Movie Reviews

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.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen 28 Days Later... on Thursday, July 28, 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 Story: During World War II, a skinny weakling is given super powers by the U.S. government, and becomes the superhero Captain America. The Lowdown: Goofy comic-book action that’s a couple of steps away from being wholly disastrous, but just barely.

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

The Asheville Film Society will screen It Started with Eve Tuesday, July 26, 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 Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Kiss of the Vampire on Thursday, July 21, 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.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Séraphine at 8 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District )upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

King Kong plays for one show only at The Carolina on Wednesday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m.

The Story: The story of a young man trying to save (he thinks) his parents' faltering marriage while also attempting to find a girlfriend and lose his virginity. The Lowdown: Effortlessly quirky, endlessly creative coming-of-age comedy from a fresh and vital new filmmaker. This goes in the must-see column.