‘The Hobbit’ wanders too far from its own creative shire 

Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori and Ori are 12 dwarfs tempting fate. (And their names are kind of cool, too.) Led by Thorin, son of a fallen king who, like many other dwarfs long, long ago, lost his life in a most bloody battle between their enemies, the Orcs (their ugly trumps their nasty), these eager “dwarriors” boldy set out on a mission to reclaim their lost dwelling on The Lonely Mountain in Middle Earth. They seek the help of a wizard named Gandalf, who, in turn, opts to bring a reluctant hobbit along for the ride.

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Hopkins' entertaining performance fuels larky 'Hitchcock'

It takes a certain amount of gutsiness for an actor to try to transform himself onscreen into one of the most famous and recognizable icons in the history of film.

Theatrical setting, cardboard star, drain life out of luscious 'Anna Karenina' 

All the world may be a stage, but filmmaker Joe Wright takes this notion a bit too literally in his luscious, epic misfire of a movie, Anna Karenina.

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With: Reviews,
Movie Times click here.
Santa Cruz area movie theaters >

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With: Reviews,
Movie Times click here.
Santa Cruz area movie theaters >

Boy and tiger share fantastic voyage in gorgeous 'Life of Pi' 

It's a story too incredible to believe. But choosing what to believe—along with the sheer power of storytelling—is exactly the point of Life of Pi, Yann Martel's best-selling novel of faith, destiny, courage and survival, now made into a magnificent-looking film by director Ang Lee.

Five things to be grateful for in the fifth and final ‘Twilight’ film

Death becomes Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (★★1/2 out of four). Never before has the typically stoic actress demonstrated so much life. And so it goes in the fifth and final chapter of The Twilight Saga, in which newly christened vamp, Bella (Stewart) and hubby Edward (Robert Pattinson) fight fate after the birth of their half-human/half vampire daughter. The film is loaded with costars and a surprisingly well executed ending that should do the film franchise justice. A winner at the box office last weekend, no doubt the film has enough legs to last through the holiday season. That said, here are a few things to be grateful for as the film series (finally) wraps up:

Day-Lewis’ extraordinary performance powers Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’
It’s probably counter-productive to try to shoehorn Steven Spielberg’s massive historical epic, Lincoln, into the realm of allegory. Yes, this tale of political maneuvering at the close of the American Civil War portrays a House literally divided against itself, one party trying to reconcile the conservative and “radical” elements within itself, two parties so ideologically diverse they can’t engage in debate on the floor without hurling invective at each other, and a recently re-elected president struggling to balance his personal principles with his need to heal the nation.

Craig's 007 shaken, yet stirring in 'Skyfall' 

What does Skyfall, the title of the new 007 movie, actually mean? Suffice it to say that "Skyfall" is James Bond's "Rosebud," an element from his deeply shrouded past revealed here for the first time—one of many "firsts" that make this 23rd outing for the legendary über-op so interesting.