The god of thunder rolled into theaters this weekend, and is certain to rule the box office. Moviegoers have the option of seeing “Thor” in 2-D or 3-D. It must be said, though, that I found the Coke trailer before the movie had 3-D almost as exciting as that featured in the film. The problem is that 3-D movies are almost invariably made to offer theatergoers — and, of course, home viewers — the option of seeing them in 2-D. So directors can’t film with an eye just to how the movie will look in one of the two; they must work in what are almost two different genres. The result is 3-D movies that don’t take full advantage of an exciting technology.
“Thor” has battles for men and eye candy for women. Females reluctant to see a comic book flick will likely flock to “Something Borrowed” this weekend. Based on the best-selling novel by Emily Giffin, the movie stars Ginnifer Goodwin as a woman secretly in love with her best friend’s (Kate Hudson) fiance. It’s a perfect pairing. Blond and impossibly thin Hudson looks just like the girl who gets everything she wants, while Goodwin is a charming actress, but without Hudson’s shine.
It’s not clear who will go see “The Beaver.” Hollywood is wondering whether Mel Gibson still has a career ahead of him, after allegations he struck his ex-girlfriend while she was holding their child. Never count Gibson out: “Apocalypto” made millions, despite being released just months after the actor-director’s anti-Semitic, drunken tirade. “The Beaver” is a tougher sell, though. It’s a dark film, with a strange mix of uncomfortable comedy about a depressed man who attempts to cure himself with the use of a hand puppet.
Europe is on show this weekend. “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” is a quirky exploration of the Chauvet Cave in Southern France, which contains the world’s oldest-known human paintings. Werner Herzog’s documentary was also shot in 3-D. It’s worth seeing, but I can’t say the same for the Spanish Civil War drama “There Be Dragons.” It seems Roland Joffe hasn’t made a good film in decades.
“Jumping the Broom” is an African-American comedy about a couple (Paula Patton and Laz Alonso) from different sides of the tracks who get married, and must watch as their families cautiously get to know one another. “Circo” is a documentary about a Mexican circus troupe struggling to survive in the modern world — a sort of real-life version of “Water for Elephants.”
Finally, actor Mark Ruffalo (“Zodiac”) makes his directorial debut this weekend with “Sympathy for Delicious.” It’s about a Los Angeles disc jockey who is paralyzed in an accident, thus losing the chance to become a success in the field he loves. But he finds a new calling when he discovers the world of faith healing. The film has received both glowing and unflattering reviews. Ruffalo has said he’s upset that some critics have been “overtly mean.” He says it hurts to see his film treated that way: “It’s like a child to me.”
Kelly Jane Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews appear weekly in The Washington Examiner. Reach her at [email protected].
