After giving a tour to two girls Aron ventures out on his own and will begin the struggle of his life. While canyoning alone a boulder comes loose and traps Aron in the canyon. His arm is stuck. He tries to maneuver the boulder to free his arm but it is too heavy. Low on food and with minimal water left Aron begins to document his ordeal. Videotaping his every moment and eventually saying his goodbyes to family.

Aron knows time is running out as he did not tell anyone where he would be going this weekend and by the time anyone would realize Aron was missing it would be too late. With no other options Aron faces the struggle of dying alone or the unthinkable task of removing his arm and freeing himself to survival. It is an amazing true story of defying death against all odds.

“127 Hours” does an excellent job at putting you in the canyon and inside a dying man’s head. Directed by Danny Boyle (‘Slumdog Millionaire’), there is the same vivid feel to the film. However with this drama the direction Boyle leads the film in is not suited to all viewers. James Franco offers the performance of his career. He could not have been better suited for this role and once again has proven to be on his way to the Oscars. “127 Hours” is a film about facing death with bravery. It is a dark and disturbing film that I thought about days later. This film will not be appropriate for all as there have been many cases of audience members passing out while viewing certain scenes. If you can handle a few gruesome moments and want to see the performance of the year, then this film cannot be missed!

We have a limited number of admit-two passes for the screening Monday, November 22 at 7:30 PM at the AMC Mainstreet. Winners will be chosen on Friday, November 19. The winners will receive an email with instructions on how to print out their pass. Make sure to bring the pass with you to the screening. Be sure to get there early. These screenings are overbooked to fill every seat. Only ONE entry per email address. Only eligible for Kansas/Missouri metro area residents. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Liz Gilbert is a mess in everything she does. Jumping in and out of relationships and always trying to make it the right fit. It is obvious that she needs to discover herself and love herself, but she is still learning to do that. Realizing that she needs to take time for her she leaves New York where she resides as a prominent writer to begin her year long of traveling starting in Italy.

In Rome she makes an American friend who introduces her to a tutor who teaches her the Italian language and much about the history of the beautiful city. In this breathtaking city she makes several friends and her journey comes to an end on Thanksgiving. Next stop is India. Upon her arrival she must meditate and pray. She finds this a challenge at first as she can not open her mind. Liz closes off once again to the possibility of the power of prayer. In India she makes friends with Richard (Richard Jenkins) who is from Texas and has lost his family and has come her to find himself. He helps heal Liz and teach her the lesson of focus and forgiveness.

Following her meditation she leaves for Bali to visit medicine man Ketut (Hadi Subiyanto). He helps her in her final balancing act and trying to find her center. Eventually Ketut leads Liz to love and changes her life. Eat Pray Love is an inspirational tale about finding yourself to accept love. It had a meaningful purpose but this film has a run time that would drain anyone. The dialogue is lacking and I found myself consistently wandering away in other thoughts. The film failed to ever capture my attention. The director and writers should almost be ashamed by the lack of entertainment this film offered. It was dull and boring and there is not much to be desired from the main character. All supporting characters were underdeveloped and no relationships had any stamina. Eat Pray Love is a long marathon full of self pity and poor interaction. If you can survive the eating you might make it through to the love, but I would advise against it.

In the hopes of spicing up date night Phil takes Claire to the big city, New York City that is. Phil takes Claire to try out a new hip restaurant in Manhattan. Not anticipating that the restaurant is so busy that you have to make reservations months in advance. Of course disappointed Phil will do what it takes to make this date night perfect. While waiting at the bar he hears the name “Triplehorns, table for two” called out three times. Not wanting to let this reservation go to waste Phil pipes in “We’re the Triplehorns.” At first Claire is caught off guard by Phil’s idea but soon relaxes and the two enjoy their meal.

That is until the case of mistaken identity puts them in danger. Apparently the Triplehorns are not upstanding citizens and have messed with the wrong man. When they are escorted from the restaurant and quickly held at gunpoint they must improvise and say they are the Triplehorns and convince there captures that they know what they are after and will take them to it.

Things only become more intense when they discover who the real Triplehorns are and what they know. Realizing their lives are in danger the pair must do some fast thinking and quick moving to escape their captures and have any hopes of returning home. “Date Night” is the perfect date movie for all those married couples out there. I found myself continuously laughing at what Fey and Carrel brought to the table; a fresh batch of comedy in what has been a rather dull year. Other great performances were provided by Mark Wahlberg, James Franco and Mila Kunis. “Date Night” provided just the escape you need without pretending to be someone else, so go out and enjoy it!

