Watch CBS News

Opening This Weekend:

Courtesy of:
Preview This! With Mike from CW69/Atlanta

Opening this weekend at a theatre near you:

Prometheus (2012)

Prometheus Source: 20th Century Fox

The much anticipated Sci-Fi film from Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator), about a team of explorers sent on a journey to the edge of the universe to try and piece together a vast puzzle of clues that may lead to the origins of mankind on Earth. But when they arrive at a distant planet, they discover something that may end their lives and ultimately destroy the human race. Prometheus website

What to Watch For: Director Scott has been very quiet on the aspect that this maybe a prequel to his landmark 1979 film Alien.

Word on the Street: Fans of Science Fiction films are excited because one of the main architects of the TV show Lost, Damon Lindelof, co-wrote the script.

My Take: I am very excited to see Noomi Rapace in this film, after her star making performances as Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version of the The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Madagascar 3 Source: Paramount Pictures

Alex, Gloria, Marty and the gang are still trying to get back home to New York City. This time their travels take them on a trip through Europe where they go undercover, in a traveling circus. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted website

What to Watch For: This film should do well since there aren't any new family films for parents to take their kids to.

Word on the Street: The question is, how long can this film series keep the animals away from home?

My Take: This film should do big at the box office with a great voice cast, including Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer.

Hysteria (2012)

In Victorian London, Dr. Granville (Hugh Dancy) is hired by Dr. Dalrymple to investigate treatments for women who have "female hysteria". He becomes the romantic interest of the Doctor Dalrymple's two daughters (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Felicity Jones). Hysteria website

What to Watch For: While this is a romantic comedy set in Victorian times, it should be noted that the accepted treatment for "female hysteria" was physical stimulation of the female by a doctor. Dr. Granville is credited to inventing a non-tradional Victorian era appliance, the vibrator.

Word on the Street: Rupert Everett is said to steal the movie as the unconventional Lord Edmund St. John-Smythe.

My Take: This has become a hit on the art house circuit, with audiences giving the film good word of mouth.

Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (2012)

PEACE_LOVE_MISUNDERSTANDING Source: IFC Films

An uptight, big city lawyer (Catherine Keener) takes her two teenagers to her mother's farmhouse in upstate New York. But mom (Jane Fonda) isn't an ordinary grandmother, in fact, one could say that she never left the 60's. What is meant to be a weekend becomes a summer of romance, music and just watch, a few family secrets might spill out. Peace, Love & Misunderstanding website

What to Watch For: Veteran Director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) had an art house hit in his last film, 2009's Mao's Last Dancer.

Word on the Street: Elizabeth Olsen is making a name for herself with roles that are winning with both audiences and critics alike.

My Take: What a great cast! Besides Keener, Fonda and Olsen, the cast includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Katharine McPhee, Rosanna Arquette and Kyle MacLachlan.

Mike has a degree in Film from The University of Texas at Austin. He has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 25 years and sees two to four new movies in the theatre a week. Mike has a weekly movie blog where he reviews films both present and past at: lastonetoleavethetheatre.blogspot.com. He can be followed on Twitter @lastonetoleave.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.