Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

127 Hours (R for profanity, violence, and disturbing images). James Franco stars in this bittersweet tale of survival recounting the real-life dilemma confronted by a mountain climber who had to amputate his own arm after it got pinned under a boulder while he was hiking alone in Utah. Cast includes Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Treat Williams, and Kate Burton.

Burlesque (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, mature themes, and partial nudity). Musical drama about an aspiring singer (Christina Aguilera) from the midwest who moves to Los Angeles where she’s given a big break to perform on stage by the stripper-turned-owner (Cher) of a failing burlesque theater. With Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, and Alan Cumming.

Due Date (R for profanity, sexuality, and drug use). Robert Downey, Jr. and Zack Galifianakis co-star in this road comedy about an uptight father-to-be who hitches a ride across the country with a wacky slacker in order to make it on time to witness the birth of his baby. With Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Charlie Sheen, and RZA.

Fair Game (PG-13 for profanity). The Valerie Plame affair is revisited by this espionage thriller about a CIA Agent (Naomi Watts) whose cover was ostensibly blown because her diplomat husband (Sean Penn) had publicly questioned the veracity of the Bush administration’s “weapons of mass destruction” rationale for the invasion of Iraq. With Sam Shepard, Bruce McGill, and Ty Burrell.

Faster (R for profanity, drug use, and graphic violence). High body-count crime saga featuring Dwayne Johnson as a recently-paroled ex-con determined to avenge the murder of his brother who died during the botched bank robbery that landed him behind bars. With Billy Bob Thornton, Mike Epps, Carla Gugino, and Maggie Grace.

For Colored Girls (R for rape, sexuality, and profanity). Tyler Perry’s adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s feminist stage play explores a variety of themes pertinent to the African-American community, ranging from rape, infidelity, domestic violence, to gays still in the closet. Cast includes Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Kelly Washington, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Macy Gray, Anika Noni Rose, and Whoopi Goldberg.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (R for sexuality, brief profanity, and graphic violence). Final installment in the trilogy, based on the posthumously published novels by the late Stieg Larsson, finds the plucky protagonist (Noomi Rapace) recovering from her bullet wounds while awaiting trial for a triple murder and plotting to take revenge on those responsible for her predicament. Cast includes Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, and Annika Hallin. In Swedish with subtitles.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (PG-13 for intense violence, frightening images, and brief sensuality). First half of the final installment of J.K. Rowling’s series has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) joining forces to wrest control of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic back from evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his minions. Cast includes Bill Nighy, Richard Griffiths, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Inside Job (Unrated). The worst recession since the Great Depression is the subject of this documentary chronicling the causes of the global financial meltdown of 2008 which led to over $20 trillion in losses on Wall Street while causing millions to lose their jobs and homes.

Jackass 3-D (R for nudity, profanity, crude humor, and dangerous stunts). Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, and the rest of the stuntmen return for another round of jaw dropping, death defying feats, this time in 3-D.

Love and Other Drugs (R for nudity, drug use, pervasive profanity, and graphic sexuality). Academy Award-winner Edward Zwick directs a couple of Oscar-nominees (Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal) in this romantic comedy based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman” about a free spirit who meets her match in a charming ladies man. Support cast includes Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, and recently-deceased Jill Clayburgh, a two-time Oscar-nominee.

Megamind (PG for action and mild epithets). Animated adventure in 3-D about a hapless, evil villain (Will Ferrell) who decides to align himself with the forces of good after the demise of his longtime superhero adversary (Brad Pitt) when he unwittingly creates a diabolical scoundrel (Jonah Hill) bent on world domination. Voice cast includes Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, and J.K. Simmons.

Morning Glory (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and drug references). Romantic comedy about an aspiring TV producer (Rachel McAdams) whose hopes to save a struggling news program depend on her controlling the show’s feuding co-anchors (Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford). With Jeff Goldblum, Ty Burrell, Patrick Wilson, and cameos by 50 Cent, Chris Matthews, Lloyd Banks, and Morley Safer. In English and Ukrainian with subtitles.

The Next Three Days (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality, drug use, and mature themes). Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash) directs this remake of Pour Elle, a French crime thriller revolving around a desperate college professor (Russell Crowe) who hatches an elaborate plan to spring his wife (Elizabeth Banks) from prison where she’s doing time for a murder he’s convinced she didn’t commit. Cast includes Liam Neeson, RZA, Brian Dennehy, and Olivia Wilde.

Red (PG-13 for intense action sequences and brief profanity). Comical screen adaptation of the DC Comics series about a retired CIA agent (Bruce Willis) who reassembles his old team (Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich) after learning that there’s an assassin on the loose intent on harming him and his woman (Mary-Louise Parker). With Karl Urban, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Emily Kuroda.

Skyline (PG-13 for profanity, intense violence, and brief sexuality). Science fiction thriller about an evil extraterrestrial force which threatens to erase all of humanity from the face of the Earth by emitting mysterious, irresistible light beams which attract people like moths to a flame. Cast includes Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, and Scottie Thompson.

Tangled (PG for brief violence). Animated adventure, based on the classic Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale Rapunzel, about an extraordinarily long-haired Princess (Mandy Moore), imprisoned all of her life in a 70 foot-high tower by an evil witch (Donna Murphy), who finally escapes with the help of a handsome bandit (Zachary Levi). Voice cast includes Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, and Ron Perlman.

Unstoppable (PG-13 for profanity and scenes of peril). Action thriller about a train conductor (Chris Pine) and an engineer (Denzel Washington) in a race against time to prevent a runaway locomotive with a cargo of toxic chemicals from running off the tracks. With Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn, and Elizabeth Mathis.

The Warrior’s Way (R for graphic violence). Western action fantasy, set in the Badlands, about a martial arts master (Jang Dong Ton) who emigrates from Asia to America to retire in peace, only to have to pick up his sword again to defend his adopted hometown and a beautiful local gal (Kate Bosworth) from the returning gang of marauders who had made her an orphan many moons ago. With Danny Huston, Tony Cox, Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush.

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