Here to take a look at the films coming out in wide and limited release this coming weekend. I’ll give you my thoughts to help you decide what’s worth checking out.
- If you want to pretend this a live action version of the 90’s cartoon Gargoyles:
I, Frankenstein – Aaron Eckhart deserves a better career than he’s had since playing Harvey Dent. From the corny rom com Love Happens to the mediocre action flicks Battle: Los Angeles and Olympus Has Fallen, he seems to be struggling to nail down decent roles in good movies. This Underworld looking movie doesn’t look like a step up in the least. Eckhart plays Frankenstein’s monster, who becomes entangled against a bunch of gargoyles two hundred years after his creation. He’s basically playing your standard tortured hero. I’m not sure of the reputation of the graphic novel this is based on, but this looks like your generic fantasy genre filler. There’s usually a couple a year at least and they sometimes find an audience. I am never counted in that group though.
- If you’ve missed seeing live action roleplay in movies since Role Models:
Knights of Badassdom – Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn, and Ryan Kwanten play three friends and fellow larpers who during their usual day of faux battle summon a very real succubus demon. This horror comedy could be goofy fun even though the trailer doesn’t necessarily promise a good movie. Supporting players include Jimmi Simpson (It’s Always Sunny), Danny Pudi (Community), and Summer Glau (Firefly) so it seems like director Joe Lynch is really trying to pull in the people he thinks would dig the movie. What’s got me particularly intrigued is that it’s being rolled out in theaters through Tugg (look it up, it’s pretty cool).
Available on Video On Demand starting February 11 and see where it’s playing in select theaters via Tugg here. - If you are in the mood for something slightly less depressing than Precious:
Gimme Shelter – This is the next movie in Vanessa Hudgens quest to destroy her High School Musical image. Unfortunately, this doesn’t look like it will do quite the same job that Spring Breakers did last year. This looks melodramatic and I’m not sure if Hudgens is completely failing at whatever that accent is or if it just seems odd in the trailer. It’s apparently based on a true story but the tale is somewhat generic so I’m unsure of the source. She plays a teen who runs away from her druggie mother (Rosario Dawson) to find her father who’s made a new life for himself (Brendon Frazier). She ends up in a shelter for pregnant teens and finally feels at home. It all sounds very Lifetime-y.
Available on Video On Demand and see where it’s playing in select theaters here.
