In better news, “Taken” is a fun bit of action fluff starring Liam Neeson as an ex-CIA agent trying to save his daughter from bad guys. Think “24,” but crammed into 90 minutes. My review is at Cinematical.

The third wide release this weekend is “The Uninvited,” an Asian horror remake about two teenagers who think their dad’s new girlfriend might be up to no good. Also, since it’s an Asian horror remake, it has ghosts. Not a bad film, actually, at least overall. My feelings are somewhat conflicted. Read the review for more.

I also caught up with “My Bloody Valentine” (in 3D!) last weekend, and found it good enough. I watched “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” too, but haven’t had time to write a review yet. It’s no better than the last two “Underworld” movies, though, and possibly a bit worse.

Finally, I’ve decided to discontinue the weekly “In the Dark” podcast, effective immediately. The amount of work involved has always outweighed the amount of fun involved, and listenership has never been high enough to justify it. Moreover, I’ve realized that most movie podcasts that are popular aren’t just one guy talking about movies, but two or more people having a conversation. I could do that with mine, but the logistics and technology involved would make it even more time-consuming and labor-intensive than it already is — and it still wouldn’t guarantee an increase in my web traffic (which is ultimately the point, of course). Basically, to make the podcast a viable, useful, effective tool, I would need to put a lot more time, effort, and money into it than I’m prepared to do right now. There are other, more productive things I want to focus on, like widening my crystal meth operation. (We’re working on new flavors!)

To those of you who have been regular listeners of the podcast, I thank you. If you really want to hear me talk about movies, you can always call me on the phone, provided you have my number and that I answer when I see it’s you.

To sign up for the “In the Dark” e-zine, which brings you all the new movie reviews, DVD releases, and other pertinent info in one handy weekly e-mail, visit this page.

I might also slap together some Twitter updates, if you’re a Twitter user. My name there is EricDSnider. If you don’t know what Twitter is, good for you.

For you civilians and suckers, here’s what’s been shoveled into your multiplexes:

“Notorious” is actually a pretty good biopic of famed obese rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Some reviews have already complained that the movie is full of musical-biopic clichés, which makes me laugh, because what, the beloved “Walk the Line” and “Ray” weren’t?

“Hotel for Dogs” isn’t the Groin-Punch for Eric that I expected — it’s a reasonably amusing and perfectly harmless family film about some kids taking care of strays.

Then you got “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” starring Kevin James as the title fattie (big week for fatties!). Not very funny.

Finally, I got around to reviewing “The Unborn,” which was Hollywood’s Shameful Secret last week, and it’s lousy. This week, the Shameful Secret is “My Bloody Valentine 3-D,” which will have to wait until I’m done Sundancing for a review. YOU HEAR THAT, “MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D”? YOU CAN WAIT.

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The widest (and worst) release is “Bride Wars,” which looked apocalyptically bad but turned out to be merely dreadfully bad. It’s the kind of film that makes you wonder what Anne Hathaway was thinking, and what Kate Hudson– well, OK, this is typical for Kate Hudson.

The Tyler Perry-ish drama “Not Easily Broken” could be worse. (I hope they quote me in the ads!) My review is at Cinematical.

“The Unborn,” a PG-13-rated thriller, was screened in some cities but not others. One of the others is Portland. Review to come, maybez.

A really good movie that’s in limited release that you should either see now or wait patiently for until it arrives in your city is “Last Chance Harvey,” starring the wonderful Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman. It’s like a romantic comedy, only not stupid and I don’t hate it. So, not like a romantic comedy at all, then.

Finally, be aware that films such as “Gran Torino,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road,” and “The Wrestler,” which have been in limited release since around Christmas, are starting to expand around the country and may now finally be playing in whatever sleepy burg you inhabit. I know “Gran Torino” is pretty much everywhere as of today, and the others will soon follow. It’s like Christmas in whatever month this is!

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There are no new wide releases in theaters this weekend, as Hollywood is still hungover from Christmas and New Year’s, and possibly also still Thanksgiving. So “In the Dark” this week is a round-up of the limited-release pictures that have opened recently and that will be expanding nationwide in the coming weeks. Here’s what we got:

• “The Wrestler” is like a body slam, but in a good way.

