Movie Reviews

The Story: A group of risk-taking bank robbers take on a job with their fresh-from-prison former partner. The Lowdown: A laundry list of clichés and paper-thin characters make for a pretty useless movie.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Winged Migration at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at Courtyard Gallery, located in the Phil Mechanic Studios building at 109 Roberts St. in the River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show We Want the Light at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: A bogus exorcist allows a documentary film crew to see him at work on his final case -- with horrific results. The Lowdown: A few chills, some creepiness and some laughs (mostly intended) make for a decent horror movie, despite the tiresome fake-documentary approach.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Courtyard Gallery, Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St. in the River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Asheville Film Society will screen They Might Be Giants Tuesday, Aug. 31, 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 Sunset Blvd. at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: In the late 1930s in rural Tennessee, a crusty old hermit decides to hold his own funeral while he's still alive. The Lowdown: An often predictable narrative becomes a thoroughly entertaining and even wonderful moviegoing experience by virtue of its stars.

The Story: The indomitable Nanny McPhee comes to set things right on an English farm during wartime. The Lowdown: An agreeable family fantasy that benefits from strong casting and a solid screenplay, but never rises to the level of being remarkable, just very likable.

The Story: A neurotic gets drunk and secretly switches the sperm donated to his best friend for her artificial insemination with his own. The Lowdown: The film begins a bit on the cynical side, but quickly -- and unfortunately -- takes a turn for the schmaltzy and pat.

The Story: A kid from the projects wins the lottery, but must survive the weekend in order to cash it in. The Lowdown: A pleasant enough comedy with its heart in the right place, which nevertheless falls apart from simply being too predictable.

The Story: A supposed parody of the Twilight movies. The Lowdown: Every bit as bad and unfunny as you would expect.

The Story: A fissure at the bottom of a lake opens, allowing in hordes of ill-tempered prehistoric piranha -- and on a weekend when the lake is full of college students doing college-student revelry-type things. The Lowdown: Yeah, it's gory and bloody when it gets down to it, but it's really not that clever or…

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at Courtyard Gallery at their new location 109 Roberts St. in the Phil Mechanic Building, River Arts District, one floor down. Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Chicago at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, 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 Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Thursday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. The show will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Asheville Film Society will screen One, Two, Three Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of the Carolina Asheville. The show will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.