Published: January 14, 2009

Kam's Kapsules: January 16, 2009, Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

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For movies opening January 16, 2009

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Chandni Chowk to China (Unrated) Action comedy about a humble chef (Akshay Kumar) from Delhi who moves to China after being mistaken by a couple of visitors from the Orient as the reincarnation of an ancient war hero.

Defiance (R for violence and profanity) Oscar-winner Edward Zwick (for Shakespeare in Love) directs this harrowing tale of survival, set in occupied Poland during World War II, recounting the heroic efforts of three brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) who escape into the forest where they join forces with Russian resistance fighters to save over 1,000 fellow Jews from the Nazis.

Hotel for Dogs (PG for crude humor, mild epithets and mature themes) Family comedy about a couple of orphaned siblings (Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin) who turn an abandoned hotel into a shelter for stray dogs after being pressured by their foster parents to put their own beloved pooch up for adoption. Supporting cast includes Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow and Kyla Pratt.

My Bloody Valentine 3-D (R for profanity, gruesome violence, grisly images, explicit sexuality and graphic nudity) High attrition-rate slasher flick about a coal miner (Jensen Ackles) who returns to his hometown of Harmony exactly 10 years after the slaughter of 22 locals by a deranged murderer on Valentine's Day only to discover another madman embarking on a similar killing spree.

Notorious (R for nudity, drug use, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity) Bio-pic about the rise and fall of Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard), aka Biggie Smalls, the Brooklyn born crack dealer-turned-gangsta rapper gunned down in a drive-by shooting in L.A. in 1997, the victim of the bloody East Coast-Coast West Coast hip-hop feud. Cast includes Angela Bassett as Biggie's mom, Naturi Naughton as Lil' Kim, Derek Luke as Sean "Puffy" Combs, Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur, Antonique Smith as Faith Evans and Sean Ringgold as Suge Knight.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG for violence, suggestive material, crude humor and mild epithets) Kevin James stars in the title role of this Christmas comedy about a mild-mannered security guard who saves the day when crooks disguised Santa's helpers take hostages at a suburban shopping mall in New Jersey. With Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale and Raini Rodriguez.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Cherry Blossoms (Unrated) Bittersweet romance drama about an elderly woman (Hannelore Elsner) who hides from her husband (Elmar Wepper) his terminal diagnosis while encouraging him to visit their children in Berlin and Japan as soon as possible. (In German, Japanese and English with subtitles)

Mock Up on Mu (Unrated) Fanciful sci-fi adventure, set in 2019, revolving around the efforts of Scientology founder-turned-real estate developer L. Ron Hubbard (Damon Packard) to colonize and corporatize the moon, pitching lunar theme parks and crater naming rights with the help of celebrity Earthlings.

The Pervert's Guide to the Cinema (Unrated) Philosopher/psychoanalyst/film lover Slavoj Zisjek narrates this examination of clips from the classic movies of such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch and Charlie Chaplin.

Kam Williams
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