Igor – Voices of John Cusack, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge, Jay Leno and Molly Shannon
Igor (Cusack) lives in a land where evil is awesome. (Can I get a little Tenacious D? Amen.) Malaria used to be a lovely place to farm and make merry. Really it did. Then the weather turned into something closer to Hurricane Ike. So what better way to boost the local economy than turn it into the center of all evil in the world? That’s exactly what King Malbert (Leno) does. Malaria produces every kind of maiming, destructive force to hold the world at ransom, and everyone lives miserably ever after.

Except Igor. He’s born into his life’s work because of a hunched back. Too bad he’s smart. And scientifically inclined. More so either way than his misguided master Dr. Glickenstein (Cleese). What a surprise, then, that Glickenstein bites the dust, leaving a giant hole for Igor (and all the Igors of the world) to prove himself. For all the visual similarities to a Tim Burton ‘toon, Igor is a lot more After School Special than All Hallow’s Eve. Trust me – if you’re over about 10, you’re probably not in the demographic for this movie. Nonetheless, it’s entertaining and carries some good lessons for the kiddies. B (Joe Allison)

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired — Documentary directed by Marina Zenovich
This haunting documentary gives intriguing insight into the life of Oscar winning director Roman Polanski (Chinatown, The Pianist). He was a survivor of the Nazi occupation of Poland, married actress Sharon Tate (who was killed by Charles Manson in 1969) and later fled the U.S. after being convicted (and serving some time) for sexual intercourse with a 13-year old. The film studies the politics at the time (1977), the legal system and the media frenzy that resulted. Polanski admitted the act; though he thought he did nothing wrong, stating it was consensual. Fascinating film. He remains in Paris. A- (Linda Hollar)

Ghost Town – Starring Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear and Téa Leoni
Bertram Pincus (Gervais) pretty much loathes everyone for about 80 minutes or so. Then he turns over a new leaf. “What?” you say. “Ricky Gervais playing a jerk? Inconceivable!” Well dear reader, let me assure you that it’s so. Pincus likes his job as a dentist. Why? Because he gets to shove cotton (and impressions trays) in people’s mouths and shut them up. He’s miserable, but happy about it. Anyway, he heads off to the doctor for some routine body maintenance and, oops, he’s dead for seven minutes. That somehow flips him to “I see dead people,” but it’s not creepy in a Sixth Sense way. He hates people, and now they are swarming him, all wanting him to help them do one last thing so they can leave the earth.

Good thing there’s Frank (Kinnear). He’s dead too and, of course, Pincus also hates him. Frank is just one more person to deal with, but he does offer a bit of relief to Pincus – if he’ll break up Frank’s widow (Leoni) and her new man, Pincus can consider himself ghost-free. Liking Ghost Town will probably hinge on whether or not you like Ricky Gervais. If you do, you will. If not, well maybe you’d be better off renting Steel Magnolias or something. B+ (Joe Allison)

Eagle Eye — Starring Shia LaBouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Embry and Billy Bob Thornton
Like, Shia is soooo hot, and he gets this toootally creepy call telling him that he’s going to jail. There’s all these, like, weapons and bombs and stuff in his small apartment. He doesn’t get away, and all these totally hot guys break in and stick him in jail. Poor Shia! Then he gets another creepy call! I know. You’re like, “How come he doesn’t just show them his “I’m Shia!” badge and get that creepy bitch off the phone. Anyhoo, the creepy thing on the phone sends a crane in to rescue him.

He winds up in a car with Michelle Monaghan! Oooooh! But that bitch on the phone is way playing them both, and she’s not even a real person! This is JUST like that movie 2001, you may have watched in science class — but so much more realistic. OMFGWTF! The script had more hands on it than (insert your own joke here), and it shows. Eagle Eye seems like someone took a dozen or so other movies and stuck them in a blender with the lid off. But for all its faults, it’s entertaining. Here’s an idea – go home, turn on the TV and just hold down the button to change channels. Voila. You’ve got Eagle Eye. But isn’t that what you Gen Y’ers do with your spare time anyway? C+ (Joe Allison)

Appaloosa – Starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zelwegger, Jeremy Irons. Directed and co-written by Ed Harris. Fed formula and tucked in at night by Ed Harris
Virgil (Harris) and Everett (Mortensen) are best described as mercenary lawmen. They’ll provide law and order, but there’s a price tag attached. When they hit Appaloosa, their job is to bring Randall Bragg (Irons), a local rancher, to justice. That’s half of what the movie’s about. The other half is about the relationship between Virgil, Everett and a “lovely” Mrs. French (Zelwegger). Virgil is a straightforward man, Everett is his trustworthy backup and Mrs. French is the wrench in Virgil’s gears. Harris and Mortensen are very good in this movie, and Appaloosa seems very true to life. But so is a videotape of me walking to my mailbox every day. Except I do that in nothing but a mankini. C- (Joe Allison)

Nights in Rodanthe — Staring Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Scott Glenn, Viola Davis
If you loved Bridges of Madison County, you’ll like this film. Beautiful love story set on the gorgeous North Carolina coast with fine acting. Lane is surberb. Both Gere and Lane’s characters have dissolved or dissolving marriages. Main problem, the film just moved so slowly. B– (Linda Hollar)