Popcorn Pick- October 2012

October has arrived, and with it comes better movies than last month brought. (Alas, not a lot of horror movies; only one appears on this list.) Oscar season has apparently also started, but in my mind it's just the fall season, and that simply means good movies, award-worthy or not.

Friday, October 5th
Taken 2

I never saw the first movie myself, but it was a big hit, and people loved it, so this one will be an even bigger hit. Liam Neeson returns as a father and husband who gets really pissed off when you kidnap members of his family. In the first movie, his daughter was taken. In the sequel, it's his wife. Expect more blood and more of Neeson being an action star. (Still don't see it.) Also stars Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen.











Friday, October 12th
Argo

Ben Affleck has turned a lot of heads with his newest movie, both a directorial piece and a chance to flex his leading-man chops. Based on a true story, this is about a CIA agent who travels to Iran during the hostage crisis to rescue six Americans who are in hiding. His cover is that he's making a B-level sci-fi movie. Filled with suspense, thrills, and humor, this is sure to be one of the best movies of the year. Affleck the actor may have failed us a few times (remember Daredevil?), but as a director he never has (remember The Town?). This is churning up some major Oscar buzz, so be sure to see this one early. Co-stars Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), and John Goodman.







Friday, October 19th
Paranormal Activity 4

I think I've picked every movie in this horror franchise for Popcorn Pick. (I can't be sure, though. When did I start writing these?) When Hollywood gets a hit, they make a ton of sequels, and that rule is doubly true for horror films. This installment continues the tradition of telling the story purely through amateur video recordings, this time using Skype on a laptop. (Wouldn't that get old, carrying it around all the time?) A young girl is terrorized by a demon after the boy across the street comes to stay with her family. Screams and scary stuff ensue. Mythology deepens.









Friday, October 26th
Cloud Atlas

How can one describe Cloud Atlas? I'm not sure; the trailer is probably your best bet. That, or reading the book it's based on. From the Wachowski siblings (can't call them the Wachowski brothers anymore as Larry is now Lana), directors of the Matrix trilogy, comes a new kind of epic mind-bender. This tells several different stories, spanning several different time periods and even genres. There's a Victorian-era romance, a modern-day crime story, a swashbuckling adventure at sea, and a futuristic sci-fi action tale. Actors play several different parts to show the idea of interconnectivity. It may end up being a mess, but here's hoping that it turns out to be one of the most original movies of the year. Stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, and many others.