Opening this week

• "The Box" ♦♦ - What if someone gave you a box containing a button that, if pushed, would bring you a million dollars … but simultaneously take the life of someone you don't know? Would you do it? And what would be the consequences? The year is 1976. Norma Lewis is a teacher at a private high school and her husband, Arthur, is an engineer working at NASA. They are, by all accounts, an average couple living a normal life in the suburbs with their young son … until a mysterious man with a horribly disfigured face appears on their doorstep and presents Norma with a life-altering proposition: the box. With only 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur face an impossible moral dilemma. With Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn. Directed by Richard Kelly. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images. 115 min.

• "Coco Before Chanel" ♦♦ 1/2 - The story of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, who began her life as headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey became the legendary couturier who embodied the modern woman and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom and style. The film portrays the formative years of Chanel's life, the years of Chanel spent discovering and inventing herself. With Audrey Tautou, Benoit Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain. Directed by Anne Fontaine. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking. 110 min.

• "Disney's A Christmas Carol" ♦♦ - Director Robert Zemeckis ("The Polar Express") continues to work his holiday magic with "A Christmas Carol." This 3-D adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic will use the motion capture technology previously seen in the filmmaker's "Beowulf. With Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Rated PG for scary sequences and images. 96 min.

• "The Fourth Kind" ♦♦ - The Alaskan town in this thriller might seem like any other small northern city at first glance. But over the last four decades, people have been disappearing, and a government conspiracy might be at the root of the trouble. With Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeen Kae Kazim. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi. Rated PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality. 98 min.

• "The Men Who Stare at Goats" ♦♦ 1/2 - A reporter delves into the world of psychic military regiments during the Iraq War in this adaptation of the Jon Ronson book. With George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey. Directed by Grant Heslov. Rated R for language, some drug content and brief nudity. 93 min.

• "More Than a Game" ♦♦♦ - Five talented young basketball players from Akron, Ohio star in this remarkable true-life coming of age story about uncommon friendship in the face all too common adversities. Coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player's father, and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, the "Fab Five's" improbable seven-year journey leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship. With LeBron James. Directed by Kristopher Belman. Rated PG for brief mild language and incidental smoking. 105 min.

Continuing

• "Amelia" ♦ - An extraordinary life of adventure, celebrity and continuing mystery comes to light in "Amelia," a vast, thrilling account of legendary aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. After becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia was thrust into a new role as America's sweetheart --the legendary "goddess of light," known for her bold, larger-than-life charisma. With Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston. Directed by Mira Nair. Rated PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking. 111 min.

• "Astro Boy" ♦♦♦ 1/2 - Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about 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, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. With Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Freddie Highmore. Directed by David Bowers. Rated PG. 94 min.

• "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" ♦ 1/2 - "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" tells the frightening tale of a boy who 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 Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek. Directed by Paul Weitz. Not rated.

• "Couples Retreat" ♦ 1/2 - The comedy follows four Midwestern couples who 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 enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort's couples therapy is not optional. Suddenly, their group-rate vacation comes at a price. With Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman, Malin Akerman. Directed by Peter Billingsley. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language. 107 min.

• "Inglourious Basterds" ♦♦ 1/2 - In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" is chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by engaging in brutal acts of retribution. With Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, Mike Meyers and Cloris Leachman. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Rated R for strong graphic violence, language, brief sexuality. 152 min.

• "Law Abiding Citizen" ♦♦♦ 1/2 - A prisoner's incredible reign over the city outside his cell is interrupted by an assistant district attorney. With Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Viola Davis, Bruce McGill. Directed by F. Gary Gray. Rated: R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. 108 min.

• "Michael Jackson's This is It" ♦♦♦ - "Michael Jackson's This is It" will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Rated PG for some suggestive choreography and scary images. 112 min.

• "The Nightmare Before Christmas" ♦♦♦ - Tim Burton's beloved stop-motion-animation holiday horror returns from the grave in shocking 3-D. Originally released in 1993, its story concerns the residents of Halloween City, whose star performer, Jack, is losing his enthusiasm for the big scare. While out wandering, he accidentally tumbles into Christmas Town, and he realizes he wants to switch holidays. With Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey. Directed by Henry Selick, Tim Burton. Rated PG for some scary images. 76 min.

• "Paranormal Activity" ♦♦♦ 1/2 - A haunted house makes no secret of the fact it is not pleased with its new tenants in this independent tale of supernatural horror. With Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat. Directed by Oren Peli. Rated: R for language. 86 min.

• "Saw VI" ♦♦♦ 1/2 - "Saw VI" finds Detective Hoffman the target of a FBI investigation, but that won't stop him from continuing the murderous mayhem started by Jigsaw. With Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Tobin Bell. Directed by Kevin Greutert. Rated: R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and language. Rated R. 90 min.

• "Where the Wild Things Are" ♦♦♦ - Director Spike Jonze collaborates with author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in "Where the Wild Things Are," a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in. The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. With Paul Dano, Forest Whitaker, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener. Directed by Spike Jonze. Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language. 94 min.

• "Zombieland" ♦♦♦♦ - Columbus has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee doesn't have fears. If he did, he'd kick their ever-living butts. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now they're about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other. With Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin. Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Rated R for horror violence/gore and language. 80 min.