In Cinemas this week (17 – 23 February)

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D

In this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit Journey to the Center of the Earth, the new 3D family adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island begins when young Sean Anderson receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank, joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter, they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

Cast:
Dwayne Johnson (Hank)
Michael Caine (Alexander)
Josh Hutcherson (Sean)
Vanessa Hudgens (Kailani)

Director: Brad Peyton
Writer: Brian Gunn, Mark Gunn
Runtime: 94 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

This Means War

The world’s deadliest CIA operatives are inseparable partners and best friends until they fall for the same woman. Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis ever – each other.

Cast:
Reese Witherspoon (Lauren)
Chris Pine (FDR Foster)
Tom Hardy (Tuck)
Chelsea Handler (Trish)

Director: McG
Writer: Timothy Dowling, Simon Kinberg
Runtime: 98 min
Genre: Comedy, Action, Romance
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Hugo 3D

Hugo is an orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in the 1930s in Paris. He fixes clocks and other gadgets as he learned to from his father and uncle. The only thing that he has left that connects him to his father is an automaton that doesn’t work; Hugo has to find its heart-shaped key. On his adventures, he meets with a cranky old man who works in the train station and his adventure-seeking god-daughter. Hugo finds that they have a surprising connection to his father and the automaton, and as he discovers it, the old man starts remembering his past and his significance to the world of film-making.

Cast:
Ben Kingsley (Georges Méliès)
Asa Butterfield (Hugo Cabret)
Chloë Grace Moretz (Isabelle)
Christopher Lee (Monsieur Labisse)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: John Logan, Brian Selznick
Runtime: 126 min
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

Jack and Jill

Jack Sadelstein is a successful advertising executive in Los Angeles with a beautiful wife and kids, who dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his identical twin sister Jill. Jill’s neediness and passive-aggressiveness is maddening to Jack, turning his normally tranquil life upside down.

Cast:
Adam Sandler (Jack Sadelstein / Jill Sadelstein)
Al Pacino
Katie Holmes (Erin Sadelstein)
Elodie Tougne (Sofia Sadelstein)

Director: Dennis Dugan
Writer: Adam Sandler, Steve Koren
Runtime: 91 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D

The evil Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray is planning to take over the peaceful world of Naboo. Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to confront the leaders. But not everything goes to plan. The two Jedi escape, and along with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks head to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala, but droids have already started to capture Naboo and the Queen is not safe there. Eventually, they land on Tatooine, where they become friends with a young boy known as Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon is curious about the boy, and sees a bright future for him. The group must now find a way of getting to Coruscant and to finally solve this trade dispute, but there is someone else hiding in the shadows. Are the Sith really extinct? Is the Queen who she really says she is? And what’s so special about this young boy?

Cast:
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn)
Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala)
Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker)

Director: George Lucas
Writer: George Lucas
Runtime: 136 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 1999

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

With Dr. John Watson about to marry and end their partnership, a disconsolate Sherlock Holmes occupies his time investigating the schemes of his archenemy, Professor James Moriarty. However, when Moriarty warns that he considers the Watsons a legitimate target for his retaliation against the detective, Holmes must save them and get John involved in one last case. To do so, they join the Roma lady Madam Simza Heron’s quest to find her missing brother, Renee, who may be the key to defeating Moriarty. Together, the trio find themselves involved in a dangerous international conspiracy led by the Napoleon of Crime in which the fate of all of Europe hangs in the balance.

Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Jude Law (Dr. John Watson)
Noomi Rapace (Madam Simza Heron)
Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler)

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
Runtime: 129 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

Underworld: Awakening 3D

When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.

Cast:
Kate Beckinsale (Selene)
Michael Ealy (Detective Sebastian)
India Eisley (Eve)
Theo James (David)

Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Writer: Len Wiseman, John Hlavin
Runtime: 88 min
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

The Muppets

When three muppet fans learn that Tex Richman wants to drill under the muppet theater for oil Gary, Mary and Walter set out to find the muppets who have been split up for years. Kermit lives in his own mansion depressed in Hollywood, Gonzo is a high class plumber at Gonzo’s Royal Flush, Fozzie performs with a tribute band called The Moopets, Miss Piggy is the plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, and Animal is at a celebrity anger management rehab center in Santa Barbara.

