Movie Reviews: Oct. 23

ASTRO BOY: Astro Boy is a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma. Powered by positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. With Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland and Kristen Bell. (1 hour, 34 minutes) Rated PG.

CIRQUE DU FREAK-THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT: A boy unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares. With John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia and Ray Stevenson. (1 hour, 48 minutes) Rated PG-13.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS: A scientist tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance. With the voices of Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Faris, James Caan and Andy Samberg. (1 hour, 21 minutes) Rated PG.

COUPLES RETREAT: Four Midwestern couples embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort's couples therapy is not optional. With Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis. (1 hour, 47 minutes) Rated PG-13.

GOOD HAIR: When Chris Rock's daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, "Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head. Rock visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships and self-esteem of black people. With Chris Rock, Maya Angelou, Marvet Britto, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Rhonda Cowan. (1 hour, 35 minutes) Rated PG-13.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN: Clyde Shelton is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. Ten years after one of the killers gets off with a light sentence, Shelton kills him and then warns the prosecuting attorney to either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or more key players in the trial will die. With Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill and Leslie Bibb. (2 hours, 2 minutes) Rated R.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban "starter" tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic, but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to. With Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat and Michael Bayouth. (1 hour, 39 minutes) Rated R.

SAW IV: Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood. With Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith, Peter Outerbridge and Samantha Lemole. (1 hour, 30 minutes) Rated R.

THE STEPFATHER: When troubled teen Michael returns home after a year at military school, he finds his mother, Susan, in love and his soon-to-be stepfather, David, has moved into their home. David says he wants them to become the perfect family. Michael discovers that David has a history of trying to create the perfect family. Each time, when it becomes apparent that perfection is impossible, David has a terrifying way of clearing the slate and starting over. With Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard and Sherry Stringfield .(1 hour, 41 minutes) Rated PG 13.

SURROGATES: People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates: sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery. With Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe and James Francis Ginty (1 hour, 44 minutes) Rated PG-13.