The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises, the 2012 superhero movie that swept the world is the third installment of the Dark Knight series, after The Dark Knight(2008) and Batman Begins (2005). As one of the highest-grossing series of all time, the summer-release is one of the most anticipated films of the year, with all focus shining squarely on Christian Bale as Batman.

As the last series of the iconic film, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), better known as Batman, has been away from Gotham City for over 8 years. Harvey Dent is dead and Batman is thereby forced to return to the barren place that is Gotham City to tie up loose ends.

But while Batman has been away, he’s grown weak and the resistance from his former adversaries has only grown stronger. A vivacious young women, Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) has warned him that a storm is coming and his larger-than-life attitude will leave him ending up dead. As the Gotham City Police Department chase after Batman, he must readjust his attention to Bane (Tom Hardy) a criminal mastermind set to destroy the city.

Directed by famed director Christoper Nolan, he was hesitant to come back for The Dark Knight Rises, but after developing a plot with his brother Jonathan Nolan, finally agreed. With a staggering $250 million budget, The Dark Knight Rises is the seventh most expensive movie of all time. A cultural phenomenon, look for The Dark Knight Rises to break records all across the world.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Man On A Ledge

Man on a Ledge, a 2012 psychological-thriller film, depicts the story of a man on a mission who after a dizzying series of events, ends up on top of a ledge.  Starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell and Ed Harris, Man on a Ledge has a plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Set in New York City, Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into the Roosevelt hotel, goes straight up to his room, and positions himself on the ledge of his hotel balcony, attempting to set to stage for his eventual suicide.  Once a women spots him, the police are called and a special, female negotiator Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) is called.

Having failed to convince a depressed man from jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge a few months earlier, Cassidy specifically asked for Mercer to be appointed to his case.  Once reaching his room, Mercer discovers he is an ex-cop accused of stealing a priceless diamond.  Unbeknownst to Mercer, while he is on the ledge, people elsewhere are attempting to proclaim his innocence.

Directed by Asger Leth, Man on a Ledge has received mixed reviews while audiences worldwide met the film with most positive reviews as it performed well at the box-office.  Any movie that can capture the attention of views with a plot that centers around a man on a ledge has to be doing something right.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Grey

The Grey, a 2012 action-thriller film, sees the return of one of film’s most beloved characters (and voices, for that matter), Taken star Liam Neeson.  Returning to his usual tough guy, uber-confident leader role, Neeson takes it upon himself to help a group of men survive in the cold Alaskan tundra.

Ottoway (Liam Neeson) has received an assignment to head to Alaska along with his team on business.  As an oil-drilling team, he faces danger situations on a daily basis.  But when their plane crashes into an extremely deserted, remote part of the state, they must do everything they can to survive.

As they trek on, they realize that they are not alone in this journey.  As strange things begin to happen, they understand the gravity of the situation they’ve entered into.  Soon, they realize that they in fact are the intruders, and the terrain they’ve intruded belongs to pack of hungry, ruthless wolves.

The Grey, directed by Carnahan, reunites producers Ridley and Tony Scott along with Neeson for the second time, their first film being the highly-acclaimed film The A-Team.  Receiving positive reviews on all sides, The Prey has been hailed as an exciting, engaging story with a hint of philosophical value.  If you are a fan Neeson, or just enjoy a good ole’ action-thriller, The Prey is for you.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Darkest Hour

The Darkest Hour¸ 2011 Russian-American sci-fi thriller, tells the story of a group of young people travelling in Russia when an unknown alien entity threatens the existence of the entire city of Moscow.  Starring Emile Hirsch, Max Minghella, Olivia Thirlby, and Rachael Taylor, The Darkest Hour has a formidable cast.

When two young men set out to Russia to attempt to sell their social networking website to a group of Russian business moguls, they are disappointed to find out that their software is already being sold.  In their desperate solidarity, they seek out the company of several attractive young women. Little do they know, these women might be the last people they ever meet.

