At the Movies: ‘The Hobbit,’ ‘A Madea Christmas’
Martin Freeman returns as Bilbo in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug,’ the second film of the trilogy. –Warner Bros. Pictures
Wide-release film synopses from the Los Angeles Times.
OPENING AS OF FRIDAY, DEC. 13
‘The Armstrong Lie’ 1/2
This documentary follows cyclist Lance Armstrong’s return from retirement in 2005 in an attempt to win an eighth Tour de France and the eventual scandal that resulted from his admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs after a federal criminal investigation. Directed by Alex Gibney. At Kahala 8 (R, 2:03)
‘Commitment’ 1/2
A North Korean teenager volunteers to become a spy in South Korea to save his sister’s life, but draws attention to himself after saving a classmate from bullying. With Choi Seung-hyun, Han Ye-ri and Kim You-jeong. In Korean with English subtitles. At Dole Cannery 18 (not rated, 1:48)
‘Friend 2: The Legacy’ Not reviewed
Newly released from a 17-year prison sentence, a former crime boss seeks to reclaim leadership of his gang with the help of his young protege. With Oh-seong Yoo, Jin-mo Joo and Woo-bin Kim. In Korean with English subtitles. Pearlridge West 16 (not rated, 2:04)
‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’
Reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins continues his quest to face the fearsome dragon Smaug and help 13 dwarves reclaim their lost kingdom in this second installment of a trilogy adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Benedict Cumberbatch. (PG-13, 2:40)
‘Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas’ Not reviewed
Coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise holiday visit, the stern, sassy matriarch Madea shakes up a small rural town preparing for its annual Christmas Jubilee. With Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray and Anna Maria Horsford. (PG-13, 1:45)
OPENS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ Not reviewed
With the ’70s behind him, San Diego’s top-rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York’s first 24-hour news channel by storm. With Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig. (PG-13, 1:59)
Matthew McConaughey stars in ‘Dallas Buyers Club,’ based on the story of a man who smuggled antiviral medications into the U.S. after being diagnosed with HIV. –Focus Films
NOW PLAYING
‘A Touch of Sin’
In modern-day China, four downtrodden individuals — a miner, a migrant, a receptionist and a factory worker — are pushed over the edge. With Zhao Tao, Jiang Wu and Wang Baogiang. In Mandarin with English subtitles. At Pearlridge West 16 (not rated, 2:05)
‘The Best Man Holiday’ 1/2
Old rivalries and romances resurface when college friends reunite during the Christmas holidays in this sequel to the 1999 film “The Best Man.” With Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall and Terrence Howard. (R, 2:02)
‘The Book Thief’
A young girl transforms the lives of those around her when she is sent to live with a foster family in Nazi Germany in this adaptation of the novel by Markus Zusak. With Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. (PG-13, 2:07)
‘Dallas Buyers Club’ 1/2
A drama based on the story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, who battled the medical establishment and the law after being diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and began smuggling antiviral medications from all over the world. With Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. At Kahala 8 (R, 1:57)
‘Delivery Man’ 1/2
An affable underachiever has to reckon with his past when he learns that his anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier have resulted in more than 500 children. With Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders. (PG-13, 1:43)
‘Frozen’
An optimistic princess sets off on a journey with a rugged mountain man to find her sister. With the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. (PG, 1:48)
‘Gravity’
When their shuttle is destroyed during a routine spacewalk, an astronaut and an engineer are stranded in space together. With Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. (PG-13, 1:31)
‘The Haumana’ 1/2
Jonny Kealoha (Tui Asau) is a lounge performer in Waikiki who is asked by his dying kumu hula (Marlene Sai) to help prepare a group of high school boys for the upcoming Royal Hula Festival. The film is an enjoyable re-creation of the classic underdog story line that finds the protagonists beaten down and dealt setback after setback. How will they react? At Pearlridge West 16 (1:35)
‘Homefront’ 1/2
A widowed former DEA agent retires to a small town for the sake of his 10-year-old daughter, only to cross paths with a local meth kingpin. With Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth. (R, 1:40)
‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ 1/2
The young warrior and reluctant revolutionary Katniss Everdeen returns to the arena for another battle to the death in this second film of a series adapting Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” book trilogy. With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson. (PG-13, 2:26)
‘Nebraska’
Having received a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father thinks he’s struck it rich and wrangles his son into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. With Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb and Stacy Keach. (R, 1:54)
‘Out of the Furnace’
When his brother disappears under shady circumstances shortly after returning home from Iraq, a blue-collar steel worker seeks justice on his own terms. With Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Forest Whitaker. (R, 1:56)
‘Philomena’
An Irish woman enlists a journalist to help her track down the out-of-wedlock son she was forced by her Catholic community to give away for adoption in this drama based on Martin Sixsmith’s 2009 book “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.” With Steve Coogan and Judi Dench. (PG-13, 1:38)
‘Thor: The Dark World’
The hammer-wielding demigod Thor battles to save Earth and his home world of Asgard from an ancient enemy in this sequel to the 2011 movie “Thor.” With Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard. (PG-13, 1:52)
’12 Years a Slave’ 1/2
