A FANTASTIC FEAR OF EVERYTHING
Release Date: February 7, 2014
What it’s about: A former children’s author seemingly loses his mind.
What it’s got working for it: It’s certainly unique and inventive-looking.
What’s it’s got going against it: Pegg’s movies are hit or miss. Even going off the trailer, it’s hard to say what to make of this one.
AFTER THE DARK
Release Date: February 7, 2014
What it’s about: Twenty college students must ride out the coming apocalypse in a bomb shelter.
What it’s got working for it: It’s like Survivor except that the eliminated contestants die.
What’s it’s got going against it: Uh, I’m not exactly sure what’s going on in the trailer. Is it real? An exercise? An exercise that turns out to be real? Or – WORSE OF ALL – reality that actually turns out to be an exercise all along? I’m going to go with the latter.
KIDS FOR CASH
Release Date: February 7, 2014
What it’s about: Did a small town judge paid off to sentence kids to juvenile prison?
What it’s got working for it: A fascinating true-life account.
What’s it’s got going against it: A potentially inconclusive conclusion.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Release Date: February 7, 2014
What it’s about: A corporate retreat goes horribly (hilariously?) wrong.
What it’s got working for it: Some very funny people.
What’s it’s got going against it: And some unintentionally funny people as well. Jean-Claude Van Damme? Comedic genius?
THE RETURNED
Release Date: February 14, 2014
What it’s about: A cure for zombie-ism creates moral and ethical issues. Also, lots of killing.
What it’s got working for it: An interesting take on the zombie genre.
What’s it’s got going against it: Some of the performances in that trailer are even more horrific than the walking dead.
THE WIND RISES
Release Date: February 21, 2014
What it’s about: The major events of 20th century Japan as experienced by an idealist young Engineer.
What it’s got working for it: Miyazaki makes beautiful movies.
What’s it’s got going against it: Sometimes, however, the stories leave a little to be desired. Loved Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away. Not so much Ponyo or Howl’s Moving Castle.
THE BAG MAN
Release Date: February 28, 2014
What it’s about: A tough guy get more than he bargained for when he agrees to deliver a mysterious bag for a powerful mobster.
What it’s got working for it: Its coming across as a more accessible David Lynch movie.
What’s it’s got going against it: At times, it looks downright silly. And not good silly. If there is such a thing.
STALINGRAD
Release Date: February 28, 2014
What it’s about: The battle of Stalingrad.
What it’s got working for it: It looks epic.
What’s it’s got going against it: The fact that its subtitled and may turn off the average film-goer.
WELCOME TO YESTERDAY
Release Date: February 28, 2014
What it’s about: A group of teenagers build themselves a time machine.
What it’s got working for it: I love a good time travel story.
What’s it’s got going against it: And absolutely despise the bad ones.
A gentle reminder that our Stargate: Atlantis re-watch kicks off tomorrow, January 31st, with the opener that started it all: Rising I. Watch tomorrow, then be prepared to discuss on Saturday. I WILL be checking to make sure everybody did their homework!
And another gentle reminder that our Book of the Month Club returns with a discussion, Monday March 3rd, of Marko Kloos’s Terms of Enlistment. That’s over a month away so there’s no excuse for not participating!
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