"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
As a change of pace, this weekend’s Holiday Digression is
going to feature not 10, 20, or even 5 movies that fit the occasion. I decided
that this time less was more – we’re highlighting 4 movies for the Fourth of
July. These may not be the absolute be-all and end-all of patriotic movies, but
they’re significant to me in various ways and feel appropriate to the season as
well as the exploration of freedom and fighting for it.
Some of these films might be available in select theaters during this
season, but you would need to check your local listings due to the limited
release.
IMDb Blurb: After the death
of a friend, a writer recounts a boyhood journey to find the body of a missing
boy.
This movie is one of my favorites of all time. The cast is spectacular,
the writing phenomenal, and the soundtrack brings it all together. This coming-of-age
tale is one for the ages, really. It's a film that gives you a slice of
Americana from yester-year as well as filling you with a sense of adventure. It
deftly encapsulates the thrill of testing the boundaries of taboo, and the bond
of friendship - especially the ones we cultivate when we're young.
Of course a 'where are they now' look at the cast is rather
bittersweet, having lost River Phoenix (Little
Nikita, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sneakers) far before his time.
If you've got older children in their teens, this movie might be a good starter
for testing the waters of Rated R content. It's mainly for language, some
violence considered mild by today's standards, smoking, and the like. There's
nothing really raunchy in it aside from a smidge of adolescent toilet humor.
The film just exudes the feeling of 'summer,' and fits perfectly with this
holiday timeframe - especially if you're not in the mood for something overtly
patriotic.
IMDb Blurb: The aliens are
coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior
technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive.
The debate is on whether or not the sequel to this movie was as good as
or better than the first - forget all that for now. You could watch either and
enjoy yourself, really. For this list, though, I'm focusing on the original. I
was working at an AMC Theater (my high school job) when this movie came out.
The tim?ing of this film's release was on point. Everything about this movie
was cool back then, and still feels that way now. Of course, some of it is
goofy and a little cheesy. That's the point, though! This is one of those films
that's there for entertainment more than trying to spark introspection. Forget
the deep thoughts and just enjoy the thought of fighting flying saucers and
some action-movie style fireworks that are all about the fire and less about
the flare.
IMDb Blurb: Peaceful farmer
Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American
Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.
It wouldn't be a 4th of July list without something giving a nod to the
United States' fight for independence. This is one of my favorite Revolutionary
War period pieces. It's Mel Gibson (Braveheart,
Signs, Blood Father) and Heath Ledger (10
Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale, The Order) at their best. Of course,
this is our second entry that is bittersweet for the untimely loss of a
treasured actor. I promise I'm going to stop tugging at 'the feels' for now,
though - at least for that reason.
While I can't recall off the top of my head whether or not 'The Ghost'
was an actual person from the Revolutionary War, I do remember The Swamp Fox;
and this movie reminds me of those stories. Have some tissues on hand while
watching this one. It's inspiring, heartbreaking, and on point for the meaning
behind this upcoming holiday.
IMDb Blurb: The biography of
Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human
rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
OK, so this is my only soapboxy entry for this holiday compilation.
There's a strong anti-war message here, but at the same time it's highly
patriotic. This biopic is gritty and captures the essence of the Vietnam War
era. It's not as humorous as, say, Forrest Gump (1994) but I honestly don't
think that a 4th of July list is complete without a nod to the movie telling
the story of someone born on America's birthday and with an important story to
tell.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this sampling of movies to get you in the mood
for the holiday. Whatever you have planned for this weekend or the 4th
of July, itself; have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the federal holiday (if you’re
in The States).
If you plan to light fireworks to celebrate the holiday, please take
care to contact any neighbors that are combat veterans to let them know ahead
of time so they can plan. Not every veteran experiences PTSD and it doesn’t
present itself in the same way for everyone that suffers from it. Sure, they
probably already realize it’s going to be a noisy night – but just one moment
of your time could make all the difference in saving someone from experiencing
a waking nightmare.
