CAPSULES

‘2012’  (John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton) A failed writer (Cusack) tries to keep his ex-wife (Peet) and two children safe as earth destroys itself. The story, directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day”), has plenty of disaster movie clichés (martyrs, near escapes, family turmoil, etc.), but it’s also amusing throughout and good popcorn fun. Rated PG-13.

‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ 

(George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey) A reporter (McGregor) in Kuwait meets soldier Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who tells him about the “First Earth” army battalion led by a Vietnam veteran (Jeff Bridges) who believes psychic powers can help prevent conflict. It’s supposedly based on a true story, but the occasionally amusing satire falls flat when the humor misses and the story gets too dramatic. Rated R.

‘A Christmas Carol’ 

(Voices of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright Penn) Elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Carrey) hates everything about Christmas. But after the

ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley (Oldman), warns him of the three spirits (all played by Carrey) who will visit during the night, he gets a new outlook on

life. The Charles

Dickens classic novel is re-imagined as a 3-D animated adventure here, but the visuals overwhelm as the story is too action-oriented and lacks heart. Rated PG. 