The adventures of the successor to a long line of Avatars who must put aside his irresponsible ways to save the world. The story follows the adventures of Aang, a ten year old successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.
Fact : Also known as “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Aang”.
Note : Adapted on source material based on characters created by Michael DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko.
Star(s) to watch : Noah Ringer as Aang, Dev Patel (”Slumdog Millionaire”) as Zuko, & Cliff Curtis (”Live Free or Die Hard”, “Deep Rising”, “Sunshine”) as Firelord Ozai.
Director(s) : M. Night Shyamalan. Producer(s) : M. Night Shyamalan, Samuel L. Mercer, & Frank Marshall.
Genre : Kids, Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Adventure. Release date : July 2, 2010 Official website : http://www.TheLastAirBenderMovie.com/
Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.
Fact : Based on Stephenie Meyer’s novel.
Note : The “Twilight” movie series consist of “Twilight”, “New Moon”, “Eclipse” (release date: June 30, 2010), and “Breaking Dawn” (scheduled for 2013).
Star(s) to watch : Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, Peter Facinelli (”The Scorpion King”) as Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale, Dakota Fanning (”War of the Worlds”, “Trapped”, “Man on Fire”) as Jane, Kristen Stewart (”Jumper”, “Zathura”, “Panic Room”, “Cold Creek Manor”) as Bella Swan, & Anna Kendrick as Jessica.
Director(s) : Chris Weitz. Producer(s) : Mark Morgan, Wyck Godfrey, & Bill Bannerman. Genre : Drama, Romance, Thriller, Adaptation, Sequel, Teen, Fantasy, Horror. Release date : November 20, 2009 Official website : http://www.TwilightTheMovie.com/
Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost.
Unable to fulfill the grieving man’s expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.
Fact : Featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage (as the voice of Dr. Tenma), Nathan Lane (as the voice of Ham Egg), Freddie Highmore (as the voice of Astro Boy), Donald Sutherland (as the voice of General Stone), Bill Nighy (as the voice of Dr. Elefun), & Eugene Levy (as the voice of Orrin).
Note : Based on comic series by Osamu Tezuka.
Director(s) : David Bowers. Producer(s) : Maryann Garger. Genre : Action, Adventure, Kids, Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Animation, Adaptation. Release date : October 23, 2009 Official website : http://www.astroboy-themovie.com/
A scientist tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance.
The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese.
Inspired by the beloved children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.
Fact : “Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs” is a 3D animated movie based on the children’s book of the same name by written and colored by Judi Barrett and drawn Ron Barrett.
Note : Featuring the voices of Anna Faris (as the voice of Sam Sparks) & Mr. T (as the voice of Earl Devereaux).
Director(s) : Christopher Miller & Phil Lord. Producer(s) : Pam Marsden. Genre : Kids, Family, Animation, Adaptation. Release date : September 18, 2009 Official website : http://www.CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatBalls.com/
The story begins in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa. Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as ‘The Basterds’, Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own …
Fact : Written, produced, and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the genius behind many blockbuster movies such as “Kill Bill” (2003) and “Grindhouse’s Death Proof” (2007). You haven’t seen war until you’ve seen it through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino. ;)
Note : This movie reunites Brad Pitt and Diane Kruger following ther blockbuster movie “Troy” (2004).
Star(s) to watch : Brad Pitt (”Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Se7en”, “Legends of the Fall”, “Meet Joe Black”, “Fight Club”, “True Romance”) as Lt. Aldo Raine, Diane Kruger (”Troy”, “National Treasure”, “Wicker Park”) as Bridget von Hammersmark, Mike Myers (”Austin Powers”, “The Love Guru”) as General Ed Fenech, & Maggie Cheung (”Hero”) as Madame Mimieux.
Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts turns out to be quite the exciting year. First off is the arrival of a new teacher at Hogwarts, Horace Slughorn, who is a bit more useful to Harry than he realizes. Next, Harry obtains a Potions book which used to be belong to the very mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Harry finds that the Half-Blood Prince’s ancient scribbles are written along the margins of almost every page, giving Harry advice on how to improve greatly on his Potions work, and also teaching him a few helpful (and dangerous) spells along the way. Amidst this, Harry is starting private lessons with Professor Dumbledore, during which Harry learns the dark secrets of Voldemort’s past, hoping that they could use these secrets to find a way to defeat him. Harry’s year gets even more stressful with the suspicious actions of Draco Malfoy, who has been sneaking around the school doing, so Harry assumes, Voldemort’s bidding. Harry quickly becomes determined, and slightly obsessed, to find out exactly what Malfoy has been up to and putting an end to it. Yet, during this time, Harry and his friends go through daily life, busy with school work, Quidditch, (in which Harry has been made captain of the team) and of course, romance Ron has found a new girlfriend, Lavender Brown, a perky (if not obnoxious) Gryffindor student, and Hermione is not happy about it. Ron and Hermione’s friendship takes a toll throughout the school year and Harry, as usual, is stuck in the middle. Harry, meanwhile, is facing a romantic dilemma of his own: he realizes he is falling for his best friend’s sister, Ginny Weasley, who is unfortunately dating Harry’s classmate, Dean Thomas. Harry’s pining for Ginny and Ron’s hilarious relationship with Lavender gives this story a large dose of reality. Throughout all the school drama, however, the obvious darkness of Voldemort’s impending rise to power is always apparent. The incredible action-packed climax is sure to leave the audience stunned and, inevitably, prove that you shouldn’t trust everybody who you think is good, and also prove that not everyone can manage to survive. Star(s) to watch : Alan Rickman (”Die Hard”, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”) as Severus Snape, Daniel Radcliffe (”The Tailor of Panama”) as Harry Potter, & Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.
Fact : Based on source material from novel “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling.
Director(s) : David Yates. Producer(s) : David Heyman & David Barron. Note : Also known as “Harry Potter 6″. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Sequel, Drama, Mystery, Romance. Release date : July 17, 2009 Official website : http://www.harrypotter.com
No one could stop John Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone — from his girlfriend Billie Frechette to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger’ gang — later including Baby Face Nelson and Alvin Karpis — thrilled many, J. Edgar Hoover made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Melvin Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.”
However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals — from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti — were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.
Fact : Based on the book “Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34,” the film follows the transformation of the FBI as the U.S. government tried to stop the 1933 crime spree headed up by gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, the Barkers, and Bonnie and Clyde.
Note : I’m not a big fan of Michael Mann, but considering watching Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Stephen Dorff, & Channing Tatum, all in one movie, I guess that makes this a must-see movie. ;)
Star(s) to watch : Johnny Depp (”Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico”, “Edward Scissorhands”) as John Dillinger, Christian Bale (”Terminator Salvation”, “The Dark Knight”, “Equilibrium”, “Reign of Fire”) as Melvin Purvis, Stephen Dorff (”Blade”, “Cold Creek Manor”) as Homer Van Meter, Channing Tatum (”Fighting”, “She’s the Man”, “Step Up”, “War of the Worlds”) as Pretty Boy Floyd, David Wenham (”The Lord of the Rings”, “300″, “Van Helsing”) as Pete Pierpont, Giovanni Ribisi (”Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, “Flight of the Phoenix”) as Alvin Karpis, & Leelee Sobieski (”Deep Impact”, “Joy Ride”, “The Glass House”) as Polly Hamilton
Director(s) : Michael Mann. Producer(s) : Michael Mann, Jane Rosenthal, Kevin Misher, & G. Mac Brown. Genre : Drama, Crime, Gangster, Adaptation. Release date : July 1, 2009 Official website : http://www.PublicEnemies.net/
"The holiest event of our time. Perfect for their return."
Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals.
Ron Howard again directs the film.
When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati — the most powerful underground organization in history — he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization’s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church.
When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist.
Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival.
Star(s) to watch : Ewan McGregor (”Star Wars”, “Deception”, “The Island”) as Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca, Tom Hanks (”Forrest Gump”, “The Green Mile”, “Road to Perdition”, “The Ladykillers”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Apollo 13″) as Robert Langdon, & Stellan Skarsgard (”Deep Blue Sea”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”) as Richter.
Fact : Based on source material from best-selling novel “Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code”.
Note : A showbiz veteran of over 40 years, Ron Howard also directed “The Da Vinci Code” (2006), “Ransom” (1996), & “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000).
