Movie Reviews

The Story: Five childhood friends reunite in their hometown after the death of their former basketball coach. The Lowdown: The exact kind of awful you'd expect from a movie starring Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade.

The Story: A woman's life is turned upside down when she becomes involved with a secret agent on the run from his own people. The Lowdown: An occasionally pleasant action/comedy that expects too much from its stars without giving them a whole lot to work with.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Dreams at 8 p.m. Friday, June 25, at Courtyard Gallery at their new location, Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Tetro Tuesday, June 29, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Fairy Tale: A True Story at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: Three stories of women interconnect across the span of this beautifully crafted film. The Lowdown: There's more terrific acting in this movie than in just about everything else out there right now combined -- and there's some equally strong writing and directing. See this movie.

The Story: Pixar's group of rag-tag animated toys returns, and this time they must escape from an oppressive daycare center before their owner runs off to college. The Lowdown: Above-average family entertainment -- and exactly what you expect from a Toy Story film -- but a bit underwhelming after Pixar's latest output.

The Story: Embittered and disfigured bounty hunter Jonah Hex is called on by President Grant to stop a madman from destroying the country. The Lowdown: The flattest direction imaginable sinks whatever amusement value this film might have had -- and that was marginal to begin with.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Phantom of the Paradise Thursday, June 24, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

Raven Fork will screen at the Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave., on Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Twenty-Four Eyes at 8 p.m. Friday, June 18, at Courtyard Gallery at their new location, Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Twentieth Century Tuesday, June 22, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Chinatown at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 20, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Sentinel Thursday, June 17, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Story: A group of unorthodox, discharged soldiers seek revenge against the people who framed them and put them in prison. The Lowdown: An occasionally fun, often goofy actioner (though it has enough sense to revel in its goofiness) that simply loses steam the longer it's on screen.

The Story: A Detroit youth who has moved to China with his mother trains for a kung-fu tournament in order to stand up to a gang of bullies. The Lowdown: A paint-by-numbers tale of uplifting inspiration that's surprisingly engaging and with a nice serious-minded role for Jackie Chan.

The Story: A retired criminal investigator sifts through his past by way of an unsatisfactorily concluded murder case. The Lowdown: Taut mystery, political allegory, an unusual romance, brilliant -- sometimes very funny -- writing and flawless performances come together in this splendid film.

The Story: A look into the lives of a cross section of upper-middle-class New Yorkers. The Lowdown: Solid performances help to keep this bitterly amusing character study on track. A great film? No, but a thought-provoking and entertaining one that doesn't outstay its welcome.

The Story: Fleeing to an island to get away from the zombie epidemic, a ragtag group of individuals find themselves in the midst of not just more zombies, but a feud over what to do with them. The Lowdown: Slicker than Diary of the Dead, but more flippant in tone, this sixth George A. Romero…

Solatrium will screen at the Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave., at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 17, and again at 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Throne of Blood at 8 p.m. Friday, June 11, at Courtyard Gallery at their new location, Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.