Film Clips: Journey to Pina’s Star House

• Universal Pictures
• Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington star in the CIA agent thriller Safe House

OPENING TODAY

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND 3 stars (PG) In the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) and his mom’s new beau (Dwayne Johnson) pick up a cryptic signal originating from the mysterious island from Jules Verne’s books. Taking full advantage of the technologies at his disposal, director Brad Peyton places his cast upon a fantastic tropical paradise full of amazing creatures and fantastic landscapes. Full of baseline humor, teen angst, and family bonding moments there’s an equal amount of intense chases and thrill rides on both ships and beasts to balance it out. Journey 2’’ is a definite improvement in the franchise and definitely worth seeing. — Edward Adams
’’OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 3 stars (NR) The animation trumps the live-action in this annual program of the Academy Awards’ freshly-anointed short subjects. Highlights include the whimsical charmer “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” and the bittersweet historical sketch “Wild Life.” Ciarin Hinds stars in Terry George’s warm, live-action film “The Orphan,” but the most powerful punch comes from “Raju,” in which a German couple adopts an orphan in Calcutta. — Holman
PINA 3 stars (PG) German choreographer Pina Bausch died two days before director Wim Wenders was scheduled to begin filming a documentary about her work. The German director and Bausch’s ensemble of dancers completed the film as a deeply-felt posthumous tribute, but if you don’t know much about Bausch, you might wish Pina’’ filled in more autobiographical tales between dancer numbers. Wenders’ ingenious use of 3D, particularly the introductory piece “The Rite of Spring,” superbly does justice to Bausch’s choreography. — Holman
’’SAFE HOUSE ( R) When a rouge ex-CIA agent named Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is brought to Agent Weston’s (Ryan Reynolds) CIA safe house in South Africa, a small militia attacks the safe house in an attempt to capture Frost. The inexperienced Weston is then tasked with protecting Frost, one of the most dangerous men alive.
STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D (1999) 2 stars (PG) Two Jedi knights (Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor), a bumbling fish-man and a gifted young boy (Jake Lloyd) aid the deposed queen (Natalie Portman) of a besieged alien planet. The first of George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels unquestionably suffers from wooden performances, terrible dialogue and a misguided comic relief character, but disappointed Star Wars’’ who call it the worst film ever made should really see more movies. On the plus side it offers some subtly ingenious intergalactic skullduggery, some lavishly designed alien worlds and the best light-saber battle in the six-film franchise. — Holman
’’THE VOW (PG-13) Brain damage from a car accident causes Paige (Rachel McAdams) to lose her memory, including all of the memories of her newlywed husband Leo (Channing Tatum). As Leo tries to win over Paige’s heart again, the couple encounters many obstacles in finding the meaning of true love.
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE (NR) Director Philipp Stölzl (North Face) helms a lavish, charming lit-pic about aspiring poet Johann Goethe (Inglourious Basterds’’’ Alexander Fehling) and his love affair with a young woman betrothed to another man.
DULY NOTED
CANDYMAN (1992) 3 stars ( R) This solid, spooky horror film (with a soundtrack by Philip Glass) stars Tony Todd as a boogeyman out of urban legend who manifests himself when people say his name five times in succession. The cast includes Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Vanessa A. Williams and a bunch of angry bees. Splatter Cinema. Tue., Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.’’ — Holman
THE YOUNG LOVERS (1950) (NR) Young dancers Guy and Carol stand at the brink of success when Carol is diagnosed with polio in this film by famed female director Ida Lupino. Sat., Feb. 11. 8 p.m. High Museum, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. $5-$7. 404-733-4200. www.high.org’’
THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH (NR) This documentary traces the history of the St. Louis Urban Housing Project and whether it deserves its reputation as an example of the failures of public policy planning. Feb. 6-12. Cinefest Film Theatre, Georgia State University, 66 Courtland St., Suite 240. 404-413-1798. www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcft.’’
THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS 5 stars (1957) In this pitch-dark drama, Burt Lancaster plays powerful gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker (patterned after Walter Winchell) who uses a hustling New York press agent (Tony Curtis) to ruin the relationshipo between Husecker’s sister and a jazz musician. Painting With Light. Wed., Feb. 15. 7:30 p.m. Emory Cinematheque. 208 White Hall, 301 Dowman Drive, Emory University. Free. filmstudies.emory.edu/home/events/film-series/emory-cinematheque.html — Holman

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