In Cinemas this week (24 February – 1 March)

The Descendants

Matt King’s family has lived in Hawaii for generations. His extended family – namely he and his many cousins – own 25,000 acres of undeveloped land on Kauai held in trust, which ends in seven years. However, Matt has not had a perfect life living in Hawaiian paradise as many believe. He and his wife Elizabeth were having problems in their marriage. She recently got into a boating accident which has placed her in a coma. Their seventeen year old daughter Alex is in boarding school on the big island since they couldn’t handle her rebellion, which was made all the worse by an argument of an unknown nature between mother and daughter. And their ten year old daughter Scottie is starting to act out, which Matt doesn’t know if he can handle, potentially raising her on his own. Matt decides to bring Alex home upon news that Elizabeth is brain dead, and that she will be pulled off life support. But revelations about Elizabeth and Alex’s argument leads to some decisions on Matt’s part about what is best for him in both mourning Elizabeth’s death and what is the best thing to do about the land, the two decisions which may be incompatible.

Cast:
George Clooney (Matt King)
Shailene Woodley (Alexandra King)
Matthew Lillard (Brian Speer)
Judy Greer (Julie Speer)

Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon
Runtime: 115 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Wanderlust

George and Linda are an overextended, stressed out Manhattan couple. After George is downsized out of his job, they find themselves with only one option: to move in with George’s awful brother in Atlanta. On the way there, George and Linda stumble upon Elysium, an idyllic community populated by colorful characters who embrace a different way of looking at things…

Cast:
Paul Rudd (George)
Jennifer Aniston (Linda)
Justin Theroux (Seth)
Malin Akerman (Eva)

Director: David Wain
Writer: David Wain, Ken Marino
Runtime: 98 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2012

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (Greek)

Surf’s up for Barbie as she returns as Merliah, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who’s also a magical mermaid princess! In this exciting sea-quel, Merliah makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah and her sea friends dive in to stop her. It’s a fresh new adventure where Merliah learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!

Cast:
Kelly Sheridan
Ashleigh Ball
Kathleen Barr
Nicole Oliver

Runtime: 72 min
Genre: Animation
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2012

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

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 (Greek)

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: 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

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