Weekend Picks: ‘John Carter,’ ‘Silent House,’ & ‘A Thousand Words’

Last weekend, "Dr. Seuss' the Lorax" exceeded all expectations by making some serious green at the box office, all while promoting seriousness about being green. It will take a heroic effort to unseat the little orange fur ball from the top spot at this weekend's box office, but there may just be a hero coming to a theater near you on Friday.

Three major releases are going wide this weekend, for three seemingly different audiences. The sci-fi folks should be more than satisfied, as will the horror/thriller fans. And if you're looking to laugh, a comedy legend makes his return to the big screen. We break down what this weekend's flicks are all about and predict which fans will enjoy each one.

John Carter
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.

What's the Story?
Civil War veteran John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) finds himself miraculously transported to Mars. After discovering his new environment gives him a superhuman jumping ability, Carter realizes he is not alone and soon becomes embroiled in a war between the warring inhabitants of the red planet. Carter isn't convinced any of these factions deserve his help until he falls for the beautiful Princess Dejah (Lynn Collins) of the Heliumites. In order to save the princess, her people, and the planet, Carter must gain support from the barbarous Tharks and wage war on the evil Zodangans and the omnipotent Therns.

Who Will Dig It?
Fans of sci-fi/fantasy, dazzling 3D special effects, action/adventure, and space-hero journeys will find this epic Disney blockbuster out of this world.

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Silent House
Rated R for disturbing violent content and terror.

What's the Story?
In this single-take, real-time telling of a truly scary tale, Sarah Murphy (Elizabeth Olsen) comes to town to visit her father (Adam Trese) and to help him fix up the family lake house so it can be sold. When the electricity goes out, Sarah hears a startling sound. Dad goes upstairs to investigate but doesn't come back down. Sarah bravely follows her father, only to find him strangely unconscious. When she tries to get help, Sarah comes to the frightening conclusion that she's trapped inside the house, and that the house has an evil mind of its own. In order to save herself and her father, Sarah must find a way out, fast!

Who Will Dig It?
If you love crime, thriller, and horror films, stories based on true events, Elizabeth Olsen, and the filmmaking of Chris Kentis and Laura Lu ("Open Water"), you'll get a scream out of this far-from-homey horror film.

See this exclusive clip from 'Silent House' with an introduction from Elizabeth Olsen:

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A Thousand Words
Rated PG-13 for sexual situations, including dialogue, language, and some drug-related humor.

What's the Story?
Smooth-talking literary agent Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) will say anything to swing a deal, get ahead, or get what he wants. That is, until Jack breaks his word to a mystical New Age guru, Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis). At the guru's behest, a magical Bodhi tree sprouts up in Jack's backyard bearing a finite number of leaves. Every time Jack says a word, another leaf falls. When Jack realizes that no more leaves means no more Jack, he's forced to discover the words that matter most in order to save his family, his career, and his life.

Who Will Dig It?
If you like high-concept stories, physical comedy, and Eddie Murphy, then say no more and plant yourself in front of Eddie for a couple of hours.

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