The Adjustment Bureau (PG-13)
Sci-fi mind-control thriller heavy on romance. David (Matt Damon) meets the irresistible Elise, (Emily Blunt), but destiny-controlling agents intercede to keep them apart. The contest between free will and predetermination is on.
Battle Los Angeles (PG-13)
Silvery robot-armed extraterrestrials in search of water swoop down on L.A., and it’s non-ending explosions and predictable mayhem as the city is blown to bits. Yawn. Aaron Eckhart, Bridget Moynanhan, Ramon Rodriguez, and Michael Peñ;a.
Gnomeo and Juliet (G)
A comical take-off of Shakespeare’s most popular romance played by feuding families of garden gnomes, with Elton John songs, pink plastic flamingos, and lawnmower races.
Hop (PG)
Talk about your Easter egg: E.B. (Russell Brand) is a reluctant rabbit who runs away rather than becoming the next Easter Bunny. With ambitions of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll drummer, E.B. winds up in L.A., where he invades the life of slacker Fred (James Marsden). Even with the bunny brigade chasing him, it’s blah, blah, blah all the way home.
Limitless (PG-13)
Fun thriller about NZT, a pill that can turn ordinary people in to geniuses. Eddie (Bradley Cooper), an intense would-be novelist takes the untested pill, and voila — turns into a mastermind and winds up being followed by a mysterious man, and getting entangled with a Russian loan shark and a corporate tycoon (Robert De Niro) who wants to be in the know.
The Lincoln Lawyer (R)
Matthew McConaughey is the charismatic Mick, a flash and dash unconventional L.A. defense attorney (his office is the backseat of his chauffeured Lincoln) with a client list of eccentric characters. He defends the well-connected Louis, (Ryan Phillippe) charged with rape and murder. Hmmm, maybe he did; maybe he didn’t. Lots of side stories and characters played by William H. Macy, Marisa Tomei, and Bryan Cranston.
Red Riding Hood (PG-13)
A medieval-style fantasy. The red-cloaked Valerie (Amanda Seyfried), who’s in love with woodcutter Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but betrothed to the wealthy Henry (Max Irons), regularly visits her grandma (Julie Christie) — until the werewolf shows up. Demon-hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman) takes up the battle. A beautiful, but disappointing film.
Source Code (PG-13)
Science-fiction thriller. “Source Code” is a process that makes it possible to go back in time and assume another person’s identity. Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), becomes Sean over and over again, replaying the last eight minutes of Sean’s life when the train he’s on explodes. Stevens can’t change the past, but because he can affect the future, he has to identity the bomber and prevent him from blowing up Chicago. Fine cast: Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright.