In 1943, the Allied forces in World War II created the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program in an effort to protect cultural property from Nazi plundering.
Otherwise known as The Monuments Men, it was a group of military servicemen and civilians working together to safeguard historic and cultural monuments from the ravages of war.
George Clooney tasked himself with turning this incredible true story into a motion picture which blends the seriousness of war with some comedic elements. To accomplish this, he enlisted the likes of Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Cate Blanchett.
With the star power behind The Monuments Men, one would think that it would be guaranteed the top spot at the box office this weekend. However, do not underestimate the power of Lego. The makers of The Lego Movie could have simply taken advantage of the multi-generational appeal of the classic building blocks and built a movie according to the basic instructions. However, like many kids with real Lego, they have thrown out the instructions and used the blocks to create an original animated adventure that the Hollywood Reporter calls, “A full-throttle, giddily inventive, all-ages joyride that buoyantly boosts the bar for 3D computer-animated movies.”
In yet another attempt to try to turn a successful book series into a successful movie franchise, Vampire Academy is based upon the best selling 2007 novel that sounds like a cross between Harry Potter and Twilight. It is the story of two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for mortal, peaceful vampires and their half-human/half-vampire guardians.
If high school was not difficult enough, they have to deal with immortal and evil vampires who wish to do them harm.
Although I do not think it will become a successful franchise, I am hoping for the best as the screenplay was adapted by Daniel Waters, the writer of Heathers which is one of my favourite movies and is directed by his brother Mark Waters, who helmed the similarly themed and successful Mean Girls.
