TSC brings you the upcoming movies this March.

Hotel For Dogs (2009)

What: Based on the Lois Duncan novel, Hotel For Dogs is about two orphans who secretly take in stray dogs at an abandoned hotel.

Who: Emma Roberts, Drew Barrymore, Jake Austin

When: 19th March 2009


Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

What: Paul Blart is a security officer at a mall when a group of robbers hold hostages (among whom are his daughter and crush) in his mall.

Who: Kevin James, Erick Avari, Keir O'Donnell

What: 19th March 2009


Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

What: Based on the Sophie Kinsella novel, the movie follows Rebecca Bloomwood, a shopping addict with a mountain load of debts.

Who: Hugh Dancy, Isla Fisher, Joan Cusack, Krysten Ritter

When: 26th March 2009


12 Rounds (2009)

What: A criminal mastermind takes revenge on a cop with 12 puzzles and tasks he has to complete, to save the life of his own fiancee.

Who: Brian J. White, John Cena, Adian Gillen, Ashley Scott

When: 26th March 2009

Film-adapting a piece of critically acclaimed literature is never an easy feat.

Watchmen, however, goes far beyond the tier of being greatly justified through a cinematic medium. But with director Zack Snyder behind the ambitious attempt, everything seems to fall into place.

After several efforts by past directors to turn the multi-layered graphic novel into a movie, Watchmen finally made its long-awaited debut to the public March 6.

The plot, as many would know, revolves around the unity of retired costumed heroes after masked vigilante, Rorschach, investigates the death of fellow crime-fighter and government-sanctioned hero, The Comedian. Over the course of the film, the team discover a far greater conspiracy beyond what they had expected. Meanwhile, the United States and the Soviet Union are on the brink of a nuclear war, as depicted by the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic clock face set five minutes to midnight.

Hardcore fans of the comic series would say that the best part about Watchmen is its unconventionality.

Breaking all the rules of a quintessential superhero flick, the film portrayed writer and creator Alan Moore’s attempt of revamping the general idea of life as a costumed vigilante. If you waltz into the cinema hoping to catch another superhero movie, you would either be highly disappointed or very much impressed. If you’re hoping to cross ‘bloody, violent fights’ and ‘thought-provoking plotline’ off your list, you’d be able to do both, which says a lot.

The film brings to life everything the comic could not – a feat unimaginably challenging, what with Watchmen holding the gem-like reputation of being the best comic series ever written. Viewers with no knowledge of the novel would find the film’s method of embedding the numerous background stories within the plot itself seamless yet effective, a narrative structure originally adopted in the book itself.

The movie plays itself well as a product of an alternate universe in 1985, with increasing tension between the US and the Russians.

Herein lies the issue of humanity, and the varied ideals with regards to it in the characters of Watchmen. Case in point, Rorchach’s one-tracked notion of morals and lack of compromise is depicted well in the film. Dr. Manhattan – the only character with a superhuman ability - and his stoic refusal to save mankind from impending anarchy further stimulates the question: What if you had the power to save the world - and wouldn’t?

The film’s ending was just as ambiguous as its comic counterpart. Coupled with a punk-vibe, ‘80s soundtrack, Watchmen is a massive must-catch if you’re looking for something to reconstruct the mainstream idea of a comic book movie. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Quote: This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save Us!"...and I'll look down, and whisper, "No."




Picture credit: http://www.screenrant.com/

The movie is a lighthearted romcom that is perfect for a weekend outing with the girlfriends. Similar to the Brit movie 'Love Actually', it tells the love stories of nine individuals that are interwoven together.

There is Gigi: the heroine in every chick flick, the romantic, the believer of true love. Played by the cute Ginnifer Goodwin, we can probably relate to her character as she painfully waits for that call from her date.

Alex (played by Justin Long) is the charming guy who befriends Gigi and dishes out pretty good advice. Like: if a guy likes a girl, he will call her. Period. Saying things like “I lost your number” or “My grandma is really ill” is just another excuse not to see you.

Then there is that golden 'couple' - Beth (Jennifer Aniston) and Neil (Ben Affleck) have been together for seven years. She wants to be married, but he doesn't believe in marriage.

Of course, in a movie about love, there has to be that seductive 'other woman'. Scarlett Johansson plays Anna who meets married man, Ben (Bradley Cooper) and thinks that he could be "The One". However, Ben and his wife, Janine (Jennifer Connelly) have problems of their own.

Hopelessly in love with Anna is Connor (Kevin Connolly). As her standby guy, he brushes off other dates, just hoping that one day, Anna would accept him as her boyfriend.

Rounding up the cast is Drew Barrymore as Mary, Anna's best friend. Updating the typical romance story to fit in with today's tech savvy new media culture, Mary looks for love online.

While the film can be improved in terms of plot, it experiments with interesting ways of telling a story. Probably inspired by the self-help book that it is based on, the movie is split into three parts separated by a question and a staged interview on the street which gives it an entertaining reality TV. At the end, the same technique is used to interview the characters about their love stories. Unique way to wrap up the story, unlike the usual montage sequence or cheesy happy event or some voiceover telling us what happened/what will happen.

The movie is rather enjoyable and has a few gem of a quotes that audiences will take with them after the movie. 'He's just not that into you' is an appealing and humorous take on dating problems and the complicated web of love.

Movie Quote: "Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you, he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don’t, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope."

(Photo credits: www.imdb.com)

Ms. Angsty Bulletins