New Movie Friday

My apologies for the lack of movie news and links this week. I'm in my busy season at work and I'm lucky to have any time to write at all right now. It'll all clear up soon and I can get back to the exceedingly mediocre content you've come to expect from me.

"Battle: Los Angeles" - Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena, Bridget Moynahan
A group of elite Marines takes on an alien army that has come to colonize earth. This is without question the event movie of the spring. That both excites and frightens me. It looks like an absolute blockbuster blast but if it's really got the kind of legs you hope for, why is it being released now instead of summer? Still, I've loved the trailers and I'll try to fit in a screening this weekend.

"Mars Needs Moms" - Joan Cusack, Dan Fogler, Tom Everett Scott
Continuing the alien theme, a young boy is made aware of how important his mother (Cusack) is after she is taken away by a group of martians. Perhaps no movie has fallen off my "Anticipation Radar" faster than "Mars." Coming off of the success of "Tangled", I was all about the Disney movie this Winter and looked forward to the follow up. And then the trailer hit. Oh dear Lord, this looks abysmal. Add in the news that Seth Green, a premiere voice talent, had been completely cut from the final production? No thanks.

"Jane Eyre" - Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fessbender, Jamie Bell
The literary classic by Charlotte Bronte about a young governess who discovers a dark truth about her employer receives yet another adaptation. I read this book in, I believe, sophomore English class and hated it to the point that I'm almost certain I never bothered to finish. The early reviews from people I trust have been resoundingly positive but honestly, this isn't for me. I hope some of you will enjoy it, though.

"Red Riding Hood" - Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Lukas Haas
A modern take on the classic tale only played up and romanticized to appeal to the "Twilight" crowd. It's even directed by the lady who made the first "Twilight." So you know it's good. Being the Oldman freak that I am, I used to think I'd see any movie the man made simply because of his involvement. And now this has happened. So much for that.

There are also a number of interesting limited release films this week if you happen to be so "lucky" as to live in New York or LA. But I believe I will wait to cover them until they hit DVD shelves.