Preview This! "The Legend of Hercules"

Opening this week at a theatre near you:

"The Legend of Hercules"  (2014)

Hercules (Kellan Lutz) is betrayed by his stepfather, the King Amphitryon (Scott Adkins) and is sold into slavery.  Now, he must use his strength to fight his way back to the woman he loves and extract his revenge. "The Legend of Hercules" Website

What to Watch For:  The film is directed by Renny Harlin, director of the classic action films "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Cliffhanger" (1993).

Word on the Street:   It will be interesting to see if the "Twilight" fans follow their Emmet Cullen (Lutz's character in the "Twilight" films) to this film.

My Take:  This is the first of two Hercules films to come out in 2014.  The second film is "Hercules: The Thracian Wars" (2014) starring Dwayne Johnson.

"Her"  (2013)

Set in the near future, a depressed writer, Ted (Joaquin Phoenix), can't get over his soon-to-be-final divorce.  Stuck in a rut, he decides to enhance his life and install a new operating system on his home computer that has been advertised to meet his every need.  The OS system has a name, and it's Samantha (Scarlett Johansson).  Can a man fall in love with his computer? "Her" Website

What to Watch For:  The film is racking up some awards from critic associations and is nominated for 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture in the Musical or Comedy division.

Word on the Street:  Could Scarlett Johansson get an Academy Award nomination for a role where she never appears on camera?

My Take:  Just watch the trailer, and see if you don't fall in love with Samantha.

"Lone Survivor"  (2014)

Four members (Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster) of a Navy SEAL team embark on a dangerous mission to capture or kill a notorious Taliban leader.  Will any of the team get back alive? "Lone Survivor" Website

What to Watch For:  The film is based on a true story, and many critics believe it could garner an Oscar nomination or two.

Word on the Street:  Mark Wahlberg is said to give one of his best performances to-date in this film.

My Take:  This film could just be the ticket for the action film crowd looking for something to see in the post-holiday marketplace.

"August: Osage County"  (2013)

Three sisters (Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, and Julianne Nicholson) are called back home when it's discovered their father (Sam Shepard) has gone missing.  Now they must confront the one person that they have been avoiding all these years, their mother (Meryl Streep). "August: Osage County" Website

What to Watch For:  Meryl Streep is almost a sure thing to get another Oscar nomination.

Word on the Street:  Julianne Nicholson and Margo Martindale (who plays the sister-in-law of Streep's character) are also getting rave reviews from critics.

My Take:  This could be a big hit on the Art House circuit, mostly due to Streep's performance.

If you can't go to the theater this weekend, stay at home and watch movies on CW69.

Saturday 1:00 pm / Sunday 3:00 pm

"My Girl"  (1991)  Vada (Anna Chlumsky) is surrounded by death since her father, the widower Harry Sultenfuss (Dan Aykroyd), runs a funeral home.  Vada's world changes when Shelly (Jamie Lee Curtis) shows up to work at the funeral parlor.

Saturday 3:00 pm / Sunday 1:00 pm

"Bend It Like Beckham'  (2002) Jess (Parminder Nagra) and her best friend Jules (Keira Knightley),  dream of someday becoming professional soccer players.  Jess's big problem? Her strict parents feel that girls shouldn't play soccer.  Now Jess must decide to follow her parents' demands or her dream.