Click on the movie title where available to read the full review.

Comments followed by the initials C.O. reflect the opinions of Orange County Register film critic Craig Outhier. Unless noted, movies are in wide release in Orange County.

OPENING THIS WEEK

Sex and the City- R - Michael Patrick King's big-screen revival of his groundbreaking HBO series feels like a half-season of the show played back-to-back-to-back-to-back – a prospect that would seem more inviting had he not already jumped the shark by inviting Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her label-obsessed retinue to taste the comedy-numbing fruits of domestic bliss. Grade: C+

The Strangers- R - Like the home invasion nightmare of "Funny Games" chopped-down to its blood-curdling basics, this cat-and-mouse spectacle of a young couple (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) terrorized by mute, mask-wearing assailants features not so much as a whiff of irony. The tension is non-stop. The larger significance: refreshingly insignificant. Grade: B-

Bigger, Stronger, Faster- PG-13 - Wide-angle look at steroids in America, made personal by the filmmaker's personal stake in the issue. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: A-

Bonneville- PG - "Dullsville," more like. Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen play three best buds from Idaho who don Grace Kelly-style head scarves and hit the road for feminine bonding and midlife adventure. Like a Hallmark Theater remake of "Thelma and Louise," with Tom Skerritt as a septuagenarian Brad Pitt. Grade: C-

The Edge of Heaven- not rated - Turkish and German families suffer losses that bring them together in unpredictable, deeply moving ways. Grade: A-

TOP BOX OFFICE

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull- PG-13 - Harrison Ford returns for the fourth Indiana Jones adventure, directed by the sure hands of Steven Spielberg. Though this one shades into sci-fi, it's just about everything you want and expect, and the action sequences are glorious fun. Grade: A-

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian- PG - The sibling foursome from the original "Narnia" return to help a deposed prince (Orlando Bloom-ish newcomer Ben Barnes) restore the kingdom to its former, paranormal glory. Darker and more brooding than the original, this is the rare fantasy sequel that out-performs its predecessor. Grade: B. Click here to read O.C. teen reviews.

Iron Man- PG-13 - Action fans, steel yourself for fun. Robert Downey Jr. gives an uproarious, career-resuscitating performance in Jon Favreau's smash-mouth salute to the armor-clad Marvel superhero. Grade: A-

What Happens in Vegas- PG-13 - Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz play mismatched New Yorkers who strike it rich after a drunken matrimonial whirlwind in Vegas, and by the end of this slobbering, emotionally-incoherent rom-com bender, one wishes they had stayed there. Grade: D

Speed Racer- PG - Eye-popping colors and motion mark this remake of the TV anime series as a technological breakthrough, if not an entirely successful family race-car fantasy. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Made of Honor- PG-13 - Bad pun, insufferable movie. "Gray's Anatomy" dreamboat Patrick Dempsey is neither funny nor relatable as a swinging bachelor playboy who simultaneously tries to scuttle the impending marriage of his best gal-pal (Michelle Monaghan) while faithfully executing his duties as her maid of honor. Grade: D

Baby Mama- PG-13 - Making like a poor man's Diane Keaton, former "SNL" regular Tina Fey plays a reproductively-challenged career gal who hires a low-rent surrogate (Amy Poehler) to make her maternal dreams come true. "Odd Couple"-style situational humor ensues. Grade: B-

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - R - Latest from the Judd Apatow laugh factory goes after the naked truth in relationship breakups. Stars Jason Segel and Kristen Bell. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay- R - Mistaken for terrorists, the eponymous, reefer-fancying duo (John Cho and Kal Penn) embark on another hilariously un-P.C. odyssey across a racially-biased American landscape. Just as funny, more satirically-targeted than the 2004 original. Grade: B

The Visitor- PG-13 - Putting the cart soundly behind the horse, writer-director Thomas McCarthy ("The Station Agent") envisions immigration not as a question of politics, but a fact of American interpersonal necessity. A vigorously heartfelt drama, with a career-defining performance by Richard Jenkins as a lonely widower who champions a would-be deportee (Haaz Sleiman). Grade: A-

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!– G – Despite a solid transmutation of the odd storybook world into digital images, Seuss' rhymes generally give way to loud pratfall nonsense, as the filmmakers stretch a thin, thin story to fit a feature-length movie. (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 26 minutes. Grade: B-

The Forbidden Kingdom- PG-13 - First teaming of Jackie Chan and Jet Li is a delightful, action-packed martial-arts fantasy. Not an original idea in the whole thing, but this gorgeous Hollywood production presents all the sure-fire elements well. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

CONTINUING

21- PG-13 - An MIT math whiz (Jim Sturgess) realizes his  jet-setting fantasies, in this fictionalized, over-long adaptation of  the card counting tell-all "Bringing Down the House." Along the way,  director Robert Luketic forgets what any blackjack neophyte learns the  first time he busts: Sometimes, less is more. Grade: C-

Children of Huang Shi- R - Inspired by a true story, an English journalist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) tries to save a group of orphans in war-torn China. Ploddingly familiar redemption tale. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: C

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer- R - Three generations of Mexican-American women have a simultaneous sexual awakening in this languid, overlong, self-importantly minimalist snooze from writer-director Georgina Riedel. America Ferrera is merely competent in a pre-"Ugly Betty" role. Grade: C-

Jellyfish- not rated - Three slightly interlocking stories about women having problems in Tel Aviv are too depressing for their own good, but they're intermittently witty and always well-shot. In Hebrew with English subtitles, and some English. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B-

