Challengers
Blue Grass Drive-in, Blue Grass IA
Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Davenport IA
FilmScene, Iowa City IA
The Last Picture House, Davenport IA
Marcus Sycamore Cinema, Iowa City IA
Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport IA
Voy 61 Drive In Theatre, Delmar IA
(Hyperlinked titles take you to Reader reviews; IMDb hyperlinks take you to the films’ Internet Movie Database pages or other sites with film information.)
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Abigail (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Because almost half the movie is spent getting to the “twist” that nearly every patron will be aware of before entering the theater, you'll likely find yourself inordinately antsy even if you're enjoying the rogue's gallery of mismatched kidnappers. IMDb listing.
Alien: 45th Anniversary (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Ridley Scott's outer-space shocker has earned its legendary status not only for its artistic excellence, but for serving as a necessary reminder that “summer movies,” once upon a time, were an awfully big tent. IMDb listing.
As Tears Go By (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Saturday, April 27, 10 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
The Beast (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey) - IMDb listing.
Boy Kills World (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, The Last Picture House, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Challengers (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, The Last Picture House, FilmScene at the Chauncey, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Civil War (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, FilmScene on the Ped Mall, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Alex Garland's rather astonishing dystopian provocation may be exciting, but it's exciting in the way a near-death experience is – which is to say terrifying, and no fun at all. IMDb listing.
Degree Maila M.A. 3rd Class (not rated; Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Dune: Part Two (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - A bit more redundant than Part One, but it's hard to imagine another offering this year matching or bettering this sci-fi sequel's levels of scale, scope, and bone-deep, only-in-the-movies satisfaction. IMDb listing.
The Fall Guy: Early Access Screening (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX: Wednesday, May 1, 7 & 7:30 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
The First Omen (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - All told, this isn't a bad attempt at rebooting a long-defunct fright-flick franchise through an unasked-for prequel. IMDb listing.
Flight of the Butterflies (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - A bit pokey, but the slow, unspeakably beautiful explosion that is the butterflies' mass exodus is enough to make you believe in God - or, at the very least, in the gods of nature docs. IMDb listing.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - I just sighed at the experience, and slumped into my seat further and further as the film continually struggled, and failed, to deliver anything approximating the zippy good times of Ivan Reitman's '80s blockbusters. IMDb listing.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Voy 61 Drive-in Theatre, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - While I'd hardly consider this monster mash on par with the Oscar-winning genius of Godzilla Minus One, but I actually managed to stay awake, and even have a bit of fun. IMDb listing.
Humane (R; Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Hundreds of Beavers (not rated; FilmScene on the Ped Mall) - I have to applaud this grainy, black-and-white homage to century-ago silent comedies for staying consistently clever through its run time, and for boasting numerous slapstick gags that, unlike the norm, actually get more hilarious through repetition. IMDb listing.
Into America's Wild (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Jolly Roger (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Putnam.org.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Voy 61 Drive In Theatre, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - This third animated sequel is hardly a debacle, but it's definitely a series low point, and all but indistinguishable from a 90-minute yawn. IMDb listing.
The Long Game (PG; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Magnolia (R; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Saturday, April 27, 3 p.m., and Monday, April 21, 6:30 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Guy Ritchie's spy-themed action comedy is for everyone who would've liked Inglourious Basterds more if it had less threat, less wit, and no Christoph Waltz. IMDb listing.
Monkey Man (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, FilmScene at the Chauncey, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - While the action scenes may be energetic, they leave no residue; an hour after seeing the film, I couldn't recall a single instance of inventive choreography. IMDb listing.
The Mummy: 25th Anniversary (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - IMDb listing.
Museum Alive! (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Putnam.org.
National Parks Adventure (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - This expectedly gorgeous edu-doc is also unexpectedly, even thrillingly, varied in presentation: sensationally informative, joyfully inspiring, and even laugh-out-loud funny. IMDb listing.
Oceans (G; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - The movie's 85 minutes occasionally crawl by as deliberately as its sea-floor denizens, but it's hard to be too disappointed by a film that provides so many extraordinary sights. IMDb listing.
The People's Joker (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey) - IMDb listing.
Pride (R; Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Rear Window (PG; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Robinson Crusoe (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Putnam.org.
Sasquatch Sunset (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - I'm not sure what the goal of this wordless, gross nature comedy is, except maybe to prove that creators David and Nathan Zellner can out-weird any other filmmakers out there. IMDb listing.
She Is Conann (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Wednesday, May 1, 10 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Shrek 2: 20th Anniversary (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - It should easily satisfy the fan base that adored the original, but for the unconverted among us, this sequel - its moments of inspiration aside - will be just as irksome. IMDb listing.
Singin' in the Rain (G; Putnam Museum & Science Center: Friday, April 26, through Sunday, April 28) - IMDb listing
Someone Like You (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - IMDb listing.
Spider-Man 3 (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX: Monday, April 29, 7 & 7:15 p.m.) - Sam Raimi's superhero installment needs all the entanglements and plot diversions it can get; it's only the occasional inspirations that keep you from bolting from the auditorium during the hellishly bad ones. IMDb listing.
Spirited Away (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar winner is deeply emotional without being cloying and truly funny without being corny, and Joe Hisaishi's musical score is rich enough to move audiences to tears. IMDb listing.
Spy x Family Code: White (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Still/Here + Twenty-Four Dollar Island (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Sunday, April 28, 4 p.m.) - ICFilmScene.org.
A Still Small Voice (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Tuesday, April 30, 7 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Sunset Boulevard (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center: Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28) - IMDb listing.
Superpower Dogs (G; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - We're given just enough information on how the heroic pups pull off their feats of derring-do to wholly appreciate them in practice, with the duties of the stunningly well-trained Ricochet proving especially moving. IMDb listing.
Tomb Racers (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Unsung Hero (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - I might've left this edu-doc just as satisfied if it were a silent film, or at least one wholly free of words, given that the 3D sights on display left me less fascinated than thunderstruck. IMDb listing.
We Grown Now (PG; Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Wicked Little Letters (R; FilmScene on the Ped Mall) - Potty language aside, this is pure Brit-com, overflowing with easy stereotypes, pleasant period trappings, and a heavy-handed social message delivered with the lightest of touches. IMDb listing.