Director(s) : Ron Howard. Producer(s) : Brian Grazer & John Calley. Genre : Thriller, Adaptation, Crime, Drama, Mystery. Release date : May 15, 2009 Official website : http://www.angelsanddemons.com/
A chronicle of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.
The early days of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.
Star(s) to watch : Eric Bana (”Troy”, “Hulk”) as Nero, Karl Urban (”The Lord of the Rings”, “The Bourne Supremacy”) as Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, Jennifer Morrison (”Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Urban Legends: Final Cut”, “Big Stan”) as Winona Kirk, Winona Ryder (”Alien: Resurrection”) as Amanda Grayson, Bruce Greenwood (”The Core”, “Deja Vu”, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, “Double Jeopardy”, “Passenger 57″, “Eight Below”, “Racing Stripes”) as Christopher Pike, Chris Pine (”Smokin’ Aces”, “Just My Luck”) as Kirk, John Cho (”Evolution”, “American Beauty”, “American Pie”, “Harold & Kumar”) as Hikaru Sulu, Simon Pegg (”Shaun of the Dead”, “Mission: Impossible III”) as Scotty, & Zachary Quinto as Spock.
Fact : Also known as “Star Trek XI”, “Star Trek: Corporate Headquarters”, and “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy”, “Star Trek” is one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world.
Note : From director J.J. Abrams (“Mission: Impossible III,” “Lost”) and screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (“Transformers,” “MI: III”) comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, “Star Trek,” featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before.
Director(s) : J.J. Abrams. Producer(s) : Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof, & Bryan Burk. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Sequel, Drama. Release date : May 8, 2009 Official website : http://startrekmovie.com/
At the end of the Ice Age, The Machine came from the outer space with the purpose to change men into mutants. However, a hero defeated the device and a great seal was laid over The Machine. In 2707, the depleted world is ruled by four Corporations: Mishima, Bauhaus, Capitol and Imperial that are in constant war. During a battle between Capitol and Bauhaus, the great seal is broken and The Machine works again transforming soldiers and civilians in hordes of mutants. A small part of the population escapes to Mars, leaving millions of people behind. The man of faith and leader of an ancient brotherhood Brother Samuel is a believer of God and the Chronicles, a bible about the mutants. With the city under siege of the mutants, he visits the Corporations’ leader Constantine asking for an aircraft and twenty men for a suicide mission to destroy The Machine, planting a bomb and a detonator following the knowledge of the Chronicles. He recruits the tough Major ‘Mitch’ Hunter; the Bauhaus Lieutenant Maximillian von Steiner; the keeper of the Chronicles Severian that is under a vow of silence; the gorgeous and lethal Corporal Valerie Duval; Corporal Juba Kim Wu; Captain John McGuire; and Corporal Jesus ‘El Jesus’ de Barrera.
Together they become the last hope of Earth against the evil mutants.
Fact : Like Dolph Lundgren in the earlier “The Punisher” (1989) movie, half Irish, a quarter Italian and a quarter German, Thomas Jane dyed his hair jet black to match the original comic book character. In a 2005 interview, he claimed that “The Punisher” (2004) was both the most fun and the most physically exhausting movie he has done. He starred in two movies based on Stephen King’s novels: “Dreamcatcher” (2003) and “The Mist” (2007). Thomas Jane was Zack Snyder’s first choice for Edward Blake/The Comedian in “Watchmen” (2009), but he had to turn it down because of scheduling conflicts.
Note : Japanese, German, and English ancestry, Devon Aoki won the role of a street racer in “2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003) but, as it turned out, she didn’t know how to drive.
Star(s) to watch : Thomas Jane (”Face/Off”, “Deep Blue Sea”, “The Punisher”, “Original Sin”) as Major Mitch Hunter, Ron Perlman (”Blade II”, “Hellboy”, “Alien Resurrection”) as Brother Samuel, John Malkovich (”Con Air”, “The Man in the Iron Mask”, “Eragon”) as Constantine, & Devon Aoki (”Sin City”, “DOA: Dead or Alive”, “2 Fast 2 Furious”, “War”) as Cpl. Valerie Duval.
