Movie Reviews

The Hendersonville Film Society will show The Intruder at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 3, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Mahler Tuesday, July 5, 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 Silent Hill Thursday, June 30, 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: Sprawling drama that runs the gamut from creation to a look at a single family. The Lowdown: A fascinating film that works part of the time, doesn't work part of the time, and is at least interesting all of the time. Beware of a non-traditional narrative structure, a deliberate pace and no payoff…

The Plot: Mater the tow truck gets entangled in web of espionage, while race car Lightning McQueen attempts to best his rival in a high-stakes race. The Lowdown: Did you read the sentence before this? Easily the dumbest, noisiest Pixar film to date.

The Story: A golddigging and very uncommitted teacher tries to raise the money for a breast job in order to snare rich fellow teacher. The Lowdown: Predictable and more mildly naughty than truly outrageous. Folks who giggle over swear words will get the most out of it.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Red Shoes at 8 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Phil Mechanic Studios, (109 Roberts Street in the River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Hendersonville Film Society will show The Boy Friend at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Last Command Tuesday, June 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: A look at the lives and collections of Yves Saint-Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, as seen from Berge's perspective. The Lowdown: An entertaining, detached, but always good-looking documentary about a curious couple.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Videodrome Thursday, June 23, 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: A hotshot test pilot is gifted a super-powered ring by an alien, which in turn makes him a superhero. The Lowdown: A dreadfully dull version of your standard comic-book-origin film.

The Story: A man's life is turned upside down when he inherits a penguin. The Lowdown: Having very little to do with its source book, this is a standard-issue story about a workaholic dad who "learns what really matters" thanks to penguins. That's about it.

The Story: A mentally ill man finds an outlet to express himself in the form of a beaver hand-puppet. The Lowdown: A weird premise and the prospect of Mel Gibson playing a character that seems an extension of his own persona can't keep this trite, bland and ultimately silly movie going.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Decalogue Parts 1 thru 3 at 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, 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 Finding Neverland at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Asheville Film Society will screen I'm No Angel Tuesday, June 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. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

The Story: A young Hollywood writer with a nostalgia for the 1920s Paris art scene finds himself introduced to his heroes at midnight in an obscure part of town. The Lowdown: Whimsical, magical, delightful and about as perfect as it's possible for a movie to be. A major must-see.

The Story: Filmmaker Werner Herzog takes us on a 3D tour of the prehistoric wall paintings in the Chauvet caves of France -- and expounds on their meaning and history. The Lowdown: Fully as idiosyncratic as you expect from Herzog, this is one of the few must-see documentaries to come along of late -- one…

The Story Kids making a Super 8mm zombie movie run afoul of a monster from outer space and a governement conspiracy. The Lowdown: It starts out pretty well and it's never exactly bad, but it's finally pretty underwhelming.

The Story: A preteen tries -- and usually fails -- at having the best summer ever. The Lowdown: A grating, shrieking, obnoxious attempt at family entertainment.