New Movie Friday: Narnia! The Tourist! The Fighter! Watch the Trailers

I haven’t been this excited about New Movie Friday in weeks! There really hasn’t been a plethora of new movies in the past couple weeks, but that all changes today. Here’s the rundown:

‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ – Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Ok, the trailer actually looks a little boring, but I have high hopes for this movie. Plus, it’s always so hilarious hearing  Liam Neeson’s voice come out of shaggy Aslan. Directed by Michael Apted; rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action; 115 minutes; available in 3D and 2D.

‘The Tourist’ – With Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in the leads, even if the movie is crummy, at least we’ve got nice people to look at – and locations, too. Gorgeous shots of Italy and France. The story revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart who crosses paths with the beautiful and mysterious Elise. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck; rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language; 103 minutes.

‘The Fighter’ – Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale star in this movie about the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s. It’s in limited release today, so might not play in your area for a week or two. Loved Wahlberg in ‘Invincible,’ the movie where he plays the every-guy bartender who ends up playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s. Directed by David O. Russell; rated R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality; 114 minutes.

‘The King’s Speech’ – Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter star in this story of King George VI of Britain, whose impromptu ascension to the throne was aided by a speech therapist who helped him overcome an awkward stutter. Directed by Tom Hooper; rated R for some language; 118 minutes.

‘The Tempest’ – In this version of William Shakespeare’s story, the main character is now a woman named Prospera, played by Helen Mirren, who’s usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year-old daughter on a ship. David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Alfred Molina, Russell Brand, Felicity Jones and Djimon Hounsou round out the cast. Directed by Julie Taymor; rated PG-13 for some nudity, suggestive content and scary images; 110 minutes.

Image: Fox-Walden