But
I Digress... is a weekly column for trustthedice.com that can't be
pinned down to just one thing. It's Cat's celebration of tangents,
random references, and general fan geekdom that both intertwines with,
revolves around, and diverges from our movie-review core. In homage to
the beloved Brit comedians, we want to bring you something completely
different!
Production Company:
Broad Green Pictures, Busted Shark Productions
Director: John R.
Leonetti
Writer: Barbara
Marshall
Actors: Sherilyn
Fenn, Joey King, Elisabeth Rohm, Ryan Phillippe, Shannon Purser, Ki Hong Lee,
Sydney Park, Daniela Barbosa, Mitchell Slaggert, Alice Lee, Raegan Revord,
Josephine Langford, Alexander Nunez, Ryan Taerk
Genre: Fantasy,
Horror, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: 90
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A teenage girl discovers a box that carries magic
powers and a deadly price for using them.
This is your typical ‘be careful what you wish for’ plot. I
imagine it’ll go pretty much the way you’d expect a plot like that to go.
I really wasn’t certain I wanted this film on the top 20,
and I’m still not sure. There are slim pickings this coming month. The good
films coming out are REALLY good, but there aren’t as many as there usually
are. Unfortunately, this film is filler – the best of the movies that wouldn’t
have made the list on another month.
My real picks start at 19.
19 – Karate Kill
(7/18)
Tag Line: He is
no Mr. Miyagi.
Production Company:
Mamezo Pictures – K. K. Torin
Director: Kurando
Mitsutake
Writer: Kurando
Mitsutake
Actors: Asami,
Katarina Leigh Waters, Kirk Geiger, Mana Sakura, Hayate, Tomm Voss, Toshiya
Agata, Ben Dukes, Tia, Antuone Torbert, Miki Kawawa, Jin Park, Kotomi
Miyashiro, Drew Fitzsimmons
Genre: Action,
Horror
Rated: Unrated
Length: 89
minutes
IMDb Blurb: When mysterious loner and Karate master Kenji's
little sister goes missing in Los Angeles, whoever stands in his way of finding
her will face the wrath of a lethal karate kill!
Can we talk about the title of this film for a moment?
Whenever I talk about The
Tomorrow People (2013-2014) I make sure to mention that you should never
judge a creative project by the title alone. That show was amazing, but so many
people would never know because the title is terrible. It doesn’t hook anyone.
Maybe it did back when the original came out, but times have changed.
Similarly, the title Karate
Kill is just awful. I don’t know if it’s just a bad translation, though. It
could be. The release date mentioned above is for the US. The film was
originally released at the BiFan – Bucheon International Fantastic Film
Festival in South Korea on July 22, 2016. Karate
Kill may sound a lot more epic in the Korean language. Remember that before
you judge the movie.
That said, the trailer actually makes it seem like a
relatively solid action film.
Yeah, there’s a part of me wondering if it’s the campy South
Korean version of Taken (2008)… but I
do enjoy that campy feel.
18 – Descendants
2 (7/21)
Tag Line: Long
live evil.
Production Company:
Disney Channel
Director: Kenny
Ortega
Writer: Josann
McGibbon, Sara Parriott
Actors: Dove
Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, China Anne
McClain, Thomas Doherty, Dylan Playfair, Dianne Doan, Brenna D’Amico, Dan
Payne, Melanie Paxson, Megan Trainer, Anna Cathcart, Dude
Genre: Fantasy
Rated: TV-G
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: Mal returns to the Isle of the Lost to find her
archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, teaming up with Harry, the son of
Captain Hook, and Gil, the son of Gaston.
Shamefully, I haven’t seen the first Descendants. Why is that shameful? Well, not because of the reviews
(although those paint a spectacular pictures). Instead, it’s shameful because I
love Disney and love when writers twist up stories to tell them from the antagonists
point of view.
In this case, the offspring of some very well-known
antagonists.
