In Cinemas this week (14 – 20 February)

The Monuments Men

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action drama focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

Cast:
George Clooney (Frank Stokes)
Matt Damon (James Granger)
Bill Murray (Richard Campbell)
John Goodman (Walter Garfield)

Director: George Clooney
Writer: George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Runtime: 118 min
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

Winter’s Tale

New York City is subsumed in arctic winds, dark nights, and white lights, its life unfolds, for it is an extraordinary hive of the imagination, the greatest house ever built, and nothing exists that can check its vitality. One night in winter, Peter Lake, orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side. Though he thinks the house is empty, the daughter of the house is home. Thus begins the love between Peter, a middle-aged Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn, a young girl, who is dying.

Cast:
Colin Farrell (Peter Lake)
Russell Crowe (Pearly Soames)
Jessica Brown Findlay (Beverly Penn)
Jennifer Connelly (Virginia Gamely)

Director: Akiva Goldsman
Writer: Akiva Goldsman, Mark Helprin
Runtime: 118 min
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

Vampire Academy

Rose Hathaway is a dhampir, half-vampire and half-human, who is training to be a guardian at St Vladimir’s Academy along with many others like her. There are good and bad vampires in their world: Moroi, who co-exist peacefully among the humans and only take blood from donors, and also possess the ability to control one of the four elements – water, earth, fire or air; and Strigoi, blood-sucking, evil vampires who drink to kill. Rose and other dhampir guardians are trained to protect Moroi and kill Strigoi throughout their education. Along with her best friend, Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, a Moroi and the last of her line, with whom she has a nigh unbreakable bond, Rose must run away from St Vladimir’s, in order to protect Lissa from those who wish to harm the princess and use her for their own means.

Cast:
Zoey Deutch (Rose Hathaway)
Lucy Fry (Lissa Dragomir)
Danila Kozlovsky (Dimitri Belikov)
Olga Kurylenko (Headmistress Kirova)

Director: Mark Waters
Writer: Richelle Mead, Daniel Waters
Runtime: 104 min
Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

Delivery Man

David Wozniak is a man who is irresponsible and unreliable which doesn’t exactly endear him to his family and his girlfriend. And when she tells him that she’s pregnant, she tells him, she plans to do it on her own because she can’t count on him. One day a lawyer shows up and talks to him about the fact that twenty years ago he was a sperm donor for about a year and his sperm was used to father over 500 children. And now over 100 of them want to know who he is but because he signed a confidentiality agreement, they can’t be told who he is. So they are going to court to try to get the confidentiality set aside. His lawyer tells him that they can win this. But when the lawyer who saw him gives him info on the ones who want to see him, he takes a peek at one and decides to go see him and not tell him he’s the father. He then goes out and checks out some of his other children and doesn’t tell them who he is but makes connection with them. His lawyer tells him it could jeopardize their case, especially since he can get a big settlement which he can use to pay back some people he borrowed from who “tell” him to pay or else.

Cast:
Vince Vaughn (David)
Chris Pratt (Brett)
Cobie Smulders (Emma)
Andrzej Blumenfeld (Mikolaj)

Director: Ken Scott
Writer: Ken Scott
Runtime: 105 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

RoboCop

In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.

Cast:
Joel Kinnaman (Alex Murphy / RoboCop)
Gary Oldman (Dr. Dennett Norton)
Michael Keaton (Raymond Sellars)
Samuel L. Jackson (Pat Novak)

Director: José Padilha
Writer: Joshua Zetumer, Edward Neumeier
Runtime: 118 min
Genre: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

12 Years a Slave

Based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.

Cast:
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Solomon Northup)
Michael Fassbender (Edwin Epps)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Ford)
Brad Pitt (Bass)

Director: Steve McQueen
Writer: John Ridley, Solomon Northup
Runtime: 134 min
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

The Legend of Hercules

In Ancient Greece 1200 B.C., a queen succumbs to the lust of Zeus to bear a son promised to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship. But this prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He desires only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: to flee with his true love or to fulfill his destiny and become the true hero of his time. The story behind one of the greatest myths is revealed in this action-packed epic – a tale of love, sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit.

Cast:
Kellan Lutz (Hercules)
Gaia Weiss (Hebe)
Scott Adkins (King Amphitryon)
Roxanne McKee (Queen Alcmene)

Director: Renny Harlin
Writer: Sean Hood, Daniel Giat
Runtime: 99 min
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Based on the character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, “Jack Ryan” is a global action thriller set in the present day. This original story follow a young Jack as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot. The story follows him from 9/11, through his tour of duty in Afghanistan, which scarred him forever, and into his early days in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the modern CIA where he becomes an analyst, under the guardianship of his handler, Harper. When Ryan believes he’s uncovered a Russian plot to collapse the United States economy, he goes from being an analyst to becoming a spy and must fight to save his own life andthose of countless others, while also trying to protect the thing that’s more important to him than anything, his relationship with his fiancée Cathy.

