Jump to content

February Movies: Safe House, Journey 2, Woman in Black and....


Mark Vader

Recommended Posts

The new year rolls on as the movie studios intensify their push for Oscar gold, they will also continue to release their somewhat less than desirable fare in the month of February. There is a wide array of films once again, although there are a lack of big "must see" movies this month.

 

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in "Safe House". A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge. Also starring Vera Farmiga, Robert Patrick & Brendan Gleeson.

 

Josh Hutcherson & Dwayne Johnson star in "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island. Also starring Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman & Michael Caine.

 

Daniel Radcliffe headlines "The Woman in Black". A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals. Also starring Janet McTeer, Ciaran Hinds & Emma Shorey.

 

In "Act of Valor", a Navy SEALS movie featuring actual SEALS, an elite team of Navy SEALs embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. Starring Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano & Alexander Asefa.

 

Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine & Tom Hardy star in the romantic-action-comedy "This Means War". Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.

 

Nicolas Cage returns in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance", As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form. Also starring Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba & Christopher Lambert.

 

Rachel McAdams & Channing Tatum star in "The Vow". A car accident puts Paige in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo works to win her heart again. Also starring Sam Neill & Jessica Lange.

 

Paul Rudd & Jennifer Aniston star in "Wanderlust". Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules. Also starring Malin Akerman, Justing Theroux, Ray Liotta & Alan Alda.

 

In "Big Miracle", Set in small town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend - a Greenpeace volunteer - on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. Starring Drew Barrymore & John Krasinski.

 

In "Rampart", Set in 1999 Los Angeles, veteran police officer Dave Brown, the last of the renegade cops, works to take care of his family, and struggles for his own survival. Starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Sigourney Weaver & Jon Bernthal.

 

Disney continues to be USA distributor for Japanese Anime movies, this time with "The Secret World of Arrietty". The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their daughter, Arrietty, is discovered.

 

In "Gone", When her sister disappears, Jill is convinced the serial killer who kidnapped her two years ago has returned, and she sets out to once again face her abductor. Starring Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Wes Bentley & Daniel Sunjata.

 

In "Chronicle", Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Alex Russell & Dane DeHaan.

 

In "The Innkeepers", During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay. Starring Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis & Alison Bartlett.

 

Tyler Perry stars and directs "Good Deeds". Right before his wedding, an affluent man develops complicating feelings for a single mom. Also starring Gabrielle Union, Thandie Newton & Rebecca Romijn.

 

Finally in keeping with the trend of re-releasing movies in 3D, this time we get "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo. Starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz & Terrance Stamp.

 

Calendar with Trailers

 

2/3

"The Woman in Black": http://www.womaninblack.com/#/trailer

 

"Chronicle": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2750324249/

 

"Big Miracle": http://www.everybodyloveswhales.com/

 

"The Innkeepers": http://www.magnetreleasing.com/theinnkeepers/

 

2/10

"Safe House": http://www.nooneissafe.com/

 

"The Vow": http://www.thevow-movie.com/

 

"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island": http://www.themysteriousisland.com/

 

"Rampart": http://rampartmovie.com/

 

"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace": http://www.starwars.com/watch/episode-i-3d.html

 

2/14

"This Means War": http://www.thismeanswarmovie.com/

 

2/17

"Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance": http://www.thespiritofvengeance.com/

 

"The Secret World of Arrietty": http://disney.go.com/arrietty/

 

2/24

"Wanderlust": http://www.wanderlust-movie.com/Wanderlust/home.html

 

"Good Deeds": http://tylerperry.com/movies/good-deeds/

 

"Gone": http://www.gone-movie.com/

 

"Act of Valor": http://actofvalor.com/

 

That's all for now. Independent Films will be posted later. Enjoy!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally in keeping with the trend of re-releasing movies in 3D, this time we get "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo. Starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz & Terrance Stamp.

What is the expected turnout for this? For me, I'm kinda on the fence about going to see it. I imagine there are some that will be there opening weekend, and others that won't bother, but I gotta think the turnout won't be as much as when it was first out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is the expected turnout for this? For me, I'm kinda on the fence about going to see it. I imagine there are some that will be there opening weekend, and others that won't bother, but I gotta think the turnout won't be as much as when it was first out.

 

I don't understand it, but for whatever reason, there must be a market for these things. I'm kind of curious though. What has you considering it? Are you a fan of the 3D movies? I can't picture people going to see any of these re-releases simply because they liked the movie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't understand it, but for whatever reason, there must be a market for these things. I'm kind of curious though. What has you considering it? Are you a fan of the 3D movies? I can't picture people going to see any of these re-releases simply because they liked the movie.

I'm a fan of some 3D movies. I liked Avatar, Harold & Kumar Christmas I could have skipped the 3D version. This I think will look good in 3D. But for me it depends on the funds in my pocket if I go see it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is the expected turnout for this? For me, I'm kinda on the fence about going to see it. I imagine there are some that will be there opening weekend, and others that won't bother, but I gotta think the turnout won't be as much as when it was first out.

