Major Theatrical Releases January 2016

Major Theatrical Releases January 2016

It's a new year, and a new month for a slew of new movies that span the gambit: Award-nominees, horror, comedy, drama, animation, action, sci-fi, even westerns.  There's something for everyone in the first month of 2016!

Here is the list of films being released nationally for the month of January, 2016.

January 8

The Revenant

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhall Gleeson, Will Poulter

Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Synopsis (imdb.com):
In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.

Thoughts:
This COULD be the film that finally gives Leo his much-maligned Oscar.  Directed by Oscar winner Inarritu ("Birdman"), "The Revenant" looks like an excellent period piece, filled with drama, suspense, and great acting.

The Forest

Starring Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Eoin Macken, Stephanie Vogt

Directed by Jason Zada

Synopsis (imdb.com):
A young woman searches for her twin sister in a Japanese forest only to find herself surrounded by paranormal forces.

Thoughts:
While I am very intrigued over a tale of the Aokigahara Forest (an actual forest in Japan that is very well known for a place where several hundreds of suicides have taken place), I am not as excited to see it as a PG-13 ghost story.  I feel it'll be the typical supernatural thriller I've seen before, only set in one of the most mysterious places in the world.

January 15

 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

Starring John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Toby Stephens, Max Martini

Directed by Michael Bay

Synopsis (imdb.com):
An American Ambassador is killed during an attack at a U.S. compound in Libya as a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.

Thoughts:
"13 Hours" is supposed to be the true story of the four men who died in Benghazi, Libya, after a surprise attack.  It's shrouded in political secrecy and something that's haunted a particular political candidate since it happened.  Since Michael Bay is directing it, I predict there'll be lots of explosions, things blowing up, and over-the-top effects.  Although I am excited to see John Krasinski in a serious role for once.

Norm of the North

Starring Rob Schneider, Bill Nighy, Heather Graham, James Corden

Directed by Trevor Wall

Synopsis (imdb.com):
Displaced from their Arctic home, a polar bear named Norm and his three lemming friends wind up in New York City, where Norm becomes the mascot of a corporation he soon learns is tied to the fate of his homeland.

Thoughts:
Is this a Disney animated film?  No.  Dreamworks?  Nope.  Pixar?  Nada.  Lionsgate?  Yes.  Pass.  Also, I thought this movie was already done a few years ago, I think it was called "Happy Feet."

Ride Along 2

Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Ken Jeong, Olivia Munn

Directed by Tim Story

Synopsis (imdb.com):
As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who's supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product.

Thoughts:
The first "Ride Along" was a surprise hit, so of course a sequel had to be made.  This looks like it has all the benchmarks of a typical sequel - new setting, more characters, same ole story.  It'll be a hit, but nowhere as big as the original.

January 22

The 5th Wave

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Malika Monroe, Liev Schreiber, Nick Robinson

Directed by J Blakeson

Synopsis (imdb.com):
Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother.

Thoughts:
"The 5th Wave" is another young adult novel brought to the big screen, and I for one am surprisingly excited to see it.  I mean, it's got aliens and the fantastic Chloe Grace Moretz, how could it not be great?

Dirty Grandpa

Starring Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Julianne Hough, Zoe Deutch

Directed by Dan Mazer

Synopsis (imdb.com):
Right before his wedding, an uptight guy is tricked into driving his grandfather, a perverted former Army general, to Florida for spring break.

Thoughts:
Sure, it's going to play on the tropes of old men (the preview alone has a slew of them), but when it's Robert De Niro delivering the lines, it's bound to be hilarious.

The Boy

Starring Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, Diana Hardcastle, Jim Norton

Directed by William Brent Bell

Synopsis (imdb.com):
An American nanny is shocked that her new English family's boy is actually a life-sized doll. After violating a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive.

Thoughts:
First of all, that doll is creepy as heck.  Second, it stars Lauren "Maggie Greene" Cohan.  That's two darn good reasons I'll be seeing this film opening day!

January 29

Fifty Shades of Black

Starring Marlon Wayans, Kali Hawk, Mike Epps, Jane Seymour

Directed by Michael Tiddes

Synopsis (imdb.com):
A parody of the popular film/novel 50 Shades of Grey.

Thoughts:
A few laughs, looks like it'd be better than the source material it's parodying, but that's not saying much.

Kung Fu Panda 3

Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Dustin Hoffman

Directed by Alessandro Carloni & Jennifer Yuh

Synopsis (imdb.com):
Continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness", Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home.

Thoughts:
Once again, releasing a sequel pretty much guarantees it'll draw in the audiences, if not to just continue the storyline.  This time it seems we meet Po's real father, and an old threat that emerges.  Looks good enough, but nothing to write home about.

The Finest Hours

Starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Eric Bana, Ben Foster

Directed by Craig Gillespie

Synopsis (imdb.com):
The Coast Guard makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952.

Thoughts:
I remember seeing "The Perfect Storm" in theaters and getting seasick.  I feel this will be the same effect, but I'm excited to see this because 1) it's based on a true story; 2) it's got an amazing cast; 3) it's got some great effects.  Looks like it'll be the sleeper hit of the month.

Jane Got a Gun

Starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor, Noah Emmerich

Directed by Gavin O'Connor

Synopsis (imdb.com):
A woman asks her ex-lover for help in order to save her outlaw husband from a gang out to kill him.

Thoughts:
The only thing I think of after seeing this title is Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun,"  and I wonder why they decided to make a western based off that song.  Plus I noticed it reunites "Star Wars" alumni Portman, McGregor and Edgerton (you didn't know Joel Edgerton was in "Star Wars?"  He played a very small part in the second film).  Other than that, this looks like a total snooze-fest.

So there are the major releases for January, 2016.  Here is a list in order from what I think will be the best, to the worst.

The Revenant

The 5th Wave

The Finest Hours

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

The Boy

Dirty Grandpa

Ride Along 2

Kung Fu Panda 3

The Forest

Jane Got a Gun

Fifty Shades of Black

Norm of the North