Movie Reviews

The Story: The end-time is upon us (again) and the fate of humanity depends on a fallen angel and a pregnant waitress. The Lowdown: Rampant ho-hummery of the dubiously biblical kind that is rarely even relieved by unintentional amusement.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Ship of Fools at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: Pedro Almodóvar's latest is a complex melodrama about filmmaking and forbidden love, about revenge, guilt and blackmail. The Lowdown: A wildly entertaining and fascinatingly convoluted tale told by one of the modern masters of film.

The Story: A college professor, unable to cope with the death of his lover, plans to kill himself at the end of the day. The Lowdown: A stunning filmmaking debut from Tom Ford finds a perfect match with an inspired cast -- Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult -- to create a genuinely…

The Story: Film version of Alice Sebold's popular novel about a murdered girl watching "down" on the world and hoping for justice. The Lowdown: Solid production values and a strong cast keep this strangely muted thriller watchable, but not much more.

The Story: A Chinese spy — on loan to the CIA — must protect his girlfriend's children from evil Russian criminals. The Lowdown: Corny, cheesy family fare that's not detestable, simply because of Jackie Chan.

The Story: A lone traveler wanders through the wastes of post-Apocalyptic America, carrying the only remaining Bible. The Lowdown: A magnificently stylish, clever — and bloody — actioner pushed forward by its own ideas and sense of ambition.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Juggernaut at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: A nerdy virgin -- with the aid of an imaginary, daring alter ego -- decides to awkwardly rebel against authority in an attempt to be reunited with his potential girfriend. The Lowdown: A surprisingly funny, very quirky teen farce that's clever enough to withstand the pitfalls of being a clichéd sex comedy and…

The Story: In the not-too-distant future, the world has become largely populated with vampires -- and the blood supply is running out. The Lowdown: A vampire movie that isn't afraid to play as real horror, Daybreakers earns extra points for having something on its mind more than just horror.

The Story: A young woman pursues her boyfriend to Ireland to propose to him, but fate and a charming Irish pub owner intervene -- with a lot of help from a by-the-numbers script. The Lowdown: Stylish filmmaking and charismatic leads can't keep this leaden and predictable movie from sinking pretty fast.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Under the Roofs of Paris at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St., in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

The Story: Dr. Parnassus and his traveling imaginarium roam about London in quest of an audience and as part of a contest between Paranassus and the devil. The Lowdown: A wildly imaginative and fantastic film from Terry Gilliam that ranks up there with his best work.