After Earth

 

Danger is real, but fear is a choice. Father-and-son duo Will and Jaden Smith are at it again in After Earth, M. Night Shyamalan’s futuristic thriller about man’s return to the Earth after years of abandonment.

It has been a thousand years since mankind was forced off of the Earth by cataclysmic events, and the Earth’s ecosystem has evolved to become one of the most dangerous in the galaxy. So when teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his father Cypher (Will Smith) crash land on Earth, it doesn’t take them long to realize the enormity of what they’re up against. With his father in critical condition, Kitai must lead the journey to the nearest signal post in order to call for help. Facing an uncharted world whose plant and animal life has evolved to fight off the threat of humans, Kitai has to grow up quickly—or die. Father and son must learn to trust each other if they hope to get off the planet alive.

 

 

Written by Gary Whitta and M. Night Shyamalan and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, After Earth will be released on May 31, 2013. This Columbia Pictures (Sony) sci-fi film is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images.

 

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Based on the bestselling series by Cassandra Clare, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones tells the story of an extraordinary teenager’s quest to save her mother. Clary Fray (Lily Collins) is living an ordinary life in New York City—until her world is rocked by a pair of dramatic revelations. First she discovers that she is a descendant of the Shadowhunters, a hidden force of half-human, half-angel warriors sworn to protect our world from demons. Then she discovers that her mother Joceyln (Lena Headey) has been kidnapped by a man feverishly searching for the Mortal Cup, a powerful artifact in Jocelyn’s possession. Clary realizes that she must take drastic action if she hopes to save her mother and connect with her heritage.

Out of her element, Clary recruits the help of three Shadowhunters: Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower), Alec (Kevin Zegers), and Isabelle (Jemima West). They introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, vampires, werewolves, and all manner of threatening monsters. Together they must fight their way through a maze of danger, greed, and betrayal if they hope to rescue Jocelyn and recover the Mortal Cup.

Written by Jessica Postigo Paquette and directed by Harald Zwart, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones will open in theaters on August 23, 2013. This Screen Gems (Sony) action fantasy film also stars Robert Sheehan, Kevin Durand, Aidan Turner, Godfrey Gao, CCH Pounder, Jared Harris, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Sparkle

Just how strong are family bonds? When dreams fall apart, can family members hold each other together? Set in the late 1960’s, Sparkle explores these questions and more.

Musical prodigy Sparkle (Jordin Sparks, American Idol season 6 winner) and her two older sisters, Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Dolores (Tika Sumpter), live with their not-very-encouraging mother Emma (the late Whitney Houston) in an affluent area of Detroit. After singing in a church choir, the three girls are encouraged to form a girl group and quickly become a Motown sensation.

The film tells Sparkle’s story as she struggles with the changes and unexpected challenges that stardom bring. Sparkle becomes romantically involved with her music manager, Stix (Derek Luke), while one of her sisters gets lured into an abusive and drug-filled relationship with Satin, a wealthy comedian (Mike Epps). Along the way Sparkle and her family contend with a host of problems.

Directed by Salim Akil from a screenplay by Mara Brock Akil, Sparkle is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, which was loosely based on the experiences of the musical group The Supremes. While the film is Jordin Sparks’ debut as an actress, it also marks Whitney Houston’s final feature film role, as she passed away three months after filming concluded. The film, which is set for release on August 17, 2012 by Columbia Pictures (Sony), will be dedicated to Houston’s memory. Sparkle features songs from the original film as well as new compositions from R&B artist R. Kelly.

Hope Springs

It happens to so many couples. After many years together the passion in the relationship just seems to die. Married couples start to feel like roommates, and sex becomes a distant memory. Kay Soames (Meryl Streep) and her husband Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, still very deeply in love with each other. But after 31 years of marriage things just aren’t what they used to be. Although Arnold seems content with the status quo, Kay is not – she longs to spice things up, reconnect with her husband and find the passion they once shared.

After learning about Dr. Bernie Feld (Steve Carell), a relationship therapist in Great Hope Springs who has a reputation for yielding incredible results, Kay begs Arnold to fly with her to Great Hope Springs for an intensive one-week session. Convincing him to go was difficult enough. The really exhausting work, it turns out, comes with shedding their long-held bedroom hang-ups, overcoming years of sexual repression and remembering what caused them to fall in love in the first place.

Directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me), this comedy is set for release on August 10, 2012 by Columbia Pictures (Sony). Written by Vanessa Taylor, Hope Springs is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving sexuality.