In the antebellum United States, a free black man from upstate New York is abducted and sold into slavery, forcing him to fight for years to survive. With Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Dano. At Kahala 8 (R, 2:14)
‘Wedding Palace’ Not reviewed
After being abandoned at the altar and pressured by his family to find a new bride, a Korean-American man meets his dream girl on a business trip to the old country. With Brian Tee, Kang Hye-jung, Bobby Lee and Margaret Cho. At Pearlridge West 16 (not rated, 1:38)
Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,’ the second film based on the Suzanne Collins book series. –Lionsgate
SPECIAL
The Metropolitan Opera: ‘Falstaff’
James Levine conducts Robert Carsen’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s comic opera, starring Ambrogio Maestri as the blustery Sir John Falstaff. 12:55 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dole Cannery 18, $18-$24 (3:20)
Royal Shakespeare Company: ‘Richard II’
David Tennant (“Dr. Who”) headlines this encore broadcast from Stratford-upon-Avon, first seen live Nov. 13. 2 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Kahala 8, $20
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
Director Frank Capra’s ultimate feel-good holiday favorite from 1946 stars James Stewart as despairing businessman George Bailey, who receives a visit from a celestial messenger and is shown what the world would be like if he had never existed. 2 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Thursday at select theaters, $7. Bring a toy donation for Make-A-Wish Hawaii and receive free popcorn. (PG, 2:09)
The Royal Ballet: ‘The Nutcracker’
A young girl’s enchanted present leads her on a wonderful adventure in this classic ballet accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s glittering score and choreographed by Peter Wright. 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dole Cannery 18, $15 (not rated, 2:10)
Frank Capra’s classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ will be showing at select theaters. Donate a toy to Make-A-Wish Hawaii and receive free popcorn. –Paramount Home Entertainment
ARTHOUSE
DORIS DUKE THEATRE
Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., (532-8768, honolulumuseum.org)
‘Blood Brother’
1 p.m. today
Steve Hoover’s documentary follows best friend Rocky Braat, who moves to India after a life-transforming experience working in the country at a care center for women and children living with HIV and AIDS. In English and Tamil with English subtitles. (2012, 1:33)
‘A River Changes Course’
7:30 p.m. today
Filmmaker Kalyanee Mam follows the lives of three young Cambodians, documenting the effects of deforestation, overfishing and overwhelming debt and bustling garment factories of modern Phnom Penh. (2012, Cambodia/U.S., 1:23)
Berlin & Beyond Film Festival: ‘Measuring the World’ (‘Die Vermessung der Welt’)
1 and 7:30 p.m. Monday
Exploits of 19th-century scientist Alexander von Humboldt and mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. In German with English subtitles. (2012, Germany, 1:59)
‘More Than Honey’
1 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Academy Award-nominated director Markus Imhoof examines the fate of endangered honeybees, providing a glimpse of phenomena undetectable to the human eye. In German and English with English subtitles. (2012, Switzerland/Germany/Austria, 1:31)
‘Lullaby Ride/Nachtlarm’
1 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday
On one rainy night, young parents stop at a late-night convenience store, and their car, with baby inside, is stolen. In German with English subtitles. (2012, Switzerland/Germany, 1:34)
MOVIE MUSEUM
3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771); $5, $4 members
‘A Time for Defiance’ (‘La hora de los valientes’)
Noon, 4:15 and 8:30 p.m. today; and 1:45 and 5:45 p.m. Monday
During the Spanish Civil War, a museum docent protects Francisco de Goya’s precious self-portrait from damage. In Spanish with English subtitles. (1998, Spain, 2:00)
‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ (‘Les neiges du Kilimandjaro’)
2:15 and 6:30 p.m. today; and noon, 4 and 8 p.m. Sunday
A man is robbed by a former co-worker after both are downsized. In French with English subtitles. (2011, France, 1:47)
‘The Hunt’ (‘Jagten’)
Noon, 2, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday
A divorced Danish kindergarten teacher (Mads Mikkelsen) fights a custody battle involving his son, but soon after he receives good news, his life is shattered by a vicious rumor. Rated R. (2012, Denmark, 1:55)
‘Entre Ses Mains’
6 p.m. Saturday
A married insurance agent is intrigued by a client, an unmarried veterinarian, then begins to suspect he’s a serial killer. In French with English subtitles. (2005, France/Belgium, 1:30)
‘Exit’
2 and 6 p.m. Sunday; and noon, 4 and 8 p.m. Monday
When a senior business partner is found dead, his protege becomes the key suspect — but as this family man desperately tries to clear his name, the real killer closes in on him. In Swedish and Danish with English subtitles. (2006, Sweden, 1:40)
‘A Ghost of a Chance’ (‘Sutekina kanashibari’)
Noon and 4:30 p.m. Thursday
In this supernatural comedy, a lawyer persuades the ghost of a samurai to appear in court as the sole witness to a crime, but only a select few can see or hear him. In Japanese with English subtitles. (2011, Japan, 2:23)
Double feature: 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday
‘Another Fine Mess’
Comedy duo Laurel and Hardy are two homeless vagabonds on the run from the police; they hide in a vacant mansion where they manage to get themselves in yet another predicament. For all ages. (1930, 0:28)
‘Emil and the Detectives’ (‘Emil und die Detektive’)
Adaptation of Erich Kastner’s novel about a young boy who is robbed of his money while on a train ride to Berlin. He befriends fellow youngsters who use their unique talents to help catch the thief. For all ages. In German with English subtitles. (1931, Germany, 1:09)
EAST-WEST CENTER
East-West Center Gallery, John A. Burns Hall. 944-7177, arts.eastwestcenter.org. Free.
‘Bobby’
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Bollywood’s first teen romance film is about two teens who, despite their different social classes, fall in love. In Hindi with English subtitles. (1973, India, 2:42)