Parental Guidance

If you are in a the mood for some light family laughter these holidays then Parental Guidance is the film for you. From the director of She's the Man and You Again, Parental Guidance uses the same sitcom style sense of humour of exaggeration to tickle your funny bone. Screenwriters , Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse have been praised for really capturing an authentic portrayal of a longtime married couple with old-school rearing values that they put to the test on a new generation of kids, which proves to be a volitile mix for laughter. Overall the film is being critiqued as enjoyable but not an absolute riot, it's all round easy holiday entertainment for the whole family.

Adventures in Zambezia

From the Cape Town based studio Triggerfish comes ‘Adventures in Zambezia’, a delightful tale that centres around a young falcon journeying into the big bird city of Zambezia. Pleased with what the South African Studio produced, Sony Pictures scooped up the feature for worldwide distribution, making it the very first purely South African animated production to go global. It has already been well-received in Israel, Germany and Russia and is now scheduled to release to South African cinemas on the 28^th of December. Whether this film be fair or foul it has sent South African animation soaring to new heights and surely deserves our wholehearted support.

Release Date: 28 December 2012

Source: nfvf.co.za

Rise of the Guardians

Not to be confused as a sequel to ‘Legend of Guardians’, this animation puts a twist on your traditional holiday tale. Described as a “fairytale version of The Avengers”, DreamWork’s ‘The Rise of the Guardians’ takes us into a mystical realm where a group of recognizable heroes with extraordinary powers bind together to combat a growing threat to the safety of the world’s everywhere.

Although there has been a somewhat luke-warm response from critiques, ‘The Rise of the Guardians’ is an interesting spin-off from usual festive film releases and should offer an entertaining way to invigorate the holiday spirit. 

Released: 7 December 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

In one week JRR Tolkien’s fabled world finds it’s way back to the big screen with ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’. As a prequel to the ‘ The Lord of the Rings’, Variety’s Peter Debruge firstly praises director Peter Jackon for delivering “more of what made his earlier trilogy so compelling -- colorful characters on an epic quest amid stunning New Zealand scenery” then goes on by criticizing the film’s lack of originality, making him skeptical that ‘The Hobbit’ will have the same substance that could extend the tale into 2 more riveting installments. Nevertheless, whatever the critics say, an escape that takes you on a journey through Tolkien's Middle Earth will always be a worthwhile adventure.

Source: boingboing.net

Release Date: 14 December

Skyfall – Bond is Back

As much as the world will always back Bond films, I think it is safe to say that the last few have been less than spectacular, a standard that is unacceptable for her majesties most deadly secret agent. 007 has just been begging for right combination of substance to blast him into the 21^st century and director, Sam Mendes, has done just that!

Movie critics like Marshall Fine are praising ‘Skyfall’ for being “exciting and emotionally charged”. Mix that with Daniel Craig’s in-‘credibly’ gritty portrayal of 007 and it’s no wonder why many are hailing it as being the best Bond film in years.

Release Date: 30 November 2012

A Familiar Favourite Is Back in 3D

Disney Pixar’s sensational underwater adventure, ‘Finding Nemo’, returns to the big screen but this time in 3D! A modern classic, this tale is quite simply stunning. Steeped with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, dive into an adventure as we follow the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin who quite literally takes on the perils of the ocean in an epic quest to rescue his son Nemo. Whether it’s a first time or re-watch ‘Finding Nemo in 3D’ is one to sea.

Release Date: 30 November 2012

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2

The finale to the Twlight saga has finally arrived!

Bella is now a vampire and enjoying her new life as a mom to daughter, Renesmee. The Volturi, sensing a threat in the immortal child, rally together to destroy her. So Bella and Edward assemble all the allies they can to help fight one last epic battle to protect their family and future.

But does Breaking Dawn deliver to all the hype?

Surprising yes, most agree the this final chapter “sparkles a little brighter than the rest” having put aside the nauseating excess of love moping and focusing on a what really makes this a sensational saga, plunging us into the fantastical lives of mythical creatures of the night.

Source: tvnz.co.nz

Sammy’s Adventures 2

Although when it comes to animation Sammy’s Adventures 2 in 3D is nothing new, it is an inspiring story. Two granddad turtles escape a bird attack but end up in a fishing trawler on the way to make a contribution to a sea world in Dubai. It is here that the two turtles befriend a myriad of fish species all with quirky characters of their own and set in motion a plot to escape. Like any great escape, it does not come without challenging ordeals of confronting adversaries and obstacles all along the way. This is where the adventure begins. Described as, “a 'soft' copy of prison breakout movies”, Sammy’s Adventures 2 is easy-watch, light hearted tale carrying the timeless moral of ‘never give up.’

Source: www.imdb.com

Release Date: 16 November

ParaNorman: Frightfully Sensational

From the makers of ‘Coraline’ comes the latest Halloween themed cinematic treat, ‘ParaNorman’ 3D.

Hailed as one of the most visually ambitious and impressive stop-motion features, ‘ParaNorman’ is a creepy tale of a boy with an eerie ability to speak to the dead. No one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil seems to believe him though. Norman gets caught up in his town's annual paranormal protection ritual which spirals out of control into a magic storm threatening the town as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman must struggle to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse.

Source: screenrant.com

Release Date: 9 November

Frankenweenie: Delightfully Sentimental With A Sinister Seasoning

From creative genius, Tim Burton comes “Frankenweenie”.

And in true Burton style, “Frakenweenie” is a sentimental story served with a sinister-like flavour about a boy and his dog.

Victor, a young boy heartbroken by the sudden loss of his canine pal, decides use his aptitude for science to resurrect Sparky making a few minor home-sewn adjustments. Initially trying to hide his creation, it’s only a matter of time before the undead escapes and Sparky becomes a real nightmare for Victor.

Though “Frankenweenie” may not live up to previous Halloween-themed Burton classics like “The Nightmare before Christmas”, “Frankenweenie” is getting all around thumbs up as a real Halloween treat.

Release date: 26 October 2012