Suddenly, the begin to see these flashing lights in the sky, almost similar to an aurora.  Thinking that it’s harmless, they pay no attention to it until it begins to disintegrate people entirely, killing everyone around them.  After deaths all of the world, they finally begin to see the weakness in the invisible aliens, and use light and darkness as their only means of escaping the murderous invaders.

Directed by Chris Gorak and produced by Timur Bekmambetov, The Darkest Hour is set to have the Russian perspective of alien invasion, an odd variable when considering most alien-invasion movies are centered on America or have an international scale.  When all is said and done, The Darkest Hour provides a glimmer of entertainment.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Intouchables

Intouchables (Untouchable) , a 2011 French dramatic comedy, has swept the Republic of France like a wildfire, sweep up awards and movie-setting records in its wake.  The story, a ironic depiction of two very different men living two very different lives but learning to fraternize, was actually inspired by a 2004 documentary.

Philippe (François Cluzet) is an extremely wealthy tetraplegic who is in desperate need of a care-taker.  Philippe’s ailment stemmed from a paragliding incident and his wife, who would normally be taking care of him, died at a very young age.  Therefore, aside from his daytime assistant Magalie (Audrey Fleurot), he must hire someone new on full-time basis.  Enter Driss (Omar Sy).

Driss’s motives are quite different; all he wants is a signature from the heir saying he interviewed with him so he can continue receiving unemployment benefits.   From a downtrodden neighborhood with little to his name, he is astounded to find out he has been hired on a temporary basis.  But when the stark differences between the two men arise, coexisting is harder, and sometimes funnier, than one might have imagined.

Directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, Intouchables has become the second most successful French film of all time (in terms of spectators) in only its first nine weeks in theaters.  It has since become a cultural phenomenon, being voted as the cultural event of the year.  If you speak French, we highly recommend it.  If not, availability for it in the United States is in the works, so keep your eyes peeled.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked¸ a 2011 American adventure-comedy, is the third
installment of the “Alvin and Chipmunks” franchise, following the 2009 release of Squeakquel.
Targeting children and families in general, this film provides some fun dance numbers and some
catchy one-liners.

The Chipmunks and the Chipettes decide that in the wake of the season, they should all go on
a cruise together. Their owner Dave Seville (Jason Lee) make their reservations and they head
out the famous Carnival Dream Cruise ship. Nothing can go wrong on a tropical-island vacation,
right?

Wrong. While on the cruise, the sly Chipmunks and Chipettes run amuck all over the cabin,
causing mayhem and confusion. They unruly behavior gets them stuck on a deserted island
while Dave searches high and low to find and save them. Luckily, when they run into one of
their own kind, things start to look up as a new member joins their gang.

Directed by Mike Mitchell, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked has racked up the box office
since its release, earning a whopping $274 million both internationally and domestically. If
you’re looking for a kid-friendly film that might even garner a chuckle or two from the parents,
try this flick out.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Shame

Shame, a 2011 British drama film, explores the sexual depravity of a man hell-bent on living off of meaningless sexual encounters.  One of the most celebrated movies of the year, Shame was named by world-famous movie critic Robert Ebert as his second-favorite movie of 2011.

Set in New York, Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) is a professionally successful, good-looking thirty year who has nothing but the future ahead of him.  But something plagues him in his seemingly-perfect life – his affinity for sex.  He can’t control his sexual desires and continually finds women, in almost any way possible, to have sex with.

Sometimes he finds hookers, sometimes he manages his sexual desires by himself.  Everything changes though when his wayward sisters comes to New York to visit.  Dealing with unexplained hardships from their childhood, Sissy’s (Carey Mulligan) indefinite stay with Brandon helps him understand the gravity of the situation and how his behaviors are shaping his life.

Directed by Steve McQueen, director of Hunger, Shame has received worldwide recognition for its provocative story and flawless acting.  Premiering at the 68^th Venice Film Festival, Fassbender won the annual Volpi award for his Best Actor in a Film.  A relentless film about the massive affects of sex as a drug make Shame an absolute must-see.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Divide

The Divide, a 2012 post-apocalyptic thriller, takes the reins for the years first post-armageddon feature-film.  With tensions building in the wake of the end of the Mayan’s calendar on December 21st, 2012, movies of the caliber will be quite frequent for the next 12 months.  The Divide is being hailed as the best film of it’s kind in quite a while.

New York City is gone.  But just before the city of eighteen million went up in flames, eight strangers made their way into a bomb shelter in the basement of their building.  With an abundance of food and supplies, the eight people from very different backgrounds believe that they have a thriving chance to outlast this hellish nightmare and cohabit, but disaster awaits.

When a swarm of HEZMAT soldiers arrive shooting an unknown entity, the group of eight start to rattle their sabres as they decide whether they can trust them, let alone themselves.  As food runs out, the group starts to turn on each other as their are casualties on both sides.  To survive, some must die, and some must make the hardest choice of their life.

Directed by Xavier Gens, The Divide has received rave reviews from many reputable festivals, including the annual South By Southwestern (SXSW) festival held in Austin, TX, where it premiered in 2011.  According to QuietUS.us, Michael Biehn gives one of the best performances of his career. When all is said and done, The Divide is worth the watch….before December 21st, of course.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Haywire

Haywire,  a 2012 action-drama film, stars an all-star ensemble of actors, including Ewan Mcgregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, and Michael Douglas.  Set and filmed almost entirely in London, the film followers a globe-trotting secret agent that has been cornered and betrayed several ally nations that presumably want her dead.

A national weapon, Mallory (Gina Carano) is an indispensable tool for the United States.  A former marine, her job requires her to assist foreign governments and militaries in the jobs that they otherwise would not have the authority to do contingent of the approval of head of states.  Following orders to retrieve a hostage in Spain, she is summoned to Ireland for an “important” meeting.

While there, she is betrayed by her fellow agent and double crossed.  He tries to kill her but ends up crossing the wrong agent.  She then is forced to flee Dublin and find a way back to the United States to enact revenge on her former employer and protect her family from any harm that might come their way.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Haywire has received outstanding reviews for its story, continuity, and acting.   If the fight scenes seem quite lifelike, it’s because Carano is actually a former MMA world champion, reaching as high as number three in the world.  With great actors, an in-depth story, and some fun action, Haywire sets the bar high for this genre of movie in 2012.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

A Little Bit Of Heaven

A Little Bit Of Heaven, a 2011 romantic comedy, in a recent surge, is one of the many movies following the comedic tensions of the protagonist after learning they have cancer.  Featuring the acting talents of Kate Hudson, Whoppi Goldberg, and Gael García Bernal, A Little Bit Of Heaven has a lot of acting heavyweights.

Marley Corbett (Kate Hudson) has the ideal life everyone urns for; a high-paying executive job, a great sense of humor, outside beauty, and a sense of humor that lets her appreciate the small things in life.  Nothing can wrong for her, even as she skirts love for sex, because she’s comfortable with her life.  But when she goes to doctor, everything changes.

Upon learning that she has terminal-cancer, her reaction is unlike any others.  She is not sad, or upset, but actually alright with her fate, coming to terms with reality.  Her doctor Julian (Gael García Bernal), a guarded man, is bewildered by her dignity and humor in the wake of the news.  When a little angel (Whoppi Goldberg) gives her a second chance, she decides to give that thing called “love” another try.

Directed by Nicole Kassell, A Little Bit Of Heaven was released in the United Kingdom in the early months of 2011 to generally positive reviews, citing that film had an interesting spin on how someone with cancer would react to the news.  A light-hearted rom-com, A Little Bit Of Heaven delivers what it sets out to.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment