Not too long after his arrival Kemp is approached by the dashing Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart) who shows an interest in Kemp and his writing. Tired of the rut he seems to be facing he decides to hear what Sanderson is interested in. Not only does he get an ear full, but also eye candy as his mermaid love turns out to be Sanderson’s live in girlfriend. Sanderson proposes using Kemp to market a new idea of building lush condos on the beaches of Puerto Rico and using the media to make it look like a compromise with the locals.

These condos would demolish the rustic culture the island offers and turn into another place for the “whites” as Kemp calls them. With a huge decision resting on his story and a constant addiction to the mini bar or the rum punch Kemp seems to be bewildered. Eventually deadlines are made and the story goes in a different direction.

“The Rum Diary” was intriguing initially, but quickly lost all audience appeal. Depp will always drive the crowds into theatres, but this one sadly does not live up to his potential. A very slow and confusing tale. The storyline was all over the place and hard to follow throughout. Aside for a few comical moments between Depp and Rispoli this drama was another downer. Maybe if you have a little rum before viewing you can enjoy the diary, I however was not impressed.

King George II (Richard Griffiths) of England orders the Captain and his team of pirates to find the legendary fountain before another explorer does so for Spain. Jack must improvise on his travels since his ship the Black Pearl was lost at sea. He joins ship with the legendary Blackbeard (Ian McShane) in the hunt. While at sea on the Queen Anne’s Revenge Sparrow must deal with Blackbeard and the magical spell that has been cast by his ruthless daughter Angelica (Penelope Cruz).

Along the way to their discovery they must battle monstrous mermaids and the many distractions that every pirate must face. In the end Captain Jack Sparrow proves to be an imperious pirate with another battle won. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is another enjoyable action adventure in the series. Slightly different version from the ones with his original comrades. Penelope Cruz was a nice addition, but you could notice a definite loss from Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. Overall another enjoyable flick to be enjoyed by your adventurous tween/teen. Make sure to stay till closing credits for a sneak peek at Jack Sparrow’s next adventure.

The 2 disc Blu-Ray combo comes with extra features including audio commentary from the director and producer, bloopers and Disney’s second screen feature. In stores everywhere today!

We have a limited number of admit-two passes for the screening Saturday, February 26 at 10:30am at AMC Independence Commons. Winners will be chosen on Friday, February 25 at 8am CST. 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.

Synopsis: From the director of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” comes RANGO,featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West.  The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (Depp), a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis.  After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? 

When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt – a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures – the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out.  Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be.  With a cast that includes Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, Rango is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town – and himself in the process.

Alice in Wonderland: Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an imaginative new twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you’ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you’ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience – ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.

The Wolfman: Academy Award® winners Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro tear up the screen in this action-packed thriller. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is lured back to his family estate to investigate the savage murder of his brother by a bloodthirsty beast. There, Talbot must confront his childhood demons, his estranged father (Hopkins), his brother’s grieving fiancée (Emily Blunt) and a suspicious Scotland Yard Inspector (Hugo Weaving). When Talbot is bitten by the creature, he becomes eternally cursed and soon discovers a fate far worse than death.

Text the word QUEEN (space) and your zip code to 43549 for a chance to win a complimentary copy of the ALICE IN WONDERLAND on DVD. Winner will be notified Tuesday, June 1.

It’s Complicated: Two-time Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin star in this hilarious look at marriage, divorce and everything in between. With a thriving Santa Barbara bakeshop, a new romance heating-up, and her divorce finally behind her, Jane Adler has her life all figured out – until she finds herself trapped between the perfect new beau and her philandering ex-husband who’s determined to win her back. When opposites attract all over again, will love be sweeter the second time around? It’s… complicated!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Dr. Parnassus has the extraordinary gift of inspiring the imaginations of others. Helped by his traveling theatre troupe, including his sarcastic and cynical sidekick Percy and versatile young player Anton, Parnassus offers audience members the chance to transcend mundane reality by passing through a magical mirror into a fantastic universe of limitless imagination.

However, Parnassus’ magic comes at a price. For centuries he’s been gambling with the devil, Mr. Nick who is coming to collect his prize – Parnassus’ precious daughter, Valentina on her upcoming 16th birthday. Oblivious to her rapidly approaching fate, Valentina falls for Tony, a charming outsider with motives of his own.

In order to save his daughter and redeem himself, Parnassus makes one final bet with Mr. Nick, which sends Tony and Valentina and the entire theatre troupe on a ride of twists and turns, in and out of London and the Imaginarium’s spectacular landscape.

Text the word FAMILY (space) and your zip code to 43549 for a chance to win an admit-two screening pass to relive this animated tale in live action 3D. Screening will take place on Tuesday, March 2 at 7pm. Winners will be notified March 1st via a mobile pass for two.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.

Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Public Enemies: No one could stop John Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone – from his girlfriend Billie Frechette to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang – later including Baby Face Nelson and Alvin Karpis – thrilled many, J. Edgar Hoover made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Melvin Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.” However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals – from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti – were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

Julie & Julia: Based on two true stories, “Julie & Julia” intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

The unstoppable Dillinger could escape from anything. No cop could restrain him and no prison was unbreakable. Dillinger’s charm made him captivating to almost everyone, especially to his new love; girlfriend Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard). Continuing his adventures with his gang, Dillinger eventually became America’s first Public Enemy Number One and Purvis was sent in to head up the squad in the search. Purvis and his squad were made to look incompetent as Dillinger and his gang outwitted Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Eventually the chase has to come to an end and as they say the good guy always wins.

“Public Enemies” is this summers big let down. Expecting a vibrant film from Bale and Depp, I left filled with boredom. Bored from the chase sequences that were very repetitive and unending. Many scenarios were unbelievable, including Dillinger who picks a random woman out at a club and knows nothing about her, but manages to convince her to quit her job and go on the run with him. Johnny Depp as always is remarkable as Dillinger, but once again I am displeased with Christian Bale as Purvis. I found his forced accent distracting and felt he has overplayed himself once again. As much as the film had bang for the buck, it just did not cut it. I would make sure you have a Red Bull before viewing this flick, as you’ll need energy to remain awake during some drawn out scenes.