'Prometheus' (2012)

Building on its international frenzy, Fox's 'Prometheus' debuted at $3.561 million in midnight screenings at nearly 1400 locations.  Those numbers include over $1 million from 294 IMAX theaters.

The film had already gained $51 million in revenues from overseas venues when it opened last weekend.

Storyline:

'Prometheus' is a movie about a team of scientists who journey through our universe on a ship by that name.  Their goal is to investigate the possibility of alien life forms.  When the team becomes stranded on an unknown world, they will find horrors that not only force their survival to become jeopardized, but that of all mankind.



Genre:  Sci-Fi, Thriller, Adventure

Director:
Ridley Scott

Writers: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof
 
Stars:  Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender
 

Additional storyline: 

It's 2089, Earth's future.  Due to the discovery of a spacecraft from another world that turns up on Earth, archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Repace) and her boyfriend Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) go through remnants from unconnected ancient cultures.  The discovery of a star map urges Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), the founder of CEO of the Weyland Corporation, to fund the USS Prometheus and follow the map to a distant moon - LV-223. Charlize Theron stars as the Mission Director, Meredith Vickers.

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'Man on a Ledge' (2012)

An ex-cop in prison is a bad thing at 'Sing Sing'.  After a beating, Nick Cassidy gets a visit from ex-partner Mike Ackerman.  After getting the news that all of his appeals are extinguished and that he's looking at a life in prison for a crime he insists he didn't commit, Nick makes a rash decision; escape.  Running from the law, Nick threatens to jump to his death from a well-known Manhattan hotel - the 21st floor, that is.  It's a long way down, but the female negotiator has more on her hands than just trying to keep Nick from going over the edge.

Our review: The title is pretty straightforward, but the plot isn't what they lead you to believe it is at all.  It is much more than a movie about a man who plans to take his life in front of the Manhattan crowd who've gathered and are actually cheering him on to jump.  Think cop who has been wronged, knows it and fully plans to prove his innocence.  He'll go to extreme lengths to convince the negotiator that he is willing to go all the way.  Great cast and a great time.

(Our rating)

Genre:  Action, Crime, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell

Family Guide: Brief shot of a woman in underwear is limit to sex and nudity in this film.  Violence, including fights between convicts vs. convicts and police officers (use of guns as weapons), fist fights, and some blood related to fighting and the discharge of a gun is shown.  Threat of suicide and/or self-harming behavior.  Profanity is limited to some mild obscenities, name-calling, stereotypical references to race(s) and gender(s).  Drugs are spoken of in reference to criminal activities.  Alcohol consumption shown briefly.

Official Movie Trailer:

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'Dark Tide' (2012)

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Kate Mathieson is a shark expert.  One of only a few people in the world to free dive with Great White sharks, Kate and her husband, Jeff, undergo a trek to promote his videos of her as the "shark whisperer".  When an attack kills a friend and fellow diver, Kate has lost her will to get back into the water and watches her tour business fail.  With a pile of bills on her desk and her boat about to be taken from her, Jeff offers a proposal.  First, he wants her back.  Second, he wants her to take a thrill-seeking millionaire (Brady) on a shark dive - outside the cage.

Our review: Halle Berry is at her best in this movie that makes the 'Jaws' franchise look absolutely ridiculous.  Her graceful movement in the water is beauty enough to make this movie worth watching, but it is her range of authentic emotions that keep you glued to your seat.  This movie was neither predictable or boring.  All-in-all, if you love shark movies, this is the one above all others we'd recommend for our viewers.  South Africa is stunningly portrayed in this film.  Note:  Some South African words are used, but are sub-titled in English and are infrequent and are usually casual chit chat.

(Our rating)

Genre:  Adventure, Thriller, Drama 

Rated PG-13 for bloody shark attacks/disturbing images, and for mild language including sexual references

Starring: Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez and Ralph Brown

Family Guide:  Being a movie that includes a lot of swimming, you do see women and men in swimming attire (bikinis) and some cleavage, otherwise sexual talk and innuendos are mild and jokingly said and nudity is not a real issue.  This movie has some very intense scenes that include being around wild animals, animal attacks, blood, gore, animal violence and the stars involved in dangerous stunts and situations.  Small children may be frightened by these scenes, and we recommend that parents use discretion for teens as well.  Profanity is limited mainly to name calling and brief exchanges.  Alcohol usage and cigarette smoking is shown. 

Director: John Stockwell

Writing Credits: Ronnie Christensen (screenplay) and Amy Sorlie (story, screenplay)

Official Movie Trailer:

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'Chronicle' (2012)

Based on a story by Josh Trank and Max Landis is a new science fiction film shot in the manner of movies like 'Blair Witch Project' and 'Cloverfield' (so if looking at a screen as it would appear through a camcorder makes you sick, this might not be for you).  The footage follows three teenage high school students who make an extraordinary discovery and develop telekinetic powers.  As they learn more about these new abilities, they take larger and larger risks with the laws of nature.  Will their lives spin out of control as they embrace the darker sides of themselves, or will their friendship overcome all?

