OPENING FRIDAY
“ANNA KARENINA” — In late 19th century Russia, the young wife of a stiff aristocrat enters into a scandalous affair that has ruinous consequences in this timeless romantic classic. Starring Keira Knightley, Aaron Johnson, Jude Law and Matthew Macfadyen. Written by Tom Stoppard; based on the Leo Tolstoy novel. Directed by Joe Wright. (R for some sexuality and violence.)
“THE COLLECTION” (digital) — The only man ever to survive the wrath of a deranged killer who imprisons his victims in a booby-trapped abandoned hotel is forced to lead a group of mercenaries to rescue the killer’s latest target. Starring Emma Fitzpatrick, Christopher McDonald and Josh Stewart. Directed by Marcus Dunstan. (R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language and brief nudity.)
“GANGSTER SQUAD” — Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte and Josh Brolin star in this drama about the efforts — legal and otherwise — that the LAPD went through to keep the mob out of 1940s and ’50s Los Angeles. Also starring Anthony Mackie and Robert Patrick. Directed by Ruben Fleischer. (R for strong violence and strong language.)
“A HAUNTED HOUSE” — A couple moves into a house that turns out to be haunted by a demon in this broad comedy. Who you gonna call? Starring Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Marlene Forte. Directed by Michael Tiddes. (R for crude and sexual content, language and some drug use.)
“ZERO DARK THIRTY” — An elite team of intelligence and military operatives working in secret across the globe engage in a tireless manhunt to eliminate the terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt and Mark Strong. Written by Mark Boal. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. (R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language.)
AT THE ORION
• “Django Unchained”
• “This Is 40”
• “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
HELD OVER
“DJANGO UNCHAINED” — Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio star in Quentin Tarantino’s spaghetti western-influenced, flamboyant revenge fantasy set in the post-Civil War South. Also starring Christoph Waltz and Kerry Washington. (R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.)
“THE GUILT TRIP” — After stopping in to visit his overbearing single mother, a traveling salesman is guilted into bringing her along on a weeklong sales trip. Starring Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Kathy Najimy and Colin Hanks. Directed by Anne Fletcher. (PG-13 for language and some risque material.)
“THE HOBBIT” (digital) — Director Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings”) returns to Middle-earth with this first installment in a $500 million trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel. Martin Freeman plays the young Bilbo Baggins, who accompanies the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a gang of dwarves on a series of adventures. Also starring Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Martin Freeman and Elijah Wood. (PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.)
“JACK REACHER” — When a sniper murders six people, a mysterious former military investigator gets involved with the seemingly open-and-shut case. Based on the popular Lee Child novels. Starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike. Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog and Richard Jenkins. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. (PG-13 for violence, language and some drug material.)
“LES MISERABLES” — Victor Hugo’s classic novel, rendered into a hit musical, comes to the screen with Hugh Jackman’s Jean Valjean squaring off against Russell Crowe’s Inspector Javert in 19th century France. Also starring Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Seyfried and Sacha Baron Cohen. Directed by Tom Hooper. (PG-13 for suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements.)
“LIFE OF PI” (digital and 3-D) — Director Ang Lee’s latest directorial vision hurtles an Indian zookeeper’s son on an epic life journey after he becomes marooned in a lifeboat with a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel. Starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain and Tabu. (PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril.)
“LINCOLN” — Director Steven Spielberg’s film biography reveals a president (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the midst of a crucial few weeks near the end of the Civil War, when the abolition of slavery wasn’t considered good politics. The script by Tony Kushner is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s critically acclaimed book, “Team of Rivals.” Also starring Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones and Hal Holbrook. (PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language.)
“MONSTERS INC.” (available in 3-D) — John Goodman and Billy Crystal’s cartoon creature-feature is back on the big screen, this time in 3-D. Also featuring the voices of Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn and Jennifer Tilly. Directed by Pete Doctor, David Silverman and Lee Unkrich. (G for general audiences.)
“PARENTAL GUIDANCE” — Billy Crystal co-wrote and stars in this comedy about a grandpa who resorts to “old school” methods when he’s stuck babysitting the grandkids. Also starring Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott and Bailee Madison. Directed by Andy Fickman. (PG for some rude humor.)
“PROMISED LAND” — An ace corporate salesman and his partner arrive in an economically declining farm town to buy up drilling rights to the land, but they encounter unexpected opposition from the community. Starring Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand and Rosemarie DeWitt. Written by Damon and Krasinski. Directed by Gus Van Sant. (R for language.)
“RISE OF THE GUARDIANS” — The Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), Jack Frost (Chris Pine) and others team up to save Santa (Alec Baldwin) from the evil Pitch (Jude Law), a bogeyman who threatens to infiltrate the dreams of children, in this animated holiday comedy. Directed by Peter Ramsey. (PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.)
“SKYFALL” (digital and 35mm) — Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in the 23rd installment of the longest-running film franchise. The safety of MI6 headquarters is in danger from a slippery mastermind played by Javier Bardem, and Agent 007 must destroy the threat. Also starring Judi Dench as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe and Albert Finney. Directed by Sam Mendes. (PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.)
“TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D” — A young woman travels to Texas after learning she’s inherited an estate from a grandmother she never knew she had, but horrifying secrets await her there. Starring Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Tania Raymonde and Tremaine “Trey Songz” Neverson. Directed by John Luessenhop. (R for strong grisly violence and language throughout.)
“THIS IS 40” — Writer-director-producer Judd Apatow’s growing-older-but-not-up comedy stars that “Knocked Up” supporting couple, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, as they deal with the trials and tribulations of growing older and raising a family. Also starring Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy and Megan Fox. (R for sexual content, crude humor, pervasive language and some drug material.)
“THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, PART 2” — It’s an end of an era for Twihards as the vampire romance series wraps up its final installment, with vampire Edward and werewolf Jacob fighting on the same side — along with Bella, naturally. Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Michael Sheen. Directed by Bill Condon. (PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity.)
“WRECK-IT RALPH” (digital) — There’s trouble in the arcade when a longtime video-game villain (voiced by John C. Reilly) who wants to be a hero breaks out and starts sneaking into other video games. Look for cameos from Pac-Man, Sonic, Frogger and Q*Bert. Directed by Rich Moore. Also with the voices of Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch. (PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence.)
— Compiled by the Yakima Herald-Republic