I THOUGHT we could have a brief look ahead at some of the films due out in 2015. I say due out, as even though distributors say a film will be released on a certain date, they are always moveable dependent on the mood of everything and in particular the competition.

I will start with the big one – another Bond is due for release in October – Spectre as announced a few weeks ago. Daniel Craig and Naomi Harris are the lead stars in this latest release from EON Productions.

Based on the last three films with Daniel Craig as Bond, I think it is going to be brilliant. Not surprisingly, there are no other films currently scheduled to open in the same week – October 23.

Next year, of course, sees the release of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is booking already from its release date on February 13.

Into the Woods starts on January 9 and it just may have a pause in the credits as the proud father moment emerges to see my daughter’s first credit on screen.

Fast and Furious 7, the last film of the series because of the death of Paul Walker, will be released on April 3.

Released on April 24 is Avengers: Age of Ultron, which may have another important credit in the costume section. This is the follow-up to Avengers Assemble where there was absolute mayhem and the good guys won. How they got there was a brilliant mix of action and script and this one promises much too.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel opens on February 27. Two hopeful new arrivals at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the elderly and beautiful quickly learn that there is only a single room left to rent. The usual actors feature, including Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Penelope Wilton and Celia Imrie, who are joined by Richard Gere in this film. It sounds and looks (from the trailer) absolutely brilliant.

There is a nice mix of family films too, including The Minions Movie – the spin off from Despicable Me on June 26 and Shaun The Sheep Movie gets his second film released on February 6, when he and his sheepdog friend Bitzer are forced to take their entire flock on an adventure to the big city to rescue the Farmer.

Late January we will have Big Hero 6 – a story of the special bond that develops between a “plus-sized” inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes. This is the one in the trailers that looks like a Snowman getting dressed in a sort of armour, which then pops off again.

Films continuing this week Penguins of Madagascar (U) and Paddington (PG) for another week dropping to weekends only after the end of the holiday.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (12A), Unbroken (15) and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG) all continue for another week at least.

The Theory of Everything (12A) plays from January 2 for a good while. This looks at the relationship between physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife in the face of the disabling disease that takes his mobility and his speech giving him the synthetic voice by which he has become known since.

Live stage productions We have a good season still ahead for the live productions in the first half of 2015 and our next stage production is NT Live: Treasure Island (12A) on January 22.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a new adaptation by Bryony Lavery (known for her plays with a feminist undertone) to be broadcast live from the National Theatre.

It is a dark, stormy night and the stars are out. Jim, the inn-keeper’s grand-daughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger, a sailor, and at his feet sits a huge sea chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in and her dangerous voyage begins.

Thursday, January 29, sees the ROH Live production of the Opera Andrea Chenier (12A) and Wednesday, February 11, we will be showing the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production – Love’s Labour’s Lost (12A) live. Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy mischievously suggests that the highest of all academic endeavours is the study of the opposite sex.


Cinema Times

Week beginning Friday, January 2:

The Theory of Everything (12A) 1.30pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 2pm and 5.15pm Monday to Thursday. Thursday 2pm is a tea matinee show. 7.30pm Friday to Thursday.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG) 2pm and 4.45pm and 8.10pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 2pm, 5pm and 7.30pm Monday to Thursday.

Paddington (PG) 2pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 5.15pm Monday to Thursday.

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (12A) 4.30pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Unbroken (15) 2pm Monday to Thursday. Thursday 2pm is a tea matinee show. 7.45pm Friday to Thursday. Showing on Tuesday at 7.45pm subtitled for the hard of hearing.

Penguins of Madagascar (U) 4pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.