Apocalypto (B)

Mel Gibson directs this bloody epic set during the decline of the Mayan Empire.

&#8220Apocalypto” is really nothing more than &#8220Mad Max” in the jungle, but Gibson attacks it with such vigor and passion that he manages to deliver the quintessential movie for guys who like movies.

Black Christmas (F)

This remake of a 1970’s slasher flick has absolutely nothing going for it – expect for unintentional humor. Several familiar faces – including Andrea Martin and Michelle Trachtenberg – get sliced up, but not before collecting a paycheck that should leave them embarassed.

Blood Diamond (B+)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou star in this effective drama set agaonst the backdrop of the African civil war in the late 1980’s.

The film is full of some intense action sequences, but manages to deliver a powerful message as well.

Borat (A-)

After months of hype &#8220Borat” finally arrives in theaters. But unlike other films that have wilted under advance buzz, &#8220Borat” doesn’t just deliver – it might actually exceed its lofty pre-release expectations. Fans of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (and his TV show &#8220The Ali G Show”) will be pleased, while people like me who are too cheap to get HBO will still enjoy this razor-sharp satire.

Casino Royale (B)

The James Bond series returns to its roots with &#8220Casino Royale,” the first Ian Fleming novel that introduced the popular British super spy, and it couldn’t come at a more appropriate time.

&#8220Royale” doesn’t just serve to introduce the latest Bond (Daniel Craig), but it also gives the series a chance to reinvent itself into a sleeker, hard-edged type of franchise.

Charlotte’s Web (B)

A fun for the family live action adapatation of the popular E.B. White novel – featuring Dakota Fanning and the voice talents of Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi and Oprah Winfrey.

Deck the Halls (D)

This horrible holiday film is enough to make me not want to celebrate Christmas.

Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito play New England neighbors who battle when one decides to decorate his house with enough lights that it can be seen from space.

Deja Vu (B-)

I guess it isn’t much of a surprise to say that a movie titled &#8220Déjà Vu” has a lot of familiar elements to it. But the latest collaboration between Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott works largely due to the fact that it follows a familiar formula – with a slight twist. Think of it as a cross between &#8220CSI” and &#8220Back to the Future.”

Eragon (C-)

An utterly silly adventure film that is clearly looking to cash in on the success of superior movies like &#8220Lord of the Rings” and &#8220Star Wars.” I’m sure there is an audience out there for &#8220Eragon,” but I can’t take a film seriously that features a dragon voiced by Rachel Weisz.

The Good Shepherd (B)

Robert DeNiro’s sweeping epic about the early days of the CIA features good work by Matt Damon, but a script that tends to overstay its welcome. The result is a good film that misses out on its chance to be a great one.

Happy Feet (B-)

Great visual and some snappy musical numbers are enough to overcome a film that feels too preachy at times. Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman are among the slew of Hollywood elite who lend their voice talents to the film.

The Holiday (B)

Some people might accuse writer/ director Nancy Meyers of sleepwalking in her latest film &#8220The Holiday,” but it still worked for me – thanks to a likable cast and some rather smart dialogue.

Sure this film relies heavily on parts of better films and there are some deep problems overall, but I still found myself giving in and enjoying myself in spite of its limitations.

Night at the Museum (B-)

This family-friendly, &#8220Jumanji”-like adventure features some nice comic set pieces with some great visual effects (that are really neat in the IMAX version I saw with my family). The film is so visually appealing, it’s a credit to &#8220Museum,” despite the fact the movie has a flimsy plot full of hokey clichés and contrived plot advancements.

The Pursuit of Happyness (C-)

Will Smith goes for the Oscar in this sappy drama based on the true story of a homeless father who turned his life around after winning an internship with a prestigious stock brockerage firm.

&#8220Happyness” never takes off because it opts to spend too much time on the Lifetime channel plot involving the father and his young son, and not enough time showing how the character became a successful stock broker.

Rocky Balboa (B)

Hey Yo! Sylvester Stallone dips into the time machine and delivers a nostaligic crowd pleaser that proves to be a worthy final chapter to the &#8220Rocky” franchise.

&#8220Rocky Balboa” is entertaining and poignant – evoking memories of the first two films in the series.

Santa Claus 3: The Escape Claus (D)

This sequel involves Jack Frost (Martin Short) trying to take over Christmas from Santa Claus (Tim Allen). Frost’s plot involves an apparent there &#8220escape clause” that allows Santa to relinquish his role as the jolly big guy any time he wishes.

Too bad I couldn’t use the same clause to escape this awful film, which should have went straight to video – or, better yet, cable at 3 in the morning.

Unaccompanied Minors (C-)

&#8220The Breakfast Club” meets &#8220Home Alone” in this story of five kids stranded in an airport terminal in Christmas Eve.

The film is predictable and probably won’t entertain anyone over the age of 6, but I’ll still give it credit for being better than it should have been.

We are Marshall (B-)

This tale of the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the Marshall football team is carried by such raw emotion that even director McG ( a questionable choice to helm the project) can’t screw up.

There are better sports films out there (&#8220Invincible” and &#8220Glory Road” are recent releases that come to mind), but &#8220Marshall” deserves praise simply for the fact that it is a story of tragedy that still resonates in the small West Virginia town – and every other small town that’s ever experienced any sort of tragedy.