Movies This Week: November 21-28, 2012

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Last Call at the Oasis

Don't want to deal with cooking or washing dishes on Thanksgiving, or just need a break from the family for a few hours? Stop by any of the Austin Alamo Drafthouse locations for a movie accompanied by a traditional turkey dinner -- my mother never made green bean casserole and my mouth waters imagining Alamo's version of sweet potato casserole. Just select the "Turkey Dinner" option when purchasing any ticket for Thursday, November 22.

UT fans can also secure a seat at Alamo Lake Creek's broadcast of the UT-TCU game by purchasing a $5 food and beverage voucher or the turkey dinner option. Make note of the revised age policy for the game as stated on their web page --  "Children age 3 and over will be allowed at all screenings of this show. No infants however, and families with loud children will be asked to leave."

As part of the newly launched "Beautiful World Series" covering current and important global topics, the Paramount Theatre and The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation present Last Call at the Oasis (pictured at top) on Wednesday, November 28. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a pre-show lobby event that includes a wine tasting, local farmer booth, Texas Rainwater Catchment Association and Austin Eco Network information. The film, which focuses on the global water crisis, begins at 7:30 pm and is followed by a post-film panel with author Robert Glennon (Unquenchable), Andy Sansom from the Texas Water Institute, Laura Huffman from The Nature Conservancy of Texas, and Marilu Hastings of The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.

Movies We've Seen

Red Dawn -- This re-imagining of the 1984 classic "better dead than red" film features an invasion of North Korean soldiers instead of Soviet forces. Although the modernization succeeds, the acting and direction of the young cast isn't enough to create excitement for The Wolverines -- too bad Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Brett Cullen couldn't save the day in their brief appearances in this version. Rod says in his review, "The 2012 version of Red Dawn is a hollow remake that completely misses the allegorical nature of its ancestor." (wide)

Life of Pi -- Academy award-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) brings to life the fantasy adventure story of an Indian boy on both his journeys through spirituality and in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days on a boat with a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck. Full of humor and color as well as tragedy, the film could have been fine on its own without 3D effects best left to Lee's Taking Woodstock -- with the exception of the flying fish. Jette says, "I appreciate it's a well made movie, but without liking it very much." Look for her review in the next day or two. (wide)

Rise of the Guardians -- William Joyce's book series The Guardians of Childhood tells of the origins of childhood icons including the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. This 3D Dreamworks fantasy adventure pits the immortal Guardians against the evil spirit Pitch (Jude Law) who plots to take over the world. Mike says, "Spectacular animation, an original story, and all-star voice talents make this week's Rise of the Guardians a fun holiday characters-as-superheroes romp that children will love even as critics pan it." Look for his review in the next day or two. (wide)