Upcoming Theatrical Releases
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Monsters, Inc. 3D
Director: Pete Docter and David Silverman
G; 95 mins
Trailer
After exploring the worlds of toys and bugs in the two Toy Story films and A Bug’s Life, the award-winning computer animation company Pixar delves into the realm of monsters with its fourth feature. Hulking, blue-furred behemoth James P. “Sully” Sullivan (John Goodman) and his one-eyed assistant Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are employed by Monsters, Inc., a scream processing factory. It seems that the denizens of their realm thrive on the screams of kids spooked by monsters lurking under their beds and in their closets. It’s the job of Sully, Mike, and their co-workers, including sarcastic Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi), crab-like CEO Henry J. Waternoose (James Coburn), and lovely snake-headed receptionist Celia (Jennifer Tilly) to keep the frights flowing. When Sully and Mike are followed back into the monster world by a very unafraid little human girl named Boo (Mary Gibbs), they are exiled to her universe, where they discover that such a modern-day mythological specimen as the Abominable Snowman is a fellow refugee. (Synopsis by Rovi)
The classic Pixar story is returning to theaters in 3D.
The Guilt Trip
Director: Anne Fletcher
PG-13; 96 mins
Trailer
An inventor and his mom hit the road together so he can sell his latest invention. (Synopsis by the Official Site)
About as enjoyable as any long car ride with your mother when you’re over the age of 12, and painfully unfunny. The mother-son relation dynamic is well done, but past that, this is pure cornball.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Jack Reacher
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
PG-13; 131 mins
Trailer
Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me. And sure enough, ex-military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter-a trained military sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not right-and soon the slam-dunk case explodes. Now Reacher is teamed with a beautiful young defense lawyer, moving closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. Reacher knows that no two opponents are created equal. This one has come to the heartland from his own kind of hell. And Reacher knows that the only way to take him down is to match his ruthlessness and cunning-and then beat him shot for shot. (Synopsis by the Official Site)
The error here is that the film takes itself too seriously. Then there is the size different between the hulking hero of Lee Child’s books and, well, Cruise. Five feet of pure, overly serious fury is hard not to smile behind your hand at. It’s palatable as action films go, so they got that right at least.
This is 40
Director: Judd Apatow
R; 134 mins
Trailer
Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People) brings audiences This Is 40, an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit Knocked Up as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life. (Synopsis by Universal)
I know we were all kept up at night wondering what happened after “Knocked Up.” No? So we really didn’t need to make this? At least it is funny in that Apatow way.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Django Unchained
Director: Quentin Tarantino
R; 165 mins
Trailer
Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. (Synopsis by Weinstein)
If there was one director to make yet another re-make of the most re-made film of all time, it was Tarantino. Pushing his craft even further than he did with “Inglourious Basterds,” this is one hell of a ride on Christmas Day.
Parental Guidance
Director: Andy Fickman
PG; 105 mins
Trailer
Old school grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott) go away for work. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned games, it’s learning to bend – and not holding your ground – that binds a family together (Synopsis by the Official Site)
Well at least the grandparents will have something to watch on Christmas when the boys go to see “Django” and the girls see “Les Mis.” They may also be the only ones that remember Billy Crystal at this point (except as the voice of Mike in “Monsters Inc.” 11 years ago). Apparently he never did find “Curly’s Gold.”
Les Miserables
Director: Tom Hooper
PG-13; 160 mins
Trailer
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. (Synopsis by Universal)
This is already being hailed as one of the best movie musicals by merging the best parts of the stage with the grandeur of the screen. The actors all hit their notes, quelling concerns that Jackman and Crowe didn’t have the chops. Maybe they never saw Crowe in “Rocky Horror.”
Upcoming DVD Releases
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Total Recall
PG-13; 121 mins
Trailer
Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. (Synopsis by Sony)
Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
PG; 93 mins
Trailer
During his summer vacation, “Wimpy Kid” Greg Heffley, the hero of the phenomenally successful book series, hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club – which fails to keep him away from the season’s dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong. (Synopsis by 20th Century Fox)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Resident Evil: Retribution
R; 95 mins
Trailer
The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. (Synopsis by Sony)
Premium Rush
PG-13; 90 mins
Trailer
Dodging speeding cars, crazed cabbies, open doors, and eight million cranky pedestrians is all in a day’s work for Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the best of New York’s agile and aggressive bicycle messengers. It takes a special breed to ride the fixie – super lightweight, single-gear bikes with no brakes and riders who are equal part skilled cyclists and suicidal nutcases who risk becoming a smear on the pavement every time they head into traffic. But a guy who’s used to putting his life on the line is about to get more than even he is used to when a routine delivery turns into a life or death chase through the streets of Manhattan. When Wilee picks up his last envelope of the day on a premium rush run, he discovers this package is different. This time, someone is actually trying to kill him. (Synopsis by Sony)
Killer Joe
NC-17; 103 mins
Trailer
When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he’s dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris’s mother, who everyone hates, has a life insurance policy that would clear up his debt and make them all rich. The problem is that Chris’ mother is very much alive. Enter Detective “Killer” Joe Cooper, a hired hit man with the manners of a Southern gentleman, who will do the job – for an upfront fee, that Chris and Ansel can’t pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris’ innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he’ll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid. (Synopsis by Voltage Pictures)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.