• “Gran Torino” has Clint Eastwood at his Clint Eastwoodiest.

• “Revolutionary Road,” aka the “Titanic” reunion, will make you glad you did not have a terrible marriage in the 1950s, when escaping into the comforting arms of video games was not an option.

• “Wendy and Lucy” was filmed in my neighborhood! And is also pretty good!

• “Defiance” (review at Film.com): Nazis, war, sad, got it. Next!

• “The Reader” has more Kate Winslet, and I do mean MORE. (I mean her boobs.)

• “Doubt” is a cornucopia of acting!

• Oh, and “Marley & Me” is lame.

Have a good weekend!

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But the flight wasn’t canceled, the snow held off long enough for us to take off, and now I’m home in California for Christmas, just like I’m supposed to be! Huzzah!

This doesn’t mean Mother Nature is on our side again, though. That’s exactly what that duplicitous tart wants us to think. My war against her continues unabated, and she will know of my wrath.

Now, on to the movies!

This week’s edition of Eric’s Bad Movies at Film.com features the 1988 headache-inducer “Ernest Saves Christmas,” in which a two-thousand-year-old holiday is somehow saved by the efforts of an imbecilic moonshiner. Enjoy.

This is also your Friday Movie Roundup, by the way, but ‘cept a little early to cover the Christmas Day releases, which are as follows:

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” a technically marvelous epic story starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

“Valkyrie” (review at Film.com), in which Tom Cruise wears an eyepatch and tries to kill Hitler and has much better luck with one task than with the other.

“Bedtime Stories” (review at Film.com), starring Adam Sandler as Adam Sandler.

“The Spirit,” based on an old comic book and a complete train wreck from start to finish.

“Marley & Me,” which screened at the same time as “Bedtime Stories.” I chose the latter only because it was closer to my house. I’ll hit “Marley & Me” (which stars Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, and a dog) at some point.

“Doubt,” which has been in limited release, is expanding wider this weekend. I just barely got my hands on a DVD screener and will review it shortly.

And there you go. I’m nestled within my family’s bosom for Christmas, having escaped Portland’s winterpocalypse, and Santa’s on his way! Merry Christmas!

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“Yes Man” (review at Film.com) is the best of them, and it’s only OK. Jim Carrey keeps it fairly reined in as a man who decides to accept every single opportunity that comes to him, no matter how irresponsible or dangerous. I believe this condition is also known as “college.”

“The Tale of Despereaux,” an animated fairy tale with the voices of Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, and Tracey Ullman, among others, is kinda cute in places but overall mediocre. If your kids haven’t heard of it, don’t mention it to them.

Finally, “Seven Pounds,” starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, is seven pounds of fail in a six-pound bag. It’s hard to like a movie that won’t tell you what it’s about until it’s almost over.

Lots of movies opening on Christmas Day to help people escape from their families, and I’ll have reviews of most of them. Enjoy your last weekend of pre-holiday capitalism!

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“The Day the Earth Stood Still” takes place on a day on which the Earth does not stand still, though Keanu Reeves does. He stands still quite a bit. He plays an alien who comes to Earth and throws everyone into a panic. It’s based on the 1951 sci-fi classic, which was short on action and long on ideas. The remake is short on both.

“Nothing Like the Holidays,” a comedy about a Puerto Rican family in Chicago gathering for Christmas, was not screened for critics in Portland. What, are we too white to appreciate Latino movies?? Review to come this weekend.

The other new wide release is “Delgo,” a computer-animated fantasy adventure that’s been sitting around for four years and should have gone straight to DVD. It’s harmless, but certainly not worth taking your kids to see.

In limited release is the fantastic “Let the Right One In,” a haunting, moody Swedish thriller about a 12-year-old boy and girl who become friends even though one of them is a vampire. It’s by far the best film about vampire-human relationships this year. Look for it at your local art house.

“Frost/Nixon” (review at Film.com), which opened last weekend and is slowly expanding, is an engrossing and very entertaining account of the famous TV interviews Nixon did in 1977 with British entertainment journalist David Frost. Frank Langella, as the disgraced ex-president, is awe-inspiring.

