GONE

Gone, a 2012 psychological thriller film, empowers that femme fatale character we all know who takes things into her own hands.  When a young woman must take the capture of a serial killer into her own hands, things take a turn for the worst as her friends, family, and her town refuse to believe her.

Jill Parish (Amanda Seyfried) has experienced something very few people live to tell the tale about; abduction.  Being the only survivor several years prior, the majority of her friends that were kidnapped were murdered in grisly fashion.   Being the sole survivor has been difficult as the death of her friends constantly haunt her.

But when signs start to suggest he’s still at bay, things get ugly when he makes a threat against not only her life, but her sisters.  Soon, her sister goes missing.  With no one around to believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands.  Refusing to allow anyone to get in her way, she vows not to sleep until her sister’s kidnapper is dead.

Directed by Heitor Dhalia, Gone  is set to release at the end of February.  After all the Valentines Day charm has worn off and relationships take a downward spiral, you lovely ladies can take a quick trip to theaters and vicariously live out your fantasy of hunting your ex through Jill Parish and her manhunt narrative.  Either way, Gone looks to be a fun, witty female-driven action flick.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Secret World of Arrietty

The Secret World of Arrietty, a 2010 Japanese animated film, is set to be released in the United States, two years after its initial screening in Japan.  Grossing over $120 million worldwide, the film will be premiering in the U.S. later this month to millions of eager American fans.

Set in a suburb of Tokyo, Shō, a young Japanese boy, has only heard fairy tales from his family of the “little people” that dwell in the cracks within in the house.  Never has he seen one before, but always been conscious of the wives tales that he has heard since he was an infant.  When things go missing, it’s only natural to blame these mischievous creatures.

Little does he know, that these “little people”, actually called “Borrowers”, are in fact real, and have been living in his very home for years.  When Arrietty, a young borrow, reveals herself to the humans, she compromises their entire existence, as she sets out on a quest to help both races understand each other.

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, The Secret World of Arrietty is based on the bestselling children’s fantasy novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton.  Released to critical acclaim all over the world, this revival of the famous novel is sure to astound you with mind-boggling visuals and a soundtrack that will leave you with a new appreciation for Japanese animation.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

In Darkness

In Darkness, a 2011 Polish Holocaust movie, takes us into the Nazi-occupied Polish city of Lvov to experience the life each individual had to endure during these bloody times.  Based on a true story, the director of the movie says her goal is to make viewers feel like they’re in the sewer with along the movies characters.

Leopold Socha, (Robert Więckiewicz), a sewer worker living in the city of Lvov, witnesses that mass terror that spreads around country in the wake of the Holocaust.  As Jews are being rounded up by the dozens, Socha, a shrewd business man, realizes there is a dollar to be made in helping hide these Jew offenders.

Encountering a group of Jews escaping the liquidation of the ghetto, he barters shelter in the sewers for money, mostly focused on the profit and little on the safety of his new business partners.  But as things at the surface begin to turn deadly, Socha begins to understand the desperation these innocent people feel, sparking a sense of humanity that seeks to help save these men, women, and children from imminent death.

Directed by  Agnieszka Holland, the movie has officially been named as the Polish entry for the Best Foreign Film Award at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards in two weeks.  With rage reviews from critics on all sides, In Darkness has been hailed as, “Not just another Holocaust movie”, taking us farther into the spectrum of this bloody time period.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Battleship

Battleship, a 2012 science fiction action film, will be aiming to sink move critics battleships as it brings to life the iconic board game America grew up with, putting a slight twist on the somewhat straight-forward narrative.  We all know how to play, but who knew that we had extraneous forces such as alien playing a factor?

Taking place in the Hawaiian Islands, a naval fleet in the area ends up investigating some strange occurrences on international waters that leaves some people confused.  Upon discovering an unresponsive alien ship stranded at sea, the military aims to discover the possible threat of the visitors.

