Inanimate objects battle at the box office

 

The somewhat anticipated sequel "Night at the Museum:  Battle of the Smithsonian" battles it out with "Terminator Salvation" for box office dominance over the long Memorial Day Weekend.  They aren't the only new movie choices this weekend, though.

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson return for the follow-up to the 2006 hit "Night at the Museum" and, thankfully, Oscar nominee Amy Adams ("Doubt") joins the party to portray perky Amelia Earhart.

For the review, click here or venture over to the Movie Reviews page.

"Terminator Salvation," the fourth sci-fi action thriller in the franchise that launched in 1984, stars Christian Bale (a k a Batman) as rebel resistance leader John Connor and up-and-comer Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright.  Worthington plays a "reborn" convicted murderer caught in the middle in the war between man and the machines. 

Click here for the "Terminator Salvation" review, or go to the Movie Reviews page link.

This weekend's other releases include "Dance Flick," a wobbly comedy spoof with more shock laughs than fun.  It's from the Wayans family.  Click here for the review.

In San Antonio, "American Violet"opens exclusively at the Santikos Rialto Bar & Grill Theater.  A somber, sobering based-on-truth drama, It's about a wrongly accused Texas black women fighting back against the powerful and racist local district attorney.  Click here for the review.

And, in some markets there's "Shall We Kiss?"   In French with subtitles, it's an offbeat romantic comic-drama written and directed by Emmanuel Mouret.  Find the review here, or go to the Movie Reviews page.

(Photo:  Ben Stiller plays former museum night guard Larry Daley, a doer, not a thinker in "Night at the Museum:  Battle of the Smithsonian."/Twentieth Century Fox)