What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th September 2016.

This week sees the release of 'Blair Witch', a follow up to the hugely successful and genre defining found footage horror film of 1999 which marks another remake, sequel or reboot in the ever popular horror thriller canon. And who doesn't like a good horror movie? Who doesn't like to be taken someplace else for 90 minutes or so and had the bejeezus shaken out of them with edge of your seat terror, evil and supernatural themes, only to laugh it off on your way home? So far in 2016 we have seen the likes of 'The Witch', 'Green Room', 'Lights Out', 'Don't Breathe', 'The Boy', 'The Conjuring 2 : The Enfield Poltergeist', 'The Forest' and many more to satisfy our seemingly insatiable appetite for a horror film. And before the end of the year what else do we have to look forward to and that is worth seeking out for some jump scares, suspense, nail biting terror and don't look now evil. Here are few worthy of mention : 'The Other Side of the Door', 'The Invitation', 'The Unkindness of Ravens', 'Leatherface', The Disappointments Room', 'Before I Wake', 'The Neon Demon', 'Rings', 'When The Bough Breaks', 'Morgan', and 'The Purge : Election Year'. Search them out when they come to an Odeon near you.

For the week ahead we have six new films coming to your local movie theatre. We kick off with a true sequel to a hugely successful and influential horror film from 1999 that set the benchmark by which many others have been judged, and sees a bunch of intrepid campers venture off into the woods in search for the sister who went missing in that original film. You just know it ain't gonna end well, because, if you go down into the woods today . . . ! We then move to a more sedate and comedic sequel to two previous films in this successful franchise featuring a hapless girl struggling with life, love and loss but all comes good when she falls pregnant - but whose the Dad? Then slowing down the pace is a journey of discovery as father and young son spend a weekend together where they are confronted unexpectedly by a number of life's challenges that might just save them both and draw them closer together. Next up is an outback Aussie RomCom featuring a stunt ute driving duo, a B&S Ball, lots of alcohol and the course of true love; before moving to a veteran film maker and his authorised documentary charting the rise and rise of one of the greatest bands of the 60's whose legacy is still profound today. And then we wrap up with an live action feature remake of an animated feature from the house of the mouse about a young lad and his somewhat unusual big best mate.

There you have it! Six teasing films offering damn scary horror, Romantic Comedies, drama, a Doco and a live action remake of an earlier animated feature. When you have sat through your filmed entertainment of choice in the coming week, feel free to leave your own critique by way of a Comment below this or any other Post, and share your thoughts with your fellow readers. We'd love to hear from you and in the meantime, enjoy your film!

'BLAIR WITCH' (Rated MA15+) - in 1999 'The Blair Witch Project' was released to critical acclaim and huge commercial success, although the film divided audiences. Nonetheless, it laid the foundation for a raft of 'found footage' films that have since followed and continue to be released particularly in the horror genre. That 1999 film was made for a mere US$60K by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez and such was its interest that it took US$249M in the final analysis making it one of the most successful independent films of all time. Needless to say it spawned a follow up in 2000 - 'Book of Shadows : Blair Witch 2' which cost US$15M and made back US$50M and fared less well critically too. Now in 2016 comes a direct sequel to that first film set 20 years after the events of 'The Blair Witch Project' (which was based on the footage found in 1994, with this film being set in 2014), this time Directed by Adam Wingard, and touted as one of the scariest films ever made - I guess you'll just have to decide!

This time around we see the family connection maintained to the first film as James Donahue (James Allen McCune) brother of the filmmaker Heather who disappeared with her friends in the Black Hills, near Burkitsville, Maryland never to be seen since, believes his sister is still alive having seen a dodgy looking YouTube clip that indicates this to be the case. He enlists the support of two long standing friends, Peter Jones (Brandon Scott) and Lisa Arlington (Callie Hernandez) and Talia (Valerie Curry) a budding film student. They connect with the two local residents who found the original footage, Lane (Wes Robinson) and Ashley (Corbin Reid) who also tag along to help in the search for Heather. Needless to say whilst venturing into the Black Hills woods things begin to go bump in the night, and worse, as evil supernatural goings on manifest themselves, leading the campers to become increasingly convinced in the legend of the Blair Witch, and fearful for their own lives.

