The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
Ok so we are two weeks into a new month and already we have had some great movies such as Up, and Zombieland, both of which topped the U.S. box office.
So we look forward to the rest of the month and make some suggestions as to what you should be watching at the cinema this month.
If you are a Heath Ledger fan, and lets face so many of us are, then this week is what we have been waiting for for month.
Yes his final movie, in the form of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, is finally here completed by Terry Gilliam and co to remember Ledger who died during filming.
Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all step up to the plate joining Christopher Plummer and Lily Cole to complete the movie.
Dr. Parnassus has the extraordinary gift of inspiring the imaginations of others. Helped by his travelling theatre troupe, including his sarcastic and cynical sidekick Percy and versatile young player Anton, Parnassus offers audience members the chance to transcend mundane reality by passing through a magical mirror into a fantastic universe of limitless imagination.
However, Parnassus' magic comes at a price. For centuries he's been gambling with the devil, Mr. Nick who is coming to collect his prize, Parnassus' precious daughter, Valentina on her upcoming 16th birthday.
Oblivious to her rapidly approaching fate, Valentina falls for Tony, a charming outsider with motives of his own. In order to save his daughter and redeem himself, Parnassus makes one final bet with Mr. Nick, which sends Tony and Valentina and the entire theatre troupe on a ride of twists and turns, in and out of London and the Imaginarium's spectacular landscape.
Already winning over the critics on the festival circuit Dr Parnassus looks set to be a huge success, but take some tissues as we get to say goodbye to a great talent one last time.
Also out this week that's well worth a watch is Vince Vaughn's return to the big screen Couple's Retreat.
Vaughn leads a great comedy cast of Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Jon Favreau and Kristen Davis.
Four Midwestern couples embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun.
They soon discover that participation in the resort's couples therapy is not optional. Suddenly, their group-rate vacation comes at a price. What follows is a hilarious look at real world problems faced by all couples.
Topping the U.S. box office this week Couples Retreat looks set to replicate that success here in the UK.
It seems that no sooner do you get one vampire movie then a string of them come along at once as Cirque Du freak muscles in on some of this vampire action.
A boy unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfil his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.
14-year-old Darren was like most kids in his suburban neighbourhood. He hung out with his best friend, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a travelling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren.
That's the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.
Cirque Du Freak is released 23rd October
Also out that week is yet another animation that's causing a bit of a stir Fantastic Mr Fox, which is opening the London International Film Festival later this week.
In recent years animation has become more and more appealing to actors and many are now flocking to lend their voices to these movies.
And Fantastic Mr Fox is no different as George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman come together for this Wes Anderson movie.
Mr and Mrs Fox live an idyllic home life with their son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox's wild animal instincts.
Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr Fox at any cost.
Fantastic Mr Fox is released 23rd October.
The death of Michael Jackson this summer came as a bit of a shock to us all as everyone was excited and looking forward to his shows at the O2.
But to celebrate the life of this great entertainer October sees the release of This Is It which will allow fans to remember their hero once again.
A rare glimpse into the final days of Michael Jackson, the documentary is compiled from an estimated 80 hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage of the legendary entertainer preparing for his 50 sold-out shows at London's O2 Arena that were scheduled to commence in July 2009 before his untimely death in June at age 50. Interviews with collaborators and close friends of the late performer are also featured.
This Is It is released 28th October.
Other movies worth catching this month include An Education, 9 and Saw VI, yes they really have made another.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw