.New Movies week of Sept. 3

9 Rookie filmmaker Shane Acker expands his Oscar-nominated animation short into this “stitchpunk” puppet-animation feature. In a post-apocalyptic future, after the machines have oblitrated humanmankind, it’s up to a plucky band of hybrid creatures imbued with the spark of life to revive the spirit of humanity. Elijah Wood, Christpher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly, and John C. Reilly provide voices.  (PG-13) 79 minutes.

GAMER Gerard Butler stars in this sci-fi thriller set in a future where humans manipulate other humans in real-life gaming environments. Butler is a player battling for his life in one such game who plots to destroy the game’s creator, free himself, and end the game. Michael C. Hall, and Ludacris co-star for co-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (the Crank franchise). (R) 95 minutes.

CARRIERS Chris Pine (last seen as young James T. Kirk in Star Trek) stars in this thriller about four young people on the lam as a deadly, viral epidemic sweeps across the country. Piper Perabo and Lou Taylor Pucci co-star; Alex and David Pastor direct. (PG-13)

ALL ABOUT STEVE Sandra Bullock stars in this romantic stalker comedy about a woman so nuts about a CNN reporter (Bradley Cooper), that she starts following him around the country, trying to convince him she’s his soul mate. Thomas Haden Church co-stars for director Phil Traill. (PG-13)