Despite the fact that I’ve never seen the original, the
trailer for this sequel looks just as good. It makes me look forward to seeing
them both.
If I had seen the first Descendants,
this one might have actually been higher on the list – who knows?
17 – First Kill
(7/21)
Tag Line: When
you only have one shot, don’t miss.
Production Company:
Aboretum Productions, Brookstreet Pictures, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO
Films), Ingenious Media, River Bay Films, The Fyzz Facility
Director: Steven
C. Miller
Writer: Nick
Gordon
Actors: Bruce
Willis, Hayden Christensen, Magi Avila, Gethin Anthony, Charlotte Kirk, William
DeMeo, Tamara Belous, Chelsea Mee, Megan Leonard, Tyler Jon Olson, Heather
Johansen, Jesse Pruett, Shea Buckner, Chris Moss, Ty Shelton, Christine Dye,
Deb G. Girdler
Genre: Action,
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 97
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A Wall Street broker is forced to evade a police
chief investigating a bank robbery as he attempts to recover the stolen money
in exchange for his son's life.
Take a moment. Read Hayden Christensen’s (Outcast, Awake, Star Wars: Episode III -
Revenge of the Sith) name. Sigh, facepalm, or complete whatever method you
use to deal with the fact that he still acts.
All done? Great! Let’s move on.
The trailer for this film looks decent. Bruce Willis (Once Upon a Time in Venice, Rock the Kasbah,
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) may be a dick, but he’s a good actor –
especially when it comes to action. It’s always been his bread and butter for a
reason. The plot also looks relatively solid and the trailer did a good job of
making me care about the outcome.
I want to know what the antagonist’s motivation is for kidnapping
the son of the guy who helped him. That seems interesting to me.
I wish they would have left out that last quote about how
hunting a man is the best hunting there is. It’s an overused quote that made me
roll my eyes.
16 – Awaken the
Shadowman (7/21)
Tag Line: Nightmare
come to life.
Production Company:
Wild Story Productions
Director: J.S.
Wilson
Writer: Skyler
Caleb, Woodrow Wilson Hancock III, James Zimbardi
Actors: James
Zimbardi, Skyler Caleb, Jean Smart, Emily Somers, Andrea Hunt, Robert R.
Shafer, Raam Weinfeld, Grace Van Dien, Sophie Labelle, Casey Kramer, Carlos
Pratts, Angie Teodora Dick, Oliver Morton, Jasper Cole, Dylan Mooney, Steve Moulton,
Eve Sigall, Woodrow Wilson Hancock III, Kara Michelotti, Marisa Dzintars, Karah
Britton, Scarlet Mackenzie Pineda Luna, Frank Sansores, Sanford Holsapple
Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 90
minutes
IMDb Blurb: After the mysterious disappearance of their mother,
estranged brothers reunite and discover an unknown supernatural force.
Horror films revolving around cults are some of the
creepiest horrors I’ve seen. Not necessarily the best, but the creepiest. It’s
that innate fear that something or someone can take a perfectly reasonable and
normal human being and warp them into something no one can recognize. It’s the
same reason why possession stories are so scary… only cult stories are based
more in reality.
A story always feels scarier to me when it could be true.
Sure, there’s some kind of shadowy figure in this film, but
I suspect that’ll be a figment of one of the main actor’s imaginations. Or both
of theirs, it depends on how the cult plot goes.
15 – A Family Man
(7/28)
Tag Line: What
are you working for?
Production Company:
G-BASE, Zero Gravity Management
Director: Mark
Williams
Writer: Bill
Dubuque
Actors: Alison
Brie, Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe, Gretchen Mol, Anupam Kher, Alfred Molina,
Dustin Milligan, Kathleen Munroe, Mimi Kuzyk, Julia Butters, Max Jenkins,
Sierra Woolridge, Jess Berry, Dwain Murphy, Brittany Anne Woodford, Ethan
MacIver-Wright
Genre: Drama
Rated: R
Length: 108
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A headhunter whose life revolves around closing
deals in a a survival-of-the-fittest boiler room, battles his top rival for
control of their job placement company -- his dream of owning the company
clashing with the needs of his family.
