While 2011 wrapped up with some great and not so great films that hit the big screen, it is time to anticipate what the new year has in store in terms of the box office. Here are some films that are releasing early 2012.
The Raven
March 9
Anyone who has ever read any of Edgar Allan Poe’s works can instantly see how the themes of torture and madness might make excellent fodder for a modern, albeit twisted, detective story. After all, his work sets one’s imagination on edge, teetering between sanity and paranoia. This fictionalized account of the latter part of Poe’s life finds the writer (John Cusack) at the center of a strange mystery: A serial killer is copying the murders in Poe’s stories, and the writer is forced to help uncover the murderer’s identity as the bodies pile up. Literary purists may frown upon the narrative liberties film producers are taking, but the trailer indicates the film may titillate those with a palate for historical fiction, gore, guns, gritty cinematography, suspense and a tinge of romance.
Haywire
Jan. 20
Introducing mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano (as Mallory Kane), “Haywire” is an action film that focuses on Kane, a highly trained operative. She works for a security contractor and gets herself into a life-threatening situation when she is betrayed on a mission and becomes a target of skilled assassins who know her every move. Once Kane realizes that she could easily be killed, using her professional military training, she creates a plan seeking payback. The cast features familiar names like Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas and Michael Fassbender.
Beauty and The Beast 3-D
Jan. 13
A film that seems almost a viewing requirement for passing through childhood might not need a description. Those who have yet to experience this classic tale (the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture) may want to take advantage of the film’s 3-D re-release. Chances are most students were barely walking when “Beauty and The Beast” first came out in theaters, and this weekend will be an ideal time to revisit an old favorite in its full, silver screen glory.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
March 2
A 12-year-old boy named Ted (Zac Efron) is on a mission to win over the heart of Audrey (Taylor Swift), a girl he has a crush on. In the animated Universal Pictures production, in order for Ted to discover that one thing that will help Audrey fall in love with him, he goes on a mission to find out the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), a charming yet grumpy creature whose mission is to protect the world. Voice-overs also done by Ed Helms and Betty White.
The Secret World of Arrietty
Feb. 17
In 2010, Studio Ghibli released a film written by its most famous director, Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by its youngest, Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Received with critical acclaim, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is based on 1952 children’s novel “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton, which centers around miniature people who live under floorboards and borrow from the home’s inhabitants to survive. The animated film ““ from the franchise of other classics such as “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Ponyo” and “Spirited Away” ““ will be released for the first time in North America this year.