Greetings movie lovers, it's time to take a look at what the cinema has in store for us this weekend.

     Jack the Giant Slayer

When Jack, a young farmhand, accidentally opens a gateway to the world of giants an ancient war restarts as the giants, thought only of as legend, try to reclaim the world they lost centuries ago. Jack is forced into a fight to not only save his own life, but that of those in the kingdom and that of the princess.

     My Take

This fantasy adventure film is based on the Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer fairy tales. It's a re-imagining brought to us courtesy of director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) and writer Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Jack Reacher).

Even though there is a strong creative team behind the scenes I still have fairly modest expectations where this film is concerned. There just wasn't anything that really grabbed me when I saw the trailer for it. It appears like just another over budget, special effects laden, video game style fantasy adventure that should definitely appeal to the youngsters out there. But maybe that's the point. This is likely just intended to be a fun, action filled popcorn movie where you check your cynicism at the door and let your imagination soar with childlike wonder.

On the plus side however, the cast for Jack the Giant Slayer is quite strong and includes Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Eddie Marsan and the voice of Bill Nighy. Hopefully they can elevate the material and make this film watchable.

Considering that the studio has pushed the release date of this film back a couple of times and that it has an insane budget of approximately $190 million, one can safely assume that there will likely not be a sequel in the works unless it ends up being a huge hit overseas. I highly doubt that it will make more than $35-40 million on opening weekend, so that's a flop in my book.

I hope I'm completely wrong though and that Jack the Giant Slayer ends up being a highly entertaining and fun thrill ride for young and old alike. I will find out tonight at the advance screening at Landmark 8 where you can see it in the Xtreme 3D theatre at 10:00 p.m. It is also screening at the Grand 10 tonight as well.

     21 and Over

Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what he was supposed to do. But when his two best friends Casey and Miller surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, Jeff Chang decides to do everything he wants to do for a change, even though his important medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes a night of humiliation, over indulgence and utter debauchery in this coming-of-drinking-age-comedy about living youth to its fullest.

     My Take

This latest misadventure about drinking and partying is directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, best known as the writers of The Hangover. It doesn't appear like they are straying too far away from familiar material though as this film could easily be called The Hangover part 3. It also looks like it has dashes of Project X, Harold & Kumar and Swingers thrown in for good measure as well.

Basically what I'm saying is that this probably isn't going to have an original bone in its body and will just be another lewd, crude, obscene film depicting young adults in their quest to get as drunk as humanly possible whilst creating as much chaos as they can legally get away with. Sounds like a heap of fun to me *insert sarcasm here*.

I'm personally tired of these types of movies since I've seen so many of them over the years, some of which were quite hilarious, and others which were atrocious, so 21 and Over has a lot to live up to in terms of being a really good party movie. Judging by the success of the awful Project X last year though, this film is likely to do well with the youth market and ensure that the studios will keep churning out these low brow raunchfests.

By the way, I do remember what it was like to turn 21 and get completely hammered and I don't need to see films that continuously get released reminding me of how stupid and dumb that was. To each their own though I suppose.

     The Last Exorcism Part II

Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can't remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning.

     My Take

Trading in the Blair Witch Project style of pseudo-documentary filmmaking for a more straightforward telling of supernatural horror, this sequel to the hit 2010 film is produced by horror mainstay Eli Roth.

The fact that the first film was such a huge success, grossing nearly $68 million worldwide, made it inevitable that a sequel would be made.

I actually haven't seen the first film, just never got around to it, but the reports on it were fairly strong. I have no idea how this sequel will compare, but the fact that it is not being screened for critics at all is worrisome to say the least.

It appears to be just another generic possession film without anything groundbreaking being brought to the table, so unless you are a hardcore horror aficionado, I doubt that this will be anything overly worthwhile.

For anyone who is in the mood for a scary movie this weekend though, The Last Exorcism Part II might do the trick for you.

Also opening this weekend is Hyde Park on Hudson starring Bill Murray, Olivia Williams and Laura Linney. In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Williams) host the King and Queen of England for a weekend at the Roosevelt home at Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York - the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. With Britain facing imminent war with Germany, the Royals are desperately looking to FDR for support. But international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR's domestic establishment, as wife, mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal weekend an unforgettable one.

If you are in the mood for a lighthearted historical drama then you can check out Hyde Park on Hudson playing exclusively at the Paramount Theatre.

Also opening Friday at the Grand 10 is a comedy called The Movie Out Here which is a B.C. produced film that will have a limited run in Western Canada only. It's a goofy looking buddy comedy that was shot in Fernie and Vancouver and it was designed to serve as a promotional tool for Kokanee beer since it was produced by the B.C. based brewery which is owned by the Labatt Brewing Company. So if watching a 90 minute beer ad is your thing then check it out.

Have a great weekend everyone and see you at the movies!