OPENING TODAY
The Second Best Marigold Hotel
Directed by John Madden; stars Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Richard Gere, Dev Patel
Marigold Hotel (situated in the first movie in the village of Khempur, just outside Udaipur in Rajasthan, India) builds a second hotel in nearby Jaipur. Washington Post’s Ann Hornaday: “Pat and patronizing … but also a rare, optimistic portrait of aging.” USA Today’s Claudia Puig describes it as a “mildly diverting trifle.”
The Gunman
Directed by Pierre Morel; stars Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Alba, Ray Winstone
Reformed assassin returns to Africa, seeking redemption. Variety’s Guy Lodge dismisses it: “Rote, humorless thriller, distinctly unconvincing.” Screen International’s Fionnula Halligan: “Leisurely, unfocused, indulgent.”
Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn
Directed by Song Yuefeng; with the voices of Xu Jiao, Tian Jing
Youthful warrior embarks on a journey to vanquish evil dragon. Fydn.tumbler.com: “[It] plays safe and bets on a simple, familiar premise.” IMDb.com: “[It] proves [mainland China] can make [good] animation movies now.”
Ouija Resurrection: Ouija Experiment
Directed by Israel Luna; stars Justin Armstrong, Nicole Holt
Malevolent spirits terrorize moviegoers at a horror film fest. Culturecrypt.com: “Slapped together sloppily.” Horrornews.net: “An acceptable waste of 86 minutes.”
From Vegas to Macau
Directed by Jing Wong; stars Chow Yun-Fat, Nicholas Tse
Family of gamblers cheats at cards to help cancer patient. Playback.stl.com’s
Sarah Boslaugh: “Plot is completely nuts. But it moves quickly.” Sbs.com.au’s Simon Foster: “Hit-and-miss hybrid … broad shtick.”
Insurgent
Directed by Robert Schwentke; stars Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Ansel Elgort, Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts
Young dissidents flee from power-hungry despot. The Hollywood Reporter’s Sheri Linden: “A more cohesive and involving [sequel to ‘Divergent’]. Forbes’ Scott Mendelson concurs: “More propulsive but turns Woodley into a passive observer.”