An engaging, sympathetic portrait of junior high girls who have grown up too fast and way too little. Without being preachy, it's also a cogent, terrifying tale of the lack of supervision many teens face and the utter inability of many parents to not only raise kids but also to direct their own lives.

Ultimately, the film is as numbingly boring as, well, a lengthy train ride during which there's nothing to do but look out the window.

A perky comedy aimed at young women that gets the job done with crisp efficiency.

The cheap and cheerful picture has its humorous moments thanks to Steven P. Baer's broad but buoyant script and a supporting cast of character actors who know how to hit a good line home.

Witless, excessive and ultimately boring gore-a-thon.

It's an extraordinary film.

In spite of its portentousness, the film does engage one.

What the problem comes down to is a group of filmmakers making misguided choices in an effort to broaden the movie's demographics beyond those who attend X Games.

Utterly charming and not without those subtle insights into character and culture that mark their (Merchant Ivory) best films.

Original and thrilling martial-arts choreography, a lean, hard-driving story and solemn atmosphere make The Princess Blade -- a futuristic tale -- stand way above the pack.

Not only set the high standards for surfing documentaries but brought the sport much greater respect and interest from around the globe.

Noisy, standard-issue cop actioner.

The new "Freaky" plays the obvious gags in ways both surprising and imaginative.

Meant to be purposefully banal. Unfortunately, there's a thin line between purposefully banal and simply banal, and Ben Coccio's debut feature too often crosses it.

Style takes precedence over content in this fourth installment of Strand Releasing's popular series of gay-themed short-film compilations.

The familiar formula feels significantly watered-down the third time around.

The film lacks a controlling point of view to guide an audience through so improbable a tale. Nothing in the movie is funny -- aside from giggles provoked by misfired jokes -- or romantic or dramatic.

This 3-D Imax film puts you at eye level with awesome creatures that look like alien beasts from deep space.

Enough goodwill has been built up in the early sections that most viewers will not take offense when the movie abandons its plot and characters.

Actors dominate with finely nuanced performances where every scene feels dramatically right.

Bears a wealth of imaginative riches and a signature mix of outre personalities and gadgets.

A fresh, young energetic cast is this wobbly musical comedy's main claim to "Fame."

Achieves a rare depth and intimacy in its portrait of dreams fulfilled and shattered.

However masterful, the first-rate stunt work, effects, action cinematography and cutting (by no less than three editors) lose impact through sheer repetition.

The performances by the highly attractive cast are terrific all around, and the directors have well managed to convey the literally and metaphorically sultry aspects of a hot summer day.

Nothing anchors the lighter-than-air story as it drifts away under the direction of Stephen Norrington ("Blade") into an FX stratosphere where wit, character and vigorous storytelling cease to matter.

An intensely realized, beautifully shot drama.

The large cast, costumed and made up as filthy scalawags and sinister buccaneers, gives tremendous energy to every scene.