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Films

Rain stars as Raizo in a scene from the film “Ninja Assassin.” Warner Bros. (Warner Bros.)

Capsule reviews with star ratings are written by critics for the Philadelphia Inquirer (PI) and Associated Press (AP).

2012

••1/2 Roland Emmerich sure knows how to make a doomsday movie with a happy ending. This preposterously diverting film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Cusack and Danny Glover is a wild ride that says, it’s OK if 8 billion die as long as eight movie stars and the dog live. (PI) Running time: 2:38 Rating: PG-13 (disaster sequences, language)

Airway Heights: noon, 3, 6:10, 9:10. Hayden: 1:30, 5:10, 8:50. NorthTown Mall: 11:40 a.m., 2:40, 3:25, 6:35, 7:05, 10:25. Post Falls: 1:10, 4:10, 7:10. River Park Square: 10:35 a.m., 12:10, 2:05, 3:30, 5:30, 7:05, 9:05. Riverstone: 10:55 a.m., 12:40, 3:40, 6:35, 9:40. Spokane Valley Mall: 10:05 a.m., 1:25, 3:45, 4:45, 7:05, 8:05. Wandermere: noon, 12:40, 3, 3:40, 6:10, 6:40, 9:10, 9:40.

Amelia

••• The role of pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earhart, who broke records, hearts and boundaries, fits Hilary Swank like a jumpsuit. Richard Gere co-stars in the evocative film from Mira Nair. (PI) Running time: 1:51 Rating: PG (language, sensuality, thematic elements)

Wandermere: 11:15 a.m., 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15.

An Education

•••1/2 A disarming and unexpectedly poignant story set in 1961 of a dreamy, Oxford-bound 16-year-old (enchanting Carey Mulligan) who takes up with a sophisticated older man (Peter Sarsgaard). (PI) Running time: 1:40 Rating: PG-13 (thematic material, sexual content)

River Park Square: 11:50 a.m., 2:25, 4:45, 7:10, 9:40.

Black Dynamite

A kung fu-fighting super stud (Michael Jai White) wages war on The Man after his brother’s murder. Running time: 1:30 Rating: R (drug content, language, sexuality/nudity, violence)

Magic Lantern: 8:20.

The Blind Side

••1/2 Writer-director John Lee Hancock wisely lets the true story of Michael Oher – the African-American teen who found a home and, eventually, football stardom, after being adopted by a wealthy Memphis couple (Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw) – speak for itself. (AP) Running time: 2:08 Rating: PG-13 (violence, drug references, sexual references)

Airway Heights: 10:45 a.m., 1:20, 4, 6:40, 9:20. Hayden: 1:45, 3:25, 6:05, 8:45. NorthTown Mall: 11:15 a.m., 3:30, 7:40, 10:35. Post Falls: 12:35, 3:10, 5:45, 8:20. River Park Square: 10:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:30, 3:15, 4:25, 6:20, 7:25, 9:20, 10:15. Riverstone: 10:05 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 1:15, 3:50, 4:20, 6:50, 7:20, 10:20. Spokane Valley Mall: 10:15 a.m., 1:15, 4:15, 7:15. Wandermere: 10:45 a.m., 1:20, 4, 6:40, 9:20.

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

The MacManus brothers return to Boston to avenge the murder of their priest. Running time: 1:55 Rating: R (bloody violence, language, nudity)

Magic Lantern: 8:30.

Coco Before Chanel

Seamstress Coco Chanel develops a style that takes her to the heights of haute couture. Running time: 1:45 Rating: PG-13 (sexual content)

Magic Lantern: 6:30.

Couples Retreat

•• A tropical vacation turns out to be a relationship workshop for four couples. Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love are part of a large cast in a skimpy comedy that is more adult than its rating indicates. (PI) Running time: 1:54 Rating: PG-13 (language, sexual content)

Airway Heights: 11 a.m., 4:20, 9:40. River Park Square: 1:50, 7:20. Riverstone: 10 a.m. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:25, 10:25.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol

•• Robert Zemeckis’ visually immersive, emotionally uninvolving animation of the Charles Dickens evergreen features motion capture performances by Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Robin Wright Penn. Lost in the video-game effects and ghostly grotesquerie is the redemptive saga of the man who learns that his stinginess has spiritually deformed him. (PI) Running time: 1:35 Rating: PG (scary images)

Airway Heights: 12:45, 2:45, 5. Wandermere: 11:30 a.m., 1:40, 3:50, 6:10, 8:20.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol 3D: Airway Heights: noon, 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9. NorthTown Mall: 10:50 a.m., 1:40, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50. River Park Square: 1:35, 3:50. Riverstone: 10:25 a.m., 1:45, 4:50, 7:25, 9:55. Spokane Valley Mall: noon, 2:20, 4:40, 7:10, 9:30. Wandermere: 10 a.m., noon, 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol: An IMAX 3D Experience: River Park Square: 10:30 a.m., 1, 3:30, 6:15, 9:10.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

After three nefarious farmers declare war on them, a sly fox and his animal friends fight back. Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG (action, humor)

Airway Heights: 12:15, 2:30, 4:40, 6:50, 9. NorthTown Mall: 10:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:45, 6:45, 9:55. River Park Square: 11:30 a.m., 1:45, 3:55, 6:35, 9:15. Riverstone: 10:35 a.m., 1:35, 4:05, 6:40, 9:25. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:20, 2:35, 4:50, 7:20, 9:45.

Forces of Nature

Natural disasters are the focus of this IMAX film, namely volcanoes, earthquakes and tornadoes. Never has the power of a volcanic eruption seemed more in-your-face awesome. Running time: :40 Rating: Not rated

IMAX (Riverfront Park): noon, 3:25.

G-Force

•• Disney’s dud about a team of high-tech guinea pig spies is a perpetual motion machine of meaningless action, as a squad of elite rodents tries to thwart a housewares industrialist’s plan of world domination. A mix of CG and live action, with real humans Bill Nighy and Zach Galifianakis, and the voices of Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Sam Rockwell and Tracy Morgan. (PI) Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG (action, rude humor)

Garland: 12:30, 5:05.

Inglourious Basterds

•• Quentin Tarantino’s tonally schizoid Jewish revenge fantasy rewrites World War II history to give Brad Pitt and company a chance to do a lot of jive riffing, while the movie mashes up the combat exploits of the “Dirty Dozen,” the madcap slapstick of “Duck Soup” and “Hostel” gore. (PI) Running time: 2:32 Rating: R (brief sexuality, language, strong graphic violence)

Garland: 9:30 p.m.

Julie & Julia

•••1/2 In Nora Ephron’s captivating film about Julia Child and her influence, Meryl Streep’s performance as Child is cuisine disguised as comfort food, a complex preparation yielding effects both broadly entertaining and subtly moving. With Amy Adams as Julie Powell, the cook-blogger besotted by Child, plus Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina. (PI) Running time: 2:04 Rating: PG-13 (language, sensuality)

Garland: 2:30, 7:05.

Law Abiding Citizen

••1/2 Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler go toe-to-toe in this over-the-top, grisly criminal justice revenge thriller. A mashup of “Death Wish” vigilante vengeance with “Silence of the Lambs” mad-genius-behind-bars puppet-mastery. (PI) Running time: 1:48 Rating: R (language, rape, strong bloody brutal violence, torture)

Airway Heights: 1:40, 7:10. River Park Square: 11:05 a.m., 4:35, 9:50.

The Light Before Christmas

Animated family film explains how Christmas is more than just presents. Running time: :28 Rating: (not rated)

IMAX (Riverfront Park): 1, 1:50, 2:40, 4:25, 5:15.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

••• George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Ewan McGregor star in this nutty based-on-true-stuff farce about a gang of psychic-powered military men going about their remote viewing business during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (PI) Running time: 1:33 Rating: R (nudity, language, drug content)

Airway Heights: 7:30, 9:45. NorthTown Mall: 11:10 a.m., 10:05. River Park Square: 11:40 a.m., 2:30, 4:50, 7:30, 9:55. Riverstone: 10:10 a.m., 10:05. Wandermere: 11 a.m., 1, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:45.

