Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 26, 2012 Hollywood’s fall films target adult moviegoers by Dennis Seuling The fall has traditionally signaled the time Hollywood releases its heavyweights: movies geared to attract adult audiences zoned out on an excess of summer action flicks and animated sequels. In the next few months, moviegoers will be presented with a broad selection of motion pictures that should rekindle excitement and anticipation about upcoming releases. “Looper,” which will open Sept. 28, is an action-packed time-travel tale that takes place in 2044. Twenty-fiveyear-old hit man Joe Simmons (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) kills people sent back in time from the future. He works for a Kansas City-based mafia-run company and is known as a “looper.” Loopers kill and get rid of people sent by their employers from corporate headquarters in Shanghai. Loopers are foot soldiers, paid on condition that all targets must never escape. Joe is cold-blooded and good at his job until one day he is confronted by his next target: an older version of himself (Bruce Willis). The film’s production design blends retro and contemporary looks with a futuristic twist, giving the movie an interesting, original concept of the not-too-distant future. Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels co-star. When “Taken” opened in 2009, it grossed over $225 million worldwide and turned Liam Neeson into an action star. Though that film’s story was tied up pretty neatly, Hollywood decided such an impressive box office haul merited a sequel. “Taken 2” (Oct. 5) offers more adventures of CIA operative Bryan Mills. Mills is wrapping up a private-security job in Istanbul when his still-scarred daughter (Maggie Grace) and his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), come for a Middle Eastern vacation. This time around, the surviving Albanian thugs from the first film are rabid for vengeance and target Mills’ ex-wife. Once again, Mills has to switch to killer mode to save her. “Argo” (Oct. 12) is Ben Affleck’s third directorial effort. Based on true events, “Argo” details the dangerous rescue of six American diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979. The CIA was able to pull off the daring mission by convincing the Iranian government that the six men were part of a film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie named “Argo.” This required the agency to acquire a fake screenplay and set designs by comic book artist Jack Kirby. Affleck heads the cast that includes Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, and Tate Donovan. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln. “Cloud Atlas” (Oct. 26) is an adaptation of David Mitchell’s book by three directors: Tom Tykwer (“Run Lola Run”) and Andy and Lana Wachowski. The novel tells six connected stories that span multiple genres, several continents, and a time period ranging from 1850 to the distant future. The large cast includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, and Susan Sarandon, who play multiple roles throughout the film’s nearly threehour running time. Some of the stories involve a crusading 1970s journalist investigating the corrupt actions of an oil company, a Korean waiter sparking a revolution, a lawyer traveling on a 19th century ship with an important document, a group of patients breaking out of a senior home, a composer starting to create music again with the help of an assistant, and a highly technological society seeking the help of a primitive tribe to send out a signal for help. “Flight” (Nov. 2) is director Robert Zemeckis’ first live action film since 2000’s “Cast Away.” This new film stars Denzel Washington as an airline pilot who becomes a national hero after saving nearly 100 lives when he prevents his damaged plane from crashing. The pilot is a former alcoholic, and the media eventually shine light on parts of his life he would rather keep hidden, including his activities the night prior to the fateful flight. Also starring are John Goodman, Don Cheadle, and Melissa Leo. “Lincoln” (Nov. 9) stars Daniel Day-Lewis as America’s 16th president in this Steven Spielberg-directed historical drama based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography, “Team of Rivals.” Spielberg and screenplay writer Tony Kushner narrow the focus to the final four months of the president’s life, a time when Lincoln made critical decisions to lead the Union to victory in the Civil War despite opposition from his cabinet and the question of abolishing slavery. The cast includes Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph GordonLevitt, and Tommy Lee Jones. “Skyfall” (Nov. 9), the 23rd “official” James Bond film in the series (the 1967 “Casino Royale” and “Never Say Never” are generally not regarded as part of the series), takes place in Istanbul, China, and London. Director Sam Mendes has no experience with action pictures, so it will be interesting how he fares with a franchise that demands fights, chases, and assorted mayhem. MI6 has been attacked and there is a new adversary, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), for Bond (Daniel Craig). Naomie Harris plays one of Bond’s new colleagues, Ralph Fiennes is a government official, Ben Whishaw plays Q -- complete with new gadgets for 007, and Judi Dench reprises her role as M.