In Cinemas this week (26 February – 4 March)

The Wolfman

Lawrence Talbot’s childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brother’s fiancée, Gwen Conliffe, tracks him down to help find her missing love, Talbot returns home, where reunited with his estranged father, decides to join the search. He learns that something with brute strength and insatiable bloodlust has been killing the villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector named Aberline has come to investigate.

Cast:
Anthony Hopkins (Sir John Talbot)
Benicio Del Toro (Lawrence Talbot)
Hugo Weaving (Abberline)
Emily Blunt (Gwen Conliffe)

Director: Joe Johnston
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self
Runtime: 102 min
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2010

Agora

4th century A.D. Egypt under the Roman Empire… Violent religious upheavel in the streets of Alexandria spills over into the city’s famous Library. Trapped inside its walls, the brilliant astronomer and philosophy professor Hypatia and her disciples fight to save the wisdom of the Ancient World… Among them, the two men competing for her heart: the witty, priviliged Orestes and Davus, Hypatia’s young slave, who is torn between his secret love for her and the freedom he knows can be his if he chooses to join the unstoppable surge of the Christians.

Cast:
Rachel Weisz (Hypatia)
Max Minghella (Davus)
Oscar Isaac (Orestes)
Rupert Evans (Synesius)

Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writer: Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Runtime: 126 min
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance
Rating: N/A
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

It’s the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters have walked out of the pages of high school student Percy Jackson’s Greek mythology texts and into his life. And they’re not happy: Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Even more troubling is the sudden disappearance of Percy’s mother. As Percy finds himself caught between angry and battling gods, he and his friends embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief, save Percy’s mom, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Cast:
Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson)
Sean Bean (Zeus)
Pierce Brosnan (Mr. Brunner / Chiron)
Uma Thurman (Medusa)

Director: Chris Columbus
Writer: Craig Titley
Runtime: 118 min
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2010

Valentine’s Day

February 14th, Valentine’s Day, is not a national holiday, but it is one of those days that must be celebrated. There are “special someones” in your life who expect to receive romantic gifts from their lovers. Commercialism has put a tremendous amount of pressure on men to give their lovers a romantic day with all the trimmings. Women are under pressure to have a man, or they feel desperate and unloved. “Valentine’s Day” follows the lives of several couples during this day. Their stories are told through the interconnections they have with each other. Some will find romance in their relationship, and others will feel the heartbreak of ending a relationship. In this Russian roulette world of finding love, everyone in the film is asking for advice on how to find and keep true love.

Cast:
Jessica Alba (Morley Clarkson)
Jessica Biel (Kara Monahan)
Bradley Cooper (Holden)
Anne Hathaway (Liz)
Jennifer Garner (Julia Fitzpatrick)
Ashton Kutcher (Reed Bennett)

Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: Katherine Fugate
Runtime: 125 min
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2010

The Princess and the Frog (Greek)

A modern day retelling of the classic story The Frog Prince. The Princess and the Frog finds the lives of arrogant, carefree Prince Naveen and hardworking waitress Tiana crossing paths. Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by a conniving voodoo magician and Tiana, following suit, upon kissing the amphibian royalty. With the help of a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun firefly, and an old blind lady who lives in a boat in a tree, Naveen and Tiana must race to break the spell and fulfill their dreams.

Voices:
Katerina Tsavalou
Giannis Zouganelis
Chrisoula Diavati
Stamatis Kraounakis

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Writer: Ron Clements, John Musker
Runtime: 97 min
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2009

I Love Karditsa

In this film which takes place in New York and a village in the vicinity of Karditsa, a provincial town of central Greece- the two main characters, whose appearance is identical, seek their private professional and sentimental goals while their fates intersect. Chance, sentimental complications,issues of locality and class, organized crime and modern science are blended in a merry-go-round satire of modern “Greek” reality which touches lightheartedly many not so light in themselves issues and resolves in a conciliatory happy end.