Learning that the aliens, who are known as “the Regents”, are trying to build a power source in the ocean, the world begins to retaliate, with battles ensuring all over the globe.  The film will being showing both sides of the conflict so the viewer can see where all the battleships lie, just as with the hit board game.

Directed by Peter Berg, Battleship will be featuring critically-acclaimed actors such as Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård, and Taylor Kitsch, as well as pop star Rhianna and Sports Illustrated supermodel Brooklyn Decker.  Actual US Sailors from the USS Hué and Vicksburg ships were used  in the filming as well to give it a true-to-life environment.  Hopefully, with this interesting take on a classic game,  Berg will have no problem sinking our battleships.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, a 2012 3D action film, follows the happenings of Sean Anderson, the famous boy who traveled to the center of the earth in the 2008 film Journey to the Center of the Earth. Originally crafted after the 19^th century classic novel by the same name by historic author Jules Verne, this year’s sequels sets them on another fantastical adventure.

Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) has an affinity with secret codes and faraway fantasy lands.  This is precisely what lead him to his journey to the center of the earth and what motivated him to steal information from a satellite research center.  After successfully stealing the code from the facility, he and his stepfather, Hank Parsons (Dwayne Johnson), strive to decode the mystery.

Parsons, only attempting to humor his stepson in an effort to bond, ends up discovering more than he first imagined he would.  Before he knows it, he’s out at sea looking for the lost city of Atlantis in a rickety old helicopter.  When a freak storm hits, the entire crew wind up stranded on an island where big animals are small, and small animals are big.  His grandfather, who believed in the islands existence for years, proceeds to take them on the ride of their lives.

Directed by Brad Peyton, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island makes direct references to Treasure Island in the hit novel Gulliver’s Travels among others.  With a whopping budget of $50 million, this film has made great strides to ensure the 3D is adequate to meet the movies needs.  Whether you’re wanting a great 3D movie or need to get the kids out of the house this weekend, revisiting this modern-day classic will do everyone in the family some good.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Vow

The Vow, a 2012 romantic drama film, might be every teenage girl in America’s dream; to wake up from a comma to find Channing Tatum vying for your love.  Starring the sickeningly charming couple of Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, The Vow plucks at the heart’s chords while having a little fun along the way.

Leo (Channing Tatum) and Paige (Rachel McAdams) are you average, happily-married couple, who’s fairly new relationship is its prime and thriving without falter.  Everything seems to moving perfectly along in their new life, until one fatal night, Paige becomes the victim of a terrible car accident, leaving her unconscious in a comma.

Luckily, she is able to recover and exits the comma.  Unfortunately for Leo, one thing was lost when that car struck her; her memory.  She has no recollection of her time with Leo, lest that they are indeed married.  In an attempt to help jog her memory, Leo must start from the beginning and woo her one more time to ensure the love of his life can one day love him again.

Directed by Michael Sucsy, The Vow was actually revealed by McAdams during an interview on Live! With Kelly to be an adaptation of a true life story.  Kim and Krickitt Carpenter had a the same life-changing problem when Krickitt could not regain her memory.  As luck happens, they are still married today and have two kids.  The Vows definitely provides a great, real-life story with some convincing acting.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Big Miracle

Big Miracle, a 2012 family drama, has some equally big cast members; three larger-than-life grey whales trapped in a pack of ice.  Starring blockbuster actors such as Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, Big Miracle focuses on the strength of a tiny village when the world comes knocking on the door to help save these majestic creatures.

Set in small-town America Point Barrow, Alaska, news reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) becomes emotionally invested in a news story he’s covering.  Being around the Arctic Circle, it is very uncommon to see grey whales trapped in clumps of ice, and when he discovers three trapped in an enormous, 5 mile stretch ice block, a personal plight ensues.

His ex-girfriend, Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), a Greenpeace worker, is recruited by her ex to help raise awareness and set the whales free.   Fred, Wilma, and Bam Bam only have a short window to survive and as the entire words begins to pay attention, help from every corner of the globe mobilizes to help these whales survive.

