At the Movies

• 'Life of Pi'

This film image released by 20th Century Fox shows Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel in a scene from "Life of Pi." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox)

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RED DAWN

This new action film is a remake of the 1984 hit that starred Patrick Swayze. The message of the film is even more timely in today’s world.

A small town in Washington State awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky — shockingly, the U.S. has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and without warning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation.

Determined to fight back, a group of young patriots seeks refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganizing themselves into a guerrilla group of fighters. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves the Wolverines, banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors, and take back their freedom.

“Red Dawn” opens nationally, including at the Luxury 5, on Wednesday. 92 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense war violence and action, and for language

THE LIFE OF PI

This visually stunning action adventure comes from Academy Award winning director Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”).

Lee creates an all-audience movie event about a young man on a fateful voyage who, after a spectacular shipwreck, is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. He becomes marooned on a lifeboat he must share with the ship’s only other survivor, a fearsome Bengal tiger with whom he makes an amazing and unexpected connection.

Lee conferred with James Cameron, director of “Avatar,” to push 3-D film-making techniques to new levels of realism and excitement. Lee skillfully uses 3-D to further telling the storytelling process rather than as a gimmick. The film is based on the bestselling novel by Yann Martel.

“The Life of Pi” opens nationally, including at the Luxury 5, today. 127 minutes. It is presented in 3D and 2D at alternating showtimes. It is rated PG-13 for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril.

TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2

The popular saga comes to an end as this final installment of the Twilight Saga franchise reveals the secrets and mysteries, and ties up the storylines, of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

“Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” is held over. 116 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity.

FLIGHT

Denzel Washington teams with Robert Zemeckis, the Academy Award winning director of “Forrest Gump” and “Cast Away” for this provocative action/thriller/drama.

Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot who miraculously crash-lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, he is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault, and what really happened on that plane?

The strong supporting cast includes John Goodman, Don Cheadle and Melissa Leo.

“Flight” is held over through Nov. 29. 139 minutes. It is rated R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity and an intense action sequence.

SKYFALL

Daniel Craig is back as James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time.

Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.

As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe and Albert Finney also star in the action drama.

“Skyfall” is held over. 143 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS

School is out and Greg is ready for the days of summer, when all his plans go hilariously wrong.

During his summer vacation, “Wimpy Kid” Greg Heffley, the hero of the phenomenally successful book series, hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club which fails to keep him away from the season’s dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a disastrous camping trip.

The family comedy stars Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Robert Capron and Steve Zahn.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” is showing Saturday and Sunday afternoons as this week’s movie on the AAUW Children’s Matinee Series. 94 minutes. It is rated PG for some rude humor.

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