Deseret News | On the screen

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On the screen

Movie reviews by Jeff Vice

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 3:29 p.m. MST

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SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3-D — ** 1/2 — This digitally animated IMAX comedy is an expanded version of a 1997 TV short with Jonathan Winters as the voice of Santa Claus. Running time: 35 minutes, not rated, probable G (animated violence) —Ivan M. Lincoln

SHARKS 3-D — ** 1/2 — This documentary doesn't offer much depth. Running time: 40 minutes, G (animal violence) —Jim Carnes, Sacramento Bee

WILD SAFARI 3-D A SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE — *** — This cinematic safari's simple pleasures will be best experienced by the littlest ticket-holders. Running time: 45 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) —Ned Martel, New York Times News Service

CONTINUING FILMS

ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER — ** — As a publishing phenomenon, the "teenage 007" concept works, but onscreen it's pretty dull. Running time: 93 minutes, PG (violence) —Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post

Story continues below

ALL THE KING'S MEN — ** — This sluggish remake of the 1950 best-picture Oscar winner wastes a first-rate cast and material. Jude Law and Sean Penn star. Running time: 128 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, racial epithets, brief gore, partial nudity)

BABEL — ** 1/2 — This ambitious, if overlong, dramatic thriller does feature strong performances. Brad Pitt stars. With subtitles, running time: 142 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, vulgarity, drugs, sex, gore, torture)

BARNYARD — ** — Another quick-and-dirty all-star-cast (led by Sam Elliott and Kevin James) animated feature churned out by digital start-ups hired to steal some of Pixar's cash. Running time: 83 minutes, PG (vulgarity) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

BOBBY — ** — There's not much subtlety to be found in this fictionalized historical drama. Worse, there's not much interesting going on, either. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 111 minutes, R (profanity, drugs, violence, brief gore, racial epithets, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex)