TOP: “Game of Thrones”; MIDDLE: “Noah”; BOTTOM: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
By Anthony J . Machcinski
Observer Correspondent
As April arrives, many in the entertainment business are already focused on a stocked summer season of great films and great television. However, with several hit TV shows returning and a couple of anticipated movies about to debut, April can turn out to be the spark that will start the summer’s entertainment firestorm.
With that in mind, let’s review why the entertainment scene in April should command the attention of film and TV fans.
Television
Even with great shows like “The Walking Dead” concluding at the end of March, the small screen scene picks right back up within the first week of April.
The much anticipated return of “Game of Thrones,” now in its fourth season, kicks off April 6. Taken from the series of books of the same name by George R.R. Martin, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” has seemingly everything a person could ask for in a television show – action, drama, bits of comedy and fantasy.
Taking place in medieval times, “Game of Thrones” is based on the story of several families who seek to claim their perceived rightful place as the ruler of the seven kingdoms of Westeros.
The following weekend, AMC premieres the final season of its hit show “Mad Men.” In what will be a series of 14 episodes spread over two years, the series showcases Don Draper – a New York City advertising genius – as he copes with a seemingly endless list of trials and tribulations in his life.
While the show is entering its final season, those who haven’t watched the first six seasons can visit Netflix and stream all the previous episodes. Much like the AMC hit “Breaking Bad,” which concluded its final season this fall, “Mad Men” is sure to be worth the watch.
Not to be overshadowed by the established shows this April, AMC’s brand new drama “Turn” will be one of the top new shows of the spring.
Set in the fall of 1778 during the American Revolution, the show documents a group of spies who help turn the tide in the war. The show is based on the book “Washington’s Spies” by Alexander Rose.
April also features the continuation of several contest shows on television, including NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” both of which have begun to amp up the competition recently.
Cinema Although listed as a March opening, the film “Noah” will expose viewers to most of its early story content in April.
“Noah,” a retelling of the biblical story, features an all-star cast including Russell Crowe, Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson. The film has received good reviews and has achieved a 7.3 rating out of 10 on IMDB, as rated by over 4,000 users.
However, the first real big-budget film to open in April will be “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
While “Captain America” seems like it would be a sequel to the 2011 movie “Captain America: The First Avenger,” it’s really a follow-up to the most recent “Avengers” movie.
In the film, Captain America, played by Chris Evans, warms to the task of stopping world destruction threatened by a new enemy, The Winter Soldier.
Regardless of what movie it follows, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is another film that won’t disappoint – both in theaters and at the box office.
If superheroes and biblical figures aren’t exactly your thing, fear not. “Oculus,” a terrorfilled suspense thriller, is set to scare theater-goers everywhere.
The film is based on the murder of two parents, believed to have been killed by their young son. After their son, Michael, is released from prison 10 years later, the couple’s daughter, Kaylie, becomes intent on proving Michael’s innocence.
Kaylie’s focus becomes a violent, supernatural force embedded in an antique mirror in her childhood home.
While the film may not be as big budget and high profiled as the previously mentioned two films, “Oculus” will achieve its goal – to scare and excite a crowd of April film watchers.
While April may not get the notoriety of the summer showbiz scene, it certainly is a good warmup for what is expected to be a great summer of