Leatherheads- PG-13 - In his follow-up to "Good Night, and Good Luck," star-director George Clooney attempts to trace the beginnings of another American institution – pro football – but ends up with a dull, disordered scramble of pathos and comedy. Clooney plays opposite Renee Zellweger as a 1920s pigskin pioneer. Grade: D+

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day- PG-13 - As a goody-goody British governess who falls into the wildly decadent orbit of a fast-living actress and cabaret singer (Amy Adams), Frances McDormand ("Fargo") makes for a distinctly endearing fairy-tale heroine. An absurdly lovable throwback comedy, full of smarts, romance and Golden Era charm. (C.O.) 1 hour, 32 minutes. Grade: A-

Nim's Island- PG - A 11-year-old (Abigail Breslin) lives on an adventure island and gets a visit from an author (Jodie Foster). At least she's smarter than Gilligan. Starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: C

10,000 BC- PG-13 - Trash-epic showman Roland Emmerich ("Godzilla," "The Day After Tomorrow") misses wildly with this cheap-o prehistoric adventure flick about a tribal messiah (Steven Strait) who battles wooly mammoths, killer ostriches and insane megalomaniac pharaohs. For the director, an extinction-level non-event. (C.O.) Grade: D+

Redbelt- R - Combining noir suspense, Hollywood intrigue and his own, practiced brand of macho mysticism, playwright-director David Mamet delivers a flailing punch that manages, albeit inelegantly, to hit the mark. Grade: B-

Roman de Gare- R - French film doyenne Fanny Ardant ("Ridicule") gives another deliciously sinister performance in this keep-you-guessing meta-thriller about a jet-setting novelist who may or may not have murdered a man claiming to be her ghostwriter (Dominique Pinon). Grade: B

Sangre De Mi Sangre- not rated - A young Mexican tries to find his father in New York. The movie won the 2007 Sundance Film Festiva's Grand Prize when it was called "Padre Nuestro." Superbly acted, gripping character thriller. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Shutter- PG-13- A young photographer (Joshua Jackson) and his wife are haunted by ghostly images during their honeymoon. A classic example of J-horror that doesn't work. (The Orlando Sentinel) Grade: C-

Smart People- R - Director Noam Murro's ode to a family of well-educated misanthropes stops being funny when you realize that his parody of Noah Baumbach's corduroy dramas ("The Squid and the Whale") is wholly unintentional. Dennis Quaid and Ellen Page star. Grade: C-

Son of Rambow- PG-13 - Nicely shot comedy about two mismatched English boys bonding over a homemade action film is a charming salute to goofy kid creativity and goofier '80s pop culture. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Standard Operating Procedure- R - Exhaustive, exquisitely made and totally depressing documentary about the Abu Ghraib atrocities gives the soldiers involved ample chance to present their sides of the story, but Errol Morris' methods leave questions. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Street Kings- R - This police-corruption soap opera – starring Keanu Reeves as a lone-wolf vice detective who tears up the L.A. underworld to find the men who murdered his comrade – is great until director David Ayer ("Harsh Times") experiences a sudden and depressurizing IQ drop. Still, a gritty, gnashing thriller. Grade: B-

Superhero Movie- PG-13 - The latest parody of a movie genre offers little more than bathroom humor and weak send-ups of movies like “Spider-Man,” “The X-Men” and “The Fantastic Four.” The only funny bit is already available on YouTube. Save your cash. (Orlando Sentinel) Grade: D-

Surfwise- R - A documentary about a doctor who gives up his medical career to become an itinerate surfer and takes his family along for a free-spirited yet ultimately selfish ride. Grade: B

Then She Found Me- R- Helen Hunt writes, directs and stars in a rough-edged indie alternative to "Baby Mama." (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

The Spiderwick Chronicles– PG – Despite its sub-current of broken family trust, this adaptation of the popular series of fantasy books – about a household of siblings under siege by a ferocious ogre king (Nick Nolte) and his toad-like minions – isn't particularly moving; the kids get all misty, but we never do. Middle-of-the-road escapism, at best. (C.O.) 1 hour, 29 minutes. Grade: C+

Under the Same Moon– PG-13 – Sweet but disposable, this twinkle-toed tale of togetherness – about a south-of-the-border scamp (Adrian Alonso) who leaves home to join his undocumented migrant mom (Kate del Castillo) in Los Angeles – is about as controversy-proof as any movie about a border-flouting Mexican family could possibly be. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. (C.O.) 1 hour, 49 minutes. Grade: C

Up the Yangtze- not rated - Engrossing documentary about the last days of the "Great River" and the impacts on various displaced individuals. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B

Vantage Point– PG-13 – An assassination attempt on the U.S. President (William   Hurt) is shown from five different perspectives, each more convoluted and   far-fetched than the last. It's "Rashomon" as a Rube Goldberg contraption.   Dennis Quaid and Forest Whitaker star. (C.O.) 1 hour, 30 minutes. Grade: C

Where ... in the World is Osama bin Laden?- PG-13- Director Morgan Spurlock ("Supersize Me") sets off to find Osama bin Laden. This self-centered movie is Exhibit A in why they hate us. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: D

Young @ Heart - PG - Documentary about a senior citizens chorus that sings punk rock and such is predictably cute, but also earns some of its laughs and tears. (L.A. Daily News) Grade: B