Movie Reviews

The Story: A pair of psychos could be among any of three couples on a remote Hawaiian island. The Lowdown: A laughably transparent mystery structure undermines any fun that might have resulted from this trashy thriller.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Manon of the Spring at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance…

Fanny and Alexander, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

Murders in the Rue Morgue will be shown Saturday, Aug. 8, as the second in a series of four films being screened Saturday nights at dark in Pritchard Park. Presented by the Alvy Fund and the Friends of Pritchard Park, in association with the Hendersonville Film Society. Film historian Chip Kaufmann will introduce the films,…

The Story: A young man falls in love with a woman who doesn't share his romantic worldview, but she can't help but be drawn to him. The Lowdown: A breath of spring -- even in the late summer -- (500) Days of Summer is a clever, funny and very perceptive comedy/romance that's a must-see.

The Story: A rich and famous comic finds he has an almost certainly fatal disease and starts exploring his life. The Lowdown: An overlong, plodding movie that lurches from scene to scene with fewer and fewer laughs and debatable depth.

The Story: A group of vacationing kids must prevent an alien invasion at their lake house. The Lowdown: An occasionally clever -- if unoriginal -- fantasy that will appeal more to youngsters than adults, but is consistently harmless for all ages, and wholly forgettable.

The Story: An ex-con breaks into his employer's house to burgle it, but someone of a more lethal bent turns out to be there already. The Lowdown: More repugnant torture-porn horror. Do you need to know more?

Yojimbo, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Jean de Florette at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and…

Tarzan the Ape Man is the first in a series of four films that will be shown Saturday nights at dark in Pritchard Park, starting this Saturday, Aug. 1. Presented by the Alvy Fund and the Friends of Pritchard Park, in association with the Hendersonville Film Society. Film historian Chip Kaufmann will introduce the films,…

The Story: A young man attempts to reconnect with his brother who ran away from home years before, only to uncover truths that neither of them are prepared to face. The Lowdown: An altogether beautiful and dynamic piece of filmmaking -- personal and bold and unlike anything you've seen or are likely to see this…

The Story: A look into the lives of a bomb squad on the last few weeks of their tour of duty in Iraq. The Lowdown: A rivetting, suspenseful war film that packs a wallop unlike any other film to date on the war in Iraq.

The Story: When the matriarch of a French family dies, her children are left to divide her estate. The Lowdown: A beautifully thoughtful film that isn't going to be to every taste, but which has a lot to say about the connections of past, present and future.

The Story: Rom-com antics involving the battle between a TV producer and her unwanted star performer that plods down a well-worn path. The Lowdown: An attempt to make the romantic comedy more "adult" by grafting on low jokes and rough language. It almost never works -- in large part due to mismatched leads.

The Story: A covert government task force made up of guinea pigs must go rogue in order to stop an arms dealer from taking over the world. The Lowdown: A likable cast and some dandy use of 3-D makes for a harmlessly entertaining kiddie flick.

The Story: A couple unwisely brings a creepy Russian orphan into their home. Mayhem follows. The Lowdown: Tacky, tasteless and finally preposterous horror that moves so slowly the film seems to be running backwards.

Bananas will be shown as part of the Wedge Brewing Company's Outdoor Cinema series at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at 125-B Roberts St.

A Matter of Life and Death, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Hombre at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and park in…

Whaledreamers will be shown by the Fine Arts Theatre on Wednesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. as a benefit for Asheville's Katie Kasben, who is traveling to Australia later this month to work on a cultural exchange program between Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians. The theater is screening the film to help with her trip.…