NEW MOVIES

NEW MOVIES
'AFTER THE SUNSET'
ss The nebulous title is appropriate for this dull and droopy heist caper, which never quite defines itself as larcenous lark or shady thriller. Pierce Brosnan plays an ex-diamond thief retired with his partner in crime and love (Salma Hayek) to an island paradise. Woody Harrelson's an FBI agent convinced the two are plotting one last score. The cat-and-mouse twists are fairly predictable, and Brosnan and Harrelson's strange-bedfellows camaraderie is none too believable. (PG-13) for sexuality, violence and language; Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Hermitage, Tinseltown; Westgate.
'BIRTH'
s1/2 Nicole Kidman is Anna, an affluent New Yorker in her mid-30s whose husband, Sean, died unexpectedly. Anna is understandably surprised when a 10-year-old boy, also named Sean, shows up at her door, claiming to be the reincarnated spirit of the dead man. Possibly, this idea would have worked as comedy. But played straight, "Birth" is ponderous and creepy -- and not the good kind of creepy, either. (R) for sexuality; Austintown Movies 3, Cinema South.
'LA DOLCE VITA'
sss1/2 This 1960 Italian film by Federico Fellini has been re-released. Marcello Mastroianni is the star, playing an average reporter who chases scandals in between chasing skirts. The more he experiences Rome's high-society parties and hedonistic life, the more addicted -- and emotionally empty -- he becomes. Also starring Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aim & eacute;e, Yvonne Furneaux, Magali No & euml;l, Alain Cuny, Annibale Ninchi and Walter Santesso. Not rated; at Austintown Movies 3.
'POLAR EXPRESS'
s1/2 As technically dazzling as we're supposed to believe they are, the creations in Robert Zemeckis' Christmas adventure just look wrong, the sort of creepy characters more likely to induce nightmares than visions of sugar plums. Tom Hanks, who provides body movements and voices for many key characters, and his co-stars were rendered digitally by infrared cameras keyed to receptors on their faces and bodies. The results resemble the imagery of Chris Van Allsburg's picture book about a young holiday skeptic's train ride to the North Pole. But the human-esque characters are unsettling, not quite flesh, not quite figment. (G) nothing objectionable; Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Cinema South, Hermitage, Westgate.
'SEDUCING DR. LEWIS'
ssss Ste.-Marie-La-Mauderne is a fishing village on an island in northern Quebec with a population of 125 eccentric characters. The fishing has dried up, and the town exists on welfare checks. The mayor, Real (Jean-Pierre Gonthier), is trying to get a company that makes plastic containers to build a factory there, but the deal hinges on having a doctor sign a contract. Germain (Raymond Bouchard) persuades Dr. Christopher Lewis (David Boutin) to give the island a try. The villagers take extreme measures to get Dr. Lewis to fall in love with the island. Not rated; at Austintown Movies 3.
'SEED OF CHUCKY'
(No star rating available yet) The killer doll's offspring goes to Hollywood to check out a new movie about his homicidal parents. With Jennifer Tilly, Redman, Hannah Spearritt, John Waters, the voices of Billy Boyd and Brad Dourif. Written and directed by Don Mancini. (R); at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Cinema South, Westgate.
LAST WEEK'S TOP 10
'ALFIE'
sss A remake of the 1966 Michael Caine hit, "Alfie" stars Jude Law as the titular inveterate womanizer. The significant changes are a handsomer Alfie, a subtler form of Alfie's misogynistic behavior and a switch in venue from London to New York, although ironically the bulk of the movie was shot in Manchester, England. (R) for sexual content, some language and drug use; at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Hermitage, Tinseltown, Westgate.
'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS'
sss High school football really is a way of life in Texas. H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger captured it with eloquence in his 1990 best seller "Friday Night Lights," and director Peter Berg does it again in his film of the same name. (PG-13) for thematic issues, sexual content, language, some teen drinking and rough sports action; at Tinseltown.
'THE GRUDGE'
ss1/2 Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as an American exchange student and social worker who stumbles upon supernatural horrors while helping an elderly, catatonic woman (Grace Zabriskie). This remake of a hit Japanese movie is sufficiently moody, but it's never deeply frightening. (PG-13) for disturbing, occasionally violent imagery and mild sensuality; at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Hermitage, Elm Road Drive-In, Tinseltown, Westgate.
'THE INCREDIBLES'
ss1/2 It's a spirited state-of-the-art riff on vintage James Bond movies and the superhero ethos of the 1950s and '60s. The animated humans are just cartoony enough to be cute, and the effects are truly special -- very cool. But it's very violent for a cartoon. And it isn't very funny. (PG) for intense action fare; at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Cinema South, Hermitage, Elm Road Drive-In, Westgate.
