BY MAKI SOMOSOT and MIRIAM HAUSER

In print | Published January 28, 2010 — Updated February 04, 2010 10:41

AMC MARPLE THEATER 10, SPRINGFIELD
Legion: After once again losing faith in the human race, God sends down a legion of angels to bring about the apocalypse. Only Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) stands between humanity and the apocalypse. In a small diner, Michael leads a group of strangers in protecting a young, pregnant waitress (Adrian Palicki) whose child is destined to lead humanity out of the darkness found in the wake of the apocalypse. Though the film has received largely negative reviews, its cast has been well-received. PG-13. 2 hours and 14 minutes. Showtimes: 11:15 a.m.,  2:00 p.m.,  5:45 p.m.,  8:10 p.m.,  10:45 p.m.

The Book of Eli: An apocalyptic war has destroyed much of the earth, leaving all-around anarchy and chaos to thrive in a barren wasteland. People must now fend for their survival in this hostile world. Fast-forward 30 years after the Final War — a blind man named Eli (Denzel Washington) walks alone, journeying across the vast wasteland that was once America. Subject to cutthroat, murder-happy gangs on the road, Eli carries a powerful gift with him — a book of hope and promise, the key that will save humanity’s future. Will he achieve his mission and reach his final destination? A notorious leader (Gary Oldman) of thieves and gunmen stands in Eli’s way, coveting the power of the book all for himself. The crime lord is also a father to a strong-willed girl (Mila Kunis) who may well have other ideas of her own. R. 1 hour and 42 minutes. Showtimes: 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:40 p.m. 

Tooth Fairy: When a hardcore hockey player, known for knocking out the molars from unfortunate opposing players, starts to don a tutu, a pair of fairy wings and a magic wand, you know that fate is messing with mortal affairs. An accursed Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson/The Rock) must transform into the “Tooth Fairy” after discouraging a youngster’s hopes for sports glory. For his sentence, Derek has to live up to his role as the childhood legend and fly into people’s houses to pick up some teeth. His toothy sentence is one week. About halfway through, the Tooth Fairy rediscovers himself and his own childhood dreams, all under the guise of magical tooth duty. But of course he does. PG. 2 hours and 41 mins. Showtimes: 12:30 p.m., 2:55 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 7:40 p.m., 10:00 p.m.

*Ritz 5 THEATER, Philly *

*Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos): *The latest comic melodrama from Pedro Almodóvar deals with love, tragedy, jealousy and guilt — perpetuated by a romantic triangle. Penelope Cruz is Lena, the leading lady made movie star, and Lluís Homar is Harry Caine, formerly the famed director Mateo Blanco. They were lovers and long-time collaborators on Mateo’s films. But Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez), a scheming artistic patron, also covets Lena, and eventually usurps the actress under his rich industrialist wings. Before the triangle takes over their lives, Mateo and Lena are in the middle of making a kinky comedy called “Girls and Suitcases,” in the vein of the Almodóvar classic “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” When Mateo loses his love to Ernesto and his eyesight to an auto accident, he erases all memory of Mateo Blanco and assumes the new life and identity of Harry Caine, a screenwriter. The romantic tragedy is retold by Caine in flashback. (Fully subtitled) R. 2 hours and 8 minutes. Showtimes: 12:35 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:45 p.m. 

*The White Ribbon: *In 1913, a small Protestant village in Northern Germany begins to break down from the inside. The rest of Europe is in unrest, on the brink of World War I. The story revolves around a pretty formulaic village community — the schoolteacher, the schoolchildren, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers and the baron — but the accidents that befall these simple folk are mysterious and disturbing. The plot concerns the nature of human evil and how it infiltrates daily life. Winner of three awards at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d’Or, this groundbreaking film from writer-director Michael Haneke is sure to challenge and terrify. _Black and white. R. 2 hours and 24 mins. Showtimes: 12:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 9:35 p.m.

The Swarthmore Philly shuttle drops by the Ritz Theater on weekends. Regular shuttle schedules follow. _

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