The Big Screen

Last week, Nov. 20

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2”; “Secret in Their Eyes”; “The Night Before”

This week, Nov. 27

“Victor Frankenstein” (20th Century Fox), PG-13, 109 minutes

About — Told from Igor’s perspective, it’s about the troubled young assistant’s dark origins, his redemptive friendship with the young medical student Frankenstein, and watching his friend become the legend we know today; Stars — Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott; Director — Paul McGuigan

“The Good Dinosaur” (Disney Digital 3D), PG, 100 minutes

About — It’s an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs, where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend; Stars — Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Ryan Teeple; Director — Peter Sohn

“Creed” (WB), PG-13, 132 minutes

About — The latest in the “Rocky” series, the former heavyweight champ Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to the son, Adonis Johnson, of his late friend and rival Apollo Creed; Stars — Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad; Director — Ryan Coogler

Next week, Dec. 4

“Krampus”; “Macbeth”; “Youth”

(Note: Movie descriptions by IMDB, imdb.com)

Home rentals

The latest top 10 digital movie purchases based on transaction rate, by Rentrak:

1. “Pixels”

2. “San Andreas”

3. “Hocus Pocus”

4. “Man From U.N.C.L.E.”

5. “Hotel Transylvania”

6. “Inside Out”

7. “Spy”

8. “Max”

9. “Terminator: Genisys”

10. “Tomorrowland”

Other recent favorites: “Avengers: Age of Ultron”; “Paper Towns”; “Magic Mike XXL”; “Vacation” (2015)

Doc spotlight

“Janis: Little Girl Blue”

The late and iconic rocker’s story comes to the big screen this week with the documentary, by Jigsaw Productions directed by Amy J. Berg. It’s an in-depth look at her life, much of it through her own words through letters to her parents (read by indie star Cat Power). If it doesn’t reach the big screen in the Portland area, watch for it via download or DVD sale.

For info: www.jigsawprods.com/janis-little-girl-blue.

Upcoming events

• The Northwest Film Center presents the screenings of the 2015 British Arrow Awards, the 38th edition of the annual juried survey also known as the British Television Advertising Awards. It’s an entertaining mix of commerical creativity, drawn from submissions across the United Kingdom’s multimedia advertising platforms, from traditional broadcast and cinema to online mediums, featuring British wit and gleeful innovation. Themes range from touching drama to high-tech dazzle, made with both low and high budgets. The 80-minute show will screen at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28, and 4:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 S.W. Park Ave. (www.nwfilm.org, $9, $8 students/seniors, $6 children).

• Japanese Currents, a Japanese film festival that features anime, samurai epics, documentaries, family melodramas and more, will be held Dec. 4 through 13 at Whitsell Auditorium. We’ll have more later; for now, see www.nwfilm.org.