At the Movies

• 'Oz: The Great and Powerful'

This film image released by Disney Enterprises shows a scene from "Oz the Great and Powerful." (AP Photo/Disney Enterprises)

Talk about it

OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Disney’s new family adventure tells the story of the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz.

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking.

That is, until he meets three witches, played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late.

Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity and a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

The film was directed by Sam Raimi, best known for directing “Spiderman 3” and TV’s “Xena Warrior Princess.”

“Oz: The Great and Powerful” opens Friday nationally, including at the Luxury 5 Cinemas. 130 minutes. The film is presented in 3-D and 2-D at alternating show times.

It is rated PG for sequences of action and scary images, and brief mild language.

DEAD MAN DOWN

Colin Farrell stars in this action thriller loaded with twists and turns. Victor (Farrell) is a hitman who has successfully infiltrated the Philadelphia mob, seeking retribution against the crime boss who murdered his family. But his plan for vengeance takes a dangerous turn when he encounters his neighbor Beatrice (played by Noomi Rapace, the original “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy and “Prometheus”), an enigmatic woman, who learns of his secret and blackmails him with a plan of her own.

Despite the danger of their attraction, they are irresistibly drawn to each other, as they lead the mob in an increasingly deadly game of cat and mouse.

Niels Arden Oplev, the acclaimed director of the original “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” makes his American theatrical debut with this crime thriller.

“Dead Man Down” opens Friday nationally, including at the Luxury 5 Cinemas. 118 minutes. It is rated R for violence, language throughout and a scene of sexuality.

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

This new action adventure tells the story of an ancient war that is re-ignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack into the battle of his life to stop them.

Fighting for a kingdom, its people and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend — and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

“Jack and the Giant Slayer” is held over. 115 minutes. The film is presented in 3-D and 2-D at alternating show times.

It is rated PG-13 for intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language.

IDENTITY THIEF

This new comedy is from the director of “Horrible Bosses.”

Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids”) lead the cast of this comedy in which a regular guy is forced to extreme measures to clear his name. With everything to lose after his identity is stolen, he’ll find out how crazed you can get trying to settle a bad credit score.

Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Miami buying everything that strikes her fancy. There’s only one glitch: the ID she’s using to finance these sprees reads “Sandy Bigelow Patterson” and it belongs to an accounts rep (Bateman) who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life. As he attempts to bribe, coax and wrangle her the 2,000 miles to Denver, one easy target will discover just how tough it is to get your name back.

“Identity Thief” is held over. 111 minutes.

It is rated R for sexual content and language.

21 AND OVER

The writers of “The Hangover” are back with this outrageous new comedy.

Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him. But when his two best friends surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, he decides to do the unexpected for a change, even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery in this outrageous comedy. “21 and Over” is held over. 93 minutes. It is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity, drugs and drinking.

Tags: life, updates, entertainment, cinema, movies, film