Escape to the Theaters This Week! July 17th-21st, 2013

This is a real busy week at the theaters, as we have films opening on Wednesday, the 17th, and Friday, the 19th. There are also more titles from which to choose, so it will be interesting to see who will win the box office weekend. In addition to these new selections, there should also be some hold over from “Pacific Rim” (2013), “Grown Ups 2” (2013), and of course, the still surging, “Despicable Me 2” (2013). So, which film(s) will you be watching?

Movies Opening in Theaters July 17th, 2013

• “Turbo” (2013) Rated PG, 96 minutes: DreamWorks Animation presents this 3D event that features… the world’s fastest snail! That’s right everyone, Turbo (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) dreams of moving faster, and after an accident involving an engine full of nitrous oxide, that is exactly what happens. Now his ambitions of racing in the Indianapolis 500 are finally going to come true. Directed by David Soren, “Turbo” also stars the voice talents of Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph, Snoop Dogg, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez and Samuel L. Jackson.

Movie Opening in Theaters July 19th, 2013

• “R.I.P.D.” (2013) Rated PG-13: Rest In Peace Department. This afterlife, law enforcement group recruits the greatest lawmen of all time for the special mission of hunting down the dead souls that refuse to leave Earth. Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges are the new-partners who must overcome their differences and find a way to save the world, before it’s too late. Basically we have a combination of “Men in Black” (1997) and every other buddy cop film ever made.“R.I.P.D.” also stars Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Bacon, and is directed by Robert Schwentke (“Flightplan” & “Red”).

• “Red 2” (2013) Rated PG-13, 116 minutes: This is the sequel to 2010’s comedic action film, “Red,” about a former CIA operative (Bruce Willis) trying to find a way of life that doesn’t involve violence or killing. Once again, he gets himself and his girlfriend (Mary Louis-Parker) mixed up with some established former colleges (John Malkovich & Helen Mirren), as well as some new characters (Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones & Lee Byung-hun), for a barrage of mischief and mayhem.

• “The Conjuring” (2013) Rated R, 112 minutes: In this horror film, Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson star as real life supernatural investigators, Lorraine and Patrick Warren, who have their work cut out for them with the Perron family (Lili Taylor & Ron Livingston), whose farmhouse is being haunted by a demonic presence. Early reviews for this film have been quite good, citing that it is similar to the horror films of the 1970’s, with the focus being put on the characters and not on visual effects.

Also being released on July 19th, 2013 in a limited capacity:

• “Only God Forgives” (2013) Rated R, 90 minutes: From writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn (“Drive”) comes this action film about death and revenge. Ryan Gosling stars as a drug-smuggler, who is asked by his mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) to find and kill the man responsible for his brother’s recent death. Expectations for “Only God Forgives” have been very high, but the early European reviews seem to be less than favorable, mostly stemming from the endless violence. 

• “Girl Most Likely” (2013) Rated PG-13, 103 minutes: A down-on-her-luck playwright (Kristen Wiig) half-heartedly attempts suicide to attract attention from her former boyfriend. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out well for her, and she ends up in the care of her estranged mother (Annette Benning). Also starring in this comedy are Matt Dillon and Christopher Fitzgerald.

• “Blackfish” (2013) Rated PG-13, 83 minutes: This is a documentary film that focuses on the dangers of keeping the orca, Tilikum, in captivity. This film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and thus far has earned mostly positive reviews.