Director(s) : Simon Hunter. Producer(s) : Stephen Belafonte, Tim Dennison, Peter La Terriere, Edward R. Pressman, & Pras. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation. Release date : April 24, 2009 Official website : http://www.MutantChroniclesTheMovie.com/
Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party’s contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out. McCaffrey (Russell Crowe) has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron, who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation’s power structures. And in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one’s integrity, love or life is ever safe.
Fact : Based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress. This movie reunites Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman following their blockbuster movie of 2007 “Smokin’ Aces”.
Note : Russell Crowe takes over the role Brad Pitt vacated in the Universal Pictures movie “State of Play,” directed by Kevin Macdonald. Edward Norton has followed Brad Pitt out the door. Norton is the latest cast member to exit “State of Play,” a dramatic movie set up at Universal. Ben Affleck takes on the role Norton had originally signed on to play.
Star(s) to watch : Ben Affleck (”Armageddon”, “Reindeer Games”, “Pearl Harbor”, “The Sum of All Fears”, “Daredevil”) as Stephen Collins, Jason Bateman (”Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Hancock”) as Dominic Foy, Russell Crowe (”Gladiator”, “The Quick and the Dead”, “Virtuosity”) as Cal McCaffrey, Jeff Daniels (”Speed”, “101 Dalmatians”, “Blood Work”) as George Fergus, & Rachel McAdams (”Red Eye”, “The Hot Chick”) as Della.
Director(s) : Kevin MacDonald. Producer(s) : Paul Abbott, Andrew Hauptman, Eric Fellner, & Tim Bevan. Tagline : “Nothing is off the record.” Genre : Drama, Adaptation, Crime, Thriller. Release date : April 17, 2009 Official website : http://stateofplaymovie.net/
The story begins with Goku, who seeks out upon his adoptive grandfather Grandpa Gohan’s dying request to find the great Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls. Of which he has one, in order to prevent the evil Lord Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world. And Goku’s quest is to obtain the mystical Dragon Balls before Piccolo does.
Fact : Based on source material from Akira Toriyama’s comic, and also known as “Dragonball Z”, this movie is produced by Stephen Chow, a martial arts powerhouse on the Hong Kong cinema circuit who also produced “Kung Fu Hustle” (2005), “Shaolin Soccer” (2004), & “CJ7″ (2008).
Note : They REALLY should let Stephen Chow himself do his magic for this movie, not just producing. Fortunately, the man who directed this movie is James Wong who also directed “Final Destination” (2000) and Jet Li’s “The One” (2001).
Star(s) to watch : Emmy Rossum (”The Day After Tomorrow”) as Bulma, Chow Yun Fat (”Bulletproof Monk”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”) as Master Roshi, Justin Chatwin (”War of the Worlds”, “Taking Lives”) as Goku, & Jamie Chung as Chi Chi.
Director(s) : James Wong. Producer(s) : Stephen Chow. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Thriller. Release date : April 8, 2009 Official website : http://dragonballevolutionmovie.com/
"Justice is coming to all of us. No matter what we do."
Set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society and the ‘Doomsday Clock’ - which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight.
When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes.
As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.
Their mission is to watch over humanity … but who is watching the Watchmen?
Fact : “Watchmen” is a 2009 film adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ comic book limited series of the same name, directed by Zack Snyder. Set in 1985, the film follows a group of former vigilantes as war begins to break out between the United States and the Soviet Union. Like his previous film “300″, Snyder closely modeled his storyboards on the comic, but unlike “300″, he chose not to shoot all of “Watchmen” using chroma key.
Note : Zack Snyder took Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300″ and turned it into a visually stunning blockbuster. Now Snyder’s “Watchmen” is considered the best graphic novel ever written that goes into another much-anticipated movie. The story is set in an alternate 1985 where superheroes exist, Richard Nixon is still president, and tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union are at an all-time high. The vigilante Rorschach is investigating the murder of a former hero, the Comedian, and uncovers a plot to discredit and murder various heroes. Rorschach discovers a far wider-ranging conspiracy involving his colleagues’ past which could completely change the course of history.
