Thursday's Picks (20)

Welcome back to Thursday's Picks! I'm going to give you the low-down on what to watch out for in movies, books and DVDs in the next week. I want to know what you guys are looking forward to! Leave me a comment or make your own Thursday's Picks post!

Also, don't forget to enter the Super Sized Valentine Follower Love Giveaway! There's only 4 days left to enter!

This Week on Thursday's Picks: Drive Angry, Love and Other Drugs, and Demonglass

Drive Angry
Release Date: February 25, 2011
Rated R (Summit Entertainment)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard and Billy Burke
Summary (courtesy of Moviefone):

In the high-octane 3D action-adventure 'Drive Angry,' Nicolas Cage stars as Milton, a hardened felon who has broken out of hell intent on finding the vicious cult who brutally murdered his daughter and kidnapped her baby.
He joins forces with Piper (Amber Heard) -- a sexy, tough-as-nails waitress with a '69 Charger, who's also seeking redemption of her own. Now, the two of them are hot on the trail of the deadly leader of the cult (Billy Burke), all while being pursued by an enigmatic killer (William Fichtner) who has been sent by the Devil to retrieve Milton and deliver him back to hell.
Caught in a deadly race against time, Milton has 3 days to avoid capture, avenge his daughter's death, and save her baby before she's mercilessly sacrificed by the cult.

I chose Drive Angry for this week's picks out of sheer lack of choices. Once again, a Nicolas Cage movie opens on a weekend where there's nothing else coming out. Unless you count the "Director's Fan Cut" of the Justin Bieber movie, which I do not. Nor will I ever. Back to the movie. It has Billy Burke in it, who is an acting high point in all of the Twilight movies. I know the presence of Charlie Swan will not make this movie actually be good, but maybe he'll be entertaining. I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm on this pick. I just can't get behind this one, unfortunately. I'll post the trailer anyway.

Demonglass
Written by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Published by Hyperion Books
Summary (courtesy of Barnes and Noble):

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.
Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Acher to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

I've heard some great things about the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. The second book in the saga is being released this week, and the reviews so far are very favorable. There's no nifty book trailer to post, so you'll have to take my word for it. It should be good.

Love and Other DrugsRelease Date: March 1, 2011
Rated R (Fox)
Starring Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria and Ray Godshall Sr.
Summary (courtesy of Moviefone):

Handsome and charming pharmaceutical rep Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) falls head over heels for radiant free spirit Maggie (Anne Hathaway), and together the two people who never thought they would fall in love discover that their intense chemistry is more powerful than any drug on the market.

This looks like a fun, sexy little movie. Everyone loves a good love story, and I could use a little extra romance in my life (even in movie form). I like Jake Gyllenhaal's work, and I'm trying really hard to like Anne Hathaway, especially since she's been cast in the next Batman movie. The story seems like it's pretty cute, and the reviews say it's a decent film, so I'll be renting this one on Tuesday. Not to mention the multitude of Jake Gyllenhaal shirtless time.... Check out the trailer below.