These are the best bets to beat the winter doldrums ...
JANUARY
Bride Wars (pictured)
Who: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway
What: Two BFFs (Hudson and Hathaway) see their friendship tested when their dream weddings at New York’s Plaza Hotel are mistakenly booked on the same day.
Why: Sneaky, conniving, all-out-war cat fights, what else?
When: Jan. 9
My Bloody Valentine 3-D
Who: Jaime King, Jensen Ackles, Kerr Smith
What: A deranged murderer kills those who celebrate Valentine's Day. Again.
Why: Check out how the guy throws a pickaxe at the audience. Bring on the blood and guts in 3-D, please!
When: Jan. 16
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Who: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell
What: A single, suburban dad (James) tries to make ends meet as a security officer at a New Jersey mall -- a job he takes verrry seriously.
Why: Two words: Kevin James. It’s been a while since his Kings of Queens went bye-bye -- and we miss him.
When: Jan. 16
Inkheart (pictured)
Who: Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, Paul Bettany
What: Mo Folchart (Fraser) and his 12-year-old daughter share a passion for books. What they also share is an extraordinary gift for bringing characters from those books to life when they read aloud.
Why: What a great way to start off the year with another children’s fantasy book series brought to life on the big screen.
When: Jan. 23
Killshot
Who: Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Rosario Dawson
What: When a husband and wife (Lane and Jane) witness a shakedown, they discover that the Witness Protection Program is no match for a pair of ruthless killers who want them dead.
Why: Rourke’s on the comeback trail, and seeing him play a bad guy should be intriguing.
When: Jan. 23
The Lodger
Who: Hope Davis, Simon Baker, Alfred Molina
What: When Malcolm Slaight (Baker) rents her guest house, Ellen Bunting (Davis) becomes enamored by the charm and eccentricities of this mysterious Lodger. Meanwhile, a copycat killer is ripping up prostitutes on the Sunset Strip -- right near the Bunting home. Coincidence?
Why: Baker is the hottest thing on TV, thanks to The Mentalist; this is the remake of a Hitchcock classic.
When: Jan. 23
Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans (pictured)
Who: Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra
What: Depicts the origins of the centuries-long blood feud between two powerful and immortal tribes, the aristocratic Vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans, a line of fierce werewolves. Let the games begin!
Why: Even without Kate Beckinsale, we want to see more vampires and werewolves squaring off against one another. Two movies just wasn’t enough.
When: Jan. 30
Taken
Who: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
What: A former government operative (Neeson) comes out of retirement and uses his extensive training to rescue his daughter (Grace) from a slave trade operation.
Why: Human trafficking? Shiver
When: Jan. 30
KEEP READING: February Movies ...