May 2009
(as seen in the Scottsdale Airpark News)
Movies in theaters are alive and well as Hollywood
continues to release some very exciting films. Why see these films
in a theater instead of at home on your great home theater system?
Some movies are best experienced on a massive screen with amazing
sound, with audience interaction, or maybe that guilty pleasure
-- with hot liquid butter poured all over that big bag of popcorn.
There could be one annoyance though -- deciding just what to see,
given there are often four or more new movies released every week.
So with your busy life, if you could see just one newly released
movie per week, which five in May should they be?
| |
|
|
For the
weekend of May 1, it is “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”,
starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber (Definiance), Ryan Reynolds
(Definitely, Maybe), Danny Huston (John Adams), directed by
Gavin Hood (Rendition). Genre: action / adventure, science
fiction / fantasy, not yet rated. The plot: leading up to
the events of "X-Men", this prequel is the saga
of Wolverine's epically violent and romantic past, his complex
relationship with Victor Creed (Schreiber), and the ominous
Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many
mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances
by several legends of the X-Men universe.
The other three movies opening this weekend are: Battle
for Terra, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,
and Limits of Control. |
| |
|
|
For the
weekend of May 8, it is “Star Trek”,
starring Chris Pine (Bottle Shock), Zachary Quinto (Heroes),
Simon Pegg (How to Lose Friends & Alienate People), Anton
Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett), Zoe Saldana (Vantage Point), Eric
Bana (The Other Boleyn Girl), John Cho (Nick & Norah’s
Infinite Playlist), Karl Urban (Doom), Bruce Greenwood (National
Treasure: Book of Secrets), Winona Ryder, Leonard Nimoy, and
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (Star Trek 1966-69), directed by
J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III). Genre: science fiction,
action / adventure, rated PG-13. The plot: this centers on
the turbulent early days that set the stage for all the original
"Trek" characters including James T. Kirk (Pine),
Mr. Spock (Quinto), Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy
(Urban), Scotty (Pegg), Sulu (Cho), Checkov (Yelchin), and
Lt. Uhura (Saldana), including their first meeting at Starfleet
Academy and first outer space mission aboard the USS Enterprise.
This prequel is equally suited for fans who have not seen
any Trek films or TV shows before now.
The other two movies opening this weekend are: Next
Day Air and Rudo y Cursi. |
| |
|
| |
For
the weekend of May 15, it is “Angels &
Demons”, starring Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer
(Vantage Point), Ewan McGregor (Deception), Stellan Skarsgard
(Mamma Mia!), and Armin Mueller-Stahl (The International),
directed by Ron Howard. Genre: crime drama, suspense / thriller,
rated PG-13. The plot: when Harvard symbologist Langdon
(Hanks) 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 and joins forces with the beautiful
and enigmatic Italian scientist Vetra (Zurer). 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 follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that
mark the Vatican's only hope for survival.
The other three movies opening this weekend are: The
Brothers Bloom, Management, and
O’ Horten. |
| |
|
| |
For the
weekend of May 22, it is “Terminator Salvation”,
starring Christian Bale (The Dark Knight), Sam Worthington
(Rogue), Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett), Bryce Dallas Howard
(Spider-Man 3), Moon Bloodgood (What Just Happened), Common
(Wanted), Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Alexander (Gigantic),
and Michael Ironside (Surveillance), directed by McG (We Are
Marshall). Genre: science fiction, action / adventure, rated
PG-13. The plot: in this 4th story of the Terminator film
franchise, John Connor (Bale) is fated to lead the human resistance
against Skynet and its army of Terminators in post-apocalyptic
2018. But what Connor was raised to believe in, is altered
in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Worthington),
a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor
must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future,
or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught,
Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them
into the heart of Skynet's operations, where they uncover
the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.
The other four movies opening this weekend are: Dance
Flick, Easy Virtue, The
Girlfriend Experience, and Night at the Museum:
Battle of the Smithsonian. |
| |
|
 |
For the
weekend of May 29, it is “Up”,
starring the voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer (The
Lake House), John Ratzenberger (Wall-E), Delroy Lindo (Domino),
and Jordan Nagai, directed by Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.)
and Bob Peterson (Ratatouille). Genre: animated adventure,
family comedy, not yet rated. The plot: a new Pixar story
about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (Asner),
who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure
when he ties thousands of balloons to his house, lifting it
to the skies and flying it away to the wilds of South America.
But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has
inadvertently stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic
8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Nagai).
The other two movies opening this weekend are: Departures
and Drag Me to Hell. |
| |
|
These are
expected to play at the multiplexes in the Scottsdale, AZ - Airpark
area including:
Harkins Scottsdale 101 at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. 480-538-1707
AMC Desert Ridge 18 at 21000 N. Tatum Blvd. 480-606-0806
United Artists (Regal) Sonora Village 10 at 15512 N. Pima
Rd. 480-998-1300
Farrelli’s Cinema Supper Club at 14202 N. Scottsdale
Rd. 480-905-7200
Furthermore, gong to the movies still gives you the most entertainment
“bang for the buck” when compared to a similar two hour
venture at any professional sporting event, play or music performance.
See you at the movies!
Note: While the release dates & ratings for
these movies were correct at the time of printing, studios sometimes
make last-minute changes. If this happens, we apologize for any
inconvenience.
|
®
