In Cinemas this week (14 – 20 December)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D

Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Cast:
Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
Martin Freeman (Bilbo)
Richard Armitage (Thorin)
Ken Stott (Balin)

Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Runtime: 169 min
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Seven Psychopaths

Marty is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay, “Seven Psychopaths”. Billy is Marty’s best friend, an unemployed actor and part time dog thief, who wants to help Marty by any means necessary. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration. Hans is Billy’s partner in crime. A religious man with a violent past. Charlie is the psychopathetic gangster whose beloved dog Billy and Hans have just stolen. Charlie’s unpredictable, extremely violent and wouldn’t think twice about killing anyone or anything associated with the theft. Marty is going to get all the focus and inspiration he needs, just as long as he lives to tell the tale.

Cast:
Colin Farrell (Marty)
Sam Rockwell (Billy)
Christopher Walken (Hans)
Woody Harrelson (Charlie)

Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Runtime: 110 min
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Shadow Dancer

During an aborted bomb attempt in London, Collette falls into the hands of an MI5 officer, Mac, who offers her a deal: turn informant or go to prison. Fearing for her son’s welfare, she returns to Belfast where betraying family and beliefs she becomes a reluctant mole for British intelligence. As suspicion of Collette mounts and Mac takes increasing risks to protect her, both feel the net closing in.

Cast:
Clive Owen (Mac)
Andrea Riseborough (Colette McVeigh)
Gillian Anderson (Kate Fletcher)
Aidan Gillen (Gerry)

Director: James Marsh
Writer: Tom Bradby
Runtime: 101 min
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Hotel Transylvania (Greek)

Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis.

Voices:
Vassilis Charalambopoulos
Stefania Filiadi
Angelos Liagos
Elias Zervos

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Writer: Peter Baynham, Robert Smigel
Runtime: 91 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2012

Lawless

The three Bondurant brothers run a bootlegging operation during the depression, up in the mountains of Franklin County, Virginia. Crooked Special Deputy Charles Rakes is after a share of the brothers’ profits. Compounding their troubles, the local competition is elbowing in on their activities. Forrest’s boisterous defiance and Cricket’s knack for moonshine production help the brothers gain a local monopoly. When Forrest is wounded as tension with Rakes escalates, Jack, initially the timid one, must prove his worth against gangster Floyd Banner’s mob, and we see him metamorphose into a cocky exhibitionist in his attempts to woo the off-limits preacher’s daughter, Bertha.

Cast:
Shia LaBeouf (Jack Bondurant)
Tom Hardy (Forrest Bondurant)
Guy Pearce (Charlie Rakes)
Gary Oldman (Floyd Banner)

Director: John Hillcoat
Writer: Nick Cave, Matt Bondurant
Runtime: 116 min
Genre: Crime, Drama
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Rise of the Guardians

When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.

Voices:
Chris Pine / Antinoos Albanis (Jack Frost)
Alec Baldwin / Costas Triandafillopoulos (North)
Jude Law / Christodoulos Stylianou
Hugh Jackman / Vassilis Milios

Director: Peter Ramsey
Writer: David Lindsay-Abaire, William Joyce
Runtime: 97 min
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Rating: K
Language: English / Greek
Production Year: 2012

Killing Them Softly

Three dumb guys who think they’re smart rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse. Professional enforcer Jackie Cogan is hired to track them down and restore order.

Cast:
Brad Pitt (Jackie)
Ray Liotta (Markie Trattman)
Richard Jenkins (Driver)
James Gandolfini (Mickey)

Director: Andrew Dominik
Writer: Andrew Dominik, George V. Higgins
Runtime: 97 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2

Bella is enjoying her new life and new powers, after the birth of their daughter, Renesmee. Soon, however, their family bliss is threatened again, by a new menace. Vampire Irina believes a child like Renesmee could challenge the power and existence of the Volturi. As Irina rallies the Volturi to destroy this potential threat, Bella and the Cullens – together with any allies they can assemble – are preparing to fight a crucial, ultimate battle, to protect their family.

Cast:
Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan)
Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen)
Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black)
Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen)

Director: Bill Condon
Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer
Runtime: 115 min
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Taken 2

Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent, stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim from Albanian kidnappers. The father of one of the kidnappers has sworn revenge and takes Bryan and his wife Lenore hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul. Bryan enlists his daughter to help them escape.

Cast:
Liam Neeson (Bryan Mills)
Maggie Grace (Kim)
Famke Janssen (Lenore)
Rade Serbedzija (Murad Krasniqi)

Director: Olivier Megaton
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Runtime: 92 min
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Skyfall

Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Cast:
Daniel Craig (James Bond)
Judi Dench (M)
Javier Bardem (Silva)
Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory)

Director: Sam Mendes
Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Runtime: 143 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012