These are Maui Scene's mini-reviews, excerpts of wire service reviews and previews provided by studios and other sources.
Opens Friday
"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" PG, 1:25, Maui Mall Megaplex, Lahaina Wharf Cinemas and Kukui Mall
Lion Alex (Ben Stiller), zebra Marty (Chris Rock), hippo Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) and giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer) are still trying to get back to the Big Apple and their beloved Central Park Zoo, but first they need to find the penguins. They travel to Monte Carlo where they attract the attention of Animal Control after gate crashing a party and are joined by the penguins, King Julian and Co., the monkeys and a new arrival: a performing llama. How do a lion, zebra, hippo, giraffe, four penguins, two monkeys, three lemurs and a llama travel through Europe without attracting attention? They join a traveling circus. Eric Darnell, Conrad Vernon and Tom McGrath direct.
"Prometheus" R, 2:04, Maui Mall Megaplex, Front Street Theaters and Kukui Mall
A team of scientists journey through the universe on the spaceship "Prometheus" on a voyage to investigate Alien life forms. The team of scientists becomes stranded on an Alien world, and as they struggle to survive it becomes clear that the horrors they experience are not just a threat to themselves, but to all of mankind. Written by Wellard Rockard. Stars Noomi Rapace, Loga Marshall-Green and Michael Fassbender. Ridley Scott directs.
"The Manzanar Fishing Club" 1:15, Kaahumanu 6
The Manzanar Fishing Club is a feature length documentary that chronicles the WWII internment of Japanese-American from a unique perspective: through the eyes of those who defied the armed guards, barbed wire and searchlights to fish for trout in the surrounding waters of the Eastern Sierra. By emphasizing the evacuees' personal stories it is the first internment film to go beyond the confinement itself, and instead highlight values-courage, responsibility and cooperation-that enable the human spirit. Interviews with noted experts provide new insights in to the social political backdrop of the internment. This is the untold story of those who refuse to knuckle under and risked it all to go fishing just like other ordinary Americans. Written by Richard Imamura. Cory Shiozaki directs.
Still playing
"Snow White and the Huntsman" PG-13, 2:07, Front Street Theaters, Kaahumanu 6, Kukui Mall
Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen. Unable to tolerate the insult to her vanity, the evil queen decides that Snow White must die. The queen sends a huntsman to kill Snow White. However the huntsman finds himself unable to murder the innocent young woman, and instead ends up training her to become a warrior capable of threatening the queen's reign. Stars Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman and Charlize Theron as the evil queen. Rupert Sanders directs.
"Men in Black III" PG-13, 1:45, Kaahumanu 6, Front Street Theaters, Kukui Mall
An alien criminal kills the young Agent K in 1969, altering the timeline, changing the Agency and placing the Earth in danger. Veteran Agent J (Will Smith) must travel back in time to 1969 to before the murder and work with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save him, the Agency, the Earth and humanity itself. Every opportunity for action is fully exploited with stunning visual effects. More importantly, unlike the second film, Director Barry Sonnenfeld allows the flesh-and-blood characters to remain the stars of the show.
"Chernobyl Diaries" R, 1:30, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex and Lahaina Wharf Cinema Center
A group of six young vacationers who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an "extreme" tour guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago.
After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone. Stars Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski and Olivia Dudley. Bradley Parker directs.
"The Dictator" R, 1:23, Front Street Theaters and Maui Mall Megaplex. Ends tonight at Kukui Mall.
The Dictator is the latest comedy from Sacha Baron Cohen, co-starring Anna Faris, John C. Reilly, and Ben Kingsley. The story is about a fictional dictator, Haffaz Alladeen. The movie blurs the line between a "mockumentary" style movie and a fictional story of a dictator visiting the U.S. for the first time. Audiences are treated to goofy laughs as The Dictator risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly has oppressed. Larry Charles directs.
"What to Expect When You're Expecting" PG-13, 1:50, Maui Mall Megaplex. Ends tonight at Front Street Theaters.
Inspired by the perennial New York Times bestseller of the same name, What to Expect When You're Expecting is a heartfelt big screen comedy about five couples whose intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood. A kaleidoscopic comedy as universal as it is unpredictable, What to Expect When You're Expecting finds humor and uplift in all the unexpected trials and triumphs of welcoming a child into the world. Stars Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison and J. Todd Smith. Kirk Jones directs.
"Battleship" PG-13, 2:11, Lahaina Wharf Cinemas, Maui Mall Megaplex and ends tonight at Kukui Mall.
Based on the classic Hasbro naval combat game, Battleship is the story of an international fleet of ships who come across an alien armada whilst on a Naval war games exercise. An intense battle ensues over sea, land and air. Those looking for big, loud sci-fi action will find plenty of it here. Three ships are left stranded inside a gigantic alien spaceship's force field during what was supposed to be a routine exercise between Japanese and American sailors off the coast of Hawaii. What do they aliens-known as 'The Regents'-want? Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker and Liam Neeson star. Recording artist Rihanna plays a plucky weapons specialist who scampers about the USS John Paul Jones making things go boom. Peter Berg directs.
"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," PG-13, 2:04. Kaahumanu 6
A group of British retirees decide to outsource their retirement to India, where it is less expensive and seemingly exotic. They are enticed by advertisements for the newly-restored Marigold Hotel and are bolstered with visions of a life of leisure. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. Stars Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith. John Madden directs.
"Dark Shadows" PG-13, 1:53, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6
In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better and are in need of his protection. Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series "Dark Shadows" to the big screen.
"The Avengers" PG-13, 2:38, Maui Mall Megaplex and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas. Ends tonight at Kukui Mall .
The hype has been building for years and it couldn't possibly be more deafening at this point. After a series of summer blockbusters that individually introduced Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America, all these characters come together alongside several other friends and foes in "Marvel's The Avengers." And with director and co-writer Joss Whedon, they couldn't be in better hands. He's pulled off the tricky feat of juggling a large ensemble cast and giving everyone a chance to shine, of balancing splashy set pieces with substantive ideology. Stuff explodes in beautifully detailed 3-D.
"Think Like a Man" PG-13, 2:17, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex
In adapting Steve Harvey's funny best-seller to the screen, the producers left out the first half of the title: "Act Like a Lady." That's the premise for the comedy as a group of girlfriends including Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson and Jennifer Lewis buy the book and use its advice to keep their men in check until the men (including Chris Brown, Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Terrence Jenkins) catch on and try to turn the tables. Tim Story directs.
"The Hunger Games" PG-13, 2:22, Maui Mall Megaplex
Writer-director Gary Ross' adaptation of the first of Suzanne Collins' trio of best-sellers is a hit with critics and social observers as well as its target teen audience. The annual "Games" choose a male and female teen from each of 12 districts to duel to the death on the ultimate in reality TV shows, providing entertainment for the masses.
* Movie listings are subject to last-minute changes. Visit www.mauigateway.com/~rw/ movie/ for updates.