Cast:
Jason Segel (Gary)
Amy Adams (Mary)
Chris Cooper (Tex Richman)
Rashida Jones (Veronica Martin)

Director: James Bobin
Writer: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Runtime: 103 min
Genre: Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English/Greek
Production Year: 2011

My Week with Marilyn

Sir Laurence Olivier is making a movie in London. Young Colin Clark, an eager film student, wants to be involved and he navigates himself a job on the set. When film star Marilyn Monroe arrives for the start of shooting, all of London is excited to see the blonde bombshell, while Olivier is struggling to meet her many demands and acting ineptness, and Colin is intrigued by her. Colin’s intrigue is met when Marilyn invites him into her inner world where she struggles with her fame, her beauty and her desire to be a great actress.

Cast:
Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe)
Kenneth Branagh (Sir Laurence Olivier)
Eddie Redmayne (Colin Clark)
Emma Watson (Lucy)

Director: Simon Curtis
Writer: Adrian Hodges, Colin Clark
Runtime: 99 min
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

War Horse

Dartmoor, 1914: To his wife’s dismay farmer Narracott buys a thoroughbred horse rather than a plough animal but his teenaged son Albert trains the horse and calls him Joey, the two becoming inseparable. When his harvest fails the farmer has to sell Joey to the British cavalry and he is shipped to France where, after a disastrous offensive he is captured by the Germans and changes hands twice more before he is found, caught in the barbed wire in No Man’s Land four years later and freed, due to a bizarre truce. He is returned behind British lines where Albert, now a private, has been temporarily blinded by gas but still recognises his beloved Joey. However as the Armistice is declared Joey is set to be auctioned off. After all they have been through will Albert and Joey return home together?

Cast:
Jeremy Irvine (Albert Narracott)
Emily Watson (Rose Narracott)
David Thewlis (Lyons)
Peter Mullan (Ted Narracott)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Lee Hall, Richard Curtis
Runtime: 146 min
Genre: Drama, History, War
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, as he investigates the disappearance of a wealthy patriarch’s niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

Cast:
Daniel Craig (Mikael Blomkvist)
Rooney Mara (Lisbeth Salander)
Christopher Plummer (Henrik Vanger)
Robin Wright (Erika Berger)

Director: David Fincher
Writer: Steven Zaillian, Stieg Larsson
Runtime: 158 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

Midnight in Paris

Gil and Inez travel to Paris as a tag-along vacation on her parents’ business trip. Gil is a successful Hollywood writer but is struggling on his first novel. He falls in love with the city and thinks they should move there after they get married, but Inez does not share his romantic notions of the city or the idea that the 1920s was the golden age. When Inez goes off dancing with her friends, Gil takes a walk at midnight and discovers what could be the ultimate source of inspiration for writing. Gil’s daily walks at midnight in Paris could take him closer to the heart of the city but further from the woman he’s about to marry.

Cast:
Owen Wilson (Gil)
Rachel McAdams (Inez)
Kathy Bates Parker (Gertrude Stein)
Adrien Brody (Salvador Dalí)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Runtime: 94 min
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2011

Puss in Boots

Years before meeting Shrek and Donkey, the adorable but tricky Puss in Boots must clear his name from all charges making him a wanted fugitive. While trying to steal magic beans from the infamous criminals Jack and Jill, the hero crosses paths with his female match, Kitty Softpaws, who leads Puss to his old friend, but now enemy, Humpty Dumpty. Memories of friendship and betrayal enlarges Puss’ doubt, but he eventually agrees to help the egg get the magic beans. Together, the three plan to steal the beans, get to the Giant’s castle, nab the golden goose, and clear Puss’ name.

Cast:
Antonio Banderas/Tilemahos Krevaikas (Puss in Boots)
Salma Hayek/Vicky Nikolaidou (Kitty Softpaws)
Zach Galifianakis/Vasilis Milios (Humpty Dumpty)
Billy Bob Thornton/Fotis Petrides (Jack)

Director: Chris Miller
Writer: Charles Perrault, Brian Lynch
Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adventure
Rating: K
Language: English/Greek
Production Year: 2011

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked (English)

Playing around while aboard a cruise ship, the Chipmunks and Chipettes accidentally go overboard and end up marooned in a tropical paradise. They discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems.

Cast:
Jason Lee (Dave)
Justin Long (Alvin)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Simon)
Jesse McCartney (Theodore)

Director: Mike Mitchell
Writer: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Runtime: 87 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2011