'LADDER 49'
ss Joaquin Phoenix plays a veteran firefighter whose career plays out in flashbacks while he's trapped in a burning building as mentor John Travolta directs a rescue effort. (PG-13) for intense fire and rescue situations and for language; at Tinseltown.
'RAY'
sss Beyond the physical resemblance, Jamie Foxx is so good, so earnest, so authentic as Ray Charles that you practically forget he's an actor playing a part and start to feel that he IS Ray Charles. (PG-13) for drug addiction, sexuality and language; at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Hermitage, Tinseltown, Westgate.
'SAW'
ss Liked it better when it was called "Seven." Much more intelligent. And complex. Cared about the characters then. This time not so much. "Saw" is likely to impress only those who've lately become eligible to watch R-rated movies (or have recently figured out how to fool the system). (R) for strong grisly violence and language; at Austintown Commons 10, Boulevard Centre, Cinema South, Elm Road Drive-In, Hermitage, Westgate.
'SHALL WE DANCE?'
ss The setting has been moved to Chicago and Richard Gere plays a lawyer, but otherwise this remake is nearly scene-for-scene identical to the 1996 Japanese original about a man who breaks out of his midlife rut by secretly taking ballroom dance lessons. Tonally, it's utterly devoid of subtlety. With Jennifer Lopez. (PG-13) for some sexual references and brief language; at Boulevard Centre, Cinema South, Hermitage, Westgate.
'SHARK TALE'
s1/2 You'll have a sinking feeling that you've seen this all-star animated extravaganza before. That's because you have -- and you've seen it done better -- in the form of "Finding Nemo" and "Shrek." (PG) for some mild language and crude humor; at Boulevard Centre, Tinseltown.
'TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE'
ssss A nearly nonstop assault on politics and patriotism that cuts across party and national lines by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. (R) for graphic, crude, sexual humor, violent images and strong language; at Austintown Commons 10, Cinema South.
ALSO PLAYING
'THE BOURNE SUPREMACY'
ss1/2 The thrill-ride sequel picks up its amnesiac hero (Matt Damon) two years later, when he eludes the crossfire of double-crossing CIA and KGB agents and remains one car chase ahead of formidable intelligence op Pamela Landy (Joan Allen). (PG-13) for intense violence; at Cinemark.
'CELLULAR'
ss1/2 Kidnapped Kim Basinger randomly calls a surfer dude's mobile phone for help. (PG-13) for violence, terror situations, language and sexual references; at Cinemark.
'FIRST DAUGHTER'
ss In a year glutted with teenage movie heroines who are either hereditary or civic royalty, "First Daughter" is the second presidential-child film. While Katie Holmes gives a spirited performance, her enthusiasm and charm cannot mask the fact that the screenwriters have given her character a split personality. (PG) for profanity, sexual innuendo, alcohol; at Cinemark.
'HERO'
sss1/2 Zhang Yimou's extraordinarily beautiful martial-arts epic is a sweeping, flashback-within-flashback yarn, set in the ancient kingdom of Qin, as assassins and sheriffs and kings vie and spy, and swords are crossed in treetops and on lakes, a virtual ballet of fight and flight. PG-13 (violence, adult themes); at Cinemark.
'I u HUCKABEES'
ss David O. Russell's head-scratcher about big-box stores and the meaning of life stars Jason Schwartzman as a community activist furious at a superstore chain and its sunny sellout corporate spokesman, Jude Law. (R) for profanity, sex; at Cinemark.
'MR. 3000'
ss1/2 Fantasy-camp inspirational about a retired first baseman (Bernie Mac) who gets a second chance at being a team player. With Angela Bassett, directed by Charles Stone 3d. (PG-13) for sexual content, profanity; at Elm Road Drive-In.
'NAPOLEON DYNAMITE'
ss1/2 A lightly condescending but ultimately winning look at a geeky young man (Jon Heder) growing up weird in Idaho. Moments of real humor collide with moments in which director Jared Hess strains to be this year's winner in the geek-chic sweepstakes. (PG) for thematic elements and language; at Cinemark.
'SHREK 2'
sss1/2 "Shrek 2" carries the standard for self-esteem while spoofing showbiz, fairy tales, self-help books and every other cultural phenom from animal-testing to the Oscars. (PG) for brief drug reference, crude humor, discreet sexual humor; at Cinemark.
'SPIDER-MAN 2'
sss Tobey Maguire returns to his dual role as mild-mannered journalist Peter Parker and the crime-fighting superhero, who this time does battle with Doc Ock (Alfred Molina). (PG-13) for action-film violence; at Cinemark.
'TAXI'
s1/2 Queen Latifah plays a cabby whose souped-up taxi is commandeered by a bungling cop (Jimmy Fallon) to chase a gang of gorgeous women robbing banks. (PG-13) for language, sensuality and brief violence; at Cinemark.
Combined wire services