Monthly Movie Madness: January

Well here we are, the first Friday of a new month... Which just so happens to be the first Friday of the new year. 2013 was a good year for movies, let's see if we can make 2014 great. Here's 5 flicks to check out this month.

5. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones: The Paranormal Activity franchise lost it's luster with me somewhere around ten minutes in to the second installment. And I really didn't think the first was that good anyways. Although I continued to watch, I remained unimpressed. They're telling us this 5th installment will be different... But I remain skeptical. Here's hoping I get surprised, the early reviews seem to be favourable, though at this writing a whopping 4 have been entered, 5 if you count my girlfriend's aunt telling me it was terrible, and 3 have been positive. If it wants to continue though, the series needs a win at the box office.

Synopsis: A young California Latino named Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) is designated for possession by the same malevolent demon who previously claimed Kristi and Katie. Christopher Landon (son of Highway to Heaven actor Michael Landon) wrote and directed this spin-off/sequel produced by Oren Peli and Jason Blum.

4. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Though action movies aren't typically January fare... In fact most times you see this type of movie in January you know that the movie is a stinker that the studio had to release sometime to try to recoup at least some of the budget. Though I'm still hoping that Chris Pine's turn as Jack Ryan is more in the vein of Taken then say Man On A Ledge.

Synopsis: Based on the character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, "Jack Ryan" is a global action thriller set in the present day. This original story follow a young Jack (Chris Pine) as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot. The story follows him from 9/11, through his tour of duty in Afghanistan, which scarred him forever, and into his early days in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the modern CIA where he becomes an analyst, under the guardianship of his handler, Harper (Kevin Costner). When Ryan believes he's uncovered a Russian plot to collapse the United States economy, he goes from being an analyst to becoming a spy and must fight to save his own life andthose of countless others, while also trying to protect the thing that's more important to him than anything, his relationship with his fiancée Cathy (Keira Knightley).

3. Cold Comes The Night: So this is a crime thriller... But that isn't the selling point. No, at this point it should be expected that if you throw Bryan Cranston in a movie there will always be an audience wanting to see it, now make him a villain or even an Anti-Hero and you get all the breaking bad-ers(?) super hard, throw in the sexy Alice Eve (Star Trek: Into Darkness, She's Out Of My League) and you may very well have a theatre masturbating. And ladies don't worry... The hunk from Prometheus is there and ribbed for your pleasure. Now remember if you hear about a circle jerk happening in your local cinema just remember I predicted it first.

Synopsis: A dangerous criminal (Bryan Cranston) takes a desperate hotel owner (Alice Eve) and her young daughter (Ursula Parker) hostage in a last-ditch effort to retrieve his missing cash from a corrupt cop in this edge-of-your-seat thriller from writer/director Tze Chun (Children of Invention).

2. That Awkward Moment: Have you heard that they are rebooting the Fantastic Four movies with a younger cast? No? Well you do now. But why am I bringing this up? Because Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan are the early favourites for the roles of Mr. Fantastic and The Human Torch respectively and they are both in this movie! Along with the actually very funny Zac Efron, who unfortunately doesn't get enough credibility because of his Disney past. This comedy is from newcomer Tom Gormican and looks to be a great choice for a Valentine's movie errr maybe an Anti-Valentine's Day movie... I know I'll be there!!!

Synopsis: Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan star in the R-rated comedy, THAT AWKWARD MOMENT, about three best friends who find themselves where we've all been- at that confusing "moment" in every dating relationship when you have to decide "So...where is this going?"

1. I, Frankenstein: In case you didn't already know... I love comic books. I especially love ones with dark undertones and that is exactly what I, Frankenstein was. Toss in one of my favourite actors in Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking, The Dark Knight Rises) and visuals that give it an Underworld-esque feeling (Donny's Note: Underworld is my 2nd favourite movie of all time) ensures that I, Frankenstein has the possibility of being the best movie of the year... Though I'll reserve judgment until after I see the new Captain America.

Synopsis: Set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Victor Frankenstein's creation Adam (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality. From the creators of the hit supernatural saga, UNDERWORLD, comes the action thriller I, FRANKENSTEIN, written for the screen and directed by Stuart Beattie based on the graphic novel "I, Frankenstein" by Kevin Grevioux, and brought to life by a cast that includes Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney, Socratis Otto, Mahesh Jadu, Caitlin Stasey and Aden Young as Victor Frankenstein.

So those are my choices... What are you looking most forward to this January?? Tweet me @DonnyForTheWin