Fast Five

Opening the summer season is Fast Five, the latest of the 'Fast' series which has been reformulated from an illegal car racing theme into a feature with a clever heist involving fast car chases.

With a bigger budget and diverse appeal, the feature's spectacular strong start ignites the fuel to the non stop adrenaline packed action-drama.

The fifth and most thrilling of the franchise is set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the team pulls off one last heist in order to gain their freedom.

Among others, reuniting from previous 'Fast' features are Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) and former federal agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker). They join their team in Rio where they are relentlessly pursued by federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and by the corrupt businessman Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) who framed the team for murder.

The actors display a lot of athleticism, especially the two Herculean looking Diesel and Johnson who let their fists fly.

Screenwriter Chris Morgan returns for the third time adding depth to the characters, jaw dropping action scenes, amazing foot chases, jumps through ramshackle rooftops, and totaling almost 200 cars, all captured through unique angles and aerial shots by Stephen F. Windon's exceptional cinematography and the visual effects team.

While Bryan Tyler's score keeps the frenetic pace momentum, clever direction by Justin Lin and good editing by Christian Wagner, Kelly Matsumoto, and Fred Raskin, leave no dull moment and, with humor and a few surprises, effectively pull the audience into the engaging action. Stay through the credits for the suggestion of a sequel. A refreshing kickoff to the moviegoing season.

PROM

Diverse and distinct characters form the mostly unknown ensemble cast of teenagers as they prepare for the most important event in high school, the big dance they will remember for the rest of their life.

Directed by Joe Nussbaum and written by first-time screenwriter Katie Wech, the feature unravels intersecting stories of relationships, emotions, breakups, and excitement surrounding the memorable event.

The girls' dress selection and the guys date-proposals while posing with the PROM letters spelled out, deliver humor and charm.

At the center is the overachiever senior class president Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), in charge of organizing the Brookside High senior prom 'Starry Night'. The often misunderstood motorcycle rider troublemaker, Jesse (Thomas McDonell), is mandated to work with Nova if he wants to graduate.

The likable and appealing characters lead the predictable but relatable plot that resonates well with its intended audience.

African Cats

Following the heights of Earth and Oceans, Disneynature brings to the big screen a captivating documentary about savanna's majestic cats.

Directors Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill follow these magnificent lions and cheetahs over the course of two and a half years in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Owen Newman, Simon King, and Sophie Darlington's top notch cinematography captures at close range and slow-motion a lion roaring to back away a crocodile, the nurturing bond between mothers and their cubs, the riveting drama, hunting scenes, as well as humorous encounters in the wild. 
The powerful sounds of the Masai Mara and intimate HD images of the cats' courage and survival in the open grassland, make one feel within reach of the action.

Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the story centers around the adventures and challenges encountered by two families of lions separated by the Mara River. Roaming the hills south of the river is the River Pride led by Fang, where six month old cub Mara lives with Layla, her experienced hunter mother. Fang's leadership is challenged by Kali, a menacing rival lion and his four sons who rule north of the river and attempt to take over the River Pride in the south. 


While Sita, a fearless mother cheetah shielding her five newborn cubs from predators is in between these two lion clans.

The exceptional cinematography of these remarkable cats in their natural habitat is engaging and enjoyable for the entire family.