by John McLean

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two:

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger take off in the final installment of the series that has defined a generation and made a huge impact on childhoods all over the world. (Mine included.) The trio is on their way to finding the remaining horcruxes and doing whatever else they can to take down the dark lord (Voldemort). The three must be able to stop the dark lord, or all they know and love will be gone forever. The first seven films have been beautifully done, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two is sure to please many people all over the world. The final segment to the Harry Potter series is scheduled for release on July 15.

Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Times:

Once again Hollywood has added a new installment to a film series that was reportedly over.    When it was first announced, many asked if it was just a rumor that Johnny Depp would reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, but then on September 11, 2010 he signed on to do a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film. Audience favorites Will and Elizabeth (played by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly) will also return. Oscar winner Penelope Cruz is now joining the popular film series as Angelica, the con-artist whom Captain Jack Sparrow thinks he may be falling for. Whether this film flops or not, many people will be eagerly awaiting the release. The new installment to the series is set for release on May 20.

The Roommate:

The first year at college should be an adventure, not a nightmare. When Sara (Minka Kelly) goes to her new college, she expects to find a roommate she can be friends with, someone who can be like the sister she lost in a car accident. She was wrong. Sara meets Rebecca Evens (Leighton Meester), who at first seems like the perfect roommate – kind, quiet, protective. As Rebecca grows more and more attached to Sara and tries to become Sara’s deceased sister, what was a supposed to be a great freshmen year turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse! The film has an intensity that can keep anyone on the edge of their seat. And even playing a character so over the top, Leighton Meester is able to present the audience with a sense of realism. This film was released on February 4. It is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com but no date for the release has been set.

Kung Fu Panda 2:

Po the panda (Jack Black from School Of Rock), now a kung fu master, will have to team back up with the furious five and Master Shifu to protect the Valley of Peace from the evil emperor peacock Lord Shen. The first film became an instant hit with its hilarity and flawless animation; because of the first film, I have very high expectations. With the last two Shrek films being less than expected another sequel to a film from DreamWorks may not be the best thing for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Despite these fears, I still plan on seeing this film. This film is set for a spring release day of May 26.

Jane Eyre:

Jane Eyre is a new film adaption of the famous novel by Charlotte Bronte. With fantastic acting and wonderful cinematography, Jane Eyre follows the life of Jane, a governess for the grand Mr. Rochester. A full review can be seen on www.bigredhawks.com. Jane Eyre was released in selected cities on March 11.

Cars 2:

From the masterminds of groundbreaking, heartwarming films such as Up, the Toy Story phenomenon, and Finding Nemo now comes a sequel to Cars. Cars 2 follows Lightning McQueen and the laugh-out-loud funny Mater, as they go overseas. Lightning McQueen competes in the World Grand Prix to determine the world’s FASTEST racer, while Mater will find himself involved in an explosive chase through Japan and Europe. Is this the film I would have liked to see Pixar bring back for a sequel? No. Will I be there ready to watch it when it comes out? Yes. Am I more excited for the five minute short film Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation that precedes this feature? Of course.  Cars 2 and the brand new Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation short will be released on June 24.

Gnomeo & Juliet:

This animated remake of a classic love story will be a highlight of the year. Mr. Montague, Mrs. Capulet and their many lawn gnomes make up this new revival of Romeo and Juliet. Will true love be enough to pull two rival lawns back together? Find out when Gnomeo and Juliet is released on February 11.

Rango:

While Rango, a pet chameleon, is stranded in the Nevada Desert, he decides to become the sheriff. With Johnny Depp’s comedic timing, this should be a wonderful film. This film was released on March 4.

Red Riding Hood:

From the director of Twilight and the upcoming film The Maximum Ride: Angel Experiment comes the new adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood called Red Riding Hood. In this story the wolf is a werewolf who is eating people in the village of Daggerhorn. Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) must figure out who the werewolf is and how to stop him. The director of this film worries me, especially after Twilight; however, the amazing talent of Amanda Seyfried is worth seeing. Red Riding Hood arrived in theaters on March 11.

Winnie the Pooh:

The film follows Winnie the Pooh as he goes on his many adventures with his good friends Piglet, Tigger and Christopher Robin. Eeyore loses his tail, and the gang must search for the mysterious creature ‘Backson’ in this new adaptation of A. A. Miline’s fantastic children’s stories. Releasing this film on the same day as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two seems like a risky idea; however Disney has astounded the world before and now I am hoping can do it again. This remake will be released on July 15.