Kam's Movie Kapsules for 7-6-12

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening July 6, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13 for violence and intense action) Andrew Garfield stars as Spider-Man in the title role of this origins adventure in which his alter ego, Peter Parker, falls for a high school classmate (Emma Stone) and solves the mystery surrounding his parents’ (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz) disappearance before morphing into your friendly neighborhood superhero en route to a showdown with the diabolical Lizard (Rhys Ifans). Featuring Denis Leary, Martin sheen and Sally Field.

Katy Perry: Part of Me (PG for smoking, mature themes, mild epithets and suggestive content) Reverential biopic chronicling the trajectory of gospel singer-turned-pop icon Katy Perry’s meteoric rise via a combination of concert performances and backstage footage.

Savages (R for nudity, drug use, graphic sexuality, gruesome violence and pervasive profanity) Oliver Stone directed this grisly crime thriller about a Berkeley grad (Aaron Johnson) and a former Navy Seal (Taylor Kitsch) who join forces to rescue the girlfriend they share (Blake Lively) from the clutches of a Mexican drug cartel. Cast includes Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro and John Travolta.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

China Heavyweight (Unrated) Two-fisted documentary revolving around the effort of boxing coach Moxiang Qi to turn raw teenage recruits from rural peasant villages into Olympic medal contenders. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Crazy Eyes (Unrated) Romantic romp about a rich playboy (Lukas Haas) who seduces and abandons a string of beautiful women until he finally fixates on the first object of his affection (Madeline Zima) able to resist his charms. With Jake Busey, Ray Wise, Tania Raymonde and Regine Nehy.    

The Do-Decca-Pentathlon (R for profanity) Sibling rivalry comedy about a couple of estranged brothers (Mark Kelly and Steve Zissis) who decide to settle a score by competing against each other in a 25-event Olympics featuring contests in ping-pong, laser tag and billiards. With Jennifer Lafleur, Julie Vorus and Brendan Robinson.

The Magic of Belle Isle (PG for mature themes and suggestive language) Morgan Freeman stars in this drama about a wheelchair-bound, best-selling novelist who rents a cabin at a scenic summer retreat where he overcomes alcoholism and writer’s block with the help of a single-mom (Virginia Madsen) with several kids (Madeline Carroll, Emma Fuhrmann and Nicolette Pierini). Directed by Rob Reiner, and featuring Kenan Thompson, Fred Willard and Ash Christian.  

The Pact (Unrated) Haunted house horror flick about the spooky goings-on around the childhood home of a grieving woman (Caity Lotz) who has just returned to town for the funeral of her recently-deceased mother.  With Casper Van Dien, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Agnes Bruckner.

Starry, Starry Night (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama about a troubled, 13 year-old girl (Xu Jiao) whose friendship with an ostracized transfer student (Lin Hui-min) blossoms into love soon after she stops cruel classmates from bullying him. With Rene Liu, Kenneth Tsang and Harlem Yu. (In Mandarin with subtitles)  

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP (Unrated) Inspirational documentary revisits the rise of the AIDS activist movement in the face of corporate greed, homophobia and government indifference.