March Film Preview
Project X Release Date: March 2, 2012 Nima Nourizadeh’s Project X centers around a group of high school friends who decide to throw a large party and document it. When many more people than expected show up, chaos ensues. With a relatively unknown cast and director, Project X’s real claim to fame is in its producer credits. With Todd Phillips, director of The Hangover series and Old School, having attached his name to the film Project X should be a relatively interesting choice for comedy fans this month.
John Carter Release Date: March 9, 2012 Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1917 novel A Princess of Mars, John Carter is about a former Confederate Army soldier who is somehow transported to Mars and thrust into the middle of a conflict between two Martian races. Canadian Taylor Kitsch plays the titular character, and is supported by a strong cast that also features Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Dominic West, Mark Strong, and Ciarán Hinds. Initial clips of the film have teased viewers of fantastic visual effects, and with Andrew Stanton, the director of Wall-E, at the helm, John Carter looks to be a potentially very solid choice for movie goers this month.
21 Jump Street Release Date: March 16, 2012 21 Jump Street, a film remake of the series that made Johnny Depp famous, follows a similar plot style to the series. Two young police officers are selected to go undercover as students at a local high school to infiltrate a drug ring. Starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as the young undercover cops, the film should be a good source of some action and a few laughs. Directed by up and coming writer/director duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs fame, 21 Jump Street should be worth a look for fans of action comedies.
The Hunger Games Release Date: March 23, 2012 The Hunger Games is the live action adaptation of the first book of Suzanne Collins’ immensely popular series of the same name. Set in a futuristic dystopian society, the film follows a teenager who is chosen to represent her region, or district as it is referred to as in the books, in a fight to the death against various other teenagers from other districts as a form of entertainment for the masses. Featuring one of the strongest ensemble casts of the year that features Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland, The Hunger Games looks to be another grand slam for Lionsgate, whose subsidiary Summit Entertainment is responsible for the popular Twighlight Saga film adaptations.