In 2nd-Century Britain, two men – master and slave – venture beyond the edge of the known world on a dangerous and obsessive quest that will push them beyond the boundaries of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and hatred, deceit and heroism. The Roman epic adventure The Eagle is directed by Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Jeremy Brock has adapted the screenplay from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel The Eagle of the Ninth.
In 140 AD, the Roman Empire extends all the way to Britain – though its grasp is incomplete, as the rebellious tribes of Caledonia (today’s Scotland) hold sway in the far North. Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) arrives in Britain, determined to restore the tarnished reputation of his father, Flavius Aquila.
It was 20 years earlier that Rome’s 5,000-strong Ninth Legion, under the command of Flavius and carrying their golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth, marched north into Caledonia. They never returned; Legion and Eagle simply vanished into the mists. Angered, the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of a wall to seal off the territory; Hadrian’s Wall became the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire – the edge of the known world.
Driven to become a brilliant soldier and now given command of a small fort in the southwest, Marcus bravely leads his troops during a siege. Commended by Rome for his bravery, yet discharged from the army because of his severe wounds, Marcus convalesces, demoralized, in the villa of his Uncle Aquila (Donald Sutherland), a retired army man. When Marcus impulsively gets a young Briton’s life spared at a gladiatorial contest, Aquila buys the Briton, Esca (Jamie Bell), to be Marcus’ slave. Marcus is dismissive of Esca, who harbors a seething hatred of all things Roman.
Yet Esca vows to serve the man who has saved his life. Hearing a rumour that the Eagle has been seen in a tribal temple in the far north, Marcus is galvanized into action, and sets off with Esca across Hadrian’s Wall. But the highlands of Caledonia are a vast and savage wilderness, and Marcus must rely on his slave to navigate the region. When they encounter ex-Roman soldier Guern (Mark Strong), Marcus realises that the mystery of his father’s disappearance may well be linked to the secret of his own slave’s identity and loyalty – a secret all the more pressing when the two come face-to-face with the warriors of the fearsome Seal Prince (Tahar Rahim).
Classification 12
Winnie The Pooh - Timeless charm and wit
Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh. Featuring the timeless charm, wit and whimsy of the original featurettes, this all-new movie reunites audiences with the philosophical “bear of very little brain” and friends Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo…and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore, who has lost his tail.
“The entire story takes place in the course of a day,” says director Don Hall. “It’s business as usual in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh wakes up absolutely famished and he happens to have no honey. So that sets him out on his journey, which is ultimately derailed—first by a contest to find Eeyore a new tail.”
Pooh later finds a note from Christopher Robin that reads: “Gone out. Busy. Back soon.” But then Owl misinterprets the note, proclaiming that the boy has been captured by a creature called a “Backson.” Soon, the whole gang is on a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from the imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply hoped to find some honey.
“We always set out to make a movie that will transcend generations—appeal to kids, entertain their teenage brothers and sisters, and make Mom and Dad laugh out loud,” says Executive Producer John Lasseter. “The personalities of A.A. Milne’s characters are so sharply drawn, so elegant in their simplicity, we found that they were amazingly funny before we even made our first story sketch. These are characters most of us have grown up with—characters we all want to introduce to our little ones and rediscover with all the loved ones in our lives.”
Winnie the Pooh not only features characters parents love to share with their children, but values and simple joys of life. That sharing among generations is reflective of Walt Disney’s philosophy. “I do not make films primarily for children,” said Disney. “I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be 6 or 60. Call the child ‘innocence.’ The worst of us is not without innocence, although buried deeply it might be. In my work, I try to reach and speak to that innocence, showing it the fun and joy of living; showing it that laughter is healthy; showing it that the human species, although happily ridiculous at times, is still reaching for the stars.”
Funnyman John Cleese (Shrek Forever After, A Fish Called Wanda) serves as the narrator for Winnie the Pooh. The voice cast features some returning favorites who’ve voiced their characters before: Jim Cummings (Gnomeo & Juliet, The Princess and the Frog, Shrek) lends his voice to Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and Travis Oates, who’s provided the voice of Piglet for seven years, returns as the voice of Pooh’s nervous little friend. The cast also includes Pooh newcomers Bud Luckey (Toy Story 3) as the voice of Eeyore, Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) as the voice of Owl, and Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as the voice of Rabbit. Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who also co-wrote original songs for the film (TV’s The Wonder Pets, off-Broadway’s In Transit) is the voice of Kanga; Wyatt Hall, the 7-year-old son of Director Don Hall, is the voice of Roo; and Jack Boulter is the voice of Christopher Robin.
Classification U
West Is West - Coming of age
Sequel to the internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning East Is East, West Is West takes the Khan family on a journey from Salford, England, to rural Pakistan.
West Is West is the coming of age story of both 13 year old Sajid and also of his father, 60 year old George (‘Ghengis’) Khan.
Manchester, North of England, 1976. The now much diminished, but still claustrophobically cohesive and desperately dysfunctional Khan’s family continues to struggle for survival. Sajid, the youngest Khan, the runt of the litter, is deep in pubescent crisis under heavy assault both from his father's tyrannical insistence on Pakistani traditions, and from the fierce racist bullies in the schoolyard. Isolated and bored, he resorts to bunking off school and shoplifting useless items to spice up his dull and lonely little life.
In a last attempt to make a good Muslim and a good son of him, his father decides to pack him off to Mrs Khan No 1 and family in the Punjab, the wife and daughters he had abandoned 30 years earlier.
Resolved to teach Sajid a lesson, the tables are turned on George when he comes face to face with his own transgressions, and realizes that it is he himself who has much to learn.
It is not long before Ella Khan [Mrs Khan No 2], with a small entourage from Salford, England, swiftly follows to sort out the mess, past and present.
Classification 14
Chalet Girl - A challenge of a lifetime
Feisty 19 year old Kim Matthews (Felicity Jones) takes on the challenge of her life when she lands a job as a chalet girl in a glitzy ski resort in the Alps.
Assigned to live and work in the luxury chalet of successful businessman Richard Masden (Bill Nighy), she spends her days cooking, cleaning and catering for his family. Propelled into a world of wealth, fun and endless parties, Kim is utterly baffled by this new way of life. Finding it hard to grasp all the rules and be accepted by her uber-posh co-worker Georgie (Tamsin Egerton) she quickly finds herself way out of her depth.
To make matters worse, she finds herself falling for her boss’s son Jonny (Ed Westwick.) Gorgeous, charming and talented there’s just two problems –Jonny’s ice-princess girlfriend Chloe (Sophia Bush) and his scheming mother (Brooke Shields.)
With few friends to turn to Kim takes to the slopes where she discovers the thrills of snow-boarding and a natural talent. Filled with a new found confidence she enters the resort’s biggest Pro-boarding event of the year.
As the competition draws nearer and Jonny and Kim grow closer it looks like her luck is finally changing. But Jonny’s family has other plans for his future and they could turn Kim’s world upside down.
Packed with breathtaking snowboarding action and stunning locations, Chalet Girl is a hilarious and touching story about finding a talent, staying true to yourself and achieving your dreams.
Classification 12
Films are released by KRS