Real Steel

Director: Shawn Levy

Cast :
Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Tagline: "Champions aren't born. They're made."

Comment:

Another Richard Matheson's (The Incredible Shrinking Man, I am Legend) SF story found its way to the big screens. This time around the short story "Steel" gets a spotlight in the upcoming science fiction movie Real Steel.

In the future robots take a boxer's place in the ring. Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), once a boxer himself, will set out, persuaded by his son, to get an old robot in shape for the championship Kenton never had a chance to fight for.

The Thing

Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

Cast :
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Joel Edgerton,

Studio: Universal Pictures

Tagline: "It's not human. Yet."

Comment:

Did you ever wonder what had happened before R.J. MacReady and his buddies on research team had a close encounter with the alien we have come to know simply as the Thing?

You don't have to wonder anymore. Prequel The Thing is here to bring us up to speed.

In Time

Director: Andrew Niccol

Cast :
Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Justin Timberlake, Alex Pettyfer, Amanda Seyfried, Matt Bomer

Studio: Universal Pictures

Tagline: "Live forever or die trying."

Comment:

Director of Gattaca and S1m0ne, Andrew Niccol is here again with the movie In Time.

It tells a story of a world where people are young and beautiful, but rapidly running out of time, which is more precious than money or power. When Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) stumbles across large quantities of it, everyone wants a piece of him.

Apollo 18

Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego

Cast :
Lloyd Owen, Warren Christie

Studio: Dimension Films

Tagline: "There's a Reason We've Never Gone Back to the Moon."

Comment:

What is behind NASA's decision to cancel the Apollo missions and has there been a big time coverup executed by the government?

Conspiracy theories related to the Moon missions have always been in high demand. However, Apollo 18 tells a different story.

Release date of this movie has already been postponed several times. Let's hope September 2, 2001 will see a countdown and successful launch.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Cast :
James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, David Oyelowo

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Tagline: "Evolution Ends. Revolution Begins"

Comment:

In August comes a new addition to Planet of the Apes movie bouquet.

Director Rupert Wyatt in interview for collider.com commented about the movie :
"This is part of the mythology and it should be seen as that. It's not a continuation of the other films; it's an original story. It does satisfy the people who enjoy those films. The point of this film is to achieve that and to bring that fan base into this film exactly like 'Batman Begins'."

Screenwriter Rick Jaffa added: "We tried to be as loyal to the mythology of those movies so that fans would feel like great care was taken in trying to apply some of that to this story."

And the story goes like this...
A scientist develops a drug which supposedly cures Alzheimer's and he tests it on apes. One of the side effects of the drug is increased intelligence in the test subjects, especially in one of them called Caesar. When the scientist is forced to give him up, Caesar takes his destiny in his own hands.

On DVD

Captain America: The First Avenger

Director: Joe Johnston

Cast :
Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Natalie Dormer, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Dominic Cooper, Richard Armitage, Neal McDonough

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Tagline: "Discover the origin of the first avenger."

Comment:

I am looking forward to seeing this movie not because I am a fan of the comic it is based on. To be honest, I did not get around to reading the comic book yet. However, besides a super hero storyline, the movie deals with an alternate history set around the WWII. Plus, there is a crossover with the Iron Man movies featuring the Howard Stark character in the movie, which provides additional depth to the backstory. Not to mention a list of actors, which alone will be enough of a draw for me.

Another Earth

Director: Mike Cahill

Cast :
William Mapother, Brit Marling, Jordan Baker, Flint Beverage, Robin Taylor

Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Comment:

Ever since I watched Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) I've wondered what it would be like if someone discovered another Earth and we could meet our other selves. With Another Earth we can enjoy it again. This drama is brought to us by director Mike Cahill.

Cowboys & Aliens

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast :
Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine

Studio: Universal Pictures

Comment:

We sure had to wait a long time for this movie - Universal pictures wanted to make it in 1997. It is based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's comics Cowboys & Aliens in a story where Wild West meets technologically highly developed hostile aliens. With Jon Favreau, who also directed Iron Man and Iron Man 2, at the helm and star cast to die for, I think the waiting has paid off. :)

On DVD

Attack the Block

Director: Joe Cornish

Cast :
Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Luke Treadaway, Flaminia Cinque

Studio: Screen Gems

Tagline: "Inner City vs. Outer Space"

Comment:

First time director, Joe Cornish brings us an unusual alien invasion movie where he teams up a dangerous teenage street gang against dangerous space invaders. Considering Cornish's background in comedy (The Adam and Joe Show, Little Britain) we can expect a few laughs as well as plenty of action.

