At the movies

THEATERS, RATINGS

Movies are listed with theater locations through Wednesday. Reviews without star ratings are from critics other than Roger Ebert. Listings are subject to change. Call theaters for times. For an online movie guide, see augusta.com/movies.

COMING FRIDAY

FARENHEIT 9/11 (HHH, R) In a frankly partisan documentary, Michael Moore concludes that George W. Bush is incompetent, dishonest, failing in the war on terrorism and has bad taste in friends. The film is sometimes angry, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and shows Mr. Moore a little more subdued than in the past. Augusta Exchange

SPIDER-MAN 2 (HHHH, PG-13) A superhero movie for people who don't go to superhero movies - and for those who do, it's the one they've been yearning for. Much better than the first Spider-Man, a full-bodied movie that gives weight both to the action scenes and to the human stories behind them. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst bring real poignancy to Peter Parker's troubled love for Mary Jane, and Alfred Molina is superb as Doc Ock, the scientist who becomes a victim of his own invention. Director Sam Raimi finds the right balance between dialogue and action, and co-writer Michael Chabon brings a deep understanding of how superhero stories work, and why. The best superhero movie since the original Superman. Augusta Exchange, Aiken and Evans, begins Friday at Big Mo

ONGOING

50 FIRST DATES (HHH, PG-13) A kinder and gentler Adam Sandler, playing a marine biologist in Hawaii who falls in love with a girl (Drew Barrymore) who has short-term memory loss. Augusta Village

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (HHH, PG) Against all probability, a jolly comedy made from Jules Verne's wheezy high concept. Steve Coogan plays Phileas Fogg, who makes a bet and recruits a daring valet (Jackie Chan) to help him. The valet has a secret motive for coming along, and they're joined by the sexy Cecile De France, a giant red devil with horns and a tail who fights for mankind against the Nazi-spawned monsters of hell. Augusta Village, ends today at Masters

HIDALGO (HHH, PG-13) Rousing adventure story about a man (Viggo Mortensen) and his horse. Ends today at Augusta Village and Mastershome on the range (pg) Masters, ends today at Augusta Village

JERSEY GIRL (HHH, PG-13) After he loses his wife and his job in quick succession, Ben Affleck moves back to New Jersey to live with his father (George Carlin) and his young daughter (Raquel Castro). Ends today at Augusta Village

JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION (HH, PG-13) Cedric the Entertainer hits the road with his family to attend the annual family reunion, in a genial but unfocused comedy that doesn't make much use of his sharp edges. Augusta Village and Masters

KILL BILL VOLUME 2 (R) Quentin Tarantino's tale of revenge and swordplay continues. Begins Friday at Masters

NEW YORK MINUTE (H, PG) Designed as a vehicle to edge the Olsen twins into adolescence, but without any other appreciable qualities except their tireless cheerfulness. Mary-Kate plays a sloppy truant, and Ashley is a goody two-shoes. Ends today at Augusta Village and Masters

RAISING HELEN (HH, PG-13) Kate Hudson unexpectedly inherits her sister's two small children, loses her high-powered job at a Manhattan modeling agency, and has to move to Queens and work as a receptionist on a used-car lot. Ends today at Augusta Exchange saved! (HHH, PG-13) A daring satire that takes on Christian fundamentalists and argues for a more tolerant Christianity. Mandy Moore is the leading Jesus booster at a Christian high school; Jena Malone, her close friend, becomes an outsider after getting pregnant. But she got pregnant to save her boyfriend from being gay, or so she thought. Ends today at Augusta Exchange

SCOOBY-DOO 2 (PG) Second edition of live-action version of cartoon favorite. Augusta Village and Masters

SECRET WINDOW: (HHH, PG-13) Johnny Depp in another one of those performances of amusing eccentricity, as a thriller writer who is living alone in a cabin in the woods after splitting with his wife (Maria Bello). A gaunt, threatening stranger (John Turturro) accuses him of stealing one of his stories. Augusta VillageSHREK 2 (HHH, PG) Shrek and Fiona go to meet her parents, who would rather see their daughter with Prince Charming. Eddie Murphy steals scenes as the voice of Donkey, Mike Myers is Shrek, and John Cleese and Julie Andrews play the parents of Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Aiken and Evans, Augusta Exchange

