STAY

Theater: Fox's Little Theater, Fox Studios, California

The opening makes sure you're awake, and it has some spooky turns throughout, but by using all the signs to let you know it's going to be a mind-trick movie, it falls short with the closing twist. The transitions are amazingly surreal, especially one from an aquariums manatee tank to the outside of a New York apartment, but good looks don't make great movies.

If you pay attention you'll pick up ... not hints, per se, but there are some oddities that a observant, and as the film progresses, anyone, can pick up.

See it if - you like pretty pictures.
Rent it if - you like pretty pictures for a cheaper price.

GOOD NIGHT. AND, GOOD LUCK.

Theater: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, California

Black and white films tend to scream, I'm more important because I'm not in color! But sure enough, recent B&W features have been just that, whether you count the heavy Schindler's List, the quirky Ed Wood, or the shot-on-color-film-then-made-into-black-and-white The Man Who Wasn't There.

Where does Good Night. And, Good Luck fit in?

Dealing with McCarthy in almost a too-real fashion is sometimes distracting, but the performances carry the movie. Much of the dialogue of the film is taken straight from newscasts, leaving little room for artistic license or imagination, but adding unparalleled dramatic weight and realism.

See it if - you like your movies in light and dark; you like historical works; you want to see the real McCarthy on the big screen.
Rent it if - you actually have a black and white TV set.

SERENITY

Theater: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, California

Joss Whedon is a geek. But being a geek has made him rich. Everyone knows about Buffy and most people know about Angel but very few know about Firefly, the series that aired on Fox for a half-season before being axed (remember, Fox cuts lots of good shows too).

But the DVD sales showed promise. Just like the DVD sales of Family Guy resurrected that series, the box-set of Firefly sold so well Whedon could convince Universal to give him a few million to make a movie continuation of the series.

And it kicks ass.

It increases the scope of the series on every level: the conflicts are larger, the characters make irreversible decisions, and the villain is a top-notch badass.

Some fans of the TV show won't like how things change, but it's for the better. It gives more gravity to every situation, every conflict. And it has just enough tongue-in-cheek humor to keep you laughing all along the ride. Will the series be resurrected because of the movie? Probably not.

But a movie sequel to this would be just as cool.

See it if - you liked Firefly; you liked Buffy; you liked Angel; you liked any Star Trek; you think a space-western sounds like a good idea.
Rent it if - just go and buy it instead.