To say that this time last year, we were left somewhat lacking for notable entertainment releases would be a frankly ludicrous understatement. February 2013 brought the industry little in the way of films, video games or TV, with Escape From Planet Earth being the most notable output on the former front and Being Human's final season the only highlight for the latter.
Mercifully, 2014's second month is a world apart from its predecessor, featuring a significant number of essential instalments both on the big and small-screens. That Thief, RoboCop and Dallas Buyers Club each narrowly missed out on a place in our latest monthly Top 5 Most Anticipated Releases shortlist should be evidence enough of the crowded line-up set to take viewers by the hand through the next four weeks. Here's our crucial count-down of the five upcoming productions which you cannot (in good conscience) afford to neglect...
5. THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME- No, dear reader, your eyes do not deceive you- a thrilling video game which is neither a HD remake nor a next-generation port has arrived! The LEGO Movie Videogame is a tie-in to Warner Brothers' imminent animated motion picture, and while its status as a movie adaptation would usually set the alarm bells ringing, since Travellers' Tales (the team behind every licensed effort from LEGO Star Wars to LEGO Marvel Superheroes) are developing this creative platformer, the need for worry is minute. If any seasoned fan of the various LEGO ranges can fully resist the temptation to play as Batman, Morgan Freeman or Superman in a video game, then they truly have the right to call themselves a Man of Steel...(Friday 14th- Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PSVita, WiiU, 3DS, PC)
4. FROZEN: SING ALONG EDITION- Uncertainty surrounding an upcoming movie's quality can be a troublesome matter, but at least with this UK re-release of Frozen, that's hardly a factor that viewers must consider. Disney's inspired seasonal animation was a bonafida classic from the moment that we laid eyes upon it, instantly scoring 5* here at On-Screen and in various other critical domains. If anyone's curious as to why we branded the flick as "[the studio]'s finest CGI triumph in years", then this final box office run marks the finest opportunity of them all to discover the reason for themselves. For those of us who did check Frozen out last month, the magic of a first viewing is gone, yet the magic will live on as we witness colleagues undergoing the same process of joy and discovery anew! (Friday 7th)
3. HER- Yet another nominee for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is headed to UK cinemas in February, although Her looks to be amongst the select few contenders for the title which warrants its inclusion on the shortlist. Its premise revolves around a wayward lover (played by Joaquin Phoenix) who begins to form a relationship with an emotionally-developed artificial intelligence construct (voiced by the wonderful Scarlet Johansson) which renews his outlook on life and his hopes for future happiness. Phoenix and Johansson have each claimed awards for their performances here, and as post-modern efforts go this year, very few genre entries are on the horizon that hold the same appeal as this one. (Friday 14th)
2. ARROW- Once again, here in the UK we're miles behind the US in terms of our broadcasting of The CW's cult hit Arrow, although the gap between Sky1 and The CW will close marginally as February progresses. The show returns with its mid-season premiere Blast Radius, where Oliver must halt the attacks of a psychopathic bomber before he takes more innocent lives in Starling City, before the Arrow confronts Brother Blood and Laurel's drug addiction has game-changing consequences in Blind Spot. Should you require any other motivation to resume watching, then we'll throw one more teaser for what's to come onto the table to secure the deal- Deathstroke...(Thursday 20th & 27th- Sky1)
1. THE LEGO MOVIE- Boasting one of the most remarkable ensembles in recent times both in terms of its stars and its character roster, The LEGO Movie could easily be the best U-rated block-buster since The Muppets. Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Channing Tatum, Cobie Smaulders and Jonah Hill have all lent their voices to what is a combination of CGI animation and stop-motion filmmaking, providing reasons in abundance to check out this much-anticipated motion picture project even before the prospect of having Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman share the screen over two years before Batman Vs. Superman even comes to mind. In other words, have your building instructions at the ready, rip apart your ticket's packaging, and construct the fastest route to your local cinema possible! (Friday 14th)
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