Warner Bros. (USA): 304

Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi thriller, Gravity (2013), follows the journey of the Space Shuttle Explorer as it orbits Earth to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Commanded by veteran astronaut Matthew ‘Matt’ Kowalski, the ship is joined by Dr. Ryan Stone, who is on her first space mission to perform hardware upgrades on the telescope. However, their peaceful mission is interrupted when Houston reveals a dangerous situation caused by the Russian government shooting down a presumed defunct spy satellite. As more communication satellites are disabled by debris, Mission Control orders the crew to return to ...

Guillermo del Toro brought us Pacific Rim (2013), a thrilling American science fiction monster film. It introduces us to Kaiju, enormous alien monsters from another dimension that emerge through an interdimensional portal known as ‘the Breach’ located in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. These beasts proceed to attack coastal cities, prompting humanity to construct massive mechas called Jaegers. These machines require two or more pilots who are connected through a process called ‘Drifting’, allowing them to share the mental burden of controlling their Jaeger. Fast forward to 2020, and we see ...

The superhero film Man of Steel (2013) is based on the DC Comics character Superman. The planet Krypton is in turmoil due to the mining of its core. In a desperate attempt to save their race, Krypton’s leading scientist, Jor-El, infuses the genetics codex into his newborn son, Kal-El – the first naturally born Kryptonian in centuries. Tragically, Jor-El is killed by General Zod during a coup. Kal-El is sent to Earth and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent in Kansas, where he goes by the name Clark. As he grows up, his Kryptonian biology and exposure to Earth’s sun give him extraordinary powers that Jonathan urges him to keep secret. However, when ...

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013) is an animated superhero film based on Frank Miller’s 1986 comic book of the same name. It follows the story of Batman, set in the same world as Batman: Year One. In late 1986, Joker manipulates his way onto a talk show with his old henchman, Abner, and uses mind-controlling lipstick to plan his escape. Meanwhile, Superman, operating undercover for the government, is asked by President Ronald Reagan to stop Batman’s vigilantism. These events take place against a backdrop of growing tensions between the US and Soviet Union over control of Corto Maltese ...

The sports drama Trouble with the Curve (2012), directed by Robert Lorenz, follows aging scout Gus Lobel of the Atlanta Braves. He fears this may be his final assignment unless he can prove his worth to the organization. Known for being resistant to change in the game, especially when it comes to advanced statistics, Gus’s job is on the line as junior executive Phillip Sanderson competes for a promotion. Pete, Gus’s friend and boss, is hesitant to let him go but faces pressure from Phillip. Suspecting that Gus may be hiding health issues, Pete reaches out to Mickey, Gus’s daughter and a driven lawyer ...

The Campaign (2012), an American political satire comedy film directed by Jay Roach and written by Shawn Harwell and Chris Henchy, follows the downfall of Democratic Congressman Camden Brady. After having an affair with a supporter that is overheard on a phone call, his fifth re-election campaign for the 14th District in North Carolina is jeopardized. Desperate to maintain control, corrupt businessmen Glenn and Wade Motch decide to back Martin Huggins, a tour guide, as Camden’s Republican opponent. Their ulterior ...

Directed by Walter Hill, the American action film Bullet to the Head (2012) was adapted from the French graphic novel Du plomb dans la tête by Matz and Colin Wilson. Set in New Orleans, it follows hitman Jimmy Bobo and his partner Louis Blanchard as they eliminate corrupt ex-WDCPD officer Hank Greely. While taking a break at a bar, Blanchard is suddenly killed by another hitman named Keegan, who then tries to take out Bobo but fails. As WDCPD Detective Taylor Kwon begins investigating Greely’s death, Keegan ...

The dark fantasy film Dark Shadows (2012), directed by Tim Burton, is based on the gothic television soap opera of the same name. In 1760, young Barnabas Collins and his wealthy family relocated from Liverpool to Maine, where they built the Collinwood Mansion and founded the town of Collinsport. However, fifteen years later, Barnabas finds himself in a complicated situation. He is engaged to Josette but is also having an affair with Angelique, a servant who happens to be a witch. When Barnabas rejects Angelique, she uses her magic to murder his parents and place a curse on him. In addition, Angelique casts a spell on ...

The Lucky One (2012), an American romantic drama film directed by Scott Hicks, hit theatres in April of that year. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel from 2008 of the same title, the film follows Logan Thibault, a US Marine serving in Iraq. During an ambush, Logan witnesses ‘Aces’, one of his fellow Marines, die while trying to save a comrade. The next day, he stumbles upon a photo of a young woman on the ground just before another attack takes place, killing many nearby. Unable to locate the owner of the photograph, he decides to keep it. One of his ...

Argo (2012), an American historical drama thriller, was directed, produced by, and starred Ben Affleck. The screenplay, based on the 1999 memoir The Master of Disguise by U.S. C.I.A. operative Tony Mendez and 2007 Wired article The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran by Joshuah Bearman (edited by Nicholas Thompson), follows a group of diplomats who escape capture during the Iranian Revolution on ...

