December 22, 2013: Upcoming Movie Releases To Look Forward To! Or not!

THE LEGEND OF HERCULES

Release Date: January 10, 2014

What it’s about: Sold into slavery, the son of Zeus must fight his way back to his kingdom.

What it’s got working for it:  Has the potential to be a fun adventure.

What’s it’s got going against it: Looks mighty humourless – the kiss of death when it comes to these painfully serious epics.

JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT

Release Date: January 17, 2014

What it’s about: From the pages of best-selling author Tom Clancy comes this contemporary action thriller.

What it’s got working for it:  Screenwriter David Koepp is a terrific writer.  He wrote the script to my favorite Spiderman movie.  The single one I actually liked.

What’s it’s got going against it: With less than a month to go before opening, not much advance buzz.  Not a good sign.

THE NUT JOB

Release Date: January 17, 2014

What it’s about: A squirrel and his rat friend plan the heist of a nut store.

What it’s got working for it:  Love the heist premise in an animated setting.

What’s it’s got going against it: The unfunny trailer.  Also, the curse of Katherine Heigl.

RIDE ALONG

Release Date: January 17, 2014

What it’s about: A tough cop brings his prospective brother-in-law on a ride along through the mean streets of Atlanta.

What it’s got working for it:  The trailer shows promise.  Love the idea of a gamer applying his gaming experience to real life action.

What’s it’s got going against it: A long line of failed buddy comedies that came before.

I, FRANKENSTEIN

Release Date: January 24, 2014

What it’s about: Dr. Frankenstein’s creation could be humanity’s only hope in a war waged between gargoyles and demons.

What it’s got working for it:  A rich and potentially interesting mythology.

What’s it’s got going against it: There’s such a fine line between “rich and interesting” and “cheesy and ponderous”.

Tagged: I Frankenstein, Jack Reacher: Shadow Recruit, Nut Job, Ride Along, The Legend of Hercules