Film Openings

Alien Vs. PredatorPaul W.S. Anderson. (PG-13) This is what it sounds like, we presume: big, badass monsters in a big, badass showdown. There're some humans, too, plus an Antarctic backdrop and the requisite "storyline" to justify all of the creature-fightin'. But really, you're going to see it because you placed a bar bet about this duel a long, long time ago, and because the special effects just might be sweeeet. Opens Friday, August 13, at multiple locations. (NR)

Godzilla Ishiro Honda. (unrated) Opens Friday, August 13, at the Tivoli. Reviewed in this issue.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Garry Marshall. (G) Opens Friday, August 13, at multiple locations. Reviewed this issue.

Touch of Pink Ian Iqbal Rashid. (R) Opens Friday, August 13, at the Tivoli. Reviewed in this issue.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Hatsuki Tsuji. (PG) During those few special years in between being an imaginatively aggressive child and becoming a full-grown bellicose imbecile, there exists the ideal window for appreciating the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. Based on the comic book, card game and television series by Kazuki Takahashi, this wild ride from director Hatsuki Tsuji features the purple-eyed "little high school pipsqueak" Yugi (voiced by Dan Green) battling his grouchy adversary Kaiba (Eric Stuart), but now there's more at stake than bizarre card games. The Egyptian god Anubis (Scottie Ray) has broken free after 5,000 years and vows to destroy the Pharaoh, who is, of course, Yugi's booming-voiced alter ego. Much of the movie functions as a verbose animated rule book for the game, but the creators have done a remarkable job of keeping the proceedings entertaining -- for belligerent boys, yes, but even for adults who are not on drugs. What remains to be seen is if -- as aggression continues to go co-ed -- this stuff cultivates crossover appeal for the little boys' increasingly pugnacious sisters. Opens Friday, August 13, at multiple locations. (Gregory Weinkauf)