And hey, remember Jean-Claude Van Damme? He has a new movie, called “JCVD,” in which he plays a slightly fictionalized version of himself getting caught in a real-life hostage crisis. The film, which is mostly in French, is a clever, deadpan self-satire that shows Van Damme to be fairly capable as an actor, believe it or not.

“Dark Streets” (review at Cinematical) is a so-so film noir set in a New Orleans nightclub in the 1930s, enlivened by fantastic cinematography and a scorching blues soundtrack.

“What Doesn’t Kill You” stars Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke as low-level organized crime goons and is based on the real life story of Brian Goodman, who wrote and directed it. Still, being true doesn’t make it interesting; it feels like a generic, gritty film about big-city criminals.

Finally, don’t forget to TiVo “Dear Zachary” on MSNBC on Sunday and sob while watching it later!

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In limited release is “Slumdog Millionaire,” a very charming and exhilarating story about a street urchin who makes it to the top of India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” I saw it at Toronto back in September and would have reviewed it then, but I wanted to wait until I could see it a second time. The film is rated R, which is absolutely ludicrous. You can read my rant about it here.

Two films in semi-wide release (about 800 screens) did not screen for critics, or at least not in Portland. They are “Cadillac Records,” the true story of the pioneering Chess record label; and “Nobel Son,” a dark comedy about a kidnapping.

Also for your edification: my review of “Australia,” which opened last weekend. It sure is long! The movie, I mean, not the review.

I haven’t posted much here this week on account of I didn’t really do any work last week, and so I’ve been catching up for the various slave drivers and taskmasters I work for. Hopefully next week will be back to normal. Keep your fingers crossed!

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First up this week: “Four Christmases,” a lowest-common-denominator comedy about a couple who have to visit all four of their divorced parents for the holidays. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star; strangely enough, the interaction between these two total opposites is one of the movie’s stronger points (which isn’t saying much). My review is at Film.com. (You might have thought you saw it here in its entirety earlier, but your mind was playing tricks on you. I swear.)

Then you got your “Transporter 3,” an action film with almost no action, and a total disappointment compared to the dumbly entertaining first “Transporter” film.

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” in limited release, is a valiant effort to tell an almost untellable story, in which a young German boy befriends a concentration camp prisoner without realizing what’s actually going on in the camp (which he thinks is a “farm”). Hilarity, um, ensues.

Finally, in limited release before it expands next week, is “Milk,” Gus Van Sant’s biopic of the San Francisco politician who crusaded for gay rights in the 1970s and was assassinated for his trouble. It’s a great return to form for Van Sant: accessible, entertaining, and engaging without sacrificing intelligence or style. And Sean Penn is amazing in the lead — he actually smiles and laughs and is likable.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! I’ll be back Friday, bloated and groggy, more so than usual.

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Of course, it’s hard to call it a “light weekend” when at 9:00 tonight there was already a line of girls outside the movie theater waiting for their midnight screenings of “Twilight.” Hundreds of those screenings have sold out all over the country. By the time you read this, the film will have already made several million dollars. Who needs Harry Potter?

The “Twilight” movie (my review is at Cinematical) captures the feel of the book pretty well, at least as far as I recall. (It’s been 2 1/2 years since I read it.) An informal discussion with two other critics after the screening suggested that the less detailed our memory of the book was, the better we liked the movie. Then again, maybe someone could remember every detail of the novel but still accept the fact that the movie is bound to be different in some ways.

All I know is, Stephenie Meyer says on her website that my movie reviews are her favorite. I am very proud of this. I brag about it regularly. I hope I will continue to hold that position even after reviewing a movie based on her book. It didn’t affect my opinion of the movie, of course, nor did it influence what I wrote. I only mention it because I wanted to brag some more.

Then there’s “Bolt,” a Disney cartoon about a dog who plays a superdog on TV and is startled to discover he doesn’t actually have super powers. I think we’ve all been there. The movie is fairly funny and reasonably entertaining. My review is at Film.com.

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