Alice in Wonderland (PG)
How could you not love a spin on a Lewis Carroll classic with a dolled-up Johnny Depp, a funny, fierce Helena Bonham Carter, a charming new version of Alice (Mia Wasikowska) — and best of all, the wildly imaginative Tim Burton? But with totally annoying Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, and its ultimate slide to conventional Disney — you won’t.
2 1/2 shells
The Bounty Hunter (PG-13)
A battle of the exes where the collateral damage is done to viewers who submit to the nonstop squabbling and silly plot. Jennifer Aniston is a reporter who jumps bail to track a crime story while being pursued by ex-husband (Gerard Butler), a policeman-turned-bounty hunter.
1 shell
Clash of the Titans (PG-13)
The gods are angry in this computer-generated, humorless mythological tale of Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and his brother Zeus (Liam Neeson). They threaten to unleash the beast Kraken on the city of Argos unless the daughter of the king is sacrificed. Pow. Zap. Kaboom.
1 ½; shells
The Ghost Writer (PG-13)
Based on the Robert Harris bestseller, Roman Polanski’s political thriller includes murder, sex, mystery, and international scandal. Ewan McGregor plays the ghostwriter for former British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan) who’s taken refuge in a Vineyard-like beach house after being accused of war crimes.
4 shells
Hot Tub Time Machine (R)
A malfunctioning Jacuzzi transports three miserable, confused, 40-something friends back to 1986. It’s a crude, tasteless guilty pleasure watching the stressed-out Adam (John Cusack), alcoholic Lou (Rob Corddry), and should-have-been musician Nick (Craig Robinson), trying to recapture their youth. Despite its wacked-out ending, it’s fun.
3 shells
How To Train Your Dragon (PG)
This 3-D DreamWorks Animation is an affectingly told fairy tale with a message. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), the son of a dragon slayer, and his puppy-like fire-breathing dragon change how things are done.
4 shells
The Hurt Locker (R)
Director Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-winning film (best film, direction, script, sound and film editing) earns its accolades with its unflinching view of the war in Iraq from the close-up perspective of an Army bomb disposal squad. Staff Sergeant James, (Jeremy Renner), with his insane relish for defying death, pushes everyone — audience included — to the brink.
5 shells
Remember Me (PG-13)
Family pasts with murder, secrets, and suicide. Robert Pattinson (“Twilight”) plays the complicated, sulky, and privileged Tyler who courts the cute and quirky Ally (Emilie de Ravin) — daughter of the policeman (Chris Cooper) he has a grudge against. Pierce Brosnan, Lena Olin as Tyler’s divorced parents.
3 shells
Shutter Island (R)
Combine a hospital for the criminally insane in an old fortress off Boston Harbor, an impending hurricane, an escaped murderer (filicide), patients running amok, and you get Martin Scorsese’s psychological horror. With Leonardo DiCaprio.
5 shells
