releasing this week: Brothers & Toy Story 2 (3D)

Two films releasing this week, well actually there’s three films but I’m gonna just talk about the two. The other, Un Prophète, is only opening on 5 screens and they’re all in Dublin so not everyone will have a chance to see it. In case you’re wondering it’s on in Cineworld Parnell Street, IMC Dun Laoghaire, Screen cinema, the IFI and the Light House cinema in Smithfield. I was lucky enough to see it on Wednesday night in Denzille Cinema courtesy of Phantom 105.2 and Element Pictures so I will be writing a full review soon.

Anyway on to the other films. Brothers is the biggest release this week. I was quite suprised by that actually but then again it is a relatively quiet week release wise and it’s directed by Jim Sheridan, so Irish interest and all that… The film stars Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. I have no particular opinion on them. Well Tobey Maguire still gets a bit of blame for Spider-Man 3 but aside from that he’s grand.

The trailer seems to give a lot away but then again I’d imagine with this kind of character driven drama that doesn’t entirely matter. Natalie Portman plays the wife of a soldier who is apparently killed in the Iraq war. She becomes close with his brother and there is shock when it turns out her husband was not killed in action. His homecoming is less than welcome and relations between the three of them become intensely strained.

Personally this isn’t really the kind of film I would go to the cinema for but the quality of the acting does look very strong and it is directed by Jim Sheridan so it could be one of interest to some of you out there. I have to admit, I am somewhat curious though because it does looks like a powerful character drama and I haven’t seen one I’ve enjoyed in a while. If this sounds like your kind of thing then check the listings at your local cinema.

The one I will be looking out for this week though is Toy Story 2 in 3D. I love the Toy Story films and I remember I loved Toy Story 2 even more than the original Toy Story. I say I remember but it’s really only an impression. I haven’t seen Toy Story 2 in years. I hadn’t seen Toy Story in years till I saw it in October ’09 in 3D. What a happy day that was and I am planning to make one day in the next two weeks a happy day too with this second installment.

I will mention though that I didn’t think much of the 3D effects in the 3 dimensionified version of Toy Story, it was probably one of the least 3D 3D films I’ve seen. I’m not entirely sure that turning old movies into 3D movies really works. I’m all for films that are specifically shot and produced for 3D and 2D but the 2D to 3D conversions I don’t know.

Now I’ve only seen two so maybe it’s not fair for me to draw conclusions but neither of them worked out brilliantly. The Nightmare Before Christmas did have some great 3D bits but I did find that when things were meant to be much further away or much closer you got double images. This does not appear to happen as much with made for 3D films. Mind you in that sense we were probably better off not having to much 3D in Toy Story, double images are annoying.

Anyway, just in case you have been living under a rock for the last 11 years, Toy Story 2 is Pixar’s 1999 follow up to the excellent Toy Story from 1995. Yes, it’s a kids film about toys that come to life when no-one is looking but it’s also fantastic. If you haven’t seen either of them I feel sad for you. You should go see them as soon as possible. Go rent the first one then come to the cinemas and see Toy Story 2.

You’ll have to move quickly though. Toy Story 2 is only being released in 3D screens and due to the ongoing success of Avatar it has not made the main evening showings in many cinemas. It is however on matinees and early evening showings all over the country so if you work during the week you should be able to catch it over the weekends. Go soon though as it’s only in cinemas for a limited 2 week run.

If you do that then it means you’ll be all caught up in time to see Toy Story 3, an all new adventure for Buzz and Woody coming to screens this summer. I can’t wait.

Brothers and Toy Story 2 3D are both in Irish cinemas from this Friday, 22nd January 2010.

Other films releasing in Ireland this week are The Boys are Back (drama), Armoured (action / thriller) and Ninja Assassin (action). Actually Ninja Assassin looks like good craic as well. I gotta see The Book of Eli first though so I’ll have to hope that Ninja Assassin is still around in a couple of weeks.