Star(s) to watch : Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Edward Blake/The Comedian, Carla Gugino (”Sin City”, “The One”, “Night at the Museum”) as Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre, & Malin Akerman (”Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”, “The Heartbreak Kid”) as Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre II. Director(s) : Zack Snyder. Producer(s) : Deborah Snyder, Herb Gains, Lloyd Levin, Lawrence Gordon, & Eric Watson. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thriller, Crime, Gangster, Adaptation, Drama. Release date : March 6, 2009 Official website : http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/
“Her strength. Her fury. Her vengeance. Will become legend.”
Capcom’s “STREET FIGHTER” vaults back onto the screen with this film from director Andrzej Bartkowiak (”ROMEO MUST DIE”).
Fanboys can start drooling now over “SMALLVILLE”’s Kristin Kreuk in the role of high-kicking heroine Chun Li, while Neal McDonough, Chris Klein, Michael Clarke Duncan, and a number of impressive actors round out the rest of the cast.
Star(s) to watch : Kristin Kreuk (”EuroTrip”) as Chun-Li, Moon Bloodgood (”Eight Below”, “Pathfinder”) as Maya, Chris Klein (”American Pie”) as Nash, Neal McDonough (”The Hitcher”, “Darkman”, “Minority Report”) as M. Bison, & Michael Clarke Duncan (”Armageddon”, “Sin City”, “The Whole Nine Yards”, “The Green Mile”, “Daredevil”) as Balrog.
Fact : Kristin Kreuk’s father is Dutch and her mother is Chinese. She was voted #10 in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Girls of 2002 poll (U.K. edition), #71 in FHM’s Sexiest Girls of 2002 poll (American edition), #24 in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women list in 2003, #67 on the Maxim magazine “Hot 100 of 2005″ list, #18 on askmen.com’s Top 99 Most Desirable Women in 2005, #28 in FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005″ special supplement, #46 in FHM magazine’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006″ supplement, and #10 on Wizard magazine’s “Sexiest Women of TV” list (March 2008).
Note : Based on the popular video game franchise, female fighter Chun Li embarks on a quest for justice.Fox really hasn't done anything for this film just yet. At least the title character looks good and, surprisingly enough, this film does have a pretty strong cast. However, as Fox doesn't have the best track record for successfully adapting video games.
Director(s) : Andrzej Bartkowiak. Producer(s) : Ashok Amritraj & Patrick Aiello. Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Thriller. Release date : February 27, 2009 Official website : http://streetfightermovie.net/ Poster : http://www.movieposterdb.com
Rebecca Bloomwood is a sweet and charming New York City girl who has a tiny, little problem that is rapidly turning into a big problem: she’s hopelessly addicted to shopping and drowning in a sea of debt.
While Rebecca has dreams of working for a top fashion magazine, she can’t quite get her foot in the door — that is, until she snags a job as an advice columnist for a new financial magazine published by the same company.
Overnight, her column becomes hugely popular, turning her into an overnight celebrity, but when her compulsive shopping and growing debt issues threaten to destroy her love life and derail her career, she struggles to keep it all from spiraling out of control — and is ultimately forced to reevaluate what’s really important in life.
Note : Jerry Bruckheimer was the man behind this movie, which was also known as “The Secret Dream World of a Shopahol
Star(s) to watch : Isla Fisher (”Wedding Crashers”) as Rebecca Bloomwood. Director(s) : P.J. Hogan. Producer(s) : Jerry Bruckheimer, Mike Stenson, & Chad Oman. Fact : Based on source material from novel “The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic” by Sophie Kinsella. Genre : Comedy, Drama, Romance, Adaptation. Release date : February 13, 2009 Official website : http://confessionsofashopaholic.movies.go.com/ Poster : http://www.impawards.com
A high-definition stop-motion animated feature – the first to be originally filmed in 3-D – based on Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling book.
Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side.
On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life and the people in it – only much better.
But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, and her other parents (including her Other Mother voiced by Teri Hatcher) try to trap her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family.
Fact : Based on source material from the Hugo Award-winning international best-selling novel “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, this movie features the voices of Dakota Fanning (as the voice of Coraline), Teri Hatcher (as the voice of Coraline’s Mother/Other Mother), & Ian McShane (as the voice of Mr. Bobinski).
Note : Dakota Fanning has two movies scheduled to be released in exactly the same day (February 6, 2009). The other movie is one of 2009’s blockbuster movies “Push”.
