The Charge of the Light Brigade--A movie which argues that mid-Victorian England was a pretty inhuman place, revealing that quality most clearly in its incredibly stupid wars. Not as exciting as the book (Cecil Woodham-Smith's The Reason Why), but for those who like their wars with lots of gory realism and facile satire, may make enjoyable viewing. At the CHERI 3, Dalton St. in Prudential Center (536-2870).

Duffy--Hoo boy, a clinker. At the CHARLES, 195 Cambridge (227-2832).

Finian's Rainbow--A heavyhanded, poorly acted film version of the musical, with nothing but the splendid score and the magnificent Fred Astaire to recommend it. The director, Francis Fred Coppola, has a bad habit of chopping people's hands and feet off; stars Petula Clark and Tommy Steele ought to act their age. At the SAXON, Tremont and Stuart (542-4600).

Funny Girl--If you like Barbra Streisand, there is no getting around the fact that this movie works. The score, the screenplay, and even Omar Sharif are fine. The photography, on the other hand, is unfortunate, as is the editing. At the CHERI 2, Dalton St. in Prudential Center (536-2870).

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter--Very weighty stuff, with the sensitive Alan Arkin as a sensitive young man who happens to be blind. At the ASTOR, Tremont St. near Boylston (542-5030).

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas--A cheap celluloid account of the swinging sixties, atrociously filmed, with Peter Sellers as a representative youth. At the BEACON HILL, Tremont between Beacon St. & Govt. Center (227-6676).

The Legend of Lylah Claire--Either awful or great, depending on how you feel. In either case, worth seeing. At the PARAMOUNT, Washington Street across from Raymond's (482-4820).

The Lion in Winter--Pretension unleashed, most notably that of Anthony Harvey, the director, who seems bent on doing everything as conspicuously as he can. Neither Peter O'Toole nor Katharine Hepburn gives much of a performance in this cumbersomely filmed version of James Goldman's play, which was unconvincing to start with. At the PARIS CINEMA, 841 Boylston (267-8181).

A Lovely Way to Die--A thriller, they say, with Kirk Douglas and Sylvia Koscina. At the ORPHEUM, Washington St. across from Filene's (542-5557).

Loves of a Blonde--Poignant comedy, if you like poignant comedy, out of Czechoslovakia. At the BRATTLE (876-4226).

My Little Chickadee--A watershed in the separate careers of W. C. Fields and Mae West, who collaborated on the script. At the SYMPHONY II, 262 Huntington (262-8837).

The Odd Couple--Not nearily as funny as a picture with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau should be (or, for example, as The Fortune Cookie actually was). At the HARVARD SQUARE (864-4580).

Paper Lion--An ambitious attempt to depict George Plimpton in all his complexity. Sports columnists seem to like it better than movie reviewers do. At the GARY, Stuart near Tremont (542-7040).

Rachel, Rachel--Paul Newman tries his hand at directing and at stream-of-consciousness, with basically good results. At the MUSIC HALL, Tremont St. near Stuart (423-3300).

Romeo and Juliet--The Shakespeare play, dressed up for the color screen by Franco Zefirelli, with teenage stars. At the ABBEY, 600 Commonwealth Ave. (262-1303).