New Releases: October 18, 2013

1. Carrie (Sony/Screen Gems,3,157 Theaters, 100 Minutes, Rated R): Ah, Carrie. Stephen King’s first published novel and the first of his works to be adapted for the screen. It’s a novel that spawned the 1976 film,  a 1988 Broadway musical, a 1999 “sequel to the 1976 film, a 2002 TV remake/pilot, and now another remake. Of course, many will say that every thing after the first film was unnecessary, because that first film was a classic and didn’t really need remaking once, let alone twice. But Hollywood being what it is, a remake we get.

This time around we get a more age-appropriate Carrie ( Chloë Grace Moretz is 16, ten years younger than Sissy Spacek when she played the character) but also a film that was supposed to come out in the spring but was greatly delayed. I remember them promoting this flick at last years New York Comic Con. Supposedly it has been moved to capitalize on the Halloween season, but the studio could just be telling us that.

The remake is 2 minutes longer than the original film. I hope this means that the ending will more closely follow the book and Carrie’s carnage becomes more wide-spread.

2. Escape Plan (Lionsgate/Summit, 2,883 Minutes, 116 Minutes, Rated R): If this film came out in 1985, watch out. It would be like an excuse to print money. Having the two biggest action stars in the world in the same film together? The lines would go around the block.

But Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger never made a film at the height of their popularity. Then Arnold became governor, Sly career waxed and waned, and now, after all these years, the pair are starring in a film with somewhat equal billing.

That’s enough for me. Their films were bonding experiences for me and my dad back in the day, so I am probably going to see this one even though both of them are old enough to file for social security.

Stallone plays a security expert who specializes in finding a way of breaking out of prisons. When he is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and put in a prison he designed to be inescapable, he must rely on fellow inmate Arnold to get out.

3. The Fifth Estate (Touchstone, 1,769 Theaters, 128 Minutes, Rated R): To some, Julian Assange is a hero. To others, he’s a reckless egotist who put countless lives in danger. I tend to believe the latter. While I don’t have any problem with shedding light on any country’s atrocities, I think one should think about what innocent people will get hurt if the truth is released unfiltered. I don’t think Assange really cared about that particular ramification.

My opinion is just one about the controversial Assange, and I wonder how the myriad of different views on the man will affect this film’s success. It seems like it is taking an even-handed view on the topic, but Assange himself has repeatedly criticized the film as anti-WikiLeaks propaganda.

Benedict Cumberbatch has gotten good notice as Assange, and Daniel Bruhl is appearing in his second film this month as Assange’s partner in WikiLeaks.