fighting against the monsters from the scary-looking species, and everyone is a predator, hence the plurality. It's left up to the viewer as to whether this third film of predators is one to try and escape. Nimrod Antal directs.
"Despicable Me" PG, 1:35, Front Street Theatres.
See review.
Fact Box
It's Showtime
Times in the movie ads are subject to change on the weekend. It's a good idea to call the theater, just to be sure. For showtimes at Kaahumanu 6 and Kukui Mall 4, call 1 (800) FANDANGO visit www.consolidatedtheatres.com.
For showtimes at Lahaina Wharf Cinemas, Front Street Theatres and Maui Mall Megaplex call 249-2222 or check www.gohollywood.com.
*****
Still playing
"The A-Team" PG-13, 2:12, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex and Front Street Theatres.
Chomping a cigar, Liam Neeson continues his action-hero career playing Col. Hannibal Smith, leader of a band of Iraq War Rangers on a righteous rampage after being sent on a military mission that turned out to be a trap. Spun off from the '80s TV series, the team includes Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Sharlto Copley, Quinton Jackson and Patrick Wilson in colorful roles that aren't too keen on military discipline or following the laws of physics in the noisy action that winds up trashing a container ship. Joe Carnahan directs.
"Get Him to the Greek" R, 1:47, Maui Mall Megaplex.
Russell Brand and Jonah Hill strike the same comic gold they mined in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" in this raunchy but lovable new comedy from the Judd Apatow brain trust. Brand plays an out-of-control British rocker suffering from every form of abuse available. Hill plays the recording company intern trying to get him to a concert in Los Angeles' famed Greek Theater to resurrect his career. "Sarah Marshall" director Nicholas Stoller directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Siegel. Rose Byrne co-stars with Pink, Kurt Loder and Meredith Viera showing up in cameos. Results are clever, outrageous - and surprisingly endearing.
"The Last Airbender" PG-13, 1:58, Maui Mall Megaplex (3-D, with ticket surcharge), Kukui Mall 4 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Suspense auteur M. Night Shyamalan takes a break from crafting original screenplays to tell this tale of a 12-year-old boy (Noah Ringer) who provides the last hope for restoring harmony to a land consumed by chaos. In a world balanced on the four nations of Water, Earth, Fire and Air, chaos ensues when the Fire Nation launches a brutal war against the others. A century has passed with no hope in sight to change the path of this destruction. Caught between combat and courage, Aang (Noah Ringer) discovers he is the lone Avatar with the power to manipulate all four elements. Aang teams with Katara (Nicola Peltz), a Waterbender, and her brother, Sokka (Jackson Rathbone), to restore balance to their war-torn world.
"Grown Ups" PG-13, 1:57, Kukui Mall 4, Kaahumanu 6 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
The death of their childhood basketball coach leads to a reunion for some old friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock), who gather at the site of a championship celebration from years ago. Picking up where they left off, the buddies, with their wives and children in tow, discover why age doesn't necessarily equal maturity. Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, and Rob Schneider star in this film written by Sandler and Fred Wolf.
"The Karate Kid" PG, 2:35, Maui Mall Megaplex, ends tonight at Front Street Theaters.
Jaden Smith - Will and Jada Pinkett's kid - leaps into the starring role in this update of the heartwarming 1984 action-drama about a boy who has to learn martial arts from an unexpected master to ward off bullies' attacks. In this version, he is forced to move from Detroit to China after his single mom (Taraji P. Henson) is assigned to a new job there. He gets a big boost when his school's janitor turns out to be Jackie Chan. Harald Zwart directs, right to the top of the box-office charts.
"Knight and Day" PG-13, 2:04, Kaahumanu 6 and Front Street Theaters.
This spy caper unites fugitive couple (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) as they wage a war between truth and trust while speeding across the globe in an attempt to avoid capture by a determined federal agent. During their glamorous, globetrotting and sometimes deadly adventure, nothing and no one - even the now fugitive couple - are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the world with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth vs. trust. The all-star cast is rounded out with Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie Grace, Paul Dano, Marc Blucas, Viola Davis, Jordi Molla and the film, which was shot in locations all over the world, is directed by James Mangold.
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" PG-13, 1:43, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6.
Imagine "Aladdin" recast as a video game and you get the concept of this sixth-century action comedy. Jake Gyllenhaal stretches into the action-hero game, playing the resourceful swashbuckling Dastan who gets in and out of danger quicker than you can say, "shazam!" Gemma Arterton co-stars as Princess Tamina, sharing the adventures, romance and snappy banter. Heavyweights Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina co-star; Mike Newell directs.
"Shrek Forever After" PG, 1:48, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6 (in 3-D).
Shrek's not the ogre he once was in this fourth installment of the comedy franchise. Married to Fiona with 1-year-old triplets, he's going through a midlife crisis that makes him long to get his groove back. Mike Myers heads the cast with Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas.
"Twilight Saga: Eclipse" PG-13, 2:19, Maui Mall Megaplex, Front Street Theatres and Kukui Mall 4.
It'll be a battle of the heartthrobs as Team Edward and Team Jacob fans converge for this third installment of the vampire series. Bella (Kristen Stewart) once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. This third edition of the "Twilight" series is already set to be the summer's big blockbuster, taking in more than $30 million from midnight screenings when it opened earlier this week, surpassing the previous midnight record of $26.3 million set on opening day last November by its predecessor, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."
"Toy Story 3" G, 1:43, Maui Mall Megaplex (3-D, with ticket surcharge), Lahaina Wharf Cinemas and Kukui Mall 4.
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and cowgirl (Joan Cusack) return to the third installment of this franchise the first in 3-D - that put Pixar and computer animation on the map. Once again the toys confront their own mortality as their boy grows up and heads for college, leaving them with the options of being boxed in the attic or put out for the garbage man. They get a new lease on life when they wind up in a day care center, but that also turns dangerous when they get placed in the toddler room. Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris and new addition Ned Beatty add their voices to the mix under Lee Unkrich's direction.
