In Big Miracle, a small town news reporter and his ex-girlfriend, a passionate animal volunteer, join together to rescue a family of gray whales trapped by the increasing formation of ice in the Arctic Circle. In a different kind of danger is a family of tiny people in The Secret World of Arrietty. The Clock family has been living under the floorboards of a human family’s house, but when their daughter, Arrietty, befriends the boy who lives there, their whole world is thrown into jeopardy.  

                                                                            

Releasing just in time for Valentine’s Day is The Vow, based on the true love story of a newlywed couple who gets into a car accident that causes the wife to lose all memory of her husband. Unconditionally devoted to her, Leo must work to win Paige’s heart for the second time.

 

And if you’re in the mood for a scare, The Woman in Black tells the story of a widowed lawyer who is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of the recently deceased inhabitant of an old house. But he soon finds out that the house has been haunted by the ghost of a woman for years --- and no one in the village is safe.

 

On the small screen, Slavery by Another Name, a new documentary exploring the labor laws that led to a new 20th-century form of slavery in the South, premieres on PBS on February 13th. Meanwhile, "The Firm," “House of Lies,” "Downton Abbey," “Castle,” and “Pretty Little Liars” continue their respective seasons.

 

And in case you missed them in theaters, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Hugo and London Boulevard all will be released on DVD.

 

 

In Theaters:

 

Big Miracle

Cast: Kristen Bell, Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Dermot Mulroney

Director: Ken Kwapis

Distributor: Universal Pictures

MPAA Rating: PG

Release Date: February 3rd

Based on: FREEING THE WHALES by Thomas Rose

 

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

 

Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market. But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too. With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore). Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she’s also his ex-girlfriend.

 

With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales. As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War.

 

 

The Woman in Black

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer

Director: James Watkins

Distributor: CBS Films

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: February 3rd

Based on: THE WOMAN IN BLACK by Susan Hill

 

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost… and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance.

 

 

The Vow

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange

Director: Michael Sucsy

Distributor: Sony Pictures

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: February 10th

Based on: True events, now published as a book: THE VOW: The True Events that Inspired the Movie by Kim Carpenter, Krickitt Carpenter, Dana Wilkerson

 

A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.

 

 

The Secret World of Arrietty

Voice Cast: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

MPAA Rating: G

Release Date: February 17th

Based on: THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton

 

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli ("Spirited Away," "Ponyo") comes "The Secret World of Arrietty," an animated adventure based on Mary Norton's acclaimed children's book series The Borrowers.

 

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to "borrow" scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty's family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of "The Secret World of Arrietty" was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. 

 

 

On TV:

 

Slavery by Another Name

Cast: Turron Kofi Alleyne, Tyler Hollinger, Tom Martin

Director: Sam Pollard
Network: PBS
Air Date: February 13th at 9:00 PM ET/PT
Based on: SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II by Douglas A. Blackmon

 

Explore the little-known story of the labor practices and laws that effectively created a new form of slavery in the South that persisted into the 20th century.  A Sundance Film Festival selection for 2012, this new documentary, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Wall Street Journal senior writer Douglas A. Blackmon, is narrated by Laurence Fishburne.  

 

 

"The Firm"

Cast: Josh Lucas, Molly Parker, Natasha Calis, Callum Keith Rennie, Juliette Lewis, Tricia Helfer, Shaun Majumder

Network: NBC

Air Dates: Sundays at 9:00 pm ET/PT

Series Premiere: January 8th

Based On: THE FIRM by John Grisham

 

Based on the blockbuster feature film and bestselling novel by world-renowned author John Grisham (THE PELICAN BRIEF, THE CLIENT), "The Firm" continues the story of attorney Mitchell McDeere and his family 10 years after the events of the film and novel. As a young associate, McDeere brought down the prestigious Memphis law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, which operated as a front for the Chicago mob --- and his life was never the same. After a difficult decade, which included a stay in the Federal Witness Protection program, Mitch and his family now emerge from isolation to reclaim their lives and their future --- only to find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere. 

 

 

“House of Lies”

Cast: Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz

Network: Showtime

Air Dates: Sundays at 10:00 pm ET/PT

Based On: HOUSE OF LIES: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time by Martin Kihn

 

Charming, fast talking Marty Kaan and his crack team of MBA-toting management consultants are playing America's one percent for everything they've got. They put the con in consulting as they charm smug, unsuspecting corporate fat cats into closing huge deals, and spending a fortune for their services. Twisting the facts, spinning the numbers, and spouting just enough business school jargon to dazzle the clients, there's no end to what this crew won't do to and for each other, while laughing all the way to the bank.

