Here to take a look at the films coming out in wide and limited release this coming weekend. In this weekly film guide, I’ll give you my thoughts to help you decide what’s worth checking out.
WIDE RELEASES
Directed by Duncan Jones (Source Code, Moon)
Starring Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster
This movie seems very specifically for the video game crowd or those invested in the latest epic fantasy offerings, hence I’m not personally into this. The only interesting thing to me is that Duncan Jones is directing since he seems quite promising, but this material isn’t very cool compared to his first couple movies. Overall, reviews have been in the middle or negative which isn’t helping. Nick’s review is cautiously positive. He wasn’t overly happy with it, but thought that it had definite strong points and great visual effects work (although he recommends skipping the muddying 3D option). This however is bound to make a ton of money overseas, and I would not be surprised in the least when a sequel is promptly announced. /li>
Directed by Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation )
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan
I was looking forward to seeing Now You See Me when it came out a couple years ago, but as you can read in my review, I was disappointed. That movie was seriously lacking and some parts outright angered me (what happens at the end to a certain character is horrible and the so-called “hero” is more of the villain than who we see punished). Over time I’ve grown to see it as even more charmless. Needless to say, this sequel is not on my must-see list. I didn’t even know it was such a box office success – $350 million plus! I can definitely see why they want to cash in on a part two. I have to put it out there that Nick’s complaint that this was not called “Now You Don’t” is a huge missed opportunity (much like these movies).
Directed by James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious)
Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor
James Wan! I thought you were retiring from horror movies? Bless you for calling your own bluff. The Conjuring was an excellent haunted house movie, and if this sequel comes close it will be a delight. My experience in the theater watching the first was sadly ruined by lots of laughers (seriously guys?!), so I’m almost so jaded that I want to wait to watch this at home. Lindsay was a huge proponent of the original in her review, and she’s going to have more glowing things to say about the sequel, so I’m getting even more excited about this than I was by the trailer which had my cautiously optimistic.