This film looks absolutely heartbreaking. I suspect a very
bitter-sweet ending to it, which is the kind of ending I appreciate the most.
Really the film just looks like a solid drama with a great
cast, which makes it hard to pass up. No, dramas without other primary genre
aren’t my first choice for the most part, but that doesn’t stop them from
looking good from time to time.
A good plot mixed with a good cast could easily break
through a genre issue for me.
14 – The Big Sick
(7/14)
Tag Line: An
awkward true story.
Production Company:
Apatow Productions, FilmNation Entertainment, Story Ink
Director: Michael
Showalter
Writer: Emily V.
Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
Actors: Kumail
Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff,
Adeel Akhtar, Bo Burnham, Aidy Bryant, Kurt Braunohler, Vella Lovell, Myra
Lucretia Taylor, Jeremy Shamos, David Alan Grier, Ed Herbstman, Shenaz Treasury,
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kuhoo Verma, Mitra Jouhari, Celeste Arias, Shana Solomon,
Jeff Blumenkrantz, Linda Emond, Holly Chou, Andrew Pang, Alison Cimmet,
Lawrence Ballard, Shunori Ramanathan, Matty Cardarople
Genre: Comedy,
Romance
Rated: R
Length: 119
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A couple deals with their cultural differences as
their relationship grows.
I found this film trailer very interesting. I enjoy
exploring various cultures and how they interact with other cultures. In this
case, you have an interracial couple facing differences in what they expect out
of life and what people expect from them.
This would be a decent plot for a drama, but it’s a comedy…
which is so much better.
That’s not because comedy is a better genre in general,
because it’s not. That’s just a matter of taste. It’s better in this case
because taking a serious subject and putting humor into it makes it easy to
swallow and understand.
Racial issues are already a hot button issue. In this case,
you get to look into the life of how people deal with that hot button issue
without uncomfortably shifting in your seat and wondering if it’s ok to have
the normal thoughts you have. You’re not in trouble for laughing, because
everyone is laughing.
Movies like this give viewers a giggle that hides a wealth
of understanding behind it.
13 – Girls Trip
(7/21)
Tag Line: You’ll
be glad you came.
Production Company:
Universal Pictures, Will Packer Productions
Director: Malcolm
D. Lee
Writer: Kenya
Barris, Karen McCullah, Tracy Oliver, Erica Rivinoja
Actors: Jada
Pinkett Smith, Kate Walsh, Tiffany Haddish, Mike Colter, Queen Latifah, Kofi
Siriboe, Regina Hall, Larenz Tate, Deborah Ayorinde, Lara Grice, Robert Miano,
Aadyn Encalarde, Tonea Stewart, Alona Leoine, Ricky Wayne, Jannette Sepwa
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R
Length: 122
minutes
IMDb Blurb: When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans
for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are
rediscovered, and there's enough dancing, drinking, brawling, and romancing to
make the Big Easy blush.
This film looks like so much fun. I’ll admit, it doesn’t
look like it has much substance to it, but I don’t think that matters for what
it is. It looks like one of those fun, raunchy, turn-your-brain-off films that
you watch after a day when the boss simply won’t stop riding you, or the kids
have been terrors and you finally got them to bed.
It’s a film that’s about the quick and easy laugh. Normally,
it’d be lower on the list… but this one has a hell of a cast.
There are very few cast members involved, if any, that don’t
have an amazing career to note. It’s actually really impressive and takes
expectations for the film to a whole new level.
