The Pilot: America's oldest Catholic newspaper

NEW YORK (CNS) -- "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." So says the haunted Prince of Denmark in the first act of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," and so the main character discovers in the middling fright fest "The Last Exorcism" (Lionsgate).

Piranha 3D
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The link between committing sins of the flesh and becoming a victim in a horror movie was never more blatant than in the tall and tawdry fish tale "Piranha 3D" (Dimension).

The Switch
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Though it showcases some of the tangled emotional complications brought about by severing conception from its divinely intended source and setting, the bond of marital love, "The Switch" (Miramax) -- a frequently distasteful comedy of modern manners -- fails to reach the moral conclusions its own plot should make obvious.

Vampires Suck
NEW YORK (CNS) -- As ripe for spoofing as the angst-filled "Twilight" films are, the satire "Vampires Suck" (Fox) rapidly softens way past mere ripeness into toxic, malodorous decay.

Lottery Ticket

NEW YORK (CNS) -- You can't hit the jackpot every time you walk into the multiplex; moviegoing is always a bit of a gamble. That said, Catholic viewers will find the comedy "Lottery Ticket" (Warner Bros.) a riskier proposition than most because of permissive attitudes toward premarital sex and birth control and a plethora of harsh language.

Nanny McPhee Returns

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A sweetly nostalgic tale underpinned by lessons both children and their seniors would do well to take to heart, "Nanny McPhee Returns" (Universal) contains nothing genuinely objectionable. Running gags featuring mildly gross barnyard humor and a few scenes of slapstick violence, though, may give some parents pause.

Eat Pray Love

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Many of the off-kilter values that characterize contemporary Western society are showcased in "Eat Pray Love" (Columbia), the fact-based narrative of one woman's yearlong globe-trotting quest for enlightenment and self-understanding.

The Expendables

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The only thing higher than the body count is the testosterone level in "The Expendables" (Lionsgate/Millennium), a brutally violent action movie that teams, for the first time, some of Hollywood's biggest tough guys with an assortment of professional sports stars.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Though presumably aimed at a teen audience, the action comedy "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (Universal) is too wildly violent and sexually freewheeling to be endorsed for young or old. This is all the more regrettable since the frenetic proceedings squander some intriguing cultural commentary and the undeniable gift for amusing understatement of star Michael Cera.

The Other Guys

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Veteran comedian Will Ferrell and comedy newcomer Mark Wahlberg play an ill-matched pair of crime-busters in "The Other Guys" (Columbia), an occasionally amusing but excessively vulgar action satire that handcuffs its talented cast with relentlessly foul-mouthed dialogue and tiresome bedroom jokes.

Step Up 3D

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Three-dimensional effects enhance the precision choreography showcased in "Step Up 3D" (Disney).

Tales From Earthsea

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Wizards are fighting, dragons are circling overhead and the natural world has lost its balance in "Tales From Earthsea" (Walt Disney/Studio Ghibli), a Japanese anime adaptation of the popular book series by Ursula K. Le Guin. From the studio which produced the award-winning "Spirited Away," "Tales From Earthsea" offers multiple parables on life and death; freedom and slavery, and the need to respect the environment.

Dinner for Schmucks

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Arrogant Wall Street types take a satiric hit in the odd-couple buddy comedy "Dinner for Schmucks" (Paramount). While its underlying message is one of sensitivity and respect, however, director Jay Roach's adaptation of Francis Veber's 1998 French feature "Le Diner de Cons" showcases numerous wayward riffs on topics such as adultery, casual sex and venereal disease.