Into the Blue

Starring: Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Scott Caan, Ashley Scott, Josh Brolin, Tyson Beckford and James Frain Directed by John Stockwell Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Columbia Pictures / Mandalay Pictures (PG-13) November 30

Everything begins on a Jamaican island, a slice of paradise where handsome Jared and his sexy girlfriend Sam seem to lead a perfect life — or almost perfect. While Sam is happy working as a shark handler, Jared, a part-time treasure hunter, dreams of becoming rich. The couple’s life changes when Jared’s wealthy friend Bryce and his girlfriend Amanda buy a mansion and yacht on the island. Jared’s discovery of an ancient shipwreck brings to the surface the four friends’ different values.

Starring: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott and Jennifer Carpenter Directed by Scott Derrickson Lakeshore Entertainment & Firm Films / Sony Pictures (PG-13) December 7

Lawyer Erin Bruner doesn’t believe in God. She is called to represent a parish priest who performed an exorcism on a young college student, Emily Rose, who was believed to be possessed. Emily Rose died and the priest is on trial. During the trial we learn the girl’s story. Critics found the movie an interesting mix of horror and courtroom drama.

Starring: Don Cheadle, Xolani Mali, Desmond Dube and Hakeem Kae-Kazim Directed by Terry George Miracle Pictures/Seamus/MGM (PG-13) December 14

A story of love and heroism during the genocide of some one million Rwandan Tutsis by their Hutu neighbors in 1996. In his hometown, one man managed to save 1,000 people from the slaughter. Meanwhile, the international community, including the United Nations, watched and did nothing.

Starring: Cole Hauser, Eddie Cibrian, Piper Perabo and Morris Chestnut Directed by Bruce Hunt Sony Pictures (PG-13) December 7

A group of scientists discover an abbey in a Romanian forest and a giant cave system beneath it. They hire a group of American thrill-addicted cave-explorers with the aim of discovering what kind of ecosystem has developed underground. The story is not entirely sci-fi, since new micro-ecologies have recently been discovered in Romania in real life, but our heroes will discover much more than that.

Starring: Jason Statham Directed by Louis Leterrier Twentieth Century Fox (PG-13) December 14

Frank Martin, a former Special Forces operative, is a mercenary transporter of goods and people who cares little about the consequences of his business. But while he’s working in Miami, Florida as a driver for a wealthy family, he grows attached to the 6-year-old boy he drives to school every day. When his little friend is kidnapped, Frank decides to save him using his combat skills — and ends up having to save the world, as the kidnappers also plan to spread a deadly virus.

Starring: Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo Directed by Mark Waters Parkes / MacDonald Production / DreamWorks (PG-13) December 14

Is Elizabeth dead or alive? David meets her after renting a San Francisco apartment. Pretty but a little too feisty, she suddenly appears only to complain he’s making a mess of what she considers her apartment. Since most people cannot walk through the walls, David is quite sure Elizabeth is a ghost, but she refuses to think she’s less than alive. Needless to say, a freaky love story soon blossoms. Penned by Peter Tolan (Analyze This) and Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday), which Mark Waters also directed, so it may be worth a look.

Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Peter Stormare, Lena Headey, Jonathan Pryce and Monica Bellucci Directed by Terry Gilliam Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Mosaic Media Group & Daniel Bobker (PG-13) December 14

Will and Jake Grimm’s job consists of traveling from village to village pretending to protect the inhabitants from evil spirits through exorcisms. But then they encounter a genuine curse and magical creatures. Do they have the guts to face them? The idea of throwing the Brothers Grimm in a comedy does not convince, say some critics. American audiences seemed to agree.

Starring: Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Rade Sherbedgia and Selma Blair Directed by Rupert Wainwright Debra Hill & David Foster Production / Columbia Pictures (PG-13) December 21

A remake of the John Carpenter’s 1980 movie of the same name, this is the story of a supernatural fog and the return a century later of passengers who drowned in the mysterious sinking of a ship off the coast of the Northern Californian town of Antonio Bay. Meanwhile, Elizabeth returns to Antonio Bay to visit her mother and meets her old love Nick, who still cares for her. Ah, how touching.

Starring the voices of Zach Braff, Garry Marshall, Don Knotts, Patrick Stewart, Amy Sedaris, Steve Zahn Directed by Mark Dindal Buena Vista / Walt Disney December 21

A chicken and his friends (Abby Mallard, Ugly Duckling, Runt of the Litter and Fish Out of Water) have to save the inhabitants of their town from an alien invasion. While Variety wrote that this animation is of “little originality, little humor and little ingratiating characterization,” it might at least have the side effect of restoring the reputation of the poor chicken in this time of bird flu.

Starring: Christian Slater, Neve Campbell, Leslie Phillips, Romany Malco and Harry Enfield Directed by Peter Richardson Pathe December 4

Acomedy about Winston Churchill which has very little to do with history. Churchill (Slater), who arrives in London with Eisenhower (Malco), is re-invented here as an American GI.

Starring: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins Directed by Louis Leterrier DreamWorks (R) December 28

Jet Li takes on the role of Danny in what has been hailed his best English-language film to date, with a more emotional role than audiences are accustomed to seeing him tackling even as the film brims with stunning fight sequences choreographed by Yuen Ping. Danny is given no formal education, but is trained by Bart (Bob Haskins) in the one thing he knows: killing. Bart uses Danny as a lucrative money-making machine, pitting him against opponents in illegal fights. Bart ends up in a coma after a car accident, and Danny is left alone. He meets an elderly, blind piano tuner (Morgan Freeman) who uses music as a means of teaching Danny what it is to be human. We’re not thrilled, but Jet Li is entertaining, and Morgan Freeman is, well, Morgan Freeman, making this unlikely entry worth checking out. et

Rescheduled From Last Month: Elizabethtown (PG-13), to December 21 Dark Water (PG-13), to December 14.(See November issue for summaries.)