Movie

Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother -- and former heir to the throne -- has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

Director Jon Favreau’s fantasy drama film is a computer animated remake of the 1994 animated Disney film of the same name. It features the voice talents of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Beyoncé, and James Earl Jones. A young lion returns from exile in adulthood, ready to reclaim the throne that was stolen from him and his father by his treacherous uncle.

Director Guy Ritchie’s musical fantasy film is a live-action remake of Disney’s 1992 animated film of the same name. Mena Massoud, Will Smith and Naomi Scott star in the latest retelling of the famous Arabic folktale about a street rat who pursues the princess of Agrabah with the help of a powerful genie.

Friday, October 25   Invasion of the Body Snatchers  1956 / 80 min. / NR

Something isn’t right in a small California town. The town doctor (Kevin McCarthy) becomes alarmed when several people report that a family member is not acting like themselves. The doctor investigates. He becomes convinced that an alien force is replacing townspeople with emotionless doppelgängers. Considered a masterpiece among horror films, Invasion has been seen by some as a metaphor for the effects of McCarthyism on Americans.

Friday, October 18   Mulholland Drive    2001 / 147 min. / R

A dark-haired woman (Laura Elena Harring) awakens with amnesia after a Mulholland Drive car crash that has saved her from being murdered. She finds an open apartment whose occupant, aspiring actress Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), soon returns. Betty tries to help the woman, who adopts the name Rita from a Rita Hayworth poster.  The slip-sliding setup spins into a surreal story, suspension of disbelief required. Director David Lynch earned high praise from critics.

Friday, October 11   L.A. Confidential    1997 / 138 min. / R

In this neo-noir film, each of three Los Angeles police officers has his thing—one (Guy Pearce) is looking for his father’s killer, another (Kevin Spacey) pedals lurid celebrity stories to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito) and a third (Russell Crowe) is determined to solve a restaurant takedown in which his ex-partner died. They’re all part of a web that is the corrupt LAPD. Kim Basinger won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Based on a James Ellroy novel.

Friday, October 4   The Big Sleep    1946 / 114 min. / NR

Based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. 124 min. PG. 2016