This week, three highly-anticipated movies are hitting the big screen, each of a completely different genre. The fifth installment of a classic action series, Nicholas Sparks’ latest romance hit and a supernatural novel adaptation will all compete for the box office’s number one spot on Friday.
Safe Haven (Feb. 14): The latest Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation “Safe Haven” stars the “Las Vegas” series hottie Josh Duhamel and will be a breakthrough role for Julianne Hough if the film does well. Like all other Nicholas Sparks adaptations, “Safe Haven” centers on two unlikely lovers who must overcome their personal obstacles in order to live happily ever after. It’s nothing new; we’ve heard it all before, but the ladies will still go see it because we all crave a good romance drama. Guys, watch out! This film hits theatres just in time for Valentine’s Day, so be prepared for your date to drag you to the theatre for “Safe Haven.”
A Good Day to Die Hard (Feb. 14): Come on, you know I had to talk about this one. Though I have never personally been a fan of the franchise, many are excited about the fifth installment in the “Die Hard” series. This will be the first film of the series to take place overseas as John McClane (Bruce Willis), a tough-guy New York City cop, travels to Russia to bail out his son (Jai Courtney), an undercover CIA agent. The film will feature the classic “Die Hard” staples like big explosions, terrorist attacks, fight scenes and general action violence, but will also illustrate the unbreakable bond between father and son. “A Good Day to Die Hard” is a great movie to see if you want to “bro-out” this weekend instead of partaking in all of the mushy Valentine’s Day tradition.
Beautiful Creatures (Feb. 14): “Beautiful Creatures” is a movie adaptation of the first novel in the five-book series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and is directed by Richard LaGravenese (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” and “Water for Elephants”). A breakthrough movie for both its leads, Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich, this “Beautiful Creatures” has the potential to be a better film franchise than “Twilight”. While I never said “Twilight” was a good film, it has certainly racked up millions after the final film hit theatres last year. I think it’s time we put Stephanie Meyer’s failure behind us and move on to a series with more depth and actors with more than one expression. This series promises to at least complete with the “Twilight” franchise, if not surpass it—and we can all be thankful for that.
