Movie Reviews

The Asheville Film Society will screen Stranger Than Fiction Tuesday, May 10, 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 AFS.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Ghoul Thursday, May 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.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Walkabout at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Phil Mechanic Studios (109 Roberts St., River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Story: Following a life-changing accident, Hollywood director Tom Shadyac reassess his life and starts looking for answers to what's wrong (and right) with the world. The Lowdown: Well-intentioned and generally entertaining documentary that suffers from a little too-much New Agey-ness and a little too-much of the director.

The Story: A group of people gather in the desert to watch a story about a sentient tire that goes on a killing spree. The Lowdown: It's not only as improbable as it sounds, it's much more than that. Sometimes funny, always inventive, and determinedly strange. There's certainly nothing like it.

The Story: Well-scrubbed, well-behaved teens suffer the rigors of preparing for prom. The Lowdown: Utterly unrealistic look at one of the rituals of high school. It may be harmless, but it's also mighty boring.

The Story: In this entry our heroes end up in Brazil where they find themselves in trouble with a drug lord and a special DEA agent. The Lowdown: Preposterous, over-the-top, way too long, but it's still entertaining nonsense with excellently crafted -- albeit ridiculous -- action scenes.

The Story: An evil witch kidnaps Little Red Riding Hood’s granny, and it's up to her and the Big Bad Wolf to save the old gal. The Lowdown: Bottom-of-the-barrel kiddie entertainment that doubles as the worst thing I’ve seen this year.

The Story: A college football team rallies around the death of the brother of one of their teammates, while his family also attempts to cope with the loss. The Lowdown: A low-budget, scattershot attempt at being a faith-based, uplifting sports flick, but too unfocused to be either.

The Story A detective who used to specialize in the supernatural finds himself called back into the fray of the undead by circumstances. The Lowdown: A lot of potential is wasted through miscasting, atmosphere-challenged direction and a generally pedestrian plot.

World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements screens on Wednesday, May 4, at 7:10 pm at Diana Wortham Theatre in Pack Place. Following the film, teacher/star John Hunter and director Chris Farina will host a Q&A and open dialogue with local leadership in education. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Admission is $16, but is free…

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Sans Soleil at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 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 The Spirit of the Beehive at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, 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 Fearless Vampire Killers Thursday, April 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 group of monks in a small town in Algeria must decide whether or not to leave in the face of terrorist attacks that increasingly threaten them. The Lowdown: What might have been a preachy tract of a movie emerges instead as a thoughtful, compelling, human drama of considerable power.

The Story: Young Jane Eyre is hired as a tutor at a grim English manor owned by a gloomy, mysterious man with a dark secret. The Lowdown: Solid, atmospheric film version of the book, blessed by strong visuals and performances, though somewhat let down by one weak aspect -- and possibly by the familiarity of…

The Story: A circus worker during the Great Depression gets entangled with the show’s star attraction -- who just happens to be the boss’ wife. The Lowdown: A slick-looking romantic drama that lacks the right amount of whimsy or electricity to really work.

The Story: A tale of lions and cheetahs living -- and surviving -- in Africa. The Lowdown: A basic nature documentary gussied up with dull narration from Samuel L. Jackson.

The Story: A previously unseen Madea family member is dying of cancer and has to rely on Madea to get her dysfunctional family together to break the news. The Lowdown: Standard Tyler Perry mix of shrill comedy and soap opera, somewhat brightened by a strong performance from Loretta Devine.

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