At the theaters 9/29/06

NEW AT THEATERS

'The Guardian'

Starring Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Clancy Brown, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller and Travis Willingham. Ben Randall is a maverick teacher who trains rescue swimmers for the Coast Guard. Randall shows the talented Jake Fischer how to become a member of his team, only for danger to loom large when the men set off on a trip to Alaska. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action/peril, brief strong language and some sensuality, running time 135 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

Open Season'

Starring the voices of Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Jon Favreau and Debra Messing. A domesticated grizzly bear named Boog meets a deer named Elliot in the woods during hunting season, and the two try to find their way out of the forest while avoiding the hunters. Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language, running time 86 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'School for Scoundrels'

Starring Jon Heder, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jacinda Barrett, David Cross and Sarah Silverman. A shy young man enrolls in a course on how to succeed with women. Unfortunately, his sleazy teacher has designs on the woman of the hero's dreams. Rated PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence, running time 100 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

STILL PLAYING

'All the King's Men'

Starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Patricia Clarkson, Kate Winslet, Kathy Baker and Talia Balsam. Louisiana governor Willie Stark wins his office by appealing to the common man, and playing a little dirty politics. But as he gains more and more power, Stark slowly becomes corrupted by the system he sought to change. Rated PG-13 for an intense sequence of violence, sexual content and partial nudity, running time 120 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Barnyard: The Original Party Animals'

Starring the voices of Kevin James, Courteney Cox, John Di Maggio and Danny Glover. A carefree cow, Otis, likes to play tricks on the humans who work at his farm. But his father, Ben, and an old mule, Miles, think Otis needs to be more discreet about the fact that the animals at the farm have humanlike intelligence. When Otis suddenly finds himself in a position of responsibility around the barnyard, he must somehow find the courage to be a leader. Rated PG for some mild peril and rude humor, running time 90 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'The Black Dahlia'

Starring Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart and Mia Kirshner. In 1940s Los Angeles, two cops, Bucky Bleichert and his partner, Lee Blanchard, investigate the death of Elizabeth Short, a young woman found brutally murdered. Bucky soon realizes that Lee's significant other, Kay, had ties to the deceased, and soon after that, he begins uncovering corruption and conspiracy within the police department. Rated R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and language, running time 121 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'The Covenant'

Starring Steven Strait, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway and Chace Crawford. A long time ago five families settled and formed the Ipswich Colony in Massachusetts. In the present day, four students at the elite Spenser Academy are bound by their sacred ancestry. As descendants of the original families, the boys have all been born with special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered, secrets begin to unravel and their identities may be revealed. Rated R for violence, disturbing images and some sexuality, running time 97 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Flyboys'

Starring James Franco, Jean Reno, Martin Henderson and Ian Rose. This war drama follows the Lafayette Escadrille, an elite squad of American fighter pilots who volunteered for the French military during World War I. Rated PG-13 for war action violence and some sexual content, running time 139 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Everyone's Hero'

Starring the voices of Jake Austin, Raven-Symone, Brian Dennehy, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, Mandy Patinkin, Rob Reiner and Joe Torre. A young boy teams up with a sassy girl for a cross-country quest to help the New York Yankees win the 1932 world series. Rated G, running time 88 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'Gridiron Gang'

Starring The Rock, Xzibit, Vanessa Ferlito, L. Scott Caldwell, Leon Rippy and Kevin Dunn. Juvey detention camp officer Sean Porter and his friend Malcolm Moore turn a group of teen felons into a football team in four weeks. Confronted with gang rivalries between his teammates, Porter teaches the former thugs self-respect and responsibility. Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language, running time 127 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'How to Eat Fried Worms'

Starring Timothy Patrick Cavanaugh, Kimberly Williams and Clint Howard. Eleven-year-old Billy inadvertently challenges the school bully on his first day at a new school. In order to save face, Billy agrees to a bet to eat 10 worms in one day. Rated PG for mild bullying and some crude humor, running time 99 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'The Illusionist'

Starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti and Rufus Sewell. Eisenheim is a stage magician who amazes the audiences of turn-of-the-century Vienna, drawing the attention of Crown Prince Leopold. When the Prince's intended, Sophie von Teschen, assists the magician onstage, Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other from their childhoods -- and a dormant love affair is rekindled. As the clandestine romance continues, Chief Inspector Uhl is charged by Leopold to expose Eisenheim, and Eisenheim prepares to execute his greatest illusion yet. Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence, running time 109 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Invincible'

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Elizabeth Banks and Greg Kinnear. When the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles hosts an unprecedented open tryout, everyone thinks it'll be a waste of time. Everyone except for Vince Papale, a down-on-his-luck, 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender who never even played college football. Rated PG for sports action and some mild language, running time 99 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Jackass Number 2'

Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy and Ryan Dunn. In the sequel to their surprise 2002 hit, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O and Bam Margera put their health and dignity on the line in another round of potentially body-mangling antics. Rated R for extremely crude and dangerous stunts throughout, sexual content, nudity and language, running time 95 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Jet Li's Fearless'

Starring Jet Li and Anthony De Longis. Jet Li stars in this biopic as Chinese martial arts legend, Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Jin Wu Sports Federation and rose to become the top fighter in early 20th-century China. Rated MPAA Rating PG-13 for violence and martial arts action throughout, running time 103 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'

Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Bill Nighy. Captain Jack owes a blood debt to the legendary Davy Jones, captain of the dreaded Flying Dutchman. He threatens to curse Jack to an afterlife of eternal servitude and damnation if he can't settle up. Soon-to-be-married Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann join Jack on a quest to find the Dead Man's Chest. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure, violence, including frightening images, running time 151 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Step Up'

Starring Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan and Rachel Griffiths. Tyler Gage wants to escape his Baltimore neighborhood. Nora is a ballet dancer from the preppy Maryland School of the Arts. She's got everything in the world -- except a dance partner for her senior showcase. When Tyler's assigned to do community service at the school, sparks fly between them. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, brief violence and innuendo, running time 103 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby'

Starring Will Ferrell, Sacha Baron Cohen, John C. Reilly, Amy Adams, Gary Cole and Elvis Costello. NASCAR stud Ricky Bobby is a national hero and the best driver in the biz. His racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr., makes for a great teammate. But when a French Formula One driver challenges the duo for racing supremacy, it's a battle the likes of which the sporting world has never seen. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence, running time 108 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)

-- From staff reports