Think Outside The Box Office

By Jessica LaFontaine

Open Grave
“The moment you wake up, the nightmare begins.”
Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego
In theaters January 3
Waking up with no memory in a pit of dead bodies, a man searches for answers, including whether or not he is the murderer. Starring Sharlto Copley, Joseph Morgan and Thomas Kretschmann.

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Horror/Thriller
Director: Christopher Landon
In theaters January 3
The fifth installment of this horror franchise creeps around in Catholic-based paranormal mythology.

If You Build It
“Two teachers. Ten students. One epic homework assignment.”
Documentary
Director: Patrick Creadon
In theaters January 10
This documentary follows two designers who work with local high school students to reinvent a community and the lives of its citizens.

Lone Survivor
“Live to tell the story.”
Action/Drama/Thriller
Director: Peter Berg
In theaters January 10
Mark Wahlberg is a Navy SEAL on a mission to take out a Taliban leader; based on the true story of 2005’s Operation Red Wings. Also starring Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Eric Bana. (See sidebar.)

The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box
“The new name for adventure.”
Adventure/Family/Fantasy
Director: Jonathan Newman
In theaters January 10
When 17-year-old Mariah Mundi ventures into a supernatural world to unravel a curse, his parents disappear and his brother is kidnapped. Starring Michael Sheen, Lena Headey and Sam Neill.

The Legend of Hercules
“Every man has a destiny.”
Action/Adventure
Director: Renny Harlin
In theaters January 10
Travel with Hercules (Twilight heartthrob Kellan Lutz) back to Ancient Greece, where he must flee to follow his love or stay to fight tyranny (he fights).

The Truth About Emanuel
“Two lives. Two voids. One secret.”
Drama/Thriller
Director: Francesca Gregorini
In theaters January 10
A troubled girl becomes fascinated with her new neighbor, who looks an awful lot like her deceased mother. Starring Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel.

Devil’s Due
“Fear is born.”
Horror
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
In theaters January 17
This modern twist on the 1968 film Rosemary’s Baby follows two honeymooners through a pregnancy that reveals signs of evil growing inside.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
“Intelligence is a weapon.”
Action/Drama/Thriller
Director: Kenneth Branagh
In theaters January 17
Chris Pine and Keira Knightley play a couple struggling to survive while Jack (Pine), a CIA analyst-turned-spy, unravels a Russian terrorist plot to topple the U.S. economy.

Maidentrip
Documentary/Adventure
Director: Jillian Schlesinger
In theaters January 17
A 14-year-old Dutch girl (Laura Dekker) tries to become the youngest person to complete a solo trip around the world in a sailboat.

Ride Along
“Propose to this cop’s sister? Rookie mistake.”
Action/Comedy
Director: Tim Story
In theaters January 17
High school security guard Ben (Kevin Hart) joins a hotshot undercover detective (Ice Cube) for an overnight shift, only to get caught up in a big case while trying to impress the cop - who’s also his girlfriend’s badass brother.

The Nut Job
“No nuts, no glory.”
Animation/Adventure/Comedy
Director: Peter Lepeniotis
In theaters January 17
Will Arnett is the voice of Surly the Squirrel in this animated adventure that involves robbing the local nut shop to survive winter in the city. Other celeb voice-overs include Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and more.

Gimme Shelter
“Sometimes you have to leave home to find your family.”
Drama
Director: Ronald Krauss
In theaters January 24
Vanessa Hudgens plays a pregnant teenager forced into life on the streets while searching for her biological father. Based on a true story. Featuring James Earl Jones, Rosario Dawson and Brendan Fraser.

I, Frankenstein
“200 years later, he’s still alive.”
Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Director: Stuart Beattie
In theaters January 24
Frankenstein’s creature gets tangled up in an ancient war still being fought by two immortal clans. Starring Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy and Miranda Otto.

Enemies Closer
“Keep your friends close.”
Mystery/Action/Adventure
Director: Peter Hyams
In theatres January 24
Former Navy SEAL Henry (Tom Everett Scott) must work closely with a mortal enemy to survive a ruthless gang of drug-runners lead by Xander (Jean-Claude Van Damme).

That Awkward Moment
“When you realize getting some means wanting more.”
Comedy/Romance
Director: Tom Gormican
In theaters January 31
Three friends (one of whom is Zac Efron) in a committed bromance vow to stay single, while two of them struggle to keep new romances secret from the others.

w

SEALing the Deal

Local eyewear brand seen on the big screen

By Jessica LaFontaine

In Lone Survivor, out January 10, Mark Wahlberg’s character sports the same sunglasses the real Navy SEAL he portrays in the film wore during a mission to neutralize a Taliban leader along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2005.

Cut from T-6 7075 Billet Aircraft Aluminum, the unofficial sunglasses of the Navy SEALs are stronger than steel and lighter than plastic. They’re durable, have high-functioning lenses and are manufactured by San Diego company Gatorz Eyewear, which formed in the late-’80s as an extreme sports brand.

“When we got the call, we didn’t even know they were filming the movie,” says Daniel Fefferman, brand manager for Carlsbad-based Gatorz. “It was really exciting for us as a company.”

The film is based on the true story of fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of a team of Navy SEALs, who was on the movie set to insure its authenticity.

He insisted Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster and other actors wear Gatorz glasses, just as he and his team had during Operation Red Wings.
The Magnum Black Frame ($139) and Radiator Black Frame ($139) worn in the movie can be found at gatorz.com and at Sunglass & Optical Warehouse stores around San Diego (sunglassoptical.com).

w

“When we got the call, we didn’t even know they were filming the movie.”
-Daniel Fefferman