Previewing the films of 2011
2010 brought us great film after great film, and 2011 promises to follow suit. With at least 10 films in 3-D released throughout the year and many superhero and cartoon sequels, next year's cinematic experience will certainly be eye-catching. Here are five films with stories, that from previews seem strong enough to match their visual appeal:On Feb. 11, 2011, The Eagle, based on the book The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, will be released. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, the film takes place in Britain in the year 140 CE, where centurion Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) must search for the Eagle standards, which the Ninth Legion was forced to surrender in Caledonia 20 years earlier, and redeem the good name of his father, leader of the legion. Esca (Jamie Bell), a British slave, accompanies Aquila, and together the two must confront the tribes who live where the legion disappeared. The film was shot on location in Hungary and Scotland and promises a lot of action and beautiful scenery.
No Strings Attached, starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, will also be released next year. Directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters I and II), the film explores the consequences of being friends with benefits. The film, due out Jan. 21, is advertised as a romantic comedy, and its primary focus on sexuality is sure to be really funny.
James Cameron's new film, Sanctum, will be in theaters on Feb. 4 2011. Shot in extraordinary 3-D, the movie tells the story of a master diver and his son who become trapped in an underwater cave in the South Pacific. Utilizing many of the photographic techniques that Cameron developed for Avatar, director Alister Grierson portrays a thriller inspired by the near-death experience of the film's screenwriter, Andrew Wight. Featuring several new faces, the movie has some hauntingly stunning underwater scenes in which the characters must face all kinds of unfamiliar moments of peril.
The Adjustment Bureau, a science fiction romance film, has an all-star cast including Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost). The film, acquired from Media Rights Capital by Universal Studios at an auction in 2009, depicts the mysterious failed romance of David Norris (Damon) and a gorgeous ballerina (Blunt) whose inability to get together is due to powers beyond their understanding. According to the trailer, the Adjustment Bureau's members "are the people who make sure things go according to plan. [They] monitor the entire world." Can these two defy fate and opposing forces in order to be with each other? Find out in March 2011.
An extremely interesting-looking film, Restless, was originally scheduled to be released on Jan. 28, but it has now been pushed back to later in the spring and has been withdrawn from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in order to build more publicity. This happened with 2010's highly successful film Conviction, which was pulled from last year's Sundance Festival where it was initially entered titled Betty Ann Waters. Restless, starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), is the story of a terminally ill girl who falls in love with a boy whose best friend is a ghost. The two outsiders together come of age in what appears to be a truly moving film. Keep an eye out: this one looks well worth the wait!
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