Cast:
Chris Pine (Jack Ryan)
Keira Knightley (Cathy Muller)
Kevin Costner (Thomas Harper)
Kenneth Branagh (Viktor Cherevin)

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writer: Adam Cozad, David Koepp
Runtime: 105 min
Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

The Book Thief

Based on the beloved international bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the story of an extraordinary, spirited young girl sent to live with a foster family in WWII Germany. Intrigued by the only book she brought with her, she begins collecting books as she finds them. With the help of her new parents and a secret guest under the stairs, she learns to read and creates a magical world that inspires them all.

Cast:
Geoffrey Rush (Hans)
Sophie Nélisse (Liesel)
Emily Watson (Rosa)
Nico Liersch (Rudy)

Director: Brian Percival
Writer: Markus Zusak, Michael Petroni
Runtime: 131 min
Genre: Drama
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Blue Jasmine

After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger’s modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again.

Cast:
Cate Blanchett (Jasmine)
Alec Baldwin (Hal)
Louis C.K. (Al)
Peter Sarsgaard (Dwight)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Runtime: 98 min
Genre: Drama
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Walking with Dinosaurs (Greek)

For the first time in movie history, audiences will truly see and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS is the ultimate immersive, big screen adventure for families. Meet dinosaurs more real than you’ve ever seen as you take off on a thrilling prehistoric adventure, where Patchi, an underdog dinosaur, triumphs against all odds to become a hero for the ages.

Cast:
Justin Long (Patchi)
Karl Urban (Uncle Zack)
Tiya Sircar (Juniper)
John Leguizamo (Alex)

Director: Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale
Writer: John Collee
Runtime: 87 min
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2013

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Ben Stiller directs and stars in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, James Thurber’s classic story of a day-dreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Cast:
Ben Stiller (Walter Mitty)
Kristen Wiig (Cheryl Melhoff)
Jon Daly (Tim Naughton)
Shirley MacLaine (Edna Mitty)

Director: Ben Stiller
Writer: Steve Conrad, James Thurber
Runtime: 114 min
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Frozen

Anna, a fearless optimist, sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven – to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. From the outside Anna’s sister, Elsa looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret – she was born with the power to create ice and snow. It’s a beautiful ability, but also extremely dangerous. Haunted by the moment her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna, Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can’t stop. She fears she’s becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her. In Greek dubbed by Costas Darlasis, Ilias Zervos, Phivos Rimenas, Christos Syriotis.

Cast:
Kristen Bell (Anna)
Idina Menzel (Elsa)
Jonathan Groff (Kristoff)
Josh Gad (Olaf)

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Writer: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Runtime: 102 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy
Rating: K
Language: English/Greek
Production Year: 2013

Carrie

A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King.

Cast:
Julianne Moore (Margaret White)
Chloë Grace Moretz (Carrie White)
Gabriella Wilde (Gabriella Wilde)
Portia Doubleday (Chris Hargensen)

Director: Kimberly Peirce
Writer: Lawrence D. Cohen, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Runtime: 100 min
Genre: Drama, Horror
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

The Counselor

A rich and successful lawyer named Counselor is about to get married to his fiancée but soon meets up with the middle-man known as Westray who tells him his drug trafficking plan has taken a horrible twist and now he must protect himself and his soon bride-to-be lover as the truth of the drug business uncovers and targets become chosen.

Cast:
Michael Fassbender (Counselor)
Penélope Cruz (Laura)
Cameron Diaz (Malkina)
Javier Bardem (Reiner)

Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Cormac McCarthy
Runtime: 117 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Turbo (Greek)

Theo, a.k.a Turbo, is a garden snail who dreams of being the greatest racer in the world, just like his hero, 5-time Indianapolis 500 champ, Guy Gagne. His obsession with speed and all things fast has made him an oddity and an outsider in the slow and cautious snail community, and a constant embarrassment to his cautious older brother, Chet. Turbo desperately wishes he could escape the slow-paced life he’s living, but his one chance to live proves a near fatal disaster. Demoralized Theo wanders onto a freeway to admire the traffic and gets into a freak accident when he gets sucked into the supercharger of a drag racer, fusing his DNA with nitrous oxide on a street race.

Cast:
Yiorgos Skoufis
Antinoos Albanis
Yiannis Stefopoulos
Fotis Petridis

Director: David Soren
Writer: Darren Lemke, Robert D. Siegel
Runtime: 96 min
Genre: Animation
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2013