In Cinemas this week (7 – 13 March)

300: Rise of an Empire 3D/2D

After its victory over Leonidas’ 300, the Persian Army under the command of Xerxes marches towards the major Greek city-states. The Democratic city of Athens, first on the path of Xerxes’ army, bases its strength on its fleet, led by admiral Themistocles. Themistocles is forced to an unwilling alliance with the traditional rival of Athens, oligarchic Sparta whose might lies with its superior infantry troops. But Xerxes still reigns supreme in numbers over sea and land.

Cast:
Sullivan Stapleton (Themistokles)
Eva Green (Artemisia)
Rodrigo Santoro (Xerxes)
Lena Headey (Queen Gorgo)

Director: Noam Murro
Writer: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad
Runtime: 102 min
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Rating: 18
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

The Grand Budapest Hotel

GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune – all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.

Cast:
Ralph Fiennes (M. Gustave)
Adrien Brody (Dmitri)
Bill Murray (M. Ivan)
Edward Norton (Henckels)

Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness
Runtime: 99 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

August: Osage County

A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Cast:
Meryl Streep (Violet Weston)
Julia Roberts (Barbara Weston)
Chris Cooper (Charlie Aiken)
Ewan McGregor (Bill Fordham)

Director: John Wells
Writer: Tracy Letts
Runtime: 121 min
Genre: Drama
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Mr. Peabody is a business titan, inventor, scientist, gourmand, two-time Olympic medalist and genius… who also happens to be a dog. Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time. But when Sherman breaks the rules of time travel, our two heroes find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future, while Mr. Peabody may face his biggest challenge yet – being a parent.

Cast:
Ty Burrell/Christodoulos Stylianou (Mr. Peabody)
Max Charles/Arsenios Chalkiopoulos (Sherman)
Stephen Colbert/Thanassis Kourlambas (Paul Peterson)
Leslie Mann/Maria Zervou (Patty Peterson)

Director: Rob Minkoff
Writer: Jay Ward, Craig Wright
Runtime: 92 min
Genre: Animation
Rating: K
Language: English/Greek
Production Year: 2014

American Hustle

A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld, who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

Cast:
Christian Bale (Irving Rosenfeld)
Bradley Cooper (Richie DiMaso)
Amy Adams (Sydney Prosser)
Jeremy Renner (Mayor Carmine Polito)

Director: David O. Russell
Writer: Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell
Runtime: 138 min
Genre: Crime, Drama
Rating: 15
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Having left San Diego for New York City, Ron Burgundy is living the high life with his wife Veronica Corningstone and son Walter Burgundy. However, when the boss decides to promote Veronica to full time lead anchor and fire Ron, everything changes. Now heading back to San Diego, Ron is washed up and working part time at Sea World. His shot at redemption though comes in the form of a man named Freddie Schapp, who’s an executive producer at the Global News Network, the world’s first 24 hour round the clock news channel. He hires Ron, who proceeds to reunite the news team of Champ, Brick, and Brian, and head back to New York City. While there Ron and his news team are given the graveyard shift and a challenge. Ron comes up with a radical new idea to transform the news and that puts him at the top of the game once again. But how long will Ron’s newfound fame last? And will Brick finally find true love?

Cast:
Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy)
Steve Carell (Brick Tamland)
Paul Rudd (Brian Fantana)
Christina Applegate (Veronica Corningstone)

Director: Adam McKay
Writer: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Runtime: 119 min
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 12
Language: English
Production Year: 2013

Pompeii

Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo, a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

Cast:
Kit Harington (Milo)
Emily Browning (Cassia)
Kiefer Sutherland (Corvus)
Carrie-Anne Moss (Aurelia)

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler
Runtime: 105 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Rating: K
Language: English
Production Year: 2014

Barbie: The Pearl Princess (Greek)

This is the tale of a young mermaid who is being raised by her aunt. This young mermaid has the power to control pearls and make beautiful magic with them. One day her Aunt is called upon by a member of the royal family to help out at the official passing of the crown from the king and queen to the young prince since the death of the young princess. When the young mermaids aunt forgets her invitation to the royal party, the young mermaid takes off to give her the important paper. Along the way our new mermaid friend meets new friends and unknowing to her is part of a long lost secret and scandal that happened when she was just a baby.

Director: Terry Klassen
Writer: Cydne Clark, Steve Granat
Runtime: 73 min
Genre: Animation
Rating: K
Language: Greek
Production Year: 2014

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

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 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

Frozen (Greek)

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: Greek
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