January 2013 offers moviegoers a wide variety of large studio movies and small studio offerings, covering diverse genres from horror to comedy to police procedurals. Just in time to fill downtime after the holidays, several future blockbusters are scheduled for release alongside low-budget flicks. Among them are a few notable big names and a handful of special effect extravaganzas.
"Texas Chainsaw 3D" releases on Jan. 4, 2013. This R-rated offering picks up a few decades after the grisly escapades in the cult favorite "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." When a young woman inherits her family estate from a long-lost grandmother, she decides to check out her ancestral roots. Curiosity turns to horror with what awaits her there.
"A Haunted House" releases on Jan. 11, 2013. Thrills, chills, and laughs come a little later in January with this R-rated movie, starring Marlon Wayans. A parody from the creators of "Scary Movie," this film follows a couple who move into a new home only to find that they are not alone.
"Gangster Squad" also releases on Jan. 11, 2013. The bad boys and rising stars of Hollywood combine to portray the mob-controlled 1949 Los Angeles. Sean Penn's mob boss character calls the shots, until he finds himself going up against eager police officers, played by Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling. The storyline is loosely based on true events from the era, including the violence that gives this movie an R rating.
Star-studded "Broken City" releases on Jan. 18, 2013. Mark Wahlberg plays the role of a New York City police officer saved from jail after a bad shooting by the mayor, played by Russell Crowe. He then becomes a private detective whom the mayor later hires to investigate the extra-marital activities of his wife, portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones. What lies beneath the surface is more than Wahlberg's character could have ever imagined, forcing him to sacrifice everything to survive. This film is rated R.
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the big screen in the Jan. 18, 2013 release of "The Last Stand." He plays Sheriff Owens, an experienced police officer relegated to a small town department after a big-city screw-up. Border town Sommerton Junction is all that stands between an escaped drug kingpin and freedom outside of the United States. The feds ride into town, untrusting of Owens' ability to capture the escapee. In the end, though, Owens is the only one with enough guts to face off against one of the country's most-wanted criminals. The movie is rated R for extreme violence.
Supernatural thriller "Mama" also releases on Jan. 18, 2013. When their parents are killed, two little girls disappear into the woods. Five years after they vanished, they are found alive but are surrounded by an evil presence that follows them back to their uncle's home. When the girlfriend of the girls' uncle tries to mother them, she ends up facing a far more disturbing task than reintroducing the girls to normalcy. The movie is rated PG-13.
"Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" opens in IMAX and 2D/3D theatres on Jan. 25, 2013. The little children from the gingerbread house of fairy tale fame have grown up and put their survival skills to use as vengeful witch bounty hunters. But when their past intersects with those they hunt, their future stands at stake. This film has not yet received an MPAA rating.
After a month of thrillers and suspense, late January will see the arrival of humor in "Movie 43," opening on Jan. 25, 2013. Scores of big names come together in this film that weaves storylines that are intricately woven and designed for shock value. Just a few of the participating actors include Elizabeth Banks, Gerald Butler, Richard Gere, Johnny Knoxville, Dennis Quaid, Seann William Scott, Uma Thurman, and Kate Winslett. Rated R for sexual situations, drug usage, and language, this film is not for easily offended moviegoers.
The last big release for January 2013 is "Parker," which hits theaters on Jan. 25, 2013. Jason Statham portrays a thief whose ethics resemble that of Robin Hood. When his crew turns against him during a break-in and leaves him for dead, he tracks them to Florida. Partnering with a broke but savvy local woman (portrayed by Jennifer Lopez), they design a plan to get back the loot and punish the crew. "Parker" is rated R for violence.
In addition to these nine movies, releasing nationwide in January 2013, a number of other films are scheduled for release in a limited number of theaters or geographic areas. These include "All Superheroes Must Die" (Jan. 4, 2013), "Officer Down" (Jan. 11, 2013), "Luv" (Jan 18, 2013), and "John Dies at the End" (Jan. 25, 2013).
Comments