Know the code

For movie lovers some real good movies are showing in a movie theater near you this weekend. The biggest, and probably the jost anticipated movie is The Da Vinci Code, which opens in theaters nationally on May 19.

Adapted from Dan Brown's bestseller, The Da Vinci Code is the year's jost controversial movie, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou as strangers hurled together on a frantic all-nighter in pursuit of the Holy Grail after a series of murders are committed.

The film was directed by Ron Howard, and advanced reports are that he added some twists and variations, but the general thrust of the novel remains intact, including its theory that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child, which has prompted denouncements from many Christians.

Will Poseidon float to the top?

The movie has a large cast that includes, Josh Lucas, Kurt Russel, Richard Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Jacinda barrett, Emmy Rossum, Mike Vogel, Mia Maestro, Kevin Dillon and Andre Braugher.

The movie, which is a remake of the 1972 blockbuster, The Poseidon Adventure, is directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Poseidon is an exciting disaster movie, about a luxury liner that is capsized by a massive wave. In the movie characters die, one after the other, in the attempt to survive the rushing water engulfing the sinking ship. People die by drowning, by fire, by falling, by being electrocuted and being hit by huge falling objects like chandeliers.

However, remakes are always challenged by the original, and the producers of Poseidon depend too much on special effects to separate it from the original. This detracts from the acting, which at times is dull, except when they are dying. Still, Poseidon is an entertaining movie, worth stepping out to see.

The movie runs for 98 minutes. It has strong language, violence, lots of gore and adult themes.

Cruise does the Impossible…again!

We think this is the best of the MI movies. This one is packed with action that seems real and unforgettable. For those of you who like a good action movie, and the actor Tom Cruise, this movie is a bonanza. There are some action movies that are plain dumb, as the action is totally unbelievable, but Director J.J. Abrams (who is also the creator of the TV show “Lost”) has done an excellent job in making he action very believable. The acting by Cruise and his co-star Michelle Monaghan is receives a passing grade. The movie runs for 125 minutes contains strong language and violence.

United 93 flies high

The public was divided over this movie. With a plot based on the hijacked United Airlines that crashed in Philadelphia on September 11, 2001 many saw the movie as being insensitive. The movie is a very precise recreation of the ill-fated flight on that ill-fated date. The movie gives an educated and interesting account of how FAA control rooms and air traffic controllers work. One good thing about this movie is that despite the fact its theme is well known the audience is held riveted as the United Flight 93 heads towards its fate.

The movie is directed by Paul Greengrass, and stars Opal Alladin, Eric Redman, Ben Sliney, Susan Blommaert and Paul Hermann. It runs for 111 minutes and has strong language, brief violence and gore.