FRIDAY PREVIEW: FEB 10th, 2012

For starters, check out last week's top grossing films:

First Place: Chronicle ($22 Million)
Second Place: The Woman in Black ($21 Million)
Third Place: The Grey ($9.5 Million)
Fourth Place: Big Miracle ($8.4 Million)
Fifth Place: Underworld: Awakening ($5.6 Million)

Despite there being far too many found footage movies coming out these days, Chronicle was top dog this week, beating out The Woman in Black by a mere $1 Million. Will they be able to hold the gold and silver spots for another week?

We've got five big releases for this week, one of which has been released before. Hit the jump to check out the latest cash grabbers for the weekend of February 10th, 2012...


Safe House

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Written by: David Guggenheim
Length: 1 hr 55 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Patrick
Trailer


Synopsis:
A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

A lack of action movies coming out right now does not warrant some random action movie to fill the void. It just means you should go see other things instead, like anything that is up for an Oscar right now (especially The Artist, but maybe that's just me). Safe House may have Denzel and Reynolds, both of whom I appreciate, yet the bland premise and I'm sure less-than-par 'twist' isn't enough to convince me to see it. I'd just see The Grey instead.


The Vow

Directed by: Michael Sucsy
Written by: Jason Katims, Stuart Sender (Story), Marc Silverstein, Michael Sucsy and Abby Kohn (Screenplay)
Length: 1 hr 44 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Sam Neill, Scott Speedman, Jessica Lange
Trailer


Synopsis:
A car accident puts Paige (McAdams) in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo (Tatum) works to win her heart again. (IMDb)

 My Opinion:

Now we're talking! An actually (somewhat) original idea for a romantic film that interests me. I like the idea of Tatum needing to win over his wife again, because she has no idea who he is. I like the cast (other than Tatum), especially with Sam Neill acting again. I just don't know how well I'll be able to sit through a romance. None the less, I think that The Vow will actually pull off some powerful acting with such a genuine script.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

 
Directed by: Brad Peyton
Written by: Mark & Brian Gunn (Screenplay and Story), Richard Outten (Story), and Jules Verne (Novel)
Length: 1 hr 34 mins
Rated: PG
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine, Luis Guzmán
Trailer


Synopsis:
Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island. (IMDb)

 My Opinion:

Call me crazy, but I actually wouldn't mind seeing Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Despite the cheezy, 'my mother sending me a text message' title, the trailer implies plenty of family fun action, with some adult humor coming from Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, and Luis Guzmán. I really don't see much going wrong with picking this one to watch, other than a slight lack of originality in the plot. None the less, Journey 2 will be a fun ride.


Rampart

Directed by: Oren Moverman
Written by: James Ellroy, Oren Moverman
Length: 1 hr 48 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Bernthal
Trailer


Synopsis:
Set in 1999 Los Angeles, veteran police officer Dave Brown, the last of the renegade cops, works to take care of his family, and struggles for his own survival. (IMDb)

 My Opinion:

Oren Moverman's previous (and first) film, The Messenger, was by all means fantastic and well executed, which has me very excited for his latest Woody Harrelson picture, Rampart. I expect nothing less than some seriously fantastic acting to fit a very unique set of disturbed characters. This movie might be a little rough for some, but it's just right for me. Corruption at it's final moment is sure to be it's finest.


Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)

Directed by: George Lucas
Written by: George Lucas
Length: 2 hrs 16 mins
Rated: PG
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid
Trailer


Synopsis:
Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

Arguably the worst Star Wars film, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, is being released again, in full headache-inducing fashion. I am (and always will be) a fan of the Star Wars series, and even appreciate what little the prequel trilogy may have to offer. Instead of seeing this as a way for Lucasfilm to generate more money from it's worst child. I do like the re-releases of any Star Wars. However, paying $13 for a ticket to a movie I've already seen, only this time in junk post-production 3D, hardly seems worth it. Lightsaber battles, battle droids, Gungans and all, I just cannot justify this one. If it was filmed in true 3D, I might have a different opinion, but a podracer crashing into my lap isn't going to get me back into the theater. I love the series, but not enough to keep giving Lucas all of my money, especially after the disappointing Blu-ray release, that had no theatrical versions of the original trilogy included. It doesn't matter if I see it now anyways, because Star Wars will ultimately be released again, when smell-o-vision finally becomes a reality.




Conclusion:


Red Lights
Safe House
Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace


Yellow Lights
The Vow


Green Lights
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Rampart