12 – Story of a
Girl (7/23)
Tag Line: None
Production Company:
Random Bench Productions
Director: Kyra
Sedgwick
Writer: Laurie
Collyer, Emily Bickford Lansbury, Sara Zarr
Actors: Kevin
Bacon, Sarah Grey, Sosie Bacon, Ryann Shane, Jon Tenney, Tyler Johnston,
Caroline Cave, Andrew Herr, Naika Toussaint, Maddie Phillips, Alison Wandzura,
Katerina Katelieva, Michael Maize, Iain Belcher, Bailey Skodje, Nelson Leis,
Zachary Gulka, Eric Bempong, Beau Han Bridge, Rachel Prosch, Gavin Langelo,
Tyler Burrows
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 90
minutes
IMDb Blurb: When a compromising video of sixteen-year-old
Deanna Lambert hits social media, her teenage life is changed forever.
Story of a Girl
touches on a subject that really needs awareness among teens. The internet is a
place of permanence. In a world where everything expires or gets lost or runs
out of print, there is always the internet… and things that go on it can be
found by anyone.
Naked pictures, sex tapes, etc. These are things that kids
either take voluntarily or other kids take and share as a ‘joke’. These kids
don’t realize they are doing significant damage to the subject’s future. People
will judge them on those images for the rest of their lives. People my age
sometimes forget to talk to their kids about the issue of the internet and
being careful about what gets out there.
If the internet as we know it had been around when I was
younger, Junior High School would have been a hell that never ended. For me, it
wasn’t an image, it was a story. But it’s only a host of bad memories now. It’s
lost to time.
The people who shared the story that caused the worst of my
bullying in JHS were my ‘friends’. They thought they were just laughing and
joking around. The result, however, caused a lot of harassment and depression.
Maybe, if they had realized it wasn’t a ‘joke’, they wouldn’t
have done it – or abandoned me after they had. This film raises awareness of
what is appropriate and what isn’t.
For teenagers, it’s very important to know that line. You
never know what the consequences of crossing it could be.
11 – Austin Found
(7/7)
Tag Line: Some
mothers will do whatever it takes.
Production Company:
Caspian Pictures, Costanzo Media, Omega Point Films
Director: Will
Raee
Writer: Brenna
Graziano, Will Raee
Actors: Linda
Cardellini, Skeet Ulrich, Jaime Pressly, Patrick Warburton, Kristen Schaal,
Chris Parnell, Craig Robinson, Matt Jones, Jon Daly, Ursula Parker, Kyla
Deaver, Karen Strassman, Meg DeLacy, Matt Medrano, January Stern, Sid Wilson,
Sarah J. Eagen, Jehanne Chinnery, Jade Bryce, Melissa Shoshahi
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 95
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A woman who is fed up with her mundane lifestyle
hatches a scheme to make her family instant celebrities, but not everything
goes as planned as her wild tempered ex-boyfriend starts to lose it.
The trailer starts off looking like a real drama kind of
thing and take a hard left immediately after. It’s eye catching.
I’m amused by the plot and there’s a decent cast. I just
finished watching the Riverdale series
and I’m excited to see Skeet Ulrich (Escape
Room, 50 to 1, Babylon Fields) in something else now.
This film promises to be hilarious.
10 – Feed (7/18)
Tag Line: Control
yourself.
Production Company:
Indy Entertainment
Director: Tommy
Bertelsen
Writer: Troian
Bellisario
Actors: Troian
Bellisario, Tom Felton, Ben Winchell, James Remar, Paula Malcomson, Courtney
Henggeler, Willie Garson, David Warshofsky, Adam Shapiro, Tiffany Boone, Jack
McGraw, Joe Pacheco, Brooke Fontana
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG-13
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: Olivia and Matthew Grey, 18-year-old twins born
into a world of privilege and high expectations. There are almost no boundaries
between them; even their dreams are connected.
This movie seems to deal with survivor’s guilt in one of its
strongest forms – where one twin lives and the other dies.
Although this film is listed as a drama, it looks
terrifying, as if it has hints of thriller in it as well. It seems very
interesting, and it looks like Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars, Martyrs, Sister Cities) works incredibly well
off of Tom Felton (The Flash, Stratton, A
United Kingdom).