On DVD

X-Men: First Class

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast :
James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jason Flemyng

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Tagline: "Before he was Professor X, he was Charles. Before he was Magneto, he was Erik."

Comment:

We know how it ended and now we'll see how it all began. The X-men are here again with some young old friends and some new ones! I just hope it is more in Brian Singer's style than Brett Ratner's.

On DVD

Super 8

Director: J.J. Abrams

Cast :
Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Tagline: "Next Summer, It Arrives."

Comment:

With Super 8, J.J. Abrams and Spielberg team up to bring us a chair-gripping summer adventure.

I am just dying to find out what's on the train. Aren't you?! :)

On DVD

Green Lantern

Director: Martin Campbell

Cast :
Ryan Reynolds, Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively, Mark Strong

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Tagline: "One of us... becomes one of them."

Comment:

For the first time ever the Green Lantern Corps. pick a human, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), to be their member. His first task is a piece of cake. He just has to save the universe (including the Earth) from the newest addition to the villains' exclusive - Parallax. Make us proud, man! Make us proud!

On DVD

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Director: Michael Bay

Cast :
Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Frances McDormand, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, John Turturro

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Comment:

Why was landing on the Moon so important, besides planting the flag and claiming the glory?

Something crashed there which government kept secret. Well, until now. It was sent by Sentinel Prime to save Autobots from extinction, but will they get it in time?

Of course, there's another sizzling issue: why is Mikaela not in the (big) picture anymore?

On DVD

Source Code

Director: Duncan Jones

Cast :
Michelle Monaghan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright

Studio: Summit Entertainment

Tagline: "Make every second count."

Comment:

A few years back Jake Gyllenhaal starred in SF movies like The Day After Tomorrow and Donnie Darko, and now he teams up with director Duncan Jones in Source Code. If director's name sounds familiar it is because he signed the movie Moon in 2009.

On DVD

The Adjustment Bureau

Director: George Nolfi

Cast:
Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, John Slattery, Jon Stewart

Studio: Universal Pictures

Tagline: "Your Future Has Been Adjusted"

Comment:

You meet someone and you think, "This is it, we are this close to happily ever after". But when this happens to David Norris (Matt Damon) in the movie The Adjustment Bureau he finds out that a whole bunch of people working for a sinister agency stands in the way of his happiness. Writers got inspiration for this movie from Philip Dick's science fiction short story "Adjustment Team".

On DVD

Battle: Los Angeles

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Cast:
Aaron Eckhart, Bridget Moynahan, Michelle Rodriguez, Jim Parrack, Ne-Yo

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Comment:

Come March, and the latest alien invasion movie comes out - Battle: Los Angeles. This storyline transports us smack in the middle of war zone as we follow a marine platoon into a battle.

On DVD

Mars Needs Moms

Director: Simon Wells

Cast (voices):
Joan Cusack, Breckin Meyer, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Tagline: "Mom needs a little space."

Comment:

It turns out moms are in great demand on Mars, so Martians "borrow" them from Earth. However, one little earthling is determined to bring his back home.

This movie definitely calls for hot chocolate!

On DVD

Paul

Directors: Greg Mottola

Cast :
Seth Rogen (voice), Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Studio: Universal Studios

Tagline: "Who's up for a close encounter?"

Comment:

Who (assuming he/she is an SF movie fan) would not want to give a ride to a friendly gray alien with an outrageous sense of humor? And get entangled in lots and lots of frolicking, and occasionally life-threatening, adventures along the way? Also, throw in hard-bitten government agents on your tail. I knew you would.

On DVD

I am Number Four

Director: D.J. Caruso

Cast:
Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Durand, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Comment:

Aren't alien teens with super powers just irresistible? After Tron Legacy in December 2010, Walt Disney Studios brigs us another SF movie - I am Number Four. It is based on the novel of the same name which parked itself on the children's chapter of The New York Times Best Seller list for 6 weeks. Movie is about a teenage alien, John Smith, who hides his secret behind the facade of a regular guy and runs rather than fight. But when baddies, who want him and his kind dead, eventually catch up with him, he decides to stand his ground. Trailer for I am Number Four is fired up with energy, special powers and action.

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Tron Legacy

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Cast:
Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, John Hurt, Bruce Boxleitner

Studio: Walt Disney Productions

Comments:

Let the games begin! Virtual world, busloads of action and stunning visuals. Journey of father and son across a cyber universe that, since we last saw it has become more advanced and deadly.

Skyline

Director: Colin Strause and Greg Strause

Cast:
Scottie Thompson, Eric Balfour, David Zayas, Donald Faison, Brittany Daniel

Studio: Universal Pictures

Tagline:"Don't look up "

Comments:

The Strause Brothers - left their fingerprints on Aliens vs Predator - Requiem in 2007 - now they are back with another "run for your life...and scream, too " alien movie. This time it is an alien invasion flick with a difference. First you lose control. Then you lose your human form. Finally you are lost.

If you want to know what you would look like after the transformation check out the official site.

Monsters

Director: Gareth Edwards

Cast:
Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able

Studio: Magnet Releasing

Tagline: "Now, It's Our Turn To Adapt."

Comments:

Lo and behold all ye monster lovers! This movie comes at the perfect time to spice up your Halloween thrills (and chills). Enjoy!

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Cast:
Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Wentworth Miller, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts

Studio: Screen Gems

Tagline: "She's back...And she's bringing a few of her friends."

Comments:

Here comes Resident Evil: Afterlife the fourth movie in series after Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction.

It brings back some old faces (Alice, Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker), introduces some new ones (Chris Redfield) and looks set to deliver some red-hot action in the vein of the survival horror video game it's based on.

And it will be released in 3D.

Never Let Me Go

Director: Mark Romanek

Cast:
Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins

Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Comments:

In the going-back-to-school month comes a movie, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's highly praised novel Never Let Me Go, about Hailsham, unique boarding school, and its peculiar attendants. This dystopian film follows the three characters Ruth, Kathy and Tom, who have to cope with their "purpose" in life while they discover a bit of the "outside" world, hopelessness, jealousy and true love.

The movie trailer bodes well for all those who love an atmospheric drama with lots of food for thought.

Predators

Director: Nimród Antal

Cast:
Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Danny Trejo, Laurence Fishburne, Ellen Page, Tom Berenger

Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Tagline: "This summer, fear is reborn. The most dangerous killers on the planet... but this is not our planet."

Comments:

Predator(s) is back along with his friends! Directed by Nimród Antal, produced by Robert Rodriguez. The story is simple - elite human warriors are hunted by a group of dangerous alien warriors. Who will prevail? Whom to root for? :)

Inception

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Tom Berenger

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Tagline: "Your mind is the scene of the crime."

Comments:

What happens when you get to enter people's dreams? Writer and director Christopher Nolan, the man at the helm, and the power cast will try to answer the question. The trailer looks great and I can't wait to see more.

Splice

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Cast:
Adrien Brody, David Hewlett, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac, Amanda Brugel

Studio: Senator Distribution

Tagline: "Science newest miracle...is a mistake."

Comments:
Vincenzo Natali, director of SF thriller Cypher, is back with an SF horror Splice.

Story of a scientist who experiments with DNA samples to create a very special being.

Iron Man 2

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast:
Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Comments:

In the first Iron Man, Stark revealed his secret indentity. In the second everybody and their mother is after his new technology.

Star-studded cast list and lots of action.

Repo Men

Director: Miguel Sapochnik

Cast:
Jude Law, Liev Schreiber, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, Carice van Houten

Studio: Universal Pictures

Tagline: "Consider them your final choice."

Comments:

When I came across the title I thought the movie was a remake of the cult 80s movie Repo Man. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered this was an entirely different story. In the near future artificial organs, though expensive, can be bought like new car parts. The trick is, after the operation, if you can't pay the bill, the company which sells the organs sends a man to reclaim their merchandise. Whatever the cost.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Director: Steve Pink

Cast:
John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Caplan

Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Comments:

We saw a time machine which was built in the Delorean, so why not in a bath tub? Don't mull too much over the physics. This is plain old fun!

The Crazies

Director: Breck Eisner

Cast:
Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Danielle Panabaker, Joe Anderson, Preston Bailey

Studio: Overture Films

Tagline: "Fear Thy Neighbor"

Comments:

Poisoned water supply turns inhabitants of "Ogden Marsh, the friendliest place on earth" into a bunch of crazies. Those who preserved their senses are the unlucky ones.

It seems that sf movies suit Radha Mitchell just fine. After Surrogates we find her in another one. Way to go Radha! :) Timothy Olyphant will likely look familiar too. His last SF movie was Dreamcatcher.

The Book of Eli

Directors: Albert and Allen Hughes

Cast:
Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Tagline: "Some will kill to have it. He will kill to protect it. "

Comments:
In a world destroyed by war a warrior carries a book which contains a secret to human salvation. And everybody wants it!

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