Movie Reviews

The Story: A documentary covering the dangers of mountaintop-removal mining, and of the coal industry as a whole. The Lowdown: A worthy topic explored with plenty of passion, but the resulting film feels unfocused due to information overload.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Romeo and Juliet at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 14, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Woman in the Dunes at 8 p.m. Friday, August 12, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Story: A scientific experiment produces an unusually smart chimpanzee, who in turn gives birth to an even smarter chimp. The Lowdown: Nicely made, entertaining, but hardly surprising sci-fi picture with first-class effects outshining a pretty perfunctory script.

The Story: Two old friends wish for each other's lives, only to actually get their wish. The Lowdown: Tired, tasteless, unfunny take on the body-swap comedy.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on Thursday, August 11 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Belle of the Nineties Tuesday, August 16, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Diary of a Country Priest at 8 p.m. Friday, August 5, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Strange Case of Dr. Rx and The Last Warning on Thursday, August 4, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Scarlet Empress Tuesday, August 9, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

The Story: Documentary about the chimp who was part of a 1970s experiment to teach an animal to communicate through sign language. The Lowdown: Entertaining, compelling, maddening and finally heartbreaking documentary. Highly recommended.

The Story: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon go on a tour of restaurants in Northern England. The Lowdown: A preposterous idea for a movie that turns out to be remarkably entertaining and a good deal deeper than the concept sounds.

The Story: When his marriage goes on the rocks, a middle-aged man lets himself be "remade" by a younger, successful ladies' man. The Lowdown: Invariably pleasant, entertaing romantic comedy -- with drama -- that comes off better than the script probably deserved thanks to the performances and direction.

The Story: When aliens kidnap loved ones and relatives, a gang of cowboys -- and later Indians -- set out to rescue the victims and put down the invasion. The Lowdown: It's called Cowboys & Aliens. It has both. It's hardly great cinema, but it's mostly fun within its aims.

The Story: Two assassins team up -- for wholly different reasons -- to kill a crime boss. The Lowdown: A low budget, competent actioner that’s negligible and forgettable.

The Story: Several tiny blue beings and their tormentor Gargamel get swept through a portal to modern-day New York. The Lowdown: So bad that it makes you dream of sitting through Mr. Popper's Penguins again -- twice.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Caravaggio at 8 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Von Richtofen and Brown at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 31, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Design for Living Tuesday, August 2, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

The Story: Documentary covering a year at the New York Times as it fights for its survival in a changing media landscape. The Lowdown: Compelling, constantly watchable, but somewhat unfocused documentary that is held together by the subject and the personality of media reporter David Carr.

The Story: Two friends decide to enter into a nonromantic sexual relationship with predictable results that are presented in unpredictable ways. The Lowdown: Yeah, it's another R-rated romantic comedy, but it's the best of its kind -- slyly self-aware, charming and not relying on the usual gross-out gags.