Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 14, 2013 An autumn movie preview: What to expect by Dennis Seuling Now that summer is winding down, it is interesting to see what Hollywood has in store for the next two months. Summer 2013 has seen its share of hits (“Man of Steel,” “Fast and Furious 6,” “Iron Man 3”) and misses (“White House Down,” “After Earth,” “The Lone Ranger”). The type of movie traditionally released in the fall is less kid-oriented, less superhero- laden, and more character-driven. Early fall will bring a range of intriguing titles at the local multiplex, including the fol- George Clooney stars as an astronaut whose final mission goes terribly wrong in ‘Gravity.’ lowing six. “Riddick” (Sept. 6). Vin Diesel is back as Riddick, the in 2000’s “Pitch Black.” This dangerous escaped convict is wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy. In this installment, Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears lifeless. Soon, how- ever, he finds himself battling alien pred- ators for survival. The only way to escape is to activate an emergency beacon, which also alerts mercenaries who waste no time descending on the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries an entirely new kind of mercenary -- more lethal and violent than their predeces- sors. A subsequent ship is helmed by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is per- sonal. “The Family” (Sept. 13). After snitching on the mob, a mafia boss and his family are relocated to a quiet town in France under the witness protection program. Despite the best efforts of Agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) to keep them in line, Fred Manzoni (Robert DeNiro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), and their children can’t help reverting to old habits. Handling their problems the “family” way blows their cover, enabling their former cronies to track them down. The situation escalates as old scores are settled in this darkly humorous film directed by Luc Besson. “Prisoners” (Sept. 20). Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces every parent’s worst nightmare: His six-year- old daughter Anna is missing, together with her young friend Joy. As minutes turn into hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyl- lenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces the only suspect’s release. Knowing his child’s life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take mat- ters into his own hands. The desperate father will do whatever it takes to find the girls, but in doing so, he may defy his own personal sense of integrity. “Don Jon” (Sept. 27). Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a strong, good-looking, old-fashioned kind of guy. His pals call him Don Jon for his ability to attract a different woman every weekend, but even the finest fling can’t compare to the pleasure he discovers alone, in front of the computer, watch- ing pornography. Barbara Sugarman Jake Gyllenhaal (right) confronts kidnapping suspect Paul Dano in the thriller ‘Prisoners.’ (Scarlett Johansson) is a bright, beautiful, intelligent, old-fashioned woman. Raised on romantic Hollywood movies, she is determined to find her Prince Charming and ride off into a blissful sunset. Con- fronting their opposing expectations, Jon and Barbara struggle against a media cul- ture full of false fantasies to try to find true happiness. “Gravity” (Oct. 4). Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission with Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney). A veteran astronaut, Kowalsky is in com- mand of his final flight before he is due to retire. During a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowal- sky completely alone, tethered to noth- ing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear escalates to panic, every breath of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. The only way home may be to go farther out into the terrifying expanse of space. “Carrie” (Oct. 18). The original “Carrie” (1976) starred Sissy Spacek and was the first Stephen King novel adapted for movies. The new film stars Chloe Moretz (“Kick Ass,” “Let Me In”) as the troubled teenager. Seventeen years ago, Carrie’s mother, Margaret (Julianne Moore), gave birth to her under bizarre circumstances. Carrie is a shy outcast among her peers who is sheltered by her deeply religious mother. To Margaret, boys are the devil incarnate. Her crazed attempts to protect Carrie from the world backfire as Carrie unleashes a telekinetic power that had previously been dormant.