Playing at local movie theaters

NEW FILMS FRIDAY

AMERICAN PASTIME — *** — The historical elements make this locally filmed sports drama worthwhile. With subtitles. Running time: 107 minutes, PG (violence, profanity, racial epithets, vulgarity)

AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATERS — * — Characters blurting out random, profane and doltish witticisms in front of generic animated backdrops do not a movie make. Running time: 80 minutes, R (vulgarity, violence, sex, profanity) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

DISTURBIA — ** 1/2 — This "Rear Window" wannabe starring Shia LaBeouf is two-thirds of a good movie. Running time: 104 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, brief sex, brief partial nudity, brief drugs)

FIRST SNOW — ** 1/2 — The most watchable aspect of this thriller is Australian actor Guy Pearce, playing a remorseless slimeball. Running time: 101 minutes, R (profanity, violence, sex, vulgarity, brief drugs, brief gore)

THE HAUNTING OF MARSTEN MANOR — * 1/2 — The scariest thing about this locally produced feature is that it features no scares at all. Running time: 80 minutes, PG (violent imagery, brief gore)

OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE — *** — The stories in this war documentary — there are nearly a dozen — are pretty interesting. Running time: 81 minutes, not rated, probable PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, racial epithets)

PATHFINDER — ** 1/2 — A regular "Conan the Barbarian" meets "The Last of the Mohicans." Running time: 96 minutes, R (violence, gore) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

PERFECT STRANGER — * 1/2 — This straight-faced thriller starring Halle Berry is unintentionally funny. Running time: 110 minutes, R (profanity, sex, violence, drugs, nudity, vulgarity, brief gore)

REDLINE — An automotive/action thriller starring Eddie Griffin and others. To be reviewed next week, running time: 95 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity, drugs)

SLOW BURN — Ray Liotta and LL Cool J star in this revenge-thriller. To be reviewed next week, running time: 93 minutes, R (sex, violence, profanity)

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY — *** 1/2 — One of few movies that doesn't glorify violence, this British thriller makes war look ugly. Running time: 127 minutes, R (violence, profanity, torture, vulgarity, brief sex, gore)

MIDNIGHT MOVIE

OLDBOY — ** 1/2 — Parts of this 2003 revenge-thriller are luridly enthralling. Korean with subtitles, running time: 119 minutes, not rated, probable R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, sex, torture, vulgarity, nudity) (Tonight and Saturday: Tower)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS