Posted on: Thursday, May 5, 2005

Movie openings

Advertiser Staff

• "Crash": Interlocking stories of whites, blacks, Latinos, Koreans, Iranians, cops and criminals, the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless, all defined in one way or another by racism. Opens tomorrow at Dole Cannery 18 Theatres, Ward Stadium 16, Kahala 8-Plex, Pearl Highlands 12, Pearlridge West 16-Plex, Kapolei 16-Plex, Mililani 14-Plex, Ko'olau 10-Plex, Windward Stadium 10, Prince Kuhio Stadium Cinemas (Big Island), Makalapua Cinemas (Big Island), Keauhou 7 Theaters (Big Island), Maui Mall Megaplex Cinemas (Maui). (R)

• "House of Wax": Horror flick stars Paris Hilton, Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray. Opens tomorrow at Dole Cannery 18 Theatres, Ward Stadium 16, Kahala 8-Plex, Koko Marina 8-Plex, Pearl Highlands 12, Pearlridge West 16-Plex, Kapolei 16-Plex, Mililani 14-Plex, Ko'olau 10-Plex, Windward Stadium 10, Prince Kuhio Stadium Cinemas (Big Island), Makalapua Cinemas (Big Island), Keauhou 7 Theaters (Big Island), Maunaloa Town Cinemas (Moloka'i), Maui Mall Megaplex Cinemas (Maui), Lahaina Wharf Cinemas (Maui), Coconut Marketplace Cinemas (Kaua'i). (R)

• "Kingdom of Heaven": A historical epic from director Ridley Scott. Orlando Bloom stars as Balian, a French blacksmith who is encouraged by his father (Liam Neeson) to come to Jerusalem, where he becomes an aide to the Christian King Baldwin (Edward Norton) and later takes over command of the city. Opens tomorrow at Dole Cannery 18 Theatres, Ward Stadium 16, Kahala 8-Plex, Koko Marina 8-Plex, Pearl Highlands 12, Pearlridge West 16-Plex, Kapolei 16-Plex, Mililani 14-Plex, Ko'olau 10-Plex, Windward Stadium 10, Prince Kuhio Stadium Cinemas (Big Island), Makalapua Cinemas (Big Island), Keauhou 7 Theaters (Big Island), Maunaloa Town Cinemas (Moloka'i), Kaahumanu 6-Plex (Maui), Kukui Mall 4-Plex (Maui), Front Street Theatres (Maui). (R)

• "Off the Map": The tale of a family, led by Sam Elliot and Joan Allen, that lives either in poverty or freedom, and other characters who are part of their lives. Opens tomorrow at Dole Cannery 18 Theatres, Maui Mall Megaplex Cinemas (Maui). (PG-13)

• "Palindromes": Another challenge from Todd Solondz, whose movies deal in moral ambiguity. "Palindromes" has characters in favor of abortion and characters opposed to it, and finds fault with all of them. Opens tomorrow at Dole Cannery 18 Theatres. (Not rated)

• "William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice": The first made-for-theaters feature in the sound era stars Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. Opens tomorrow at Varsity Twin. (R)

SNEAK PREVIEW

• "Monster-in-Law": 4 p.m. Sunday, Dole Cannery 18 Theatres. (PG-13)