What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 14th August 2014.

Last week we had three new releases to tease you out in front of a big stereo surround sound screen, and so it is again this week - but these films could hardly be any different! For the week ahead we have food, family, friends and fanatics - all in some way doing battle with a foe that wants to see them undone! Our first offering is a tale of food across the miles and just across the street as two eateries do battle for custom, reputation and one-up-man-ship. Then we have a tale of youngsters growing up amidst the turmoil of their surroundings and with each other as they battle against everything that bombards and influences the teenage youth of today. And then the third instalment of a balls-out 80's throw back action adventure of epic gun toting proportions as the friendly fanatics do battle with an arch foe from old!

So if it's one of these new releases that tempts you out in the week ahead, or you are catching one or more of the great offerings still out there on general release, then drop me a line in the comments box of this Blog site, and let my other avid reader know that your paying attention, and having something to say about your movie experience. Happy viewing . . . whatever you see!

THE EXPENDABLES 3 (Rated MA15+) - Stallone, Statham, Schwarzenegger, Snipes, Gibson, Ford, Banderas, Lundgren, Li, Crews, Couture, Grammer and token female Ronda Rousey. Many of the cast and stalwarts from the previous two outings are reunited here with the exception of one Bruce Willis who is absent because he wanted a bigger pay cheque, and was refused, so he walked! With a screenplay co-written by Sylvester Stallone, the Director duties this time go to Australian, Patrick Hughes, in only his second feature film outing - but clearly he was thought up to the job and has the US re-make of 'The Raid' to film next.

Seeing all these old 80's action stars on screen has once again gotta be worth the price of a ticket alone! Joined by some younger talent hired to thwart original friend and co-founder of The Expendables - Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson) who in the intervening years became a rogue arms trader and was subsequently dispensed with by Barney Ross (Stallone)  . . . or so Ross thought, until now! Resurfacing  now after all these years, Stonebanks wants revenge and retribution and an end to The Expendables that he helped form. When Ross rounds up the Team he enlists new younger tech-savvy talent to support the older wiser experienced talent to dispense with Stonebanks once and for all. And so what follows is the most personal battle yet for The Expendables, and along the way you can expect big action set pieces, big guns, big explosions, big egos and big one-liners! Bring it on!

THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY (Rated PG) - I read the Richard C. Morais book a couple of years ago, and liked it a lot. Hardly surprising that this should be snapped up and get the big screen treatment given our love of food porn on the silver screen, the compelling story, and this tale of east meets west kitchen rivalry. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Helen Mirren we have here an Indian family forced to flee their homeland only to settle in rural France and open an Indian Restaurant right across the street from a celebrated Michelin starred fine dining eatery much to the disgust and chagrin of acclaimed chef and owner Madam Mallory (Mirren). When the son of the Indian Restauranteur, Hasan Kadan (Manish Dayal), displays some extraordinary culinary talent he is taken under the wing of Madam Mallory to be taught in the ways of the French gastronomic kitchens and so embarks on a journey of life, love and success. Ruby Murray anyone?

PALO ALTO (Rated MA15+) - based on the semi-autobiographical short stories of James Franco and written for the screen and Directed by Gia Coppola (granddaughter of Francis, and niece to Sofia) this is the telling of four teenagers growing up in the Californian city of Palo Alto as they become bored, troubled, confused and drift from party to party in a daze of sex, drugs, alcohol, fast cars and pressure from their peers. The four teens in question are April (Emma Roberts), Teddy (Jack Kilmer), Fred (Nat Wolff) and Emily (Zoe Levin) who all go from turmoil, to confusion and to deeper angst in their search for love and acceptance. James Franco stars as a seedy soccer coach Mr. B hitting on April, and the other three all have their own challenges and demons to navigate past, and watch out for the brief cameo from Val Kilmer (presumably to keep a watchful eye on son Jack's turn as Teddy!) For her Directorial debut this is described as a worthy start backed up by solid performances albeit with a storyline you have doubtless seen before.

So again, three very different films to get you out amongst it and into your local movie theatre. Whatever you chose to see this week, enjoy the experience!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-