The webslinger returns to the scene of the bite as the saga begins (again) at the beginning … and scores a knockout.

NEW ON THE SHELF “THE ARTIST,” Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, this loving homage to the black-and-white silent films of yesteryear has Oscar bait written all over it, but the timeless tale of love between a fading star (Dujardin, “99 francs”) and an up-and-comer (Bejo, ‘A Knight’s Tale”) […]

“MOONRISE KINGDOM” (PG-13) Stars Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward and Bruce Willis. Directed by Wes Anderson. A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them. Opening at: Eveningstar (Brunswick) Fri-Wed 1:30, 3:45, 6, 8:15; Nickelodeon (Portland) Fri-Wed 12:45, 3, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50; Nordica […]

It’s the latest work of a favorite director who has soared – but who has also crashed at least once.

It’s not a subtle movie, but not a particularly ribald one either.

The main thrust of this comedy is ‘How are you going to keep our heroes in a zoo after they’ve tasted the excitement of the circus?’

The cast – especially Cruise – is endearingly game, but a pervasive mean-spiritedness finally sinks the glam-rock spoof ‘Rock of Ages.’

Opening: ‘Prometheus,’ ‘Madagascar 3,’ ‘First Position’

With this week’s “Prometheus,” Ridley Scott returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, the classic sci-fi/horror movie “Alien.” And he’s gonna mess it up. Look, Scott’s had a long and respectable career with at least two indisputable masterpieces to his credit (“Blade Runner” being the other), but this whole prequel business is a minefield, […]