Mini reviews

For an online film guide, see augustachronicle.com/movies:

THIS WEEK

THE BLIND SIDE (PG-13): Homeless teen (Quinton Aaron) is taken in by a wealthy couple (Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw) as part of a college-football recruitment program. Augusta Exchange, Aiken, Evans

PLANET 51 (PG-13): Little green people of a faraway planet fear they're about to be invaded when an astronaut from Earth (Dwayne Johnson) makes landfall. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE (R): A New York City teenager living in 1980s Harlem is raped by her father and abused by her mother. Augusta Exchange

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (PG-13): After vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) leaves, Bella (Kristen Stewart) finds comfort in the arms of a werewolf (Taylor Lautner). Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

ONGOING

2012 (PG-13): It's the end of the world as we know it. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG): Animated version of holiday classic. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

ALL ABOUT STEVE (PG-13): Sandra Bullock goes on a blind date with Bradley Cooper and decides he's The One. Masters

THE BOX (PG-13): Married couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) are given a wooden box. Push its button, and you become instantly wealthy ... but someone, somewhere, drops dead. Would you do it? Evans, ends today at Aiken, Augusta Exchange

COUPLES RETREAT (PG-13): Evans, ends today at Aiken, Augusta Exchange

THE FINAL DESTINATION (R): Nubile adolescents meet their gory end in 3-D. Masters

THE FOURTH KIND (PG-13): Creepy encounters with the paranormal. Evans, ends today at Aiken, Augusta Exchange

HALLOWEEN II (R): Masters

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS ( *, R): Intentionally dumb and violent shoot-'em up from Quentin Tarantino. Masters

THE INVENTION OF LYING (PG-13): Ricky Gervais develops the ability to lie. Masters

JULIE & JULIA ( ****, PG-13): Meryl Streep stars as Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powers. Begins Friday at Masters

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN ( *, R): A father whose family is murdered takes revenge. Augusta Exchange, Evans

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS (R): Evans, Augusta Exchange, Aiken

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (R): A young couple discovers suburbia isn't a safe haven from demons. Augusta Exchange, Aiken, ends today at Evans

PIRATE RADIO (R): Wacky misfit DJs broadcast rock to mainland England in the 1960s. Augusta Exchange

SHORTS ( ***, PG): Robert Rodriguez channels his inner 11-year-old. Masters

THIS IS IT (PG): Big-screen Michael Jackson tribute. Augusta Exchange, ends today at Aiken, Evans

TYLER PERRY'S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF ( **, PG-13): Madea (Tyler Perry) entrusts young delinquents to their aunt (Taraji P. Henson). Begins Friday at Masters

ENDING TODAY

ASTRO BOY ( **, PG): Adventures of a robot (voiced by Freddie Highmore) and his creator (Nicolas Cage). Augusta Exchange, Evans

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS ( ****, PG): Animated tale about a town where food rains from the sky. Augusta Exchange

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA ( **, PG-13): An elite military squad fights the evil COBRA. Masters

THE HURT LOCKER ( ****, R): An explosive ordnance disposal squad deals with tour of duty in Baghdad. Masters

THE INFORMANT! ( *** , R): A corporate whistleblower (Matt Damon) works with the FBI. Masters

SAW VI (R): Not to be confused with Saw V or Saw IV. Augusta Exchange

STEPFATHER (PG-13): Mom marries a psycho. Augusta Exchange, Evans

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (PG): A boy is adopted by monsters. Augusta Exchange, Evans

ZOMBIELAND (R): Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg battle zombies. Evans, Augusta Exchange