In Cinemas this week (13 Mar. – 19 Mar.)

The Tale of Despereaux (English)

The tale of three unlikely heroes – a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears – whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle’s princess.

Voices:
Matthew Broderick (Despereaux)
Dustin Hoffman (Roscuro)
Emma Watson (Princess Pea)
Kevin Kline (Andre)

Director: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
Writer: Kate DiCamillo, Will McRobb
Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language:English
Production Year: 2008

The Tale of Despereaux (Greek)

The tale of three unlikely heroes – a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears – whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle’s princess.

Voices:
Sioulis Stavros (Despereaux)
Masmanides Tasos (Roscuro)
Kapsampeli Sofia (Princess Pea)
Damoulis Petros (Andre)

Director: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
Writer: Kate DiCamillo, Will McRobb
Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language:Greek
Production Year: 2008

Passengers

After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire, is assigned by her mentor to counsel the flight’s five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident — which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened — Claire is intrigued by Eric, the most secretive of the passengers. Just as Claire’s professional relationship with Eric — despite her better judgment — blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences.

Cast:
Anne Hathaway (Claire Summers)
Patrick Wilson (Eric)
Andre Braugher (Perry)
Dianne Wiest (Toni)

Director: Rodrigo García
Writer: Ronnie Christensen
Runtime: 93 min
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

The Duchess

At the age of 17, Georgiana Spencer is married to the Duke of Devonshire. She soon realizes that hers is to be a loveless marriage and her only purpose in the arrangement is to provide her husband with a male heir. She hasn’t much good fortune on that front, producing two daughters and having several miscarriages as well and it is many years before she succeeds. What relationship she does have with her husband breaks down completely when he begins what proves to be a lifelong affair with her best friend, Bess Foster. She does make a life for herself, becoming quite active in politics and the fashion icon of her day.

Cast:
Keira Knightley (Georgiana)
Ralph Fiennes (The Duke)
Hayley Atwell (Bess Foster)
Dominic Cooper (Charles Grey)

Director: Saul Dibb
Writer: Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen
Runtime: 110 min
Genre: Drama, History
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Killshot

Beautiful Carmen Colson and her ironworker husband Wayne are placed in the Federal Witness Protection program after witnessing an extortion scheme go wrong. Thinking they are at last safe, they are targeted by an experienced intimidating hit man and a psychopathic young upstart killer. The ensuing struggle will test Carmen to the limit.

Cast:
Diane Lane (Carmen Colson)
Mickey Rourke (Armand ‘The Blackbird’ Degas)
Thomas Jane (Wayne Colson)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Richie Nix)

Director: John Madden
Writer: Hossein Amini, Elmore Leonard
Runtime: 84 min
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Marley & Me

A tale of a couple embarking on the adventure of marriage, career, family, and the world’s worst dog. At least that’s how writer and newlywed John comes to describe his blonde lab, Marley, when he takes the puppy home and finds that the fluff-ball has an uncanny ability to eat and/or destroy just about anything. As years go by, John and his wife, Jennifer, contemplate having babies and moving across the country, while Marley grows into 100 lbs. of funny, wild, completely untrainable canine companionship — as well as one of the most important people in the family.

Cast:
Owen Wilson (John Grogan)
Jennifer Aniston (Jennifer Grogan)
Eric Dane (Sebastian)
Kathleen Turner (Ms. Kornblut)

Director: David Frankel
Writer: Scott Frank, Don Roos
Runtime: 111 min
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Watchmen

In a gritty and alternate 1985 the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown, but after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so discover a deeper and far more diabolical plot.

Cast:
Malin Akerman (Laurie Jupiter / Silk Spectre II)
Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan / Jon Osterman)
Matthew Goode (Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias)
Jackie Earle Haley (Walter Kovacs / Rorschach)

Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: David Hayter, Alex Tse
Runtime: 163 min
Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Yes Man

Carl Allen’s life is going nowhere – the operative word being "no" – until he signs up for self-help program based on one simple covenant: say yes to everything…and anything. Unleashing the power of "YES" begins to transform Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, getting him promoted at work and opening the door to a new romance. Bit his willingness to embrace every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing.

Cast:
Jim Carrey (Carl Allen)
Zooey Deschanel (Allison)
Bradley Cooper (Peter)
John Michael Higgins (Nick)

Director: Peyton Reed
Writer: Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul
Runtime: 104 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Hotel For Dogs

When 16 year old Andi and her younger brother, Bruce, find themselves in a foster home with a strict "no pets" policy, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and begin transforming it into the perfect home for Friday – as well as all the strays in the city. In no time, the kids have transformed the old hotel into something truly magical: a home for both the dogs and for themselves. But they have also aroused the suspicions of the police who want to know – who let the dogs in?

Cast:
Emma Roberts (Andi)
Jake T. Austin (Bruce)
Don Cheadle (Bernie)
Lisa Kudrow (Lois Scudder)

Director: Thor Freudenthal
Writer: Jeff Lowell, Robert Schooley
Runtime: 100 min
Genre: Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Valkyrie

At the height of WW2, a group of high-ranking German officers hatched a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, and seize power of the military command in order to end the war. The operation was codenamed “Valkyrie”, for the emergency plan that was meant to be used in case of a revolt against the Nazi government. This plan had been modified by the conspirators to ensure their success, but for various reasons the plot failed when finally carried out on 20 July 1944.