'BRIDGET JONES BABY' (Rated M) - in 2001 the romantic comedy film 'Bridget Jones Diary' based on the Helen Fielding book of the same name made US$282M from its US$25M budget outlay and garnered its lead female star Renee Zellweger an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. It made a sequel inevitable, and as such 'Bridget Jones : The Edge of Reason' was released in 2004 which brought in US$263M off its US$40M budget. Once again Directed by Sharon Maguire who Directed the first instalment too, but not the second, this film sees Bridget (Renee Zellweger) now in her early 40's struggling with life's trials and tribulations and still smarting from her recent break up with the love of her life Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Then out of nowhere comes Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey) like an American knight in shining armour and sweeps Bridget off her feet. After a one night stand with both men, Bridget soon discovers she is pregnant - but who is the father, Mark or Jack? Also starring Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, and Gemma Jones.

'THE CONFIRMATION' (Rated PG) - Written and in his Director debut Bob Nelson has crafted a simply told yet pragmatic story here about an eight year old lad Anthony (Jaeden Lieberher) who is just a little reluctant about spending a weekend with his father Walt (Clive Owen) - an alcoholic  down at heel, underworked carpenter while his Mum Bonnie (Maria Bello) spends a weekend away at a Catholic Retreat with her new husband Kyle (Matthew Modine). Walt is equally reluctant about spending the weekend with Anthony also, especially when a series of mishaps and misadventures befall them including the breakdown of Walt's truck, getting locked out of his house by the landlord, and getting his tool box nicked - which he needs for an upcoming job. What occurs over the weekend is a journey of discovery for them both as Walt attempts to hold on to his pride with his dignity intact, and Anthony attempts to prop up his Dad without showing him up, all the while attempting to recover a precious tool box. Robert Forster and Tim Blake Nelson also star. Released in the US in mid-March, this has seen a limited release only, but could well be worth searching out if slow burning morality tales are for you.

'SPIN OUT' (Rated M) - Directed by Marc Gracie and Tim Ferguson, this Aussie RomCom is staged over one day in remote outback country in the lead up to an annual B&S Ball (Bachelors & Spinsters) as two long term friends Billy (Xavier Samuel) and Lucy (Morgan Griffin) who also just happen to be ute stunt driver partners come to the realisation that they are in lurve. Things go awry for the daredevil stunt duo when Billy pushes the routine too far, causing Lucy to declare their partnership null & void, and I'm getting outta Dodge and heading for the bright lights big city. This leaves Billy with just one night to rescue Lucy's heart and prove to her that she is the one for him and how they were meant to be together, all against the backdrop of drunken antics, bare butts, lots of beer swilling locals, and all the shenanigans of an Aussie rural B&S Ball - hilarity ensues!

'THE BEATLES : EIGHT DAYS A WEEK - THE TOURING YEARS' (Rated M) - The Beatles were bigger than Jesus so John Lennon once claimed! This archive footage documentary is Directed by Ron Howard with the full approval of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison and traces the four likely lads from Liverpool rise to fame from 1962 through until 1966 during which time they staged some 250 concerts, including their 1965 US tour that took in sixteen concerts in 16 days including the ground breaking and history making Shea Stadium gig that played in front of 55,000 fans (a record number at that time). Charting their stellar rise to fame from humble beginnings in Liverpool's Cavern Club through to their final full concert in 1966 in San Francisco at Candlestick Park on August 29th, this film explores the inner workings of the band, the personalities that clicked at just the right time, and their musical talent that made them what they were . . . and still are today!

'PETE'S DRAGON' (Rated PG) - in the pantheon of Disney movies spanning many decades the 1977 animated feature of this remake would hardly stand up amongst the more classic 'The Jungle Book' or 'Beauty and the Beast' or 'Snow White' or 'Bambi' or 'The Lion King' or 'Aladdin'  either, but here in 2016 that fairly average film is getting a live action makeover for a whole new audience for the young, and the young at heart. Made for US$65M the film was Directed by David Lowery and has so far grossed US$103M and has met with positive Reviews. There is little similarity here with the original animated feature, but the action kicks off in 1977 with a five year old lad Pete (Oakes Fegley) on a road trip with his parents, when the car flips off the road and the parents are killed, leaving the boy to escape a pack of wolves into the nearby woods somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Pete is rescued by a big furry green dragon that he calls Elliot. Fast forward six years and Pete still lives in the woods with his best mate Elliot. But, their peaceful secluded existence is about to be put in danger when the local townsfolk discover Pete, and try to bring him back to their civilised world. Also starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Karl Urban, Wes Bentley and Robert Redford.

With six more films to choose from this coming week together with those already Reviewed and Previewed at this humble Blog, what's not to like? Get out amongst it and catch a great movie at your local multiplex or independent picture house, and I'll look forward to seeing you at the Odeon sometime soon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-