Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

2012 (PG-13 for profanity and intense disaster sequences) Epic adventure about the heroic efforts of an academic researcher (John Cusack) to lead a group of survivors to safety in the wake of an apocalyptic global event which devastates the planet, leaving humanity on the brink of extinction. Ensemble cast includes Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson.

Armored (PG-13 for intense violence, disturbing images and brief profanity) Action thriller about employees for an armored car company whose foolproof plan to steal $42 million from one of their own trucks goes horribly wrong when one of the conspirators (Columbus Short) has misgivings after a cop (Milo Ventimiglia) is shot during the heist. With Laurence Fishburne, Matt Dillon, Skeet Ulrich, Jean Reno, Fred Ward and John Cena.

The Blind Side (PG-13 for sexual references, drug use and brief violence) Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw co-star in this true, overcoming-the-odds tale about a wealthy white couple who adopt a homeless black teenager (Quinton Aaron) and help him pursue his dream of playing football in college and the pros.

Brothers (R for profanity and disturbing violence) Jim Sheridan directs this dysfunctional family drama about an ex-con (Jake Gyllenhaal) who gets involved with his big brother’s (Tobey Maguire) wife (Natalie Portman) after his sibling goes missing in Afghanistan, only to have a lot of explaining to do upon the decorated veteran’s rescue and return to the States. Cast includes Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham.

A Christmas Carol (PG for scary images) Animated, Disney version of the Charles Dickens classic about a miserly, cold-hearted curmudgeon (Jim Carrey) who has to experience an epiphany in order to be able to appreciate the holiday season. With voice work by Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Oldman and Fionnula Flanagan.

An Education (PG-13 for sexuality, smoking and mature themes) Coming-of-age drama, set in London in the Sixties, adapted by Nick Horn-by from Lynn Barber’s memoir about a bright 17 year-old (Carey Mulligan) who abandons her plans to attend Oxford in order to entertain the advances of a suave gentleman (Peter Sarsgaard) more than twice her age. With Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams and Cara Seymour.

The Fourth Kind (PG-13 for terror, disturbing images, mature themes, violence and brief sexuality) Sci-fi thriller revolving around a curious psychologist (Milla Jovovich) investigating the 40-year pattern of mysterious disappearances from a tiny Alaskan town suggesting abduction by UFOs. With Will Patton, Elias Koteas and Corey Johnson.

The Men Who Stare at Goats (R for profanity, drug use and brief nudity) Screen adaptation of the Jon Ronson best seller about a reporter (Ewan McGregor) covering the War in Iraq who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he meets a special forces agent (George Clooney) who claims to be a member of a top secret psychic unit. Supporting cast includes Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and Stephen Root.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It (PG for suggestive choreography and scary images) Posthumously-produced bio-pic chronicles the Prince of Pop’s final days as cobbled from interviews with close friends and colleagues and from footage shot while he rehearsed for his sold-out series of London comeback concerts.

Ninja Assassin (R for profanity and graphic violence) Korean singing sensation Rain stars as the title character in this high body-count, martial arts saga about a renegade from a secret society of trained killers forced to fight his former comrades when they trail him from the Far East to Berlin. With Naomie Harris, Rick Yune and Ben Miles.

Old Dogs (PG for crude humor) Disney family comedy about a couple of freewheeling bachelors and business partners (John Travolta and Robin Williams) who get a big lesson in what’s really important in life when they’re suddenly left in charge of the 7 year-old twins (Ella Bleu Travolta and Conner Rayburn) one of them never knew he’d fathered with his ex (Kelly Preston). Ensemble includes Seth Green, Matt Dillon, Ann-Margaret, Amy Sedaris, Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson, and features the final screen performance of the late Bernie Mac.

Pirate Radio (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Raucous musical comedy, set in the Sixties, revolving around a crew of eight rogue DJs illegally broadcasting rock and roll from a renegade radio station operating on a ship in the North Sea, much to the chagrin of the British government. Cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh.

Planet 51 (PG for mild action and suggestive humor) Animated sci-fi comedy about an astronaut (Dwayne Johnson) who lands on a planet inhabited by little green people living in a world eerily reminiscent of suburban America in the 1950s. Featuring voicework by Jessica Biel, John Cleese, Justin Long, Seann William Scott and Gary Oldman.

Precious (R for rape, child abuse, pervasive profanity and ethnic slurs) Lee Daniels directs this super-realistic screen adaptation of the Sapphire best seller, set in Harlem in 1987, about a teenage mom’s (Gabby Sidibe) attempt to finish school and to find love in the face of a monstrous mother (Mo’Nique) who insists she’ll never amount to anything. With Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz and Sherri Shepherd.

The Road (R for violence, profanity and disturbing images) Viggo Mortenson and Kodi Smit-McPhee co-star in this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a father and son’s post-apocalyptic, cross-country road trip in the wake of a nuclear disaster which has transformed America into a barren wasteland where starving scavengers resort to cannibalism to survive. Supporting cast includes Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce.

A Serious Man (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and brief violence) Semi-autobiographical comedy set in Minnesota in 1967, written and directed by the Coen Brothers, about a college professor (Michael Stuhlbarg) whose life falls apart when he is left by his wife (Sari Lennick) for one of his colleagues (Fred Melamed).

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13 for violence and action) Second installment in Stephenie Meyer’s fantasy series finds 18 year-old Bella (Kristen Stewart) brokenhearted but in a budding relationship with her mysterious childhood friend, Jacob (Taylor Lautner), after her vampire lover Edward (Robert Pattinson) and the rest of the Cullen clan leave town to protect her from their craven bloodlust. Cast includes Dakota Fanning, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Billy Burke.

Where the Wild Things Are (PG for mature themes, brief epithets and action sequences) Spike Jonze directs this screen adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s tale about a misunderstood little boy (Max Records) crowned king by the strange creatures inhabiting a magical world created by his vivid imagination. With Catherine Keener, Forest Whitaker, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper and Catherine O’Hara.

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