Cast:
Tom Cruise (Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg)
Kenneth Branagh (Major-General Henning von Tresckow)
Bill Nighy (General Friedrich Olbricht)
Tom Wilkinson (General Friedrich Fromm)

Director: Bryan Singer
Writer: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Runtime: 121 min
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

The Pink Panther 2

Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the legendary French Officer of the Law, who single-handedly saved the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, has been working outside the museum where the diamond is on display writing parking tickets for the last 6 months. Chief Inspector Dreyfus assigned this duty to his bumbling and inept police officer to get him out of his hair. Recently, treasures from around the world have been stolen by the Tornado, and an international dream team of detectives is being assembled to capture him. Chief Inspector Dreyfus is ordered to assign Clouseau to the dream team. As soon as Clouseau joins the team, the Pink Panther Diamond is stolen by the Tornado. Now Clouseau must not only capture the Tornado, but save the diamond again.

Cast:
Steve Martin (Insp. Jacques Clouseau)
Jean Reno (Ponton)
John Cleese (Chief Inspector Dreyfus)
Andy Garcia (Vicenzo)
Alfred Molina (Pepperidge)

Director: Harald Zwart
Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Runtime: 92 min
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Changeling

As Christine said goodbye to her son, Walter, and departed for work, she never anticipated that this was the day her life would be forever changed. Upon returning home, Christine was distressed to discover that Walter was nowhere to be found. Over the course of the following months, the desperate mother would launch a search that would ultimately prove fruitless. Yet just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a nine-year-old boy claiming to be Christine’s son seemed to appear out of thin air. Overcome with emotions and uncertain how to face the authorities or the press, Christine invites the child to stay in her home despite knowing without a doubt that he is not her son.

Cast:
Angelina Jolie (Christine Collins)
Gattlin Griffith (Walter Collins)
John Malkovich (Rev. Gustav Briegleb)
Colm Feore (Chief James E. Davis)

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Runtime: 141 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

The Day the Earth Stood Still

A representative of an alien race that went through drastic evolution to survive its own climate change, Klaatu comes to Earth to assess whether humanity can prevent the environmental damage they have inflicted on their own planet. Klaatu himself already has a negative opinion of humans, and when detained by the United States Secretary of Defense, and barred from speaking to the United Nations, he decides they shall be exterminated so the planet can survive.

Cast:
Keanu Reeves (Klaatu)
Jennifer Connelly (Helen Benson)
Kathy Bates (Regina Jackson)
Jaden Smith (Jacob Benson)

Director: Scott Derrickson
Writer: David Scarpa, Edmund H. North (1951 screenplay)
Runtime: 103 min
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Bolt (Greek)

Bolt, an American White Shepherd, has lived his whole life on the set of his action TV show, where he believes he has superpowers. When separated from the studio by accident, he meets a female alley cat named Mittens and a hamster named Rhino. Along the way, he learns that he doesn’t have superpowers and that the show is not real.

Voices:
Katerina Tsavalou
Demetris Starovas
Smaragda Karidi
Chris William

Director: Byron Howard, Chris Williams
Writer: Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams
Runtime: 103 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language:Greek
Production Year: 2008

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Chloe is a Beverly Hills Chihuahua who is just so pampered, with clothes, jewelery, and a life style anyone would die to have. Her owner, Vivian, has to go away on a business trip and leaves her party girl niece, Rachel, to watch Chloe. When they go to Mexico, Chloe is kidnapped and put into a dog fight… she is then saved by another dog, Delgado, who is going to help her get back to Beverly Hills. But when the man who runs the dog fights finds out that Chloe is worth something, he sends his Doberman dog, Diablo, after her. Rachel, the land scaper, Sam, and his dog, Pepi who is also in love with Chloe, are on the hunt to find her and get her home safe and sound.

Cast:
Drew Barrymore (Chloe – voice)
Piper Perabo (Rachel Ashe Lynn)
Andy Garcia (Delgado – voice)
George Lopez (Papi – voice)

Director: Raja Gosnell
Writer: Analisa LaBianco, Jeffrey Bushell
Runtime: 91 min
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2008

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Greek)

The sequel to 2005’s “Madagascar”, in which New York Zoo animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, still stranded on Madagascar, start to leave the island. All of a sudden, they land in the wilderness of Africa, where Alex meets the rest of his family, but has trouble communicating with them after spending so much time at the Central Park Zoo.

Voices:
Gerasimos Gennatas
Diamantis Karanastasis
Katerina Girgis
Thanos Kalliris

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Writer: Etan Cohen
Runtime: 89 min
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language:Greek
Production Year: 2008

High School Musical 3

As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.

Cast:
Zac Efron (Troy Bolton)
Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella Montez)
Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans)
Lucas Grabeel (Ryan Evans)

Director: Kenny Ortega
Writer: Peter Barsocchini
Runtime: 112 min
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2008