Family adventure, adult melodrama to sparkle on silver screen
A family adventure (“National Treasure”), an adult melodrama (“Kinsey”), an uplifting biography (“Finding Neverland”) and an animated romp (“The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie”) are the top titles arriving on this pre-Thanksgiving weekend. A factual epic (“Alexander”) and a holiday comedy (“Christmas With the Kranks”) will arrive Wednesday. The new motion pictures (with release dates subject to change) playing at a theater near you include:
Opening today
“Finding Neverland,” with Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean”), Kate Winslet (“Titanic”), Julie Christie (“McCabe and Mrs. Miller”) and Dustin Hoffman (“Rain Man”) in a heartfelt PG-13 tale. The story chronicles the influences that inspired J.M. Barrie to writer “Peter Pan.”
– “Kinsey,” with Liam Neeson (“Rob Roy”) and Laura Linney (“Mystic River”) in an R-rated – and somewhat graphic – biography. The story concerns the work of the sex researcher who in the 1940s revealed society’s bedroom secrets and stirred up plenty of controversy.
– “National Treasure,” with Nicolas Cage (“The Rock”), Harvey Keitel (“Pulp Fiction”), Jon Voight (“Heat”) and Diane Kruger (“Troy”) in a PG-rated adventure epic, which partially unfolds in Philadelphia. Cage plays an archaeologist searching for a fortune that can only be found by reading a map on the back of the Declaration of Independence.
– “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” with the voices of Scarlett Johansson (“Lost in Translation”) and Alec Baldwin (“The Cooler”).
This PG-rated animated tale has the optimistic, sweet and innocent title character trying to save Bikini Bottom. He’s helped by humans such as David Hasselhoff.
Arriving Wednesday
– “Christmas With the Kranks,” with Tim Allen (“The Santa Clause”) and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Freaky Friday”) and based on the novel, “Skipping Christmas,” by John Grisham. During this PG-rated comedy, an empty-nest couple learn that their daughter won’t be home for the holidays. They use the money they would have spent on her and a Christmas party for a dream vacation. Upon returning, they learn that plans have changed and their child will be back on Dec. 25, and she has invited numerous friends and relatives to join her.
– “Alexander,” with Colin Farrell (“Phone Booth”), Angelina Jolie (“Girl, Interrupted”), Anthony Hopkins (“Hannibal”) and Val Kilmer (“Wonderland”).
Director Oliver Stone (“Platoon”) spent more than $150 million on this highly anticipated R-rated epic about bi-sexual conqueror Alexander the Great.
At the buck$ office
Some colorful superheroes derailed a train steaming toward the North Pole last weekend at the box office.
Despite a huge advertising and publicity campaign, “The Polar Express,” a $165 million production featuring Tom Hanks in five roles, couldn’t knock “The Incredibles” from the top spot at the box office.
“The Incredibles” grossed more than twice as much as “Express” and has taken in a massive $144.1 million in just two weeks.
According to the Associated Press, the 10 top-grossing films last weekend were:
1. “The Incredibles” ($51 million)
2. “The Polar Express” ($23.5 million)
3. “After the Sunset” ($11.5 million)
4. “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” ($8.9 million)
5. “Seed of Chucky” ($8.8 million)
6. “Ray” ($8.4 million)
7. “The Grudge” ($7.1 million)
8. “Saw” ($6.4 million)
9. “Shall We Dance” ($4.1 million)
10. “Alfie” ($2.8 million)
Coming soon!
The titles scheduled to open Nov. 26 include two imports, “Callas Forever” and “Zelary.”