Directed by Ken Kwapis,  Big Miracle is based on a true story.  In 1988, in the same town, three whales were trapped in an ice block, sparking Operation Breakthrough.  Although one whale did not make it, two did escape making the effort a success and creating a new image of whales in America.  All in all, Big Miracle is a story about courage, preservation, and strength in face of adversity.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games,  a 2012 science-fiction post-apocalyptic film, will be hitting theaters this year as the first film adaptation of the book by the same name, written by author Suzanne Collins.  Geared towards young adults, the movie has become a cultural phenomenon while children and young adults alike from coast to coast wait for its release this March.

Set in what is currently North America, the nation of Panem has been split into 12 districts since the unsuccessful rebellion against its oppressor (known as the Capitol) hurdled it into defeat.   Each year, as a reminder about the failure the districts  endured 74 years ago, they hold an annual sporting event called ‘The Hunger Games’.

Unlike most games though, the losers must pay with their lives.  Using one boy and one girl from each district, it’s a battle to death, with the winner receiving both fame and fortune.  Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman who’s supporting both her mother and his little sister after the untimely death of their father, opts to take her younger sisters place and accept that challenge of the ‘The Hunger Games’.

Directed by Gary Ross, The Hunger Games features a sensational cast, including Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci , and Woody Harrelson.  Only the beginning of the three-part series, fans of the book need not worry; in a recent interview, Woody Harrelson let the cat out of the bag, saying he had been signed on for three movies.  Look for the second part to come out late 2013.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure, a 2012 two-part fantasy film, returns to the big screen this year, diving back into the world of the small guys with the big, hairy feet known as Hobbits.  Nine years after the last J.R.R. Tolkien film was released in 2003, ending the epic trilogy of The Lord of the Rings, the world-famous Bilbo Baggins returns for one last adventure.

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) has the world on his shoulders – he has been heralded with the dire task of returning the The Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor back to its original state.  Upon taking this challenge, he is approached by several entities that with to assist him.  Gandalf the Grey, a power wizard, and a group of thirteen elf’s help lead him to successes.

Heading to Lonely Mountain, it is imperative that they first pass through goblin tunnels.  Here, Bilbo Baggins meets a creature that will change his life forever; Gollum.  Possessing a powerful ring that haunts his very existence, Baggins knows not that power and destruction that lies with the key and has no idea of the grave future it holds if allowed into the wrong hands.

Directed by Peter Jackson, filming for the movie took place in New Zealand, in the vast, mountainous area where the original filming took place.  With a combined budget of $500 million dollars, The The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure is officially the most expensive film of all time.  If Jackson’s representation of the last three films is any indicator of what’s to come, expect ground-breaking opening weekends this Decemeber.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, an upcoming 2012 romantic drama film, brings one of the world’s most famous novels to the big screen.  Originally written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby became a literary classic during the roaring 20’s, a period of great wealth for the United States.  A remake of the 1974 version by the same name, this year’s film will feature the acting talents of Leonardo DiCaprio.

Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) graduated from Yale and served in the war, but at the end of his deployment, returns to New York in search of a better life, trying to enter the bond business.  Settling into a house near a large mansion owned by the mysterious Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), he begins to develop a taste for luxury.  Upon meeting the happy couple of Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and Tom (Joel Edgerton) Buchanan, he believes life might be all it’s cracked up to be here.

But once he begins to delve deeper into the social circle of these people, he soon realizes their life is not what they show to world.  Tom, an unfaithful husband, has done nothing but alienate Daisy, while Jay Gatsby begins to show Nick his unethical methods of money-making, such as fixing the World Series.  To his dismay, when Nick discovers the true nature of these people,  murder, lies, and heartbreak seem to be what lie in the horizon.

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby has been recognized by literary critics as one of the best books of the 20^th century.  Principal filming took place in Sydney, with some scenes being shot this month in New York.  Fans of the book are eagerly awaiting its release in the latter stages of the year. With stunning performances by DiCaprio in movies such as Inception and Titanic, we except nothing less from the cunning, dapper man known as Gatsby.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment