“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3”
***
Kinetic director Tony Scott balances his need for speed and flash with a fleshed-out drama, making this return to ’70’s flick “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” the best of his recent outings. Writer Brian Helgeland’s adaptation of John Godey’s rough and raw 1973 novel transforms a heist drama into a dynamic, psychological face-off between John Travolta’s borderline sociopath and Denzel Washington’s decent guy. It’s a tense rivalry of vastly different forces and — as it should be when two actors dig into the muck and grit of their characters — it’s a pleasure to watch. R. 1 hour, 46 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“Aliens in the Attic”
**
While on a summer vacation in the middle of nowhere, four cute and not-quite menacing aliens crash-land in the family’s summer rental house attic. Once the five kids of the family come across the four knee-high aliens, they soon discover that the aliens are not of the E.T. variety, but rather the kind bent on conquering and destroying the world. How? By using a special device that takes control of people’s bodies and minds. The problem, at least for the aliens, is their device only works on matured adults, leaving it up to the kids, immune to the alien’s mind-control tactics, to fend off the alien invasion without alerting their parents. PG. 1 hour, 26 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“I Love You, Beth Cooper”
** 1/2
As the object of high school valedictorian Denis Cooverman’s secret infatuation, “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere can’t rescue this woefully familiar teen romantic comedy. When Denis (Paul Rust) announces his long crush in a commencement address, a night of mishaps and bonding are set in motion. Jack T. Carpenter plays Denis’ best friend, Rich, who isn’t gay, he insists. PG-13. 1 hour, 44 minutes. Lisa Kennedy</p
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