9 – Atomic Blonde
(7/28)
Tag Line: None
Production Company:
87Eleven, Closed on Mondays Entertainment, Denver and Delilah Productions, Film
i Vast, Focus Features, Sierra / Affinity, T.G.I.M Films
Director: David
Leitch
Writer: Kurt
Johnstad, Antony Johnston, Sam Hart
Actors: Sofia
Boutella, Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Bill Skarsgard, Toby
Jones, Eddie Marsan, Daniel Bernhardt, James Faulkner, Johannes Haukur
Johannesson, Roland Moller, Sam Hargrave, Lili Gesler
Genre: Action,
Mystery, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 115
minutes
IMDb Blurb: An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during
the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing
list of double agents.
Bad ass women are all over the movies right now and that
makes me super happy.
Unsurprisingly, this film is based on the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (Zombi, Dead Space, Binary Domain) and
Sam Hart. I don’t know anything about the original work, but I’m perfectly
happy finding out more about it in the coming weeks.
I, personally, like adaptations. If they’re made right, the
characters have more depth and there are less plot holes. I understand that
there are pitfalls that are easy to fall into for writers and directors working
on adaptations, but I prefer to hope for the best. That’s true here.
The entire trailer is heart-pumping action complete with
awesome fight choreography.
Besides, the cast is outstanding as well. I love Charlize
Theron (The Fate of the Furious, Kubo and
the Two Strings, The Last Face), James McAvoy (Filth, Split, Victor Frankenstein), and John Goodman (Patriots Day, Love the Coopers, Kong: Skull
Island). I’m looking forward to seeing them all mixed together.
8 – To the Bone
(7/14)
Tag Line: None
Production Company:
AMBI Group, Sparkhouse Media, Mockingbird Pictures, Foxtail Entertainment,
BondIt, To The Bone Productions
Director: Marti
Noxon
Writer: Marti
Noxon
Actors: Keanu
Reeves, Lily Collins, Carrie Preston, Liana Liberato, Alanna Ubach, Kathryn
Prescott, Lili Taylor, Brooke Smith, Ciara Bravo, Retta, Alex Sharp, Hana
Hayes, Michael B. Silver, Rebekah Kennedy, Maya Eshet, Lindsey McDowell, Joanna
Sanchez, Don O. Knowlton
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 107
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A young woman is dealing with anorexia. She meets
an unconventional doctor who challenges her to face her condition and embrace
life.
I love everything about this trailer.
This is an in-depth look at a woman with anorexia nervosa.
Eating disorders are terrifying in general. Both for the
people affected and their loved ones. I’m more familiar with bulimia, but the point
is the same. People watch someone they love waste away.
Real issues lead to eating disorders. Those issues are
things that many people face. It makes understanding the symptoms easier, even
if it’s difficult for some people to actually understand the disorder.
In reality, it’s horrific… in a film it makes for a
heartbreaking and engulfing story that is likely going to be both relatable and
chilling at the same time.
It’s going to be released on Netflix, so you can see it on
opening day without leaving the comfort of your couch… or putting on pants.
7 – Undercover
Grandpa (7/7)
Tag Line: Get the
girl. Save the world.
Production Company:
CCI Entertainment, Grandpa Productions Ltd., Productions de Grand-Pere
Director: Erik
Canuel
Writer: Jeff
Schechter
Actors: James
Caan, Jessica Walter, Louis Gossett Jr., Kenneth Welsh, Paul Sorvino, Dylan
Everett, Jennifer Robertson, Greta Onieogou, Rob Archer, Lawrence Dane, Joanna
Douglas, Jesse Bostick, Paul Braunstein, Rhys Wyn Trenhaile, Pat Lemaire, Timm
Zemanek, Bernard Kay, Brandon Garth
Genre: Action,
Comedy, Family
Rated: PG-13
Length: 99
minutes
IMDb Blurb: When the girl he likes goes missing, Jake enlists
the help of his grandpa and his WWII buddies.
