A group of downtrodden yokels paint trees and mount implausibly cheerful placards in anticipation of an official visit.

If you haven’t seen The Cove, prepare to be left out of a lot of conversations when the Xmas party season gets into gear.

The Vampire’s Assistant could pass for a Bosco Halloween episode. This is, contrary to the crummy production design, meant to be an epic tale of good versus evil.

Fashioned in lovely Oliver Postgate inspired stop-motion, Fantastic Mr. Fox presents a typically dysfunctional Anderson family in action.

Growing Pains

The plight of the bees is beautifully and comprehensively addressed in this smart, heartfelt documentary from George Langworthy and Maryam Henein.

The Undead Zone

Old Boy director Park Chan-wook returns

Final Fantasy

This may not amount to the most politically sophisticated film to emerge from the Iraq conflict, but as a movie, it’s the pony to beat.  

Fans of the director’s bold, gaudy oeuvre will be most pleased.