Movies opening this week in theaters:
- THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 (Lionsgate Films / PG-13 / Wide)
- EXTRATERRESTRIAL (IFC Films / Unrated / Limited)
- V/H/S: VIRAL (Magnet Releasing / R / Limited)
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1
Official Synopsis
The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Danny Strong and Peter Craig and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the third in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has over 65 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.
Film Details
- Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Evan Ross, Natalie Dormer, Mahershala Ali, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson, Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Director: Francis Lawrence
- Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama
- Running Time: 123 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 67% (116 fresh, 56 rotten, score: 6.4/10).
- Metacritic: 64 out of 100 (27 positive, 15 mixed, 2 negative).
Trailers, Clips, Posters and More
- 4 New Clips
- Final Trailer and Empire Magazine Covers
- Meet the Characters in 18 New Images
- New Teaser Makes it Personal
- Images and Soundtrack Preview
- New Full-Length Trailer
- Final Posters Precede Upcoming Trailer
- Character Posters Introduce Rebel Leaders
- New Image and Posters
- Teaser Trailer and Comic Con Poster
- "Unity" Teaser: President Snow Shares New Panem Address
- Teaser Trailer: President Snow's Panem Address
- Teaser Poster
EXTRATERRESTRIAL
Official Synopsis
From The Vicious Brothers, the creators of Grave Encounters comes a different kind of encounter, one of 'EXTRATERRESTRIAL' origin. Still reeling from her parents' divorce, April (Daytime Emmy winner, Brittany Allen) is dragged back to the vacation cabin she spent fond summers at as a child accompanied by a group of friends. Her trip down memory lane takes a dramatic and terrifying turn when a fireball descends from the sky and explodes in the nearby woods. Lead by her boyfriend, played by Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter & The Half Blooded Prince, Pitch Perfect), the group venture out toward the crash site and discover the remnants of a ship from another planet along with footprints that suggest its alien occupants are still alive. The college friends soon find themselves caught in the middle of something bigger and more terrifying than anything they could ever imagine.
Film Details
- Starring: Brittany Allen, Freddie Stroma, Jesse Moss, Melanie Papalia
- Director: Colin Minihan
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
- Running Time: 101 min.
- Rating: Unrated
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 31% (9 fresh, 20 rotten, score: 4.7/10).
- Metacritic: 38 out of 100 (1 positive, 7 mixed, 4 negative).
V/H/S: VIRAL
Official Synopsis
A police chase after a deranged ice cream truck has captivated the attention of the greater Los Angeles area. Dozens of fame---obsessed teens flock to the streets with their video cameras and camera phones, hell---bent on capturing the next viral video. But there is something far more sinister occurring in the streets of L.A. than a simple police chase. A resounding effect is created onto all those obsessed with capturing salacious footage for no other purpose than to amuse or titillate. Soon the discovery becomes that they themselves are the stars of the next video, one where they face their own death.
Film Details
- Starring: Justin Welborn, Emmy Argo, Amanda Baker, Emilia Ares Zoryan, Gregg Bishop
- Director: Justin Benson, Gregg Bishop, Aaron Moorhead, Marcel Sarmiento, Nacho Vigalondo
- Genre: Horror
- Running Time: 82 min.
- Rating: R for disturbing strong violence and gore, sexual content, language and some drug use
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 41% (7 fresh, 10 rotten, score: 4.6/10).
- Metacritic: 31 out of 100 (0 positive, 2 mixed, 4 negative).