 

 

"Downton Abbey"

Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown-Findlay, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle

Network: PBS

Air Dates: Sundays at 9:00 pm ET/PT

Companion Books: LADY ALMINA AND THE REAL DOWNTON ABBEY: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon and THE WORLD OF DOWNTON ABBEY by Jessica Fellowes

 

Downton Abbey's Granthams and their family of servants have already weathered scoundrels, scandals and a momentous succession crisis. But by November 1916, the Great War has rendered everything --- and everyone --- changed. Even Downton Abbey itself, like its residents, has risen to the call of duty and transformed.

 

At the war front, life intensifies for Downton's young men in the face of untold horrors. Meanwhile, at Downton, war makes new and often unjust demands. Some rise to its call for a stiff upper lip and a useful turn, and others see change as an opportunity for either growth or exploitation. Far from the trenches, there remains no shortage of scheming, meddling and dangerous attractions.

 

As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact.

 

 

“Castle”

Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Tamala Jones, Molly C. Quinn, Susan Sullivan, Penny Johnson Jerald

Network: ABC

Air Dates: Mondays at 10:00 pm ET/PT

Based On: The career of author Richard Castle (current bestseller: HEAT RISES) 

 

Castle is a one-hour witty drama based on a famous mystery novelist who helps the NYPD homicide department solve crimes.

 

Richard “Rick” Castle is a bestselling mystery author who was investigated by the New York City police department when the victim of a murder matched the description of a victim in one of his novels. At the time, Castle was suffering writer’s block, having just killed off the main character, Derrick Storm, in his successful series of novels. During the investigation, Castle is inspired by his run-in with the beautiful Detective Kate Beckett, and through his connections with the Mayor, he gets permission to hang out as a consultant at the precinct to do research for his book.

 

During season one, we see the team get to know each other while working to solve a new case each week. We learn about Castle’s endearing relationship with his teenage, oddly responsible daughter, Alexis, and his slightly crazy mother, Martha, who has moved in with them. The season ends on a cliffhanger after Castle confesses to Beckett that he had been looking into the mystery behind her mother’s death, something she specifically asked him not to do.

 

In season two, we find Castle trying to work his way back into Beckett’s good graces. With new writers joining the team, there are some engaging and unpredictable cases to be solved. We also look a little deeper into the lives of the supporting characters.

 

 

“Pretty Little Liars”

Cast: Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse

Network: ABC Family
Air Dates: Mondays at 8:00pm ET/PT
Based On: Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard

 

A month has passed on "Pretty Little Liars" since Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer were arrested and a lot has changed in Rosewood, and with the girls. No longer the mighty four best friends, the Liars are at each others' throats and Emily has been iced out completely. But what could have divided them so severely? Has "A" finally won the game of divide and conquer? With Emily now truly on her own, is she ripe for "A's" picking?

 

 

New on DVD:

 

Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Cast: Kristin Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene

Director: Bill Condon

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG-13

DVD Release Date: February 11th

Based On: BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer

 

In the highly anticipated next chapter of the blockbuster The Twilight Saga, the newfound married bliss of Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen is cut short when a series of betrayals and misfortunes threatens to destroy their world.

After their wedding, Bella and Edward travel to Rio de Janeiro for their honeymoon, where they finally give in to their passions. Bella soon discovers she is pregnant, and during a nearly fatal childbirth, Edward finally fulfills her wish to become immortal.

But the arrival of their remarkable daughter, Renesmee, sets in motion a perilous chain of events that pits the Cullens and their allies against the Volturi, the fearsome council of vampire leaders, setting the stage for an all-out battle.

 

 

London Boulevard

Cast: Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone

Director: William Monahan

Distributor: IFC Films

MPAA Rating: R

DVD Release Date: February 21st

Based on: LONDON BOULEVARD by Ken Bruen

 

An ex-con hired to look after a reclusive young actress finds himself falling in love, which puts him in direct confrontation with one of London's most vicious gangsters.

 

 

Hugo

Cast: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Johnny Depp, Jude Law

Director: Martin Scorsese

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

MPAA Rating: PG

DVD Release Date: February 28th

Based On: THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick

 

An orphaned boy secretly lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station and looks after the clocks. He gets caught up in a mystery adventure when he attempts to repair a mechanical man.