Movie reviews

The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

Dead Man Down (FilmDistrict)
Seeking revenge for the gangland killing that claimed his family, a brooding lug (Colin Farrell) lures the underworld kingpin responsible (Terrence Howard) into a trap by serving him as a loyal assassin, thereby gaining the gangster's confidence. Along the way, the victim-turned-hired-gun falls for his neighbor (Noomi Rapace) who's out for payback of her own via blackmail. The labyrinthine — and bloodthirsty — game of cat and mouse that ensues, under Niels Arden Oplev's direction, is further warped by skewed moral values. A benign view of revenge, pervasive gory violence, including gunplay and torture, a nongraphic bedroom scene with brief rear nudity, relentless profane and rough language. (O, R)

Jack the Giant Slayer (Warner Bros.)
Fun fable in which the newfound romance between an absent-minded yet courageous peasant boy (Nicholas Hoult) and a plucky princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) is imperiled when a beanstalk of his own unwitting creation suddenly sprouts up, carrying her aloft to a land of aggressive, people-eating giants (their animated leader voiced by Bill Nighy). On the perilous mission to rescue her, the lad gains the patronage of a chivalrous nobleman (Ewan McGregor) but incurs the displeasure of a conniving official (Stanley Tucci) of the king's (Ian McShane) court. Director Bryan Singer's faith-tinged 3-D retelling of the classic fairy tale — into which screenwriters Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Studney blend elements of the related story "Jack and the Beanstalk" — is set in an alternate version of the Middle Ages where monks and other characters freely, if only incidentally, acknowledge God. Still, the gruesome fates awaiting various bad guys, together with a touch of salty language, make this unsuitable for the smallest members of its source material's original audience. Scenes of bloodless but potentially disturbing violence, brief references to the occult, some mildly scatological humor, a couple of crass terms. (A-II, PG-13)

The Last Exorcism Part II (CBS)
This low-budget sequel to 2010's "The Last Exorcism" finds the haunted heroine of the original (Ashley Bell) running around New Orleans trying to escape the demon who once possessed her — and who is now in love with her. Director Ed Gass-Donnelly, who co-wrote the screenplay with Damien Chazelle, saves the big effects for the end. So, for nearly an hour, the main character just wanders around or goes about her job while spooky music plays. Confused treatment of religion, fleeting sexual imagery, mild gore, a couple of uses of profanity. (L, PG-13)

Oz the Great and Powerful (Disney)
Lush visuals and sly humor boost this 3-D prequel to the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" — based, like its predecessor, on the writings of L. Frank Baum. A small-time carnival magician (James Franco) finds his life transformed when a Kansas tornado transports him to the magical Land of Oz. There, he discovers that both his arrival and his eventual victory over the forces of darkness gripping the realm have been prophesied. But self-doubt — together with his initial inability to determine which of his new homeland's three presiding witches (Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams) embodies goodness — pose stumbling blocks on the way to his promised destiny. Director Sam Raimi's fantasy adventure emphasizes confidence, cooperation, the marvels of science and a generalized faith in happy endings, though his protagonist is shown praying to God in times of need. More problematic is the fact that several plot points turn on the wizard's womanizing. While the specifics are omitted, the subject matter is unsuitable for small moviegoers, who might also be frightened by some of the spooky creatures jumping out at them from the screen. Mature references, perilous situations, a couple of mild oaths, potentially upsetting images. (A-II, PG)

Phantom (RCR)
Though it feels at times like a warmed-over version of 1990's "The Hunt for Red October," this fairly routine military exercise does explore the nature of heroism and sporadically showcases the captain's frayed but enduring ties to the Russian Orthodox faith. Some gory violence and intense gunplay, a suicide, fleeting semi-graphic sexual activity, a couple of uses of profanity, at least one rough term, occasional crude and crass language. (A-III, R)

21 and Over (Relativity)
This gross-out comedy written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore follows in the wayward footsteps of their 2009 film, "The Hangover," and its 2011 sequel. A straitlaced college student has reached the landmark birthday of the title, and his two best friends arrive on campus determined to show him a good time. Facing a crucial medical school interview in the morning, he initially resolves to stay home. But his pals promise he'll be fit for the appointment. What follows is a nightlong odyssey that manages to offend all of the senses, including that of decency. Semi-graphic sexual activity, some of it deviant, masturbation, full nudity, drug use, alcohol abuse, pervasive obscene and scatological humor, relentless profane and rough language. (O, R)

—CNS

Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.