Chronicle
Just imagine the perils of three high school students suddenly acquiring the powers of telekinesis, invulnerability and flight. Using the now-popular ‘found footage' production style, Chronicle explores how the trio strengthens their powers, learning the advantages and perils of being more than human and follows what happens when one of their own goes rogue.
The Woman in Black
Daniel Radcliffe, bereft of his magical wizardry faces off against another malevolent spiritual entity in this adaptation of Susan Hill's novel. A young lawyer sent to settle an estate finds more than he bargained for: a sinister specter of a pale woman in black, mysterious deaths of children and a pall of dread that hangs over the town. Can he push back the ominous cloud, or will vengeance prevail?
Opening February 17
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Nick Cage dons his fiery skull, leather chaps, and straddles his magic hog in this sequel to the 2007's Ghost Rider. Pulled out of a self-imposed exile, the Rider must again contend with the forces of evil when Satan attempts to take on bodily form and destroy the world. Be on the lookout for hard hits, chain whips and witty quips.
This Means War
In a twist on the stereotypical guy-girl-guy Hollywood love triangle, director McG not only pits Chris Pine and Tom Hardy against each other in a battle for the affections of Reese Witherspoon; he also gives them guns, hand-to-hand combat skills and the full might of the CIA. Hilarity, touching moments and millions in property damage are sure to result.
Opening February 24
Act of Valor
Any film that includes in its cast ACTIVE DUTY NAVY SEALS automatically takes the cake for BA-ness in this reviewer's mind. Act of Valor follows a squad of SEALS charged with the dual task of rescuing a kidnapped CIA operative and straight-up killing as many terrorists as possible.
Tyler Perry's Good Deeds
Tyler Perry stars as Wesley Deeds, a man living like most men: in a zombie-like state of fulfilling expectations, living in the business world and unaware of how empty his life is. However, his lifestyle comes crashing down when he befriends a plucky single mother who gives him the courage to trade his successful lifestyle of meeting expectations for what he really always wanted.
Opening January 6
The Devil Inside
There's no better way to start off the New Year than by watching another exorcism film. Shot in low-budget documentary format like the popular Paranormal Activity, The Devil Inside follows the journey of Isabella Rossi to help her demon-possessed mother, Maria, and the ensuing chaos that surrounds the attempted exorcism. Adult diapers are not provided, but should be.
Opening January 13
Joyful Noise
Another feel-good, sing-song-y film about two sassy women brought together by the power of young love and song. When Vi Rose Hill is picked to be the new director of a struggling, small-town choir, she must contend with G. G. Sparrow, the former director's widow, and Randy, her ne'er do well grandson with a golden voice, to win the ‘Joyful Noise' choir competition in LA. Surely good feelings, up-beat music and its saccharine plot will put a smile on even the most seasonal-affected person's face.
Opening January 20
Underworld: Awakening
In the second sequel of the Underworld series Kate Beckensale returns as Selene, the leather corset-wearing, lycan-slaying vampire who laughs in the face of Twi-hards. After being imprisoned for 12 years, Selene awakens to find herself in a human-dominated world, where vampires and lycans are seen as a blight on society and are systematically hunted down. Selene must fight to stay alive and rescue the girl who might be the key to vampires' survival.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star in this feel-good film for the post-9/11 world. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close follows the quest of Oskar, a boy trying to make sense of his father's death in the World Trade Center. Upon finding a key tucked away inside his father's closet, Oskar sets out to unravel what might be a last, cryptic message from his beloved father. Be sure to bring some tissues, it's sure to be a tear-jerker.
Opening January 27
Man on a Ledge
In what's probably the most vertigo-inducing way to prove his innocence, Sam Worthington plays Nick Cassidy, an escaped convict who takes to a ledge 20 stories over New York City. Unbeknownst to the police, public, and the media, his staged suicide attempt is really a massive smokescreen to allow his brother and a crack team of criminals to pull off the perfect heist and take down the man that put Nick behind bars.
Opening Dec. 16
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the Impossible Missions Force are back. This time around, the punchy crew of specialists have to clear their names after being implicated in a bombing of the Kremlin. This outing, Brad Bird director of the no-holds-barred action features The Incredibles and Ratatouille, is directing the film. This one will surely send you home with that heartwarming nostaligia that only molten shrapnel can give. (This message will self-destruct in 10 seconds).
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Another episodic sequel is coming to theaters this holiday season as Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as the ever-so-clever mystery-solving duo of Holmes and Watson. This 18th century odd couple of sorts are finally up against Holmes' fabled nemesis Dr. Moriarty, a nefarious-yet-sophisticated fellow up to no good.
Opening Dec. 21
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The late Stieg Larsson's work no doubt has become a contemporary benchmark in the genres of crime and thriller. The Millennium Trilogy — which was published after Larsson's passing — is getting the American treatment by director David Fincher. Fincher most recently directed The Social Network, and has directed previous films such as Se7en, Zodiac and Fight Club. Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Stellan Skarsgård star.
Opening Dec. 23
We Bought a Zoo
This flick centers on the real-life account of Benjamin Mee, a widower with a young family. Benjamin quits his job, uproots his family to the countryside and buys a dilapidated zoo. He saves the 200-some animals facing destruction by restoring the zoo, as well as starting over in his own life, despite reservations from his family. Matt Damon stars along with Scarlett Johansson and Thomas Haden Church. Cameron Crowe directs.
Opening Dec. 25
War Horse
Steven Spielberg is out to use your heart like an emotion punching bag with this sweeping drama that takes place during World War I when a young man's beloved horse is sold into the cavalry. Although too young to enlist in the military, Albert travels to France in search of his equine life partner. The epic treated story stars relative Hollywood-newcomer Jeremy Irvine as well as Emily Watson and David Thewlis.
Opening November 4Harold and Kumar are once again united in a third odyssey fraught with pot, peril and Neil Patrick Harris. After drifting apart in the years following their ordeal at Gitmo, the dynamic duo must set off through the streets of New York City to find the perfect replacement for Harold's father-in-law's Christmas tree after Kumar accidentally torches it to the ground. Time is short and tempers high as they struggle to complete the quest before Christmas Day.
Tarsem Singh, of such visually stunning films as The Fall, directs a reimagining of Theseus' epic quest to save the world and get revenge. While evil King Hyperion ravages the Greek countryside seeking the ultimate weapon to overthrow the gods, the Sybelline oracle chooses Theseus as the one man capable of defeating him. Fighting to avenge his mother's death, Theseus and his small band are all that can stop Hyperion's bid for world domination.
If you think there's nothing cuter than penguin chicks dancing in the arctic, think again! Now they rap! In 3-D! When Erik, a penguin chick who can't dance, encounters a flying penguin he loses respect for his father Mumble. However, Erik's admiration of his father is renewed when Mumble works to unite the arctic creatures against the powerful forces that threaten to tear their world apart.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
It's the beginning of the end for Twi-hards everywhere, when the first installment of Stephenie Meyer's final novel hits theaters. The marital bliss of Edward and Bella is disrupted by her sudden pregnancy and a looming threat from the vampire council. All the plot threads begin to converge for a final showdown the penultimate installment of this romantic odyssey.
In another reunion-related film, the Muppets must rally together to save the Muppet theater from the money-grubbing oil tycoon Tex Richman. The Muppets' biggest fan, Walter, and his friends join forces to promote a record-setting 10-million dollar tel-a-thon to keep the theater from becoming just another oil well in an ever energy-hungry world. Jason Segel, of "How I Met Your Mother" fame brings his wild, quirky charm to the big screen again in this updated classic for the whole family.