Director(s) : Henry Selick. Producer(s) : Bill Mechanic, Mary Sandell, & Claire Jennings. Genre : Kids, Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Animation, Adaptation. Release date : February 6, 2009 Official website : http://coraline.com/
“If he’s not calling you … if he’s not marrying you … if he’s not sleeping with you … he may just not be into you.”
An all-star ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Drew Barrymore, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson and Justin Long headline the romantic comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You.”
The film is based on the bestselling book of the same name, which was written by former “Sex and the City” writers Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo, and is about modern day relationships and how men and women often misconstrue the intentions of the opposite sex.
A hard-line advice guy falls for a woman who seeks him out because she can’t figure out the men in her life.
Fact : Based on source material from best-selling book: “He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys” by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo.
Note : Also known as “Just Not That Into You”.
Star(s) to watch : Bradley Cooper (”Yes Man”, “The Midnight Meat Train”, “Wedding Crashers”) as Ben, Ben Affleck (”Armageddon”, “Smokin’ Aces”, “Reindeer Games”, “Pearl Harbor”, “The Sum of All Fears”, “Daredevil”) as Neil, Justin Long (”Live Free or Die Hard”, “Jeepers Creepers”, “Herbie Fully Loaded”) as Alex, Jennifer Connelly (”The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “Hulk”) as Janine, Scarlett Johansson (”Eight Legged Freaks”, “The Island”, “The Spirit”) as Anna, Drew Barrymore (”Scream”, “Batman Forever”, “Charlie’s Angels”) as Mary, & Jennifer Aniston (”Bruce Almighty”) as Beth.
Director(s) : Ken Kwapis. Producer(s) : Drew Barrymore & Nancy Juvonen. Genre : Comedy, Adaptation. Release date : February 6, 2009 Official website : http://www.hesjustnotthatintoyoumovie.com/
“Every story ever written is just waiting to become real.”
Brendan Fraser stars as Mo Folchart, a father who possesses a secret ability to bring characters from books to life when he reads them aloud.
But when Mo accidentally brings a power-hungry villain from a rare children’s fable to life, the villain kidnaps Mo’s daughter and demands Mo bring other evil fictional characters to life.
In an attempt to rescue his daughter, Mo assembles a disparate group of friends - both real and magic - and embarks on a journey to save her and set things right.
Fact : Toby Emmerich is the head of production at New Line Cinema, who produced many blockbuster movies such as “Frequency” (2000), “Blade II” (2002), “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002), “Highwaymen” (2004), “Cellular” (2004), “After the Sunset” (2004), “Snakes on a Plane” (2006), “The Golden Compass” (2007), & “Shoot ‘Em Up” (2007).
Note : Based on source material from novel : “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke.
Star(s) to watch : Brendan Fraser (”Journey to the Center of the Earth”, “George of the Jungle”, “The Mummy”, “Looney Tunes: Back in Action”) as Mo ‘Silvertongue’ Folchart, & Andy Serkis (”The Lord of the Rings”, “King Kong”) as Capricorn. Director(s) : Iain Softley. Producer(s) : Toby Emmerich, Diana Pokorny, Mark Ordesky, Cornelia Funke, Diana Pokorny, & Barry Cunningham. Genre : Kids, Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adaptation, Adventure. Release date : January 23, 2009 Official website : http://www.inkheartmovie.com/
When their new guardians forbid 16-year old Andi and her younger brother, Bruce to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday.
The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce’s talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday — and eventually for all Friday’s friends.
When barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering “who let the dogs in.”
Star(s) to watch : Emma Roberts as Andi, & Don Cheadle (”Swordfish”, “After the Sunset”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Volcano”) as Bernie.
Fact : Ivan Reitman is one of the box-office powerhouse filmmaker who produced “Space Jam” (1996), “Disturbia” (2007), “Beethoven” (1992), and “Evolution” (2001).
Note : Don Cheadle is surprising everyone when he replaces Terrence Howard’s role for “Iron Man 2″ (2010) and “The Avengers” (2011).
Director(s) : Thor Freudenthal. Producer(s) : Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ewan Leslie, & Jon Gordon. Genre : Comedy, Kids, Family, Adaptation. Release date : January 16, 2009 Official website : http://www.hotelfordogsmovie.com