THE GRUDGE 2 — * 1/2 — There are a couple of good startling moments here and there. Running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (violence, adult themes) —Christy Lemire, Associated Press

THE GUARDIAN — ** — This rescue drama's lengthy running time works against it. Running time: 136 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, vulgarity)

HAPPY FEET — ** 1/2 — The animation is handsome but this musical-comedy gets in trouble when it tries to send a message. Running time: 97 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity)

THE HOLIDAY — ** — This romantic comedy has an almost terminal case of the cutes. Running time: 132 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, violence, brief drugs)

THE ILLUSIONIST — ** — This shallow, vapid romantic drama isn't as important as it strives to be. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity)

MARIE ANTOINETTE — ** — Filmmaker Sofia Coppola's biographical drama starring Kirsten Dunst is superficial and tacky. Running time: 123 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, partial nudity, violence, brief sex, brief drugs)

THE MARINE — * 1/2 — This action-thriller is a love story but it's hard to hear the heart beating through the explosions. Running time: 93 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity)

MEL GIBSON'S APOCALYPTO — *** — This blood-soaked historical epic is also a rousing human drama. Mayan with subtitles, running time: 138 minutes, R (violence, gore, nudity, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief drugs)

THE NATIVITY STORY— ** 1/2 — A competent but only sporadically interesting biblical tale. Running time: 101 minutes, PG (violence)

OPEN SEASON — ** 1/2 — It's watchable but this animated comedy is also a bit crude. Running time: 90 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs, mild profanity)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST — *** — An improvement over the first "Pirates" movie in the story department. Running time: 151 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, brief gore, profanity, brief drugs, torture)