What’s currently playing in theatres.

The Dark Knight (A)

The latest installment in “The Batman” series isn’t just the best film in the series, it may well be one of the best comic book adaptations ever – with director Christopher Nolan creating an experience that transcends the comic book genre.

Hancock (C)

Will Smith stars as an alcoholic superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public, but not even Smith can save this film from its rather schizophrenic tone.

Is it a comedy? Is “Hancock” an action film? Or is it a drama with a little romance mixed in?

Unfortunately, all of the above apply, making this one of the more disappointing movies of the year.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (B-)

The first major release made specifically for the new Real-D 3-D animation lacks much in the story department, but succeeds in being a visual feast – full of creative twists and turns that gives the film a rollercoaster ride-like feel.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (B-)

While films like “Hancock,” “Wanted” and “WALL-E” have exploded into theaters, a small film aimed for young girls titled “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” has managed to slip into multiplexes virtually unnoticed.

“Kittredge” may lack the fanfare (and box office receipts) of its fellow films, but it proves to be an interesting experience that should please its target audience.

Mamma Mia (D+)

Not even the ABBA fan in me could stomach this contrived musical full of loud-characters and clunky choreography.

Meryl Streep is passable in her musical numbers, but when Pierce Brosnan starts belting out “S.O.S” it made me want to send out an S.O.S for a better movie.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (D)

There are some movies that you can just put your brain on autopilot and enjoy, and then there are movies like “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, which are so mind-numbingly dumb that even autopilot can’t save it.

This third installment of “The Mummy” franchise is full of action sequences that try to thrill, but ultimately just crash together into a rather predictable ball of mediocrity.

Pineapple Express (B-)

The Judd Apatow factory is at it again with “Pineapple Express,” the latest adult comedy from the man behind “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.”

Apatow only gets producer and story credits (with “Express” co-star Seth Rogan and “Superbad” cowriter Evan Goldberg), but this still has all the elements of an Apatow film – but this time there are a few more misses and a few less hits.

Space Chimps (C)

This animated tale from 20th Century Fox lacks the imagination of superior films like “Wall-E” and “Shrek,” but is still better than its dreadful adds would suggest.

Step Brothers (B-)

After the disappointing “Semi-Pro,” Will Ferrell fans can rejoice with his follow-up, “Step Brothers.”

This vulgar, and let’s be honest, pointless, comedy reteaming Ferrell with “Talladega Nights” director Adam McKay and co-star John C. Reilly isn’t going to change the cinematic world – but it does provide audiences with plenty of laughs, something sorely missing from Ferrell’s previous project.

Swing Vote (C)

Kevin Costner stars as a down on his luck everyman who winds up being the deciding vote of a tightly contested presidential election.

The cast is fine, but the film fails because it plays everything safe – and as a result loses the satiric bite that could have saved it from begin mediocre.

Tropic Thunder (B+)

Even though there is just over four months left in the year, the award for most offensive film of 2009 may be in the bag with the new film “Tropic Thunder.”

It is also one of the year’s funniest movies.

The Ben Stiller directed comedy pulls no punches, skewering everything imaginable – and some things you would never consider – providing more laughs than “Meet Dave,” “The Love Guru,” and “Hancock” combined.

WALL-E (B+)

Pixar’s latest animated film is a delightful family film full of wonder and plenty of heart.

“WALL-E” may be a tough sell to younger children since a lot of the film involves little to no dialogue, but I think it will soon join the ranks of “Nemo,” “Toy Story” and “Ratatouille” as modern-day animated classics.

Wanted (C-)

This wildly over the top action film with James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie starts out promising but quickly spirals into visual chaos that makes it watchable, just not very enjoyable.

X-Files: I Want to Believe (C)

The follow-up to the 1998 film based on the popular TV series isn’t uninteresting, but it is definitely a film that only die-hard fans of the franchise will truly enjoy.