Showing at local theaters

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG — Drama based on the best-selling novel, with Ben Kingsley as the patriarch of an Iranian family who becomes involved in a bitter battle over a house with its previous owner (Jennifer Connelly). Reviewed in this section. R (profanity, violence, gore, sex, drugs, brief partial nudity). (Megaplex 12, Megaplex 17.)

STOKED: THE RISE AND FALL OF GATOR — Documentary on Mark "Gator" Rogowski, a former professional skateboarder who is now serving time in prison for murder, with Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero. Reviewed in this section. R (vulgarity, nudity, profanity, violence). (Tower.)

21 GRAMS — This ensemble drama follows three people (Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro) whose lives are effected by fate, in the form of a fatal car wreck. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Amores Perros"). Reviewed in this section. R (violence, profanity, gore, nudity, brief sex, brief drugs, vulgarity). (Madstone.)

NEW FILMS THURSDAY

CALENDAR GIRLS — Based on a true story, this comedy stars Helen Mirren and Julie Walters as two of the title characters, a group of older British women who posed nude to raise funds for leukemia research. To be reviewed when it opens next week. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, nudity, drugs).

MIDNIGHT MOVIE

THE PRINCESS BRIDE — **** — Director Rob Reiner's low-key film of author William Goldman's tongue-in-cheek romantic fantasy is a delight, with solid performances from Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin and the late Andre the Giant. Running time: 98 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, profanity). (Tower, tonight and Saturday.)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

ADRENALINE RUSH: THE SCIENCE OF RISK — ** 1/2 — This adventure can't make up its mind between being a documentary or an "extreme-sports" travelog as sky diver Adrian Nicholas puts to a real-life test Leonardo da Vinci's 500-year-old sketch for a parachute. Large-screen format. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). (Megaplex 17.) (April 22, 2003) — Ivan M. Lincoln

BEAVERS — *** 1/2 — Cleverly tagged "the biggest dam movie ever made," this large-screen documentary is timed to be just long enough for most youngsters' brief attention spans. Large-screen format. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). (Clark Planetarium IMAX Theater.) (May 23, 2003) — Ivan M. Lincoln