A new trend in action films involves middle-aged action heros.
I’m sure a lot of that has to do with Hollywood favorites aging. People still
want to see actors like Sylvester Stallone (Guardians
of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Creed, The Expendables 3), Dolph Lundgren (Arrow, Altitude, Larceny), and Jackie
Chan (Skiptrace, Monkey King: Hero is
Back, Dragon Blade) kick some serious ass. I’m included in that. I love
some good hardcore action fighting.
In this case, however, the actor used as the hero isn’t
exactly known as one of the action greats. Actually, he’s known more for his
mob movie roles… which is close, but not really the same thing.
Still, the way the trailer portrays James Caan (The Throwaways, The Good Neighbor, Blood
Ties) in the main role makes it impossible to not want to see just how good
he still is. There’s a certain immortality to watching an older actor in that
kind of active part normally reserved for the younger generations.
It also looks hilarious.
6 – War for the
Planet of the Apes (7/14)
Tag Line: For
freedom. For family. For the planet.
Production Company:
Chernin Entertainment
Director: Matt
Reeves
Writer: Mark
Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Matt Reeves, Amanda Silver
Actors: Toby Kebbell,
Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller, Ty Olsson,
Terry Notary, Sara Canning, Max Lloyd-Jones, Aleks Paunovic, Alessandro
Juliani, Devyn Dalton, Karin Konoval, Gabriel Chavarria, Michael Adamthwaite,
Chad Rook, Mercedes de la Zerda, Timothy Webber, James Pizzinato, Dean Redman,
Yuri Zackoqv
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama
Rated: PG-13
Length: 140
minutes
IMDb Blurb: After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar
wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge
his kind.
The ape series is a bit on the epic side. There’s no denying
that. What makes this film even more epic is the inclusion of Woody Harrelson (The Edge of Seventeen, Triple 9, The Hunger
Games).
I’m all for that.
5 – The Emoji
Movie (7/28)
Tag Line: Not
easy being meh.
Production Company:
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation
Director: Tony
Leondis
Writer: Tony
Leondis, Eric Siegel, Mike White
Actors: T.J.
Miller, Anna Faris, Sofia Vergara, Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Coolidge, James
Corden, Maya Rudolph, Jake T. Austin, Christina Aguilera, Steven Wright, Thom
Bishops
Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy
Rated: PG
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: Gene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a
journey to become a normal emoji.
I don’t much use emojis. It feels a bit too much like we’re
regressing to hieroglyphics. So, aside from the occasional decorative heart or
smiley face… not for me. But that’s not a prerequisite to wanting to see this
film.
The Emoji Movie is
more about shrugging off conformity and finding your own path. That is a
message I can definitely support.
Besides, who could possibly pass up seeing Patrick Stewart (Blunt Talk, Logan, American Dad) play
Poop?
4 – Dunkirk (7/21)
Tag Line: Hope is
a weapon. Survival is victory.
Production Company:
Warner Bros., Canal+, Cine+, Dombey Street Productions, Kaap Holland Film,
RatPac-Dune Entertainment, StudioCanal, Syncopy
Director: Christopher
Nolan
Writer: Christopher
Nolan
Actors: Tom
Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles, James D’Arcy,
Brian Vernel, Aneurin Barnard, Jack Lowden, Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan,
Elliott Tittensor, Kevin Guthrie
Genre: Action,
Drama, History
Rated: PG-13
Length: 107
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire,
Canada, and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a
fierce battle in World War II.
This is a horrific war film that looks like it will be a
hell of a story to watch. I imagine it’s going to have triggers in it that
people with PTSD should be careful with, however. I say that, because I
remember how an ex of mine reacted to watching Saving Private Ryan (1998) the first time (he was a Marine).
I suspect Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, Interstellar) was the right writer/director
to head this project and I expect a lot from it.
3 – Swallows and
Amazons (7/14)
Tag Line: The
adventure begins.
