Well, December/January continues to be a time for quality movie releases - perhaps to coincide with the Oscars campaign timing. There are heaps of new movies out this week, most of which seem to be attracting a lot of critical praise and thumbs up from the public as well. Amazing!
For me, The Muppets is the release of the week. Big fan of the show as a kid and a big fan of Jason Siegal (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and its wacky puppet show subplot was the perfect calling card for his role at creating, writing and starring in this movie). The "getting the gang/band back together" storyline is appealing. Word on the street it's actually funny, true to the well known characters and some good musical numbers.
For alternative "kids and adults" entertainment, try Hugo. Martin Scorsese turns his hand to his first kids film and his first use of 3D, adapted from the book The Adventures of Hugo Cabret. If that sounds weird, apparently it's not. This movie has already received 5 out of 5 star reviews from Empire Magazine and the Courier Mail Hit reviewer and I've heard the critics elsewhere are raving about it. A magical story about a young orphan living in a railway station in Paris, trying to fix a small automaton his father left him. He meets a man who may or may not be real life movie inventor Georges Melies (A Trip to the Moon et al). Definitely one for movie buffs as well as families. {Brisbanites note that the local newspaper this week had a coupon for Event Cinemas to see this movie for $8 in 2D or $11 in 3D}
Want something more grown up? It doesn't get much more grown up than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If you don't know what this movie is, I think you might've been living under a rock for the last few years. The US version of the mega selling book, directed by David Fincher (Se7en, Panic Room) and starring Rooney Mara as punk hacker Lisbeth Salander. A lot of people liked the Swedish movie trilogy so will the big name director or curiousity to see if the remake is better be enough to make this a hit? Be warned there are some extremely disturbing scenes set to appear in this version, just like the Swedish version.
Sex and violence not your cup of tea? Try The Descendants which should have beautiful scenery of Hawaii and family drama. George Clooney, for once not playing the smooth guy with all the answers, is a man whose wife has fallen into a coma after a boating accident, which brings his family together with dramatic consequences. Another movie based on a book, more talk about Oscar.
Arriety is the final new release in selected cinemas. A new Japanese animation from Studio Ghibli who are famous for Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle etc, however not directed this time by the guru Hayao Miyazaki. This is also a book adaptation, a different version on "The Borrowers" which is about small people only 3 inches high who live in the hidden spaces in our houses and borrow the crumbs and other small items to live on. 14 year old Arrietty is about to go on her first borrowing mission when a sick boy arrives at their house to be cared for by his aunt. The movie explores what happens when the boy discovers the tiny girl. Expect beautiful animation and a magical storyline. Check your cinema to find out whether they are showing the Japanese version or the version with English dubbing, depending on your preference.
Enjoy!
Awesome thanks Melissa!
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