Forbidden Planet

Opening:

THE ATTACK—From Lebanon, a drama about a respected Arab doctor assimilated in Israeli society whose wife dies in a suicide bombing. Starring Ali Suliman and Evgenia Dodena. Directed by Ziad Doueiri (West Beirut). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

DESPICABLE ME 2—Sequel to the animated hit featuring the original cast and creators. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud Delevan Drive In, Flix, Hamburg Palace, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

KEVIN HART: LET ME EXPLAIN—Comedy performance film that for some reason required two directors, Leslie Small and Tim Story. Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE LONE RANGER—This reboot of the 1950s radio character is reportedly the most expensive film of the summer. Someone is really banking on the world’s interest in seeing Johnny Depp as a Native American. With Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson and Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean). Reviewed this issue. Aurora, Delevan Drive In, Flix, Market Arcade, New Angola, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN—Salman Rushdie wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his novel following the lives of two children born on the day of India’s partition. Starring Satya Bhabha, Shahana Goswami and Rajat Kapoo. Directed by Deepa Mehta (the Fire/Earth/Water trilogy). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

EQUILIBRIUM (2002)—Sci-fi set in a post-WWIII world where emotions have been chemically exterminated and special hunters stalk those who don’t take their pills. With Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Angus MacFadyen, Sean Bean, William Fichtner. Directed by Kurt Wimmer (Ultraviolet). The Screening Room

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) and THE GOONIES (1985)—Family-friendly sci-fi a la Steven Spielberg in this week’s retro double feature. Transit Drive-In

FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)—Sci-fi classic loosely adapted from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, starring Leslie Nielson, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon and Robbie the Robot. The Screening Room

GREASE (1978)—The 1950s as they were re-imagined in the 1970s. Starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and cameos from a host of classic film faces including Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Joan Blondell, and Eddie Deezen. Directed by Randal Kleiser (Summer Lovers). Screening Room

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)—The one Hollywood musical that everyone likes, even people who hate musicals. A story parodying the movies’ transition from silents to sound is the backdrop for some still astonishing dance numbers featuring Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor (whose “Make ‘Em Laugh” sequence remains one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see.) With Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno and Cyd Charisse. Riviera