Our review: "Found footage" flicks have been with us for awhile now.  'Chronicle' tries to break out of the typical sub-genre.  The movie never does show you just what gives them their power, and we were thankful for that.  Sometimes it is better to not know...build the mystery a bit.  The CGI is great in this film.  For a low-budget film pulled from the minds of Trank and Landis, it has a narrative flow that never drags.  The fact that the main character is 'dark' because he came from an abusive childhood seemed a bit too convenient, especially when he appears to have stronger powers than the others.  All-in-all, we thought this film was entertaining enough to recommend it to teenage sci-fi geeks at least.  And heck, isn't it fun once in a while to see something different?

(Our rating)

Genre:Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking

Starring:  Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan

Family Guide: This movie could easily have been moved up to an 'R' rating.  Virginity, the loss of it, sexual innuendos, sexual speech and scenes that infer sexual activity are present.  Graphic violence is shown throughout the film; including robbery, explosions, and aggressive behavior towards others and domestic abuse.  Fighting is a prevalent theme.  Obscene hand gestures, scatological terms, anatomical terms, religious profanities and bullying-type talk also threads most of the film.  Inference to drug use, alcohol usage, and underage drinking/partying are also shown.

Director: Josh Trank

Writing Credits:  Max Landis (story, screenplay) & Josh Trank (story)

Official Movie Trailer:

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'The Grey' (2012)

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:  May 15, 2012

The Grey (Two-Disc Combo Pack: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Based on the short story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson stars in a thriller packed with adrenaline in 'The Grey'.  John Ottway (Neeson) and his team of oil rigging 'roughnecks' have finished a job and are on their way to Anchorage for a two-week break when their plane falls from the sky into some of the most terrifyingly remote frozen vastness only the Alaskan wilderness can provide.  Using the survival skills he has, Ottway leads the group on a trek that will prove to be more than dangerous; they will be lucky if they draw their next breath.

Our review:  Liam Neeson has been handling some rather strenuous and thrilling roles as of late.  His last movies include: 'Taken' (2008), 'The A-Team' (2010), 'Unknown' (2011) and 'Wrath of the Titans' (2012).  'The Grey' adds yet one more remarkable performance to a long list of big-screen achievements for Neeson.  Neeson makes a fantastic oil rigger and survivalist; a born leader.  The fact that his team includes six other men that are all fighting for their lives in a frozen world that seems so foreign to us, makes it that much more exciting when trouble comes in both expected and unexpected ways.  Imagine hell is ice, throw in the fact that the main character (Ottway) has some excellent skills with a rifle, the fact that the group is made up of men who do better far outside normal social circles and wolves - you've got yourself a thrill-ride guaranteed to leave your gut tied in knots. 

(Our rating)

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Action, Adventure

Rated R for violence/disturbing content including bloody images, and for pervasive language

Starring:  Liam Neeson,  Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo

Family Guide: This movie is appropriately rated by the MPAA.  Talk of sexual acts, human sexuality and some brief nudity are present.  Intensely graphic scenes involving an airplane crash, crash victims, blood, wounds, animal attacks and death are involved throughout the movie.  Language is this film is harsh and crudely pervasive throughout.  Alcohol usage is shown. 

Directed by: Joe Carnahan

Writers: 

Joe Carnahan		(screenplay) &
Ian Mackenzie Jeffers		(screenplay, short story Ghost Walker)
Production Companies 1984 Private Defense Contractors (in association with) Liddell Entertainment Scott Free Productions

Distributed by: Open Road Films (II) (2012) (USA) (theatrical)

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'Faces in the Crowd' (2011)

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Anna Marchant teaches at an exclusive elementary school.  Her proudest moments are when she can easily identify each of her students.  Living with her boyfriend, Bryce, Anna finds time to meet with her two best friends for 'girls night'; Francine and Nina.  After one such evening, Anna opts to walk home rather than take a cab.  As she is crossing a bridge, she witnesses a gruesome crime and suffers a fall that causes her to remain in a coma for a week.  Waking, Anna realizes that something is wrong when she can no longer identify the faces of those she once held closest to her.  With a diagnosis of Prosopagnosia, a disorder involving facial perception, Anna realizes that the serial killer she witnessed on the bridge that night could be the man beside her in bed or even her best friend.

Our review:  Although this wasn't a "big-budget" movie, we like to stray outside the boundaries into straight-to-dvd movies at times.  This film was worth the risk.  Milla Jovovich plays a very convincing victim of crime.  The filmmakers use visual effects that mess with your own perceptions, mirroring the horror the main character must feel in not knowing who is being viewed at any given moment.  While Jovovich remains 'herself' throughout the film, you will be presented with different faces that can, at times, be confusing as you're trying to figure out the plot of the film.  Not too overdone, but steadily mysterious and suspenseful.  We never thought we'd see Jovovich as the victim...did you?