Cast:
Costas Apostolakis
Katerina Papoutsaki
Bessy Malfa
Gerasimos Skiadaressis

Director: Stratos Markidis
Writer: Antonis Paliopoulos, Dionissia Tsitiridou
Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 15
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2010

Sherlock Holmes

After finally catching serial killer and occult “sorcerer” Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner’s new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic – and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Jude Law (Dr. John Watson)
Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler)
Mark Strong (Lord Blackwood)

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham
Runtime: 128 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham’s job is to fire people from theirs. The anguish, hostility, and despair of his “clients” has left him falsely compassionate, living out of a suitcase, and loving every second of it. When his boss hires arrogant young Natalie, she develops a method of video conferencing that will allow termination without ever leaving the office – essentially threatening the existence Ryan so cherishes. Determined to show the naive girl the error of her logic, Ryan takes her on one of his cross country firing expeditions, but as she starts to realize the disheartening realities of her profession, he begins to see the downfalls to his way of life.

Cast:
George Clooney (Ryan Bingham)
Vera Farmiga (Alex Goran)
Anna Kendrick (Natalie Keener)
Jason Bateman (Craig Gregory)

Director: Jason Reitman
Writer: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner
Runtime: 109 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (English)

Pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville’s twenty-something nephew Toby. The boys must put aside music superstardom to return to school, and are tasked with saving the school’s music program by winning the $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three singing chipmunks known as The Chipettes -– Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Romantic and musical sparks are ignited when the Chipmunks and Chipettes square off.

Voices:
Zachary Levi (Toby)
Justin Long (Alvin)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Simon)
Jesse McCartney (Theodore)

Director: Betty Thomas
Writer: Jon Vitti, Jonathan Aibel
Runtime: 88 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – 3D (Greek)

In the small island of Swallow Falls, the outcast boy Flint Lockwood is a clumsy inventor encouraged by his mother. When the island is not capable of exporting the production of sardine, the fish becomes the basis of the alimentation of the locals that have to consume it all the times. Years later, Flint’s mother dies and his skeptical father Tim Lockwood, who is an old fisherman that has a store that sells sardine, gives a partnership in his store and invites Flint to work with him. But Flint has just invented a food processor that converts water into food and decides to test the piece of equipment. However, he accidentally launches it to the space and begins to rain hamburgers and other food in the island. A television sends the trainee of the weather department Sam Sparks to cover the phenomenon and Flint becomes famous. However, the greedy and glutton Mayor Shelbourne overworks the machine and the food becomes a menace to the human race.

Voices:
Bill Hader (Flint Lockwood)
Anna Faris (Sam Sparks)
James Caan (Tim Lockwood)
Andy Samberg (‘Baby’ Brent)

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writer: Judi Barrett, Ron Barrett
Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2009

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

A highly successful Manhattan couple, Meryl and Paul Morgan, have almost-perfect lives and only one notable failure – their dissolving marriage. But the turmoil of their romantic lives is nothing compared to what they are about to experience: they witness a murder and become targets of a contract killer. The Feds, protecting their witnesses, whisk away the Morgans from their beloved New York to a tiny town in Wyoming, and a relationship that was on the rocks threatens to end completely in the Rockies unless, in their new BlackBerry-free lives, the Morgans can slow down the pace and rekindle the passion.

Cast:
Hugh Grant (Paul Morgan)
Sarah Jessica Parker (Meryl Morgan)
Natalia Klimas (Monique Rabelais)
Vincenzo Amato (Girard Rabelais)

Director: Marc Lawrence
Writer: Marc Lawrence
Runtime: 103 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2009

Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms (Greek)

A young earthworm is fed up with being at the bottom of the food chain. All the insects in the back yard consider earthworms to be major losers. His only future prospect is a boring career as middle manager in the composting business. One day, an old disco album turns his life upside-down, and suddenly there’s light ahead: Barry wants to start the world’s greatest disco band and win an upcoming song contest. Only one problem: worms are not allowed to enter!

Voices:
Demetris Demopoulos
Petros Spyropoulos
Antonis Zacharatos
Akindynos Gikas

Director: Thomas Borch Nielsen
Writer: Morten Dragsted
Runtime: 75 min
Genre: Animation
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2008

Avatar 3D

When his brother is killed in battle, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora, which is inhabited by the Na’vi, a humanoid race with their own language and culture. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture.

Cast:
Sam Worthington (Jake Sully)
Zoe Saldana (Neytiri)
Sigourney Weaver (Dr. Grace Augustine)
Stephen Lang (Colonel Miles Quaritch)

Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Runtime: 162 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2009