FTN Highlights the Big releases to come this Christmas 2014

Cineworld ad copy
FTN Highlights the Big releases to come this Christmas 2014

It’s hard to believe but the Jolly Ole Fat Bloke in a silly red suit will be visiting us in a matter of weeks and, aside from turkey, presents and good wishes to all, that all means it’s a bumper time for cinema releases.
Now I’m sure you will all have an idea or two what the big releases will be this year, but in case you need to escape a possible a snow blizzard or winter’s night indoors, here are few suggestions.

First off, it the films that the kids might enjoy:

Penguins of Madagascar –
Release date Friday 05 December 2014
Those toe-tapping, all singing and dancing penguins from Madagascar now have a feature film all to their selves. Everyone knows that the best secret agents in the world aren’t humans, but Penguins and this under cover unique team could put Tom Cruise to shame! Starring Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private; these elitist of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover organisation, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified. Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it. Starring the voice talents of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights and Benedict Cumberbatch (more on him later), this, I think, will be the family movie of the holidays.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Release date Friday 19 December 2014
Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favourite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. The Night at the Museum films always offer a great balance of humour and sentiment and this looks like more of the same, including Robin Williams returning as Teddy Roosevelt. A great family night out for this one.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Release date Friday 12 December 2014
Yes, finally after two years and countless miles trekked across Middle Earth, Bilbo and Company are forced to be embraced in a war against an armed flock of combatants and the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.
We all know the previous adventures faced by our brave little Hobbit and his merry band of Dwarves, but this final outing aims to outdo everything we have seen in both this Hobbit Trilogy and the previous Lord of the rings. Fans who are already familiar with The Hobbit novel will no doubt know the film’s ending (yep it’s a battle) but going on last year’s outing, this one will have a fire breathing dragon raining fire on all and sunder. Now that surely is something we have not seen before and certainly worth the price of admission!

Finally for the families, Christmas wouldn’t Christmas without a Santa movie and this year sees the release of…

Get Santa
Release date Friday 5 December 2014
A father and son who team up to save Christmas once they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police. This is a British film which stars Jim Broadbent as Santa Claus and Warwick Davis as his Elfish helper.

For the teen and adult audience, there is a host of new and interesting releases coming this Christmas:

St. Vincent
Release date Friday 5 December 2014
Vincent (Bill Murray) is an old Vietnam vet whose stubbornly hedonistic ways have left him without money or a future. Things change when his new next-door neighbour’s son, Oliver, needs a babysitter and Vince is willing enough for a fee. From that self-serving act, an unexpected friendship forms as Vincent and Oliver find so much of each other needs through each other. As Vincent mentors Oliver in street survival and other worldly ways, Oliver begins to see more in the old man than just his foibles. When life takes a turn for the worse for Vincent, both them find the best in each other than no one around them suspects. The trailer alone suggests that Bill Murray is back to his comedic best and this looks to be one of the big two comedies of the holiday season.

Dumb and Dumber To
Release date Friday 19 December 2014
20 years since their first adventure, Harry finds out he has a daughter who was adopted. Lloyd and Harry try to find Harry’s adopted daughter. Reuniting Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in their buffoon roles will be box office gold, but we really hope this is as funny as their original outing.

Men, Women & Children
Release date Friday 5 December 2014
Men, Women and Children follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image and their love lives. The film attempts to stare down social issues such as video game culture, anorexia, infidelity, fame hunting and the proliferation of illicit material on the internet. Comedy drama that might not be everyone’s taste at this time of year; Starring Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson and Dean Norris.

Black Sea
Release date Friday 5 December 2014
In order to make good with his former employers, a submarine captain takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumoured to be loaded with gold. An action thriller starring Jude Law and one that looks surprisingly interesting.

The Pyramid –
Release date Friday 5 December 2014
A team of U.S. archaeologists unearths an ancient pyramid buried deep beneath the Egyptian desert. As they search the pyramid’s depths, they become hopelessly lost in its dark and endless catacombs. Searching for a way out, they become desperate to seek daylight again. They come to realise they aren’t just trapped, they are being hunted. A horror film that if nothing else will leave you as chilly as the weather. Starring James Buckley and Denis O’Hare.
Predestination – chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career for all eternity. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. A sci-fi thriller starring Ethan Hawke and Noah Taylor.

The Face of Love –
Release date Friday 12 December 2014
A widow falls for a guy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. This is a drama that is surely to grab the audience’s attention as it stars Annette Bening, Ed Harris and the late Robin Williams. Definitely one to watch for acting talent alone.

Exodus: Gods and Kings
Release date Friday 26 December 2014
The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues. Director Ridley Scott brings to the silver screen this epic with Christian Bale portraying Moses in a more battle ready portrayal than Charlton Heston’s famous outing. Whilst it doesn’t seem to be totally accurate to the original story, the visuals are certainly up to Mr Scott’s usual stunning display and for that alone, it’s certainly worth a watch.

Big Eyes
Release date Friday 26 December 2014
A drama centred on the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s. The Christmas holidays always bring out a film or two with awards potential and this could be one of them due to its biographical content and starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz and Terence Stamp.

But you know what? As interesting and exciting the above films may be, there really is only ONE film that everyone will be talking about this holiday season – Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction?? No, just kidding…

Happy Christmas films from myself, Big Phil, and all the gang at FTN!