The superhero film, The Dark Knight Rises (2012), was helmed by director Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan and the story with David S. Goyer. Bane, a former member of the League of Shadows, leads an attack on a CIA plane over Uzbekistan to abduct nuclear physicist Dr. Leonid Pavel and deceives observers by making it appear that Pavel died in the crash. Meanwhile, eight years have passed since district attorney Harvey Dent’s death in Gotham City. Thanks to the Dent Act, ...

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) is an American drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Eric Roth, based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Jonathan Safran Foer. Nine-year-old Oskar Schell, who lives in New York City with his parents Linda and Thomas Schell, has autism. He shares a special bond with his father, as they embark on missions to uncover clues in search of New York City’s ‘lost Sixth Borough’. These tasks push Oskar to explore his surroundings and engage with others, ...

Director Steven Soderbergh released the American thriller film Contagion (2011). After a business trip to Hong Kong, PR executive Beth Emhoff had an encounter with a former lover during her layover in Chicago. She initially chalked up her slight illness to jet lag. However, just two days later, upon returning to Minneapolis, Beth’s husband Mitch rushed her to the hospital after she suffered a seizure. Despite her treatment, she tragically passed away from an unknown disease. Meanwhile, Mitch’s stepson Clark also succumbed to the illness. Thankfully, Mitch was found to be naturally immune but chose to keep ...

Sucker Punch (2011), an American psychological fantasy action film, is the directorial debut of Zack Snyder and was co-written by him and Steve Shibuya. The story follows a young woman named Babydoll who accidentally shoots her sister while trying to defend herself from their abusive stepfather. After discovering that their mother left everything to her daughters in her will, the stepfather has Babydoll institutionalized under false pretenses and bribes orderly Blue Jones to have her undergo a lobotomy. In a state of delusion, Babydoll imagines the asylum as a brothel ...

The comedy film, The Hangover Part II (2011), was produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Following their wild adventure in Las Vegas, Stu Price is getting ready to tie the knot with his fiancée, Lauren, in Thailand. To avoid a similar debacle to their last trip, Stu initially declines the offer for his friends Doug Billings and Phil Wenneck (and especially Alan Garner) to come along. Instead, he opts for a more low-key bachelor party at IHOP with just Phil and Doug. However, Tracy pleads with Doug to convince Stu to let her brother Alan join them on the trip. After some hesitation, Stu reluctantly agrees to bring along his friends ...

George Miller directed, produced and co-wrote the 2011 animated jukebox musical comedy film, Happy Feet Two (2011). Erik, son of Mumble and Gloria, struggles to keep up with his fellow Emperor-Land penguins on the dance floor. Along with his friends Bo and Atticus, he follows Ramón, leader of the Amigos and one of Mumble’s pals, to Adélie-Land. This snowy land is now under the rule of Sven, a flying penguin who is not all he seems. Sven had previously convinced the humans to spare him by showing off his impressive flight skills before joining forces with Lovelace (formerly known as ‘Guru’). Lovelace ...

The film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) is a sequel to the 2009 movie. Set in 1891, Irene Adler pays Dr. Hoffmanstahl for a surgery while also receiving a letter from him. However, during the exchange, Holmes sets off a bomb disguised as a mummy case and takes the letter before Adler and Hoffmanstahl can escape. Unfortunately, Hoffmanstahl is killed by Professor Moriarty’s henchman Sebastian Moran and Moriarty poisons and kills Adler for being compromised. Back at 221B Baker Street, Holmes tells Watson about his discoveries linking seemingly unrelated events to Moriarty. After meeting with his brother Mycroft at Watson’s bachelor party, Holmes ...

In the fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, our hero must seek help from the goblin Griphook after burying Dobby. With Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger by his side, Harry suspects a Horcrux is hidden in Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault at Gringotts bank. Griphook agrees to assist them, on the condition that he receives the Sword of Gryffindor in return. Ollivander informs Harry that two wands previously belonging to Bellatrix and Draco Malfoy were taken from Malfoy Manor; sensing a ...

The  film Edge of Darkness (2010), directed by Martin Campbell and written by William Monahan and Andrew Bovell, stars Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone. Homicide detective Thomas Craven picks up his daughter Emma from South Station, Boston for a visit. On the journey home, Emma falls ill and vomits twice. As they prepare dinner at home, Emma has a nosebleed and vomits again. When they leave to go to the hospital, a masked gunman ...

Hereafter (2010), directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, is an American drama with a screenplay by Peter Morgan. The film follows three individuals who share a common experience with death, all struggling to communicate with the deceased. Playing the role of George is Matt Damon, an American factory worker who has the ability to communicate with the dead professionally but chooses not to. Cécile de France portrays Marie, a French TV journalist who survives a near-death ...