This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
By Amanda Keats
The Flowers of War (3rd August)
Based on the book by Yan Geling, The Flowers of War is an ambitious project by the Chinese film industry with Batman star Christian Bale at the helm. The story revolves around a westerner who finds refuge in a church with a group of young women during the Japanese attack in 1937 and attempts to lead them to safety by posing as a priest.
Jackpot (10th August)
Jo Nesbø is quickly establishing himself as one of the best thriller writers of his generation. Following on from the success of previous adaption Headhunters, Jackpot looks at what happens after four men win big on the pools. The film promises to be terrifying and bloody.
Shadow Dancer (24th August)
With a script written by the book's author Tom Bradby, Shadow Dancer is set in 1990s Belfast when MI5 were doing all they could to bring down the IRA. Clive Owen stars as a policeman who persuades an arrested IRA woman to become an informant. Expect high drama.
Also out this month are the brilliantly ridiculous The Expendables 2 with, well, basically anyone who's ever been an action film star… and Liam Hemsworth, star of The Hunger Games. Pixar release Brave, their first animated feature to centre around a female protagonist with the vocal talents of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson. For all the Colin Farrell fans there is also going to be a remake of the Arnie classic Total Recall, with support coming this time from Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale. For those not easily offended though, an absolute must is Ted, a film by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane about a teddy that comes to life and stays with his best friend into their adult years. It pays tribute to classic 80s cinema and is brilliantly clever.