SOUL PLANE (R) Snoop Dogg stars as the questionable Capt. Mack, who learned how to fly by taking lessons on a flight simulator while in prison. Ends today at Augusta Exchange, begins Friday at Masters

STARSKY & HUTCH (HHH, PG-13) Often-inspired retread of the 1970s TV series, with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the title roles. Ends today at Augusta VillageTHE ALAMO (HHH, PG-13) A surprisingly good combination of story and history; it's not all corny speeches and rousing action, but captures the dread as the defenders wait two weeks for what they expect will be certain death. Billy Bob Thornton gives one of his best performances as Davy Crockett, abashed by the legends that have grown up about him; Jason Patric evokes the dying James Bowie; Patrick Wilson is the uptight but courageous Col. Travis; and Dennis Quaid, as Sam Houston, prefers strategy to showboating. Begins Friday, Masters and Augusta Villagethe chronicles of riddick (pg-13) Vin Diesel re-creates his Pitch Black role, in which his ability to see in the dark proves useful for 26th-century galactic warfare. Dame Judi Dench calls some of the shots. Augusta Exchange and Aiken, ends today at Evans

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (HHH, PG-13) Sudden global warming floods Manhattan and then freezes it, along with most of the Northern Hemisphere, as billions die but the movie's characters survive and occupy preposterous subplots. With Dennis Quaid as a scientist, Jake Gyllenhaal as his son, Sela Ward as his wife and Ian Holm as a wise, sad meteorologist. Augusta Exchange and Evans, ends today at Aiken

THE LADYKILLERS (HH, R) Tom Hanks stars in a remake of the classic 1955 British comedy that starred Alec Guinness as a "musician" who rents a room from a sweet little old lady and uses it as the base for a criminal scheme involving four associates. Irma P. Hall plays the little old lady this time, in the film's only completely successful role; she's a churchgoing Baptist who innocently thwarts their plans. Augusta Village, ends today at Masters

THE PUNISHER (HH, R) A long, dark slog through grim revenge. Unlike most movies based on comic book heroes, it doesn't contain the glimmer of a smile, and its hero is a depressed alcoholic. Augusta Village and Masters

THE NOTEBOOK (HHH, PG-13) Cuts between the same couple at two seasons in their lives. We see them in the urgency of young romance, and then we see them as old people, she disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer's, he steadfast in his love. As old people they're played by Gena Rowlands and James Garner; as young people, by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. Augusta Exchange, Aiken and Evansthe stepford wives (PG-13) Update of the 1975 cult favorite features Nicole Kidman as an executive who suspects the worst of her picture-perfect community. The impressive cast includes Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Faith Hill, Christopher Walken, Jon Lovitz and Glenn Close. Augusta Exchange and Evans

THE TERMINAL (HHH, PG-13) A sweet and delicate comedy, so precisely devised you hold your breath. Tom Hanks stars as a man whose country has ceased to exist; he has no passport or visa, cannot go forward or back, and is told by a customs official (Stanley Tucci) he can stay in an airport arrivals lounge. When it seems he plans to live there indefinitely, the customs official tries to dislodge him. Meanwhile, his life intersects with a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a janitor (Kumar Pallana) and many others. Augusta Exchange, Aiken and Evans

TWO BROTHERS (HH, PG) Follows the adventures of two tiger cubs in Indochina, circa 1920, as they are captured by men, threatened with death, and struggle to regain their freedom. Augusta Exchange and EvansVAN HELSING (PG-13) Hugh Jackman stars as the monster-hunting Dr. Van Helsing, in pursuit of Dracula and the Wolfman. Augusta Village and Masters

WALKING TALL (HH, PG-13) The Rock stars in a remake of the 1973 hit inspired by Sheriff Buford Pusser and his big oak club. In the modern version, the town mill has shut down, a casino has opened and The Rock's enemy from high school (Neal McDonough) is selling drugs to children. Augusta Village

WHITE CHICKS (H, PG-13) Marlon and Shawn Wayans play brothers who are FBI agents assigned to protect high-society bimbos who seem to be the target of a kidnapping scheme. Desperately unfunny, dreary and conventional. Augusta Exchange, Aiken and Evans, begins Friday at Big Mo