Role Models: Danny and Wheeler are two salesmen who trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad. Surrounded by annoying do-gooders, Danny struggles with his every neurotic impulse to guide Augie through the trials of becoming a man. Unfortunately, the guy just dumped by his girlfriend has only sarcasm to offer a bashful 16-year-old obsessed with medieval role play. Meanwhile, charming Wheeler tries to trade in an addiction to partying and women to assist a fifth-grader named Ronnie in redirecting his foul-mouthed ways. It would probably help if Ronnie’s new mentor wasn’t an overgrown adolescent whose idea of quality time includes keggers in Venice Beach. Once the center’s ex-con director gives them an ultimatum, Danny and Wheeler are forced to tailor their brand of immature wisdom to their charges. And if they can just make it through probation without getting thrown in jail, the world’s worst role models will prove that, sometimes, it takes a village idiot to raise a child.

Transporter 3: Frank Martin has been pressured into transporting Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Ukraine, from Marseilles through Stuttgart and Budapest until he ends up in Odessa on the Black Sea. Along the way, with the help of Inspector Tarconi, Frank has to contend with the people who strong armed him to take the job, agents sent by Vasilev to intercept him, and the general non-cooperation of his passenger. Despite Valentina’s cynical disposition and his resistance to get involved, Frank and Valentina fall for each other, while escaping from one life-threatening situation after another.

Milk: His life changed history. His courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Gus Van Sant in Milk, filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, and produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk’s life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk’s actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin). But as White and Milk’s political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge. Milk’s platform was and is one of hope – a hero’s legacy that resonates in the here and now.

Rachel Getting Married: Rachel Getting Married is a contemporary drama with an aggressive sense of humor about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister’s wedding. Kym’s (Hathaway) reemergence throws a wrench into the family dynamics, forcing long-simmering tensions to surface in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas: This emotionally evocative and thought-provoking film depicts the beautiful power of friendship that forms between two young boys during World War II. Based on the best selling novel, this is a timeless story of innocence lost and humanity found. Although I have no review available for this film, I have screened and it is one of the most heartwrenching and powerful films I saw in 2008. This film will be a memorable one.

Cadillac Records: Chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess’ (Adrien Brody) Chess Records and its recording artists including Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Willie Dixon (Cedric The Entertainer) and the great Etta James (Beyonce Knowles). In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s, the film follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s greatest musical legends.

Happy-Go-Lucky: From Academy Award nominated director Mike Leigh comes Happy-Go-Lucky, an irresistible cheerful, feel-great comedy about an irrepressibly optimistic young school teacher who always sees the glass half full. I did screen this film and have to say I found it awkward and boring to watch. There was just too much ‘happy’ for me.

*Our freebie DVD for this week is Role Models. Visit our freebies section for your chance to win.

Another guilty pleasure brought to you by the Apatow group. This summers flick is “Pineapple Express” starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. Saul Silver (Franco) is a drug dealer who is forced to go on the run with stoner Dale Denton (Rogen). Saul is a clueless fool in this chase and unfortunately Dale is not far behind him in the common sense department. The chase all begins with “Pineapple Express,” a new high powered drug that is sworn to be unlike any other. Saul is the only dealer selling it on the market and he offers it to Dale who gladly accepts. When Dale is smoking in his car, he witnesses a brutal murder. He immediately flees the scene, but not before being noticed. Dale’s bad luck continues when his weed bud is picked up by the home owner, who turns out to be the drug lord, who can trace the weed back to Saul.

Dale runs to Saul’s apartment in hopes of protection from the murdering cop. When Dale realizes that the “Pineapple Express” links him to Saul he knows they will soon track him down. They flee as they believe the murderers are after them. The two stoners do not make it very far outside the city before needing to return for snacks. Saul decides to find out if they can return home by calling his supplier Red (Danny McBride). When contacting Red he finds out that everything is fine and that there is nothing new, but the viewers see that Red is trying to set up Saul and Dale for capture. Once Saul and Dale get to Red’s home they know something is up. An intense fight breaks out, one that can not be missed.

Once Saul and Dale know the coast is clear they take off again. This time when they escape, they have a run in with the police which turns bad. Saul tries to protect Dale but only makes things worse after stealing a police car and causing more damage. Dale begins to get frustrated with Saul’s aloof behavior and lets him know it. The two argue and wind up going there separate ways. When Dale finds out that the murderers goons have caught Saul he is determined to save him. The tale of Pineapple Express is far from over at this point and an explosion of comedy awaits you.

Definitely can not be compared to Superbad or Knocked Up, but another secure comedy brought to use by both Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow. Seth certainly portrayed the scared stoner on the run very well. Seth’s standout scene being a physical fight with Gary Cole (drug lord Ted Jones), as the two spar like a couple of idiots and you are not sure of what they are doing but it is funny as heck to watch. James Franco’s role, playing as the dense pot seller in his first comedy, was a great addition to his budding career showing his versatility in a film. Although there are a few slow spots the “bromance” film does recover and turns out to be an exciting and entertaining comedy. Catch the “Pineapple Express” and make sure to bring a friend.