What’s Playing
This photo provided by Paramount Pictures shows Pablo Schreiber, from left, as Kris "Tanto" Paronto, John Krasinski as Jack Silva, David Denman as Dave "Boon" Benton and Dominic Fumusa as John "Tig" Tiegen, in the film, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" from Paramount Pictures and 3 Arts Entertainment/Bay Films.
Michael B. Jordan, right, is Adonis Johnson and Sylvester Stallone is Rocky Balboa in “Creed.”
This photo provided by Twentieth Century Fox shows Jennifer Lawrence, from left, Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez in a scene from the film “Joy.”
New Releases
THE FIFTH WAVE — Rated PG-13 for violence and destruction, some sci-fi thematic elements, language and brief teen partying. 112 Minutes. See review on Page 6.
DIRTY GRANDPA — Rated R for crude sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, and for language and drug use. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. 102 minutes.
THE BOY – Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, and for some thematic material. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. 97 minutes.
THE DANISH GIRL — Rated R for some sexuality and full nudity. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. 119 minutes.
Continuing Films
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI *** (R) Based on a book about the events at Benghazi, the film adaptation includes all of the goriest details of the attack up close, as well as the bits that have come under such scrutiny since then. The film tells a good story, but the narrative may seem a bit cloudy. Strong combat violence throughout, bloody images and language. 144 minutes. AMC Layton, Syracuse 6, Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP — Rated PG. Alvin, Simon and Theodore take their adventures on the road. 86 minutes. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. Syracuse, Walker 8, Cinepointe 6.
THE BIG SHORT — Rated R for pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. 130 minutes. Megaplex 13, Megaplex 14, Cinepointe 6.
BRIDGE OF SPIES ???(PG-13) A dependable, somewhat by-the-numbers yarn from Spielberg and Hanks that doesn’t disappoint, but doesn’t really soar, either. 142 minutes. MovieGrille, Cinepointe 6, Newgate Tinseltown, Cinemark Farminton.
CONCUSSION ??? (PG-13) Thematic material including some disturbing images and language. Will Smith gives an Oscar-worthy performance as forensic neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu. 123 minutes. AMC Layton, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14.
CREED ???(PG-13) Nostalgia runs deep in this, the 7th installment of the “Rocky” franchise. And if you’re a fan, then this flick is for you. 133 minutes. Megaplex 13, Layton Tinseltown, Megaplex 14.
DADDY’S HOME ??1/2 (PG-13) Verbal sexual references. Casting is perfect, as Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell play up their obvious strengths, and the script benefits from comparing and contrasting their equally obvious weaknesses. 96 minutes. Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
THE FOREST ??1/2 (PG-13) This promising premise based on real-world eeriness with a talented lead deserved a better script and a more satisfying ending. 95 minutes. Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR — (PG) For peril, action and thematic elements. 100 minutes. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown.
GOOSEBUMPS ?1/2 (PG) A bombastic, derivative, poorly written piece of throwaway tripe that insults even the youngest in the audience while not being very funny, very scary or very good. 103 minutes. Cinepointe 6.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT — Rated R for strong bloody violence, a scene of violent sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. Not reviewed by the Standard-Examiner. 168 minutes. Megaplex 13
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 — (PG) For some scary images, action and rude humor. IMDb: Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half-human, half-vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel. 89 minutes. Cinepointe 6, Kaysville.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 ??1/2 (PG-13) Yet another tween franchise finally finishes stretching its source material out an extra movie for no great reason. A finale for the least critical of fans. 137 minutes. Megaplex 13.
IN THE HEART OF THE SEA ??1/2 (PG-13) Dependable filmmaking from director Ron Howard, with some surprises for those familiar with “Moby Dick”; but it also lags in the middle and its ending doesn’t quite satisfy. 121 minutes. Megaplex 14, Cinepointe 6.
JOY ??1/2 (PG-13) The worst part of the movie may be its trailer, which misleads the viewer into strange bait-and-switch once they get to the theater. That, and the scattered first act. 124 minutes. Megaplex 14, Walker 8, Cinepointe 6, Kaysville.
THE MARTIAN ????(PG-13) A sort of “Cast Away” meets “Apollo 13” and certainly a nominee for Best Picture (among other categories), “The Martian”is sci-fi done right. Some strong language, injury images and brief nudity. 141 minutes. Cinepointe 6, MovieGrille, Kaysville.
NORM OF THE NORTH * (PG) Norm’s heart may be in the right place, but the execution is so sub-par, unfunny and unentertaining, he shoulda stayed up north. Mild rude humor and action. 86 minutes. See review on Page 5. AMC Layton, Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
PAN ?1/2 (PG) Fantasy action violence, language and some thematic material. “Pan” doesn’t deliver on its own promise. The movie doesn’t so much enhance our understanding of the flying boy as it demonstrates how little thought went into crafting his back story. 111 minutes. Kaysville.
THE PEANUTS MOVIE ???1/2 (G) An adorable visual and aural treat for the whole family with a great soundtrack and a wonderful message. 93 minutes. Cinepointe 6, MovieGrille, Kaysville.
THE REVENANT ??? 1/2 (R) This film is a production based on Michael Punke’s 2003 book, which is an accounting of Hugh Glass’ own story. And what a story — and what a production! Both Iñárritu and DiCaprio pull out all the stops on this one. Strong frontier combat and violence including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity. 156 minutes. AMC Layton, Syracuse 6, Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
RIDE ALONG 2 *-1/2 (PG-13) The plot is paint by numbers, which puts pressure on the comedy to deliver. But it doesn’t. Sequences of violence, sexual content, language and some drug material. 101 minutes. AMC Layton, Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
SISTERS ?? 1/2 (R) Female raunch on display as two powerhouse comediennes slum it in a lowbrow vehicle for themselves and their SNL alumni. It’s funny, but it’s also a bit of a shame. 118 minutes. Megaplex 13, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS — Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. “The Force Awakens” is a credit to the “Star Wars” franchise, and a very promising suggestion of what’s to come next a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” according to the Washington Post. 135 minutes. AMC Layton, Syracuse 6, Megaplex 13, Cinemark Farmington, Layton Tinseltown, Newgate Tinseltown, Megaplex 14, Walker 8, North Ogden 6.
These are the movies playing at local discount theaters:
• CinePointe 6: “Joy,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” “The Big Short,” “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Krampus,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Goosebumps,” “Hotel Transylvania 2,” “The Intern,” “The Martian,” “Spectre,” “The Peanuts Movie.”
• Kaysville: “Pan,” “Hotel Transylvania 2,” “The Martian,” “The Peanuts Movie,” “Spectre,” “Bridge of Spies.”
• MovieGrille: “Spectre,” “Peanuts,” “The Martian,” “The Intern,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Joy.”