I saw previews for the 3D version of this movie when I went to see another 3D movie. I wasn't too impressed with the 3D special effects. To me, it looked like I was watching it on a nice quality HDTV. That's what it seems like with all of these old movies that they are making 3D. Not worth the extra $$ for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks again Mark, but only one thing comes to mind after this one. I can't wait until May.

I feel the same way shrader. Although I must admit that the month of March is shaping up to be an exciting movie month too. I'll be working on my Summer Movie preview soon.

 

Also we'll get a trailer for "The Avengers" for the Super Bowl, also previews for "Act of Valor", "The Dictator", "Battleship", "John Carter" & "G.I. Joe:Retaliation".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll probably hit up star wars not just cause I'm a SW nerd, but also to get a little taste of nostalgia from 1999...easily one of the best years of my life.

 

Any word on how the conversion looks? Since the film was shot digitally, does that lend itself to better 3D effects?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me odd but Drew Barrymore could read the phone book and I would buy a ticket. Ah such is love.

 

The approximation of a conversation that I had with a work-friend in 2009...

 

 

Friend: We're gonna catch a movie later on today, you in?

 

Me: What're you seeing?

 

Friend: 500 Days of Summer

 

Me: (thinking it's a sci-fi flick based on the title) Hmmm, what's that?

 

Friend: It's like, some hipster guy and he's obsessed with this quirky girl.

 

Me: Haha. Ok, I think I'll pass. Thanks, though. Do you know who's in it?

 

Friend: Yeah, it's Joseph Gordon Leavitt and that girl from Almost Famous?

 

Me: Kate Hudson?

 

Friend: No, the sister. (Zooey Deschanel)

 

Me: When are we leaving?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We saw the Iron Lady last night. Gret subject, great portrail by Streep but awful script and direction. Very disappointing.

 

Yep.

 

It seemed like whoever wrote and directed had such a dislike for Thatcher, that they tried to temper it by making her something pitiable. And so it was less biography than a 'Look how the mighty have fallen!' uppercut. The interspersing timeline and flashback narrative style doesn't allow for us to get an undistracted glimpse of her glory years. There's always this slap in the face that the woman is now senile, physically seeing her deceased husband and thinking she's still the PM. But even then, they took to task that metaphor of the "Iron Lady," careerist, giving her own children the cold shoulder, and the requisite "shop-keeper's daughter" quips. It would be like a film of Ronald Reagan's life concentrating hard and viewed through the extrapolated, exaggerated prism of his secluded Alzheimers' years that few people would even be able to speak of --- but that would be more appropriate, given that some of the signs did show in public. There weren't more important things to focus on that happened in her longest reign as PM? They had to assault her with this, during her lifetime? Yes, some people get old and some people develop dementia, but the decline is not the most important part of someone's life. I fundamentally disagree with this period of Thatcher's life being used as the basis.

 

I suppose the excuse would be that it's a "King Lear"-like drama that focuses on the final fall of its subject, laying out where he'd gone wrong and the ignominy of no longer having power coupled with the loss of wit and vigor. But Shakespeare with a quill and moving his players, this was not. The performances were good with what they were given, but it's a shame that Streep and Broadbent were used so ill here.

 

No surprise that Hollywood gave it a political nomination. As Sean Penn himself said after he won for "Milk" in 2009, God knows they can't resist lauding "commies and homos." And, I would add, the cutting-off-at-the-knees of strong women who happen to be politically conservative --- just about the only thing most Academy members do judge to be an unnatural abomination.

 

Frankly, it looks like they hope to use the cachet of "The King's Speech" win last year (Firth's performance aside, something I was very disappointed with, given the screenplay's reductive and overwhelmingly fast and loose portrayal of history) and hope that a film about a British upper-cruster's personal battle with disorder can catch lightning in the Kodak _______ Theater a second time.

Edited by UConn James
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me odd but Drew Barrymore could read the phone book and I would buy a ticket. Ah such is love.

 

right there with ya...Drew is a total babe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We saw the Iron Lady last night. Gret subject, great portrail by Streep but awful script and direction. Very disappointing.

You are echoing the sentiments of many reviewers: Great performance/so-so movie. That's why I am skipping this movie. Maybe I'll catch it on DVD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1328373994[/url]' post='2376748']

Frankly, it looks like they hope to use the cachet of "The King's Speech" win last year (Firth's performance aside, something I was very disappointed with, given the screenplay's reductive and overwhelmingly fast and loose portrayal of history) and hope that a film about a British upper-cruster's personal battle with disorder can catch lightning in the Kodak _______ Theater a second time.

 

Funny you mention The Kings Speech because I made the same comment to my wife, but not about The Iron Lady. One of the previews last night was for a movie about Edward VIII. I guess Hollywood has England fever again.

 

Otherwise, I think your take is about right. Let's make up a story that she's a lonely, demented old woman now because we didn't like her politics 30 years ago.

Edited by KD in CT
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally in keeping with the trend of re-releasing movies in 3D, this time we get "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo. Starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz & Terrance Stamp.

 

As often as these are re-released, why don't they just get it over with and rename all the Star Wars movies "George Lucas Needs Another Mansion."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...