March has a lot more going for it than February in terms of movies coming out in the theaters. The month seems to be front loaded, so you’ll have some time to see the ones you want before we get into April (which looks a little light) and May which is when the blockbusters begin to land.
March 4th
The Adjustment Bureau – The Adjustment Bureau‘s main premise is that a man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he’s ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. I’ve reviewed this movie and I recommend you catch it in theaters. I’m looking forward to seeing this again.
Beastly – Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen and Neil Patrick Harris star in this retelling of Beauty and the Beast based off of the 2007 novel by Alex Flinn. We’ve had a few tellings of this story and I haven’t read this novel. So far, though, I haven’t seen anything to indicate that there is anything different or specifically notable about this new version. Other than maybe the part where he doesn’t really look all that scary.
Rango – A chameleon that aspires to be a swashbuckling hero finds himself in an Old West town called Dirt, which is populated by various desert critters garbed like characters out of a Western. As he’s always thought himself a hero, Rango establishes himself as the lawman, strolling the streets as a sheriff-like character. Unknown to him, the “good guy” role does not do very well in Dirt, with a cemetery filled with good-guy tombstones. Johnny Depp is in everything these days, isn’t he? I’m looking forward to this as it looks hilarious.
March 11th
Battle: Los Angeles – I’ve been tracking this one since I saw a preview for it at San Diego Comic Con last summer. The idea for this movie was kicked off by a real life event, which makes for a good hook, as does the involvement of Aaron Ekhart. The idea is, what if all of those UFO sightings and events were just scouting missions and now the aliens are back to fight. The last city standing is Los Angeles. Also starring Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan and Michael Pena.
Mars Needs Moms – Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. A Disney movie with a solid voice cast where the title tells you the general idea of the plot. The early reviews on this one are solid, though not spectacular. It sounds like the solid choice for a family movie – if you’ve already seen Rango.
Red Riding Hood – Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life.. Also staring Gary Oldman as Father Solomon, a werewolf hunter, this looks very pretty but I’m not at all sure if there is any substance backing it.
March 18th
Limitless – In a bit of a change, Bradley Cooper takes on a serious role, co-staring with Robert De Niro. Cooper plays Eddie Mora, an author with severe writer’s block before an old friend introduces him to a new designer drug that allows him to tap his full potential. Now, on the drug, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets – as long as he keeps taking the untested drug. The drug and his actions while on the drug bring more and more intense consequences and enemies.
The Lincoln Lawyer – This is based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly. Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career: defending Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. A case that seems straightforward at first, turns more complicated and more deadly as it goes on.
Paul – You can rewatch the red band trailer for Paul here. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Seth Rogan is the voice of Paul the alien and Simon Pegg plays Graeme Willy and Nick Frost plays Clive Gollings but really, you’ve got an idea what you’re in for if you’ve seen Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz. Parts of San Diego Comic Con’s Expo Hall were packed up after the show last summer and moved in order to be used for the filming of this movie.
March 25th
Sucker Punch – I am very interested in this movie as it is the first movie Zach Snyder has made that isn’t an adaptation of something else. While he does a fantastic job of taking what is presented to him and putting it on the screen, there hasn’t been much he’s done which hasn’t been a direct interpretation. This movie, written by Steve Shibuya and Zack Snyder, follows a young girl in the 1950s about to be lobotomized as she attempts to escape an asylum with her inmate friends. The movie stars an ensemble cast composed of Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Abbie Cornis, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm and Scott Glenn. The trailer shows fantastic settings and set pieces including dragons, giant robots and samurai and seems like it should, at the very least, be amazing eye candy.
