February Preview

February Preview

The return of two action legends, the ultimate videogame movie and an Apatow spin-off - just some of the reasons to take a trip to the cinema this February. Here's a peek at the best movies hitting the silver screen in month number two.

Bullet To The Head

Director: Walter Hill

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Sung Kang

Release Date: February 1st

The pitch: Taking centre stage once again, Sylvester Stallone returns to kick ass in this year's first shoot-em-up action flick. He plays Jimmy Bobo, a hitman whose partner is violently murdered. Teaming up with a by-the-books detective whose story reflects Bobo's, the comically mismatched duo embark on a mission of vengeance against their common enemy. 

Why you should see it: The premise shines with the spirit all the best 80's and 90's action flicks possessed, ala Lethal Weapon. This is also Stallone's solo comeback and, after the success of his Expendables franchise, the evidence is clear that Sly is still well and truly at the top of his game. 

Flight

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Kelly Reilly

Release Date: February 1st

The pitch: Denzel Washington plays captain William "Whip" Whitaker, a substance abusing airline pilot whose routine flight from Orlando to Atlanta undergoes severe turbulence - so much so that he loses control of the plane. Stuck in a dive towards an area of houses, Whip manages to miraculously land the plane relatively safely, to the disbelief of all of his peers and superiors. When he awakes in hospital however, it is revealed that he had alcohol and cocaine in his system during the flight meaning that, despite displaying an extraordinary capability for handling such a paramount emergency, Whip has broken the law tremendously.

Why you should see it: Washington is on top form and the moral dilemma in the story should keep audiences hooked right from the thrilling aircraft landing all the way to the nail-biting courtroom finale.

Warm Bodies

Director: Jonathan Levine

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Dave Franco

Release Date: February 8th

The pitch: After one of those casual zombie apocalypses, "R" wanders around an America filled with abandoned cars, broken buildings and his fellow undead. He craves living flesh, claiming he "gets high" from the memories of the living, so when Julie Grilgo and her boyfriend stumble onto his path, he eats the latter's brain and is suddenly overcome with love for her. The problem is of course, he can't talk save for generic moans and grunts - plus his undead friends may not be so keen to preserve her life.

Why you should see it: If, unlike me and the rest of the sane world, you have been missing some Twilight-esque romantic fiction in your life Warm Bodies will certainly be for you. If, however, you have taste, Warm Bodies may not be for you. Still, fans of zombie movies may enjoy a different take on the genre and the Romeo and Juliet-inspired love story will most likely have female teenage audiences queueing like a horde of the undead.

Wreck-It Ralph

Director: Rich Moore

Cast: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman

Release Date: February 8th

The pitch: Hyped as the best videogame movie of all time, Wreck-It Ralph follows the story of Ralph, a "bad guy" inside a retro arcade game known as Fix It, Felix. Fed up with constantly feeling unpopular, unloved and unappreciated, Ralph decides he wants a shot at being the hero for a change. Abandoning his game and leaving his former game-mates in fear of being "unplugged", Ralph crosses over into other games such as the Halo-esque "Hero's Duty" and the Mario Kart inspired "Sugar Rush". However, his game hopping uncovers a dark secret hidden away inside the arcade - one which threatens the existence of every hero and villain in the games.

Why you should see it: Have you ever played any videogame? Ever? That's why. Aside from Ralph and his game-mates, there are retro cameos aplenty from the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog, Bowser from Super Mario Bros, Q*Bert, M-Bison from the Street Fighter series, the Pac-Man ghosts and even Frogger from, er, Frogger. With subtle nods to countless more franchises hidden here there and everywhere, this is the ultimate gamers' movie given a boost by an extremely talented cast.

A Good Day To Die Hard

Director: John Moore

Cast: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Cole Hauser

Release Date: February 14th

The pitch: John McClane hasn't settled down quite yet. Travelling to Russia in order to save his son from arrest, John soon finds that Jack's proposed jail-time is just one small factor in a sinister plan to threaten the freedom of the western world. Caught up in a terrorist plot, McClane and son take on the terrorists together. Yippee Ki-Yay.

Why you should see it: Despite reaching his golden years, Bruce Willis has shown that he's still got a hell of a way to go yet. Now with the addition of his son, Jack McClane, the Die Hard franchise may be about to head in an exciting new direction with a younger protagonist. You don't want to miss that. Oh, and there are guns. Lots of guns, shooting, action and general manly stuff - and on valentine's day too! The perfect date.

This Is 40

Director: Judd Apatow

Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Megan Fox

Release Date: February 14th

The pitch: Knocked Up side-characters Debbie and Pete get their time in the spotlight with their own spin-off This Is 40. Covering themes such as long-term relationships, mid-life crises, bringing up kids and obsessions with iPads, Apatow's latest looks to be a sweetly amusing (yet unashamedly gross) look at married life and the trials it comes with.

Why you should see it: Apatow is very hit and miss (see: Funny People compared to Bridesmaids) but with a great cast (cameos from Knocked Up alums Jason Segel and Jonah Hill as well as appearances by John Lithgow and Chris O'Dowd) he looks to be on top form with This Is 40. 

Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Thomas Mann

Release Date: February 22nd

The pitch: It sounds goofy and in most ways it is. After their horrific candy-house ordeal as kids, Hansel and Gretel of fairytale fame have grown up and become masters of witch-slaying badassery. Vowing to hunt down and kill the leader of a clan of witches, the sibling duo find themselves on a mission to reclaim several lost children. Cue lots of blood, gore and f-bombs.

Why you should see it: Van Helsing meets Django Unchained with a huge splattering of black comedy to mix things up. With Anchorman's Adam Mckay and (bizarrely) Will Ferrell on producing duties, as well as a decent fronting cast, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters may be the most senselessly fun movie of the year so far.

Check back to Movies Under The Microscope over the next month for reviews of all of these films.