At the Movies

Opening: Week of Friday, Sept. 24

‘Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’
In this animated tale in 3-D, winged warriors embark on a journey across the sea to save the Owl Kingdom. (PG, 90 mins.)

‘The Virginity Hit’
Four buddies must survive friends with benefits, Internet hookups and porn stars as they document their pal’s first sexual encounter. (R, 86 mins.)

‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’
Michael Douglas returns as Gordon Gekko, emerging from a lengthy prison stint into a much harder financial world than the one he left. (PG-13, 127 mins.)

‘You Again’
Kristen Bell plays a woman who discovers that her brother is marrying her old high school rival, and then proceeds to sabotage the impending nuptials. (PG, 105 mins.)

The Top 10 Movies

The top-grossing movies of the past week, courtesy Hollywood.com

‘The Town’
Ben Affleck directs and stars in the story of a professional thief who gets involved with a victimized bank manager who doesn’t know he was her captor during a heist. Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and Jon Hamm co-star. (R, 130 mins.)

‘Easy A’
After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean-cut high school girl (Emma Stone) decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. (PG-13, 90 mins.)

‘Devil’
In a dark story from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan, a group of people are preyed upon in an elevator and office building — by the devil. (PG-13, 80 mins.)

‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’
Milla Jovovich returns as Alice, as she continues her fight to survive in a world ravaged by a virus that turns its victims into the undead. Jovovich used to give her all in these movies, but she no longer runs as if her life depends on it. And that’s the problem with the whole film: There’s no urgency. (R, 95 mins.)

‘Alpha and Omega’
In this animated tale in 3-D, two wolves embark on the ultimate road trip home after being taken by park rangers and shipped halfway across the country. (PG, 88 mins.)

‘Takers’
A notorious group of bank robbers find its plans for one last score thwarted by a hardened detective hell-bent on solving the case. It’s a slickly efficient yarn, largely uncomplicated yet offering a few moments of insight and dramatic weight. (PG-13, 107 mins.)

‘The American’
George Clooney stars as a hit man who retreats to the Italian countryside, where he befriends a local priest and strikes up an unexpected romance while awaiting the details of his next assignment. Director Anton Corbijn has crafted a quiet, haunting European thriller, drained of emotion and moving at its own deliberate and graceful pace. (R, 105 mins.)

‘Inception’
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller as the leader of a group of skilled thieves who steal people’s ideas for corporate gain by inserting themselves into strangers’ subconscious while they are sleeping. It’s a stunningly gorgeous, technically flawless symphony of images and ideas. In its sheer enormity, it’s every inch a blockbuster, but in the good sense of the word. (PG-13, 147 mins.)

‘The Other Guys’
Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay join comedic forces with Mark Wahlberg to tell the story of a pair of sidelined police detectives who finally get their chance to crack a big-time financial fraud case. This is a surprisingly fresh take on the usually rehashed mismatched-buddy cop setup — self-aware but not tongue-in-cheek — and helped in part by action sequences played totally straight. (PG-13, 107 mins.)

‘Machete’
A loud, giddy, carnal blast from Robert Rodriguez as he expands his "Grindhouse" trailer into a full-bore exploitation flick starring Danny Trejo as a renegade Mexican federale and tough-as-nails vigilante for justice who is out to settle the score. It’s a pastiche of westerns, revenge thrillers, cultural stereotypes and softcore porn. (R, 105 mins.)

Arthouse

Doris Duke Theatre

Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St, entry on Kinau St. (532-8768); $5-$8.50 (tickets available at www.tix.com):

‘NY Export: Opus Jazz’
1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow
Shot on location in Manhattan, dancers from the New York City Ballet revive and re-imagine the classic choreography of Jerome Robbins. (60 mins.)

Manhattan Short Film Festival
1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Audiences in over 200 cities around the world (including Honolulu) will vote for their favorite finalist out of 10 films, from Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland and the U.K. in this annual event.

Movie Museum

3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771) ; $4-$5; reservations recommended:

‘That Evening Sun’
12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. today
An aging Tennessee farmer returns to his homestead and must confront a family betrayal, the reappearance of an old enemy, and the loss of his farm. (2009, 110 mins.)

‘Hachi: A Dog’s Tale’
12:15, 2:30, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. tomorrow
Based on a true story from Japan, it’s a moving film about a college professor who finds an abandone Akita puppy at his local train station and decides to keep him when no one claims the dog. Richard Gere and Joan Allen star. (2009, 93 mins.)

‘Departures’
12:30, 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday
In this popular Japanese drama, a cellist returns to his childhood home in the north of the country and finds work in a funeral home. (2008, 130 mins.)

‘Happy Ever Afters’
12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Monday
An Irish screwball comedy about two weddings that collide when both receptions are held at one hotel. (2009, 96 mins.)

Monday Movie Cafe

The Venue, 1146 Bethel St. (528-1144); $10:

‘Ingredients’
7 p.m. Monday
A documentary focusing on sustainable food systems. Director Bob Baes will be at the screening for a question-and-answer session with the audience. (60 mins.)