Production Company:
BBC Films, British Film Company, The Electric Shadow Company, Harbour Pictures
Director: Philippa
Lowthorpe
Writer: Andrea
Gibb, Arthur Ransome
Actors: Kelly Macdonald,
Andrew Scott, Rafe Spall, Jessica Hynes, Elizabeth Berrington, Richard Bremmer,
Fenella Woolgar, Harry Enfield, Orla Hill, Dane Hughes, Seren Hawkes, Sophie
Wardlow, Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen, Bobby McCulloch, Hannah Jayne Thorp, Dan
Skinner, Neil Bell, Abbie Glozier, Megan Glozier
Genre: Adventure,
Drama, Family
Rated: Unrated
Length: 97
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Four children (the Swallows) on holiday in the Lake
District sail on their own to an island and start a war with rival children
(the Amazons). In the meantime, a mysterious man on a houseboat accuses them of
a crime they did not commit.
I love coming across epic fantasy films geared toward
children.
I believe it’s essential for kids to have fuel for their
imagination. In this case, you have a great epic film that promotes that while
still staying anchored in reality.
Swallows and Amazons
is a British film that came out a while back, but it’s being released in the US
on the date mentioned above.
2 – Valerian and
the City of a Thousand Planets (7/21)
Tag Line: A
universe without boundaries needs heroes without limits.
Production Company:
EuropaCorp, Fundamental Films, Grive Productions, Gulf Film, Novo Pictures, Orange
Studio, River Road Entertainment, TF1 Films Production, Universum Film (UFA)
Director: Luc
Besson
Writer: Luc
Besson, Pierre Christin, Jean-Claude Mezieres
Actors: Cara
Delevingne, Elizabeth Debicki, Dane DeHaan, John Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Clive
Owen, Rihanna, Rutger Hauer, Kris Wu, Mathieu Kassovitz, Aymeline Valade,
Emilie Livingston, Sam Spruell, Diva Cam, Alexandre Willaume, Gavin Drea, Alain
Chabat
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 137
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and
home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and
Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just
Alpha, but the future of the universe.
I know this film was based on a French sci-fi comic series
created by Pierre Christin (Valerian
& Laureline, Es ist nicht leicht ein Gott zu sein, Bunker Palace Hotel)
and Jean-Claude Mezieres (L’Histoire de
la page 52, Es ist nicht leicht ein Gott zu sein, Valerian & Laureline),
but I’m not familiar with the source material. It hardly matters, though. How
could this movie even be considered anything but epic?
People who were familiar with the source material got to see
a little bit of the film at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. Apparently, those
hardcore fans thought it measured up, because they gave it a standing ovation.
I expect nothing less than the best from Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, Arthur and the
Invisibles, The Family). The story couldn’t be in better hands.
1 – Spider-Man:
Homecoming (7/7)
Tag Line: None
Production Company:
Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, Pascal Pictures
Director: Jon
Watts
Writer: Jonathan
Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik
Sommers, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Actors: Tom
Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem
Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Kenneth Choi, Selenis
Leyva, Angourie Rice, Martin Starr, Garcelle Beauvais, Michael Chernus, Michael
Mando, Logan Marshall-Green, Jennifer Connolly, Gary Weeks, Christopher Berry,
Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Tunde Adebimpe, Tiffany Espensen, Isabella Amara, Michael
Barbieri, J.J. Totah, Hemky Madera, Zach Cherry, Stan Lee, Chris Evans, Kerry
Condon, John Penick, Ethan Dizon, Nitin Nohria
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 133
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Following the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), Peter Parker attempts to balance
his life in high school with his career as the web-slinging superhero
Spider-Man.
Finally. A Spider-Man we
can all be excited to see.
With Marvel involved in the film, and Tom Holland (Wolf Hall, In the Heart of the Sea, The Lost
City of Z) taking on the title role, this movie really can’t fail. If it
somehow does, maybe Spider-Man just
isn’t meant for the big screen anymore.
