Arts & Entertainment

A team of space explorers embarks on a fantastic voyage to the edge of the universe after making a profound discovery that hints at the true origins of the human race in this belated pseudo-prequel to director Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi classic Alien. Isle of Skye, Scotland: 2089. Archeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discover a cave drawing featuring a mysterious star pattern not found in our solar system. Upon comparing the image with similar other ones found at different archeological digs all over the planet, the pair realizes that they all match perfectly. They’re convinced that the image is an invitation, and set out on a high tech Weyland Industries ship called Prometheus to — just maybe — unlock the mysteries of mankind’s origins on Earth. Flash forward to Christmas Day, 2093. The crew of Prometheus awakens from stasis to learn they have arrived at their destination. With highly-intelligent android David assisting the mission, and chilly Weyland representative Meredith Vickers calling the shots, Captain Janet brings the ship down to the surface, landing next to a line of awe-inspiring structures that appear to have been built by intelligent beings. But when a small crew led by Elizabeth and Charlie explore the remote planet, the artifacts they find threaten to contradict everything mankind had been taught about its origins. But there’s a secret in this chamber that’s lain dormant for centuries, and now that it senses life, it finally sees an opportunity to escape. If it does, the trip that was supposed to answer all of our biggest questions about life could also be the one that seals the fate of every living creature on planet Earth. Director: Ridley Scott. Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce. Rated: R. Time: 2:03.

Upon discovering that a psychotic serial killer has been using his writings as inspiration, legendary author Edgar Allan Poe joins forces with a bright, young Baltimore detective to catch the maniac and end his reign of terror. Detective Emmett Fields was investigating a vicious murder when he realized the crime scene bore a striking resemblance to a mystery story that was just published in the local newspaper by Poe. Shortly after Poe is questioned by the authorities, detectives stumble upon another murder that seems to have been inspired by the author’s writings. Convinced that the killer will continue, Detective Fields recruits the reclusive author to help piece together a pattern to the crimes and stop the madman. Director: James McTeigue. Cast: John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McNally. Rated: R. Time: 1:51.

An Iraq War veteran searches for the woman from a mysterious photo that he credits with saving his life during three tours of duty in this romantic drama adapted from the book by Nicholas Sparks. U.S. Marine sergeant Logan Thibault was serving his country overseas when he happened across a discarded photo of a beautiful woman. An inscription on the back read “Keep Safe,” yet the photo revealed no clues about either the subject or her whereabouts. Upon returning home to civilian life, Logan conducts his own research and discovers that the woman’s name is Beth and that she cares for dogs at a small-town kennel. Before long, as Logan works to earn Beth’s trust, a dark secret from her past threatens to derail his hope for a happy future together. Director: Scott Hicks. Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Trey Burvant. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:41.

A former biker and drug dealer single-handedly takes on the nefarious Lord’s Resistance Army in a noble bid to save young Sudanese refugees from a life of violence and suffering. Inspired by actual events, Sam Childers is a tough-as-nails biker whose heart shatters upon witnessing the harrowing plight of children in Sudan. Determined that no child shall be enslaved by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, Childers turns to God for inspiration, and establishes an orphanage for wounded kids and child soldiers. When the Lord’s Resistance Army refuses to stand down, Childers organizes a militia to protect the children. In helping to give the orphans of war-torn Sudan a better future, the former outlaw begins to find new meaning in his own life as well. Director: Marc Forster. Cast: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, Michael Shannon, Madeline Carroll. Rated: R. Time: 2:07.

The television series that shot Johnny Depp to stardom makes the leap to the big screen in this reboot. Schmidt and Jenko have the kind of faces that could let them pass for teenagers. Eager to prove themselves as effective policemen, the pair join the Jump Street program and go undercover to investigate a high-school drug ring. Now, the only thing more daunting than the prospect of taking on violent adolescent dope slingers is the possibility of experiencing the torture of their teenage years all over again. Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller. Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle. Rated: R. Time: 1:50.

Based on the famously missing chapter in Colin Clark’s memoir The Prince, the Showgirl and Me, My Week With Marilyn reveals the enchanted week that the then-lowly production assistant spent with the most famous celebrity of the era during the production of the classic 1957 comedy romance The Prince and the Showgirl. The year was 1956. Colin Clark was an ambitious 23-year-old determined to make a name for himself in film. As summer gets underway, Clark manages to land a position as a production assistant on the film The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier. Monroe had just gotten married to playwright Arthur Miller, and the newlyweds were on their honeymoon as production got underway. Later, when Miller leaves, young Clark seizes the opportunity to befriend the platinum blonde beauty, and give her a taste of everyday life in England — far away from the bright lights of Hollywood and the suffocating pressures of fame. Cast: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Dougray Scott, Julia Ormond. Rated: R. Time: 1:41.