(Our rating)

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Rated R for disturbing violent content and some sexuality

Starring:  Milla Jovovich, Julian McMahon and David Atrakchi

Family Guide:  This movie is appropriately rated 'R' by the MPAA for: Passionate kissing, sexual scenes, references to rape.  Murder, serial killer, blood and violence, violence to women, men fighting, nightmares, use of pepper spray.  Weapons (including guns and knives).  Stalking, brief moments of profanity, alcohol usage, cigarette smoking, intense chase scenes, suspense.

Director: Julien Magnat
Writers: Julien Magnat (screenplay), Kelly Smith (script consultant)

 Production Companies

• Forecast Pictures
• Frantic Films Live Action Productions
• Minds Eye Entertainment
• Radar Films

Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" (2011)

The fourth installment of the 'Mission Impossible' series; Ethan Hunt and his new team find themselves locked in a multinational race against time to hunt down a dangerous terrorist determined to cause nuclear war in order to create a new world.  Gathering intel and working together, the disavowed IMF team is implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin in an attempt to thwart the terrorist who seeks not only Russian nuclear launch codes, but the means to access a tracking satellite and use it to attack the United States and pit the country against Russia for world dominance.

Our review:  It's a spy movie with a twist.  Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) helped produce the film, and is, of course, the main character.  His team performs some incredible feats, but many of them are almost ridiculous to the point of being predictable and at times, hilarious.  Spoiler alert:  When Hunt just happens to have goggles in his breast pocket after scaling the tallest building in the world and goes hunting for one of the members of the terrorist's inner-circle, it's amazing how handy they are in the middle of a giant sandstorm.  How does his GPS get a near-constant signal when our own cell phones drop our calls all the time, even in perfect weather?  Not the best in the 'Mission Impossible' series, but the movie has a feel-good side to it that makes it worth watching.  We suggest renting or streaming online instead of buying.  The many fight scenes are worth the watch.

(Our rating)

Genre:  Action, Adventure, Spy, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence
  
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg

Family Guide:  This movie is appropriately rated by the MPAA. Suggestive clothing and actions, kissing, brief scene of woman in underclothing, intense action violence, guns, gunshots, some blood, two car accidents shown (from inside vehicles), intense hand-to-hand combat, two people fall to their deaths, threats of violence, building demolished, brief and fairly mild language, brief scene of smoking, alcohol consumption, suspense, bombing, threats of nuclear explosions and war.

'Dreamhouse' (2011)

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There is a saying that a man's home is his castle.  Others say that every house has its own memories.  In this psychological thriller, the castle has memories that aren't of the type anyone would ask for.  In fact, this home is the place where one man would be willing to to kill to forget.

Review: Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz are great actors with good chemistry (and are married in real life), but the switch-up scenes and cutaways leave you wondering what is real and what is not.  This could be part of the appeal, but at times we found it oddly confusing.  It seemed to take away from the thrills that could have been verifiably disturbing in many cases.  Is it a haunted house or ghost story?  Is it a look into a troubled life; past or present?  You'll have to decide.  You won't have to worry about watching this movie with the lights out, however.  And you won't choke on your popcorn.

 (Our rating)


Genre:  Thriller, Drama, Mystery
Rated PG-13 for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language.


Starring: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts

'Haywire' (2011)

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Mallory Kane is a professional.  Working for a government contractor, she has been given a covert operation by her handler to perform the types of jobs governments never acknowledge.  Following a hostage rescue in Barcelona, Kane is sent immediately on another mission to Dublin.  As the mission begins to fall apart, Kane realizes that she has been double crossed.  It will take every skill and ability in her arsenal to return to the United States, protect her father and find those responsible for her situation with deadly force if necessary.

Review:  If you love action flicks with tough chicas, then this is going to be a thrill for you.  Think the Borne series with a beautiful woman who is just as skilled and elusive.  A former marine and daughter of a father who was also in the corps, Mallory Kane is a heroine you can cheer for.  Good action scenes with very realistic mixed martial arts fight scenes, proving that having a weapon other than your hands and feet aren't necessary.

(Our rating) 



Genre:  Action, Thriller
Rated R for some violence


Starring: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Ewan McGregor

• Official site
• Family Guide:  Sexual situation implied, brief scenes of wounds, realistic mixed martial arts sequences, few exchanges of cursing, alcohol consumption, smoking, violence, use of weapons.  This movie could have easily been rated PG-13 if not for some graphic fight scenes and four examples of pervasive language.
• Produced by:  Relativity Media (as Relativity), Bord Scannan na hEireann/Irish Film Board
• Distributed by:  Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

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