Ninja Assassin

A rogue assassin joins forces with a Europol agent to bring down a clan of hired killers. Running time: 1:39 Rating: R (language, bloody violence)

Airway Heights: 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:20, 9:35. Hayden: 12:55, 3:05, 5:20, 7:25, 9:30. NorthTown Mall: 11:45 a.m., 2:30, 5:15, 8:05, 10:40. Post Falls: 1:25, 3:30, 5:55, 8:05. River Park Square: 11 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 1:40, 2:30, 4:20, 5, 6:50, 7:25, 9:25, 10. Riverstone: 10:20 a.m., 1:50, 4:35, 7:35, 10:10. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:35, 2:55, 5:15, 7:55, 10:20. Wandermere: 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:20, 9:35.

Old Dogs

Two clueless bachelors become the unexpected caretakers of twin children. Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG (mild rude humor)

Airway Heights: 11:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15. Hayden: 1:05, 3:10, 5:25, 7:30, 9:25. NorthTown Mall: 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:45, 2:15, 4:15, 4:45, 7:15, 7:45, 9:45, 10:10. Post Falls: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15. River Park Square: 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45, 2:15, 4:10, 4:40, 6:25, 7:15, 9, 9:40. Riverstone: 10:10 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 12:45, 1:25, 4:15, 4:45, 7:15, 7:45, 9:45, 10:15. Spokane Valley Mall: 11:55 a.m., 12:30, 2:05, 2:40, 4:20, 4:55, 7:25, 7:45, 9:35, 9:55. Wandermere: 11:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15.

Paranormal Activity

••• A couple sets up a video camera to try to capture the scary things that go bump in the night while they are asleep. First-time director Oren Peli does a fine job of creeping out the audience with deliberate, if ultra-slow, pacing and suggested off-screen violence. (PI) Running time: 1:26 Rating: R (language)

Wandermere: 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15.

Paris

A heart condition forces a dancer (Romain Duris) to re-evaluate his life. Running time: 2:08 Rating: R (language, sexual references)

Magic Lantern: 6.

Pirate Radio

•• Awash in nostalgia and amped-up male camaraderie, writer/director Richard Curtis merry misfire takes a great story the hugely popular offshore radio stations that illegally broadcast pop and rock in 1960s Britain and turns it into an aggressively irritating floating frat party romp. (PI) Running time: 1:56 Rating: R (nudity, language, sexual content)

River Park Square: 10:50 a.m., 1:25, 4:10, 6:45, 9:20.

Planet 51

•1/2 This animated sci-fi family tale offers passable computer imagery but is an aborted liftoff when it comes to the lame story of a human astronaut among little green aliens who, for some uninspired reason, are living the serene “Ozzie and Harriet” life of 1950s America. (AP) Running time: 1:31 Rating: PG (sci-fi action, humor)

Airway Heights: 10:50 a.m., 1, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20, 9:25. Hayden: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15. NorthTown Mall: 10:05 a.m., 1:25, 4:05, 6:30, 9:40. Post Falls: 12:30, 3, 5:30, 7:35. River Park Square: 11:35 a.m., 2, 4:15, 6:30, 9:05. Riverstone: 10:15 a.m., 1:20, 4:40, 7:05, 9:35. Spokane Valley Mall: 10:45 a.m., 1:05, 3:20, 5:35, 7:50, 10:05. Wandermere: 10:50 a.m., 1, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20, 9:25.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

•1/2 Fans will turn out in blockbuster legions for the latest sequel in Stephenie Meyer’s vampire-vs.-werewolves series, but it’s really two half moons, or two halves of a movie that don’t quite fit. (AP) Running time: 2:10 Rating: PG-13 (language, sexual references, drug use)

Airway Heights: 11 a.m., 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:40. Hayden: 12:50, 3:30, 6:10, 8:50. NorthTown Mall: 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1, 1:30, 2, 4, 4:30, 5, 7, 7:30, 8. Post Falls: 12:40, 3:15, 5:50, 8:25. River Park Square: 10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:30, 2, 3, 3:50, 4:30, 5, 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:15. Riverstone: 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 9:30. Spokane Valley Mall: 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1, 1:30, 2, 4, 4:30, 5, 7, 7:30, 8. Wandermere: 10:20 a.m., 11 a.m., 1, 1:40, 3:40, 4:20, 6:20, 7, 9, 9:40.