'Tis the Season - 8 Bit Christmas (2021)

 

Streaming Service: HBO Max
Movie Name/Year: 8 Bit Christmas (2021)
Genre: Comedy, Family
Length:  1h 37min
Rating: PG
Production/Distribution: New Line Cinema, Star Thrower Entertainment, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Max
Director: Michael Dowse
Writer: Kevin Jakubowski
Actors: Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris, Steve Zahn, June Diane Raphael, Bellaluna Resnick, Sophia Reid-Gantzert, Che Tafari, Santino Barnard, Max Malas, Brielle Rankins, Braelyn Rankins, Cyrus Arnold, Chandler Dean, Jacob Laval, Katia Edith Wood, Tom Rooney, David Cross, Kathryn Greenwood, Louise Nicol, Erica Levene, David MacInnis, Monica Dottor, Sofie Michal Maiuri, Alex Spencer, Miles Kerim, Luca Doulgeris, Mike Wilmot, Christy Bruce
 
IMDb Blurb: In 1980s Chicago, a 10-year-old sets out on a quest to get the Christmas gift of his generation: the latest and greatest video-game system.

 
Selina’s Point of View:
If you took The Princess Bride (1987) and mixed it with A Christmas Story (1983), you’d get 8-Bit Christmas. I know that sounds like a hell of a pairing. Both those 80s flicks have huge followings. I’ll admit that I’m only part of the fanbase for The Princess Bride, out of the two of them, but I can appreciate those that really love A Christmas Story.
 
I think both groups would greatly enjoy 8-Bit Christmas.
 
In this flick, the story is told by Neil Patrick Harris’ character. His daughter wants a phone for the holidays and he’s comparing it to a time in the 80s when he really wanted a Nintendo. It takes place in the part of the 80s when people were starting to try and say that video games cause violence. (They don’t. Thousands of years of violent history before video games were invented prove that, but I digress.)
 
It’s a very cute story, mostly played out in flashbacks. The child actors are all very good, especially for their ages, and the nostalgia (for an 80s baby like me) hits hard.
 
December is my least favorite month for movies, that’s no secret. Christmas flicks just get a tad repetitive. That said, every year there seems to be at least one stand out that’s still part of the family or romance genres. This year it comes early with 8-Bit Christmas.
 
I loved it. Even the cringey parts still managed to be mild enough that I didn’t have to look away. It was funny, cute, and the ending still brought tears to my eyes.
 
8-Bit Christmas is worth a watch, and perfectly fine to put on while the whole family is gathered. 

 
Cat’s Point of View:
In all honesty, I’d forgotten that 8 Bit Christmas had come out last year. I am very happy that we put it on this month’s schedule because it was a lot of fun. The nostalgia made the heart of this ‘80s baby happy, and there was a connection within the story to draw in kids of today.
 
It felt like a very heartwarming and funny ‘back in my day’ story that I would tell my kid but brought to life on the screen. I’m sitting right there in the generation of the father character. Good grief there was so much to relate to within his story. Though, I couldn’t go to the neighbor kid’s house to play a Nintendo. I could only play on one when I was visiting with cousins. I remember my own burning desire for a game console as a kid. (I didn’t get one ‘til I was in high school. It was a Sega Genesis.) So much of this movie hit home. I was in stitches.
 
In preparing this article today, I’ve seen a lot of critics compare 8 Bit Christmas with A Christmas Story (1983). They’re not wrong. I got a lot of the same ‘feels’ that the older holiday classic provided. I do, however, feel that this is a more elevated and updated narrative that can connect better with the current day. Some aspects of the classic just don’t translate to today’s audiences in the same way, and I think it’s beginning to lose ground for that reason. I appreciate it when new voices step up to bridge the generational gap like that – whether they intended to or not.

 
8 Bit Christmas also blended in the ensemble factor where the group of friends hatches a plan for a caper, rather than focusing on the single child’s ambitions for the desired Christmas present. It played out as a significantly more family-friendly set of shenanigans than Good Boys (2019) while giving off some of those same vibes.
 
Then, of course, I absolutely adored the cast.
 
I sincerely believe that the presence of Neil Patrick Harris (A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Matrix Resurrections, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) in a cast makes any project better. I adored him as the adult Jake Doyle character, telling the story. I enjoyed his interactions with his on-screen daughter. The small scene interjections they had together called back a bit to the storytelling grandfather in The Princess Bride (1987), as well.

 
Steve Zahn (George & Tammy, Night at the Museum: Kamunrah Rises Again, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) was also an excellent pick for the somewhat zany DIY dad. A lot of the heavy lifting, however, went to Winslow Fegley (Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Nightbooks, Lyle Lyle Crocodile) anchoring the cast playing young Jake Doyle. I believed every minute of his delivery and I am really looking forward to what he does in the future. Frankly, all of the kids were great. I have zero complaints whatsoever.
 
Nostalgia and ensemble comedy aside, 8 Bit Christmas was just overflowing with heart. It’s a great story about family and not getting sucked into the materialism that drowns the Holiday Season. It’s hard – we’ve likely all done it at one point or another. This story, however, doesn’t get preachy at all. It was a likable and fun ride that gave a subtle nudge rather than beating you over the head with the message.
 
I was actually misty at the end. These movies are making me leak from the eyes left and right this year, I swear.
 
I would absolutely recommend 8 Bit Christmas to anyone that enjoys family comedy, and I can’t wait to watch it again with my teen since she didn’t get a chance to watch it the first time with me.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 75%
Metascore – 66%
Metacritic User Score – 6.2/10
IMDB Score – 6.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In September (2021)

 According to Cat

 

 
20 - Zone 414 (9/3)

Production/Distribution: 23ten, Baird Films, El Ride Productions, Great Point Media, Highland Film Group, Saban Films, Universal Pictures, Originals Factory, Paramount Pictures
Director: Andrew Baird
Writer: Bryan Edward Hill
Actors: Travis Fimmel, Guy Pearce, Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Colin Salmon, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Jonathan Aris, Jorin Cooke, Maggie Cronin, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouere
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 98 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Set in the near future, private detective David Carmichael is hired by Marlon Veidt, an eccentric businessman, to track down his missing daughter. David teams up with Jane, a highly advanced A.I. to solve the mystery.
 
The trailer for Zone 414 is giving me some serious Blade Runner (1982) vibes. Obviously, the plot is a bit different from the iconic film – but the setting seems eerily similar. The sci-fi and dystopian nature of the setting are intriguing to me. I want to know more about these androids and why there’s a zone for them. With Tesla’s recent announcement of AI robots that could be joining the workforce in the very near future – scenarios like this don’t seem as far-fetched as they did back in the 80s.
 
I’ve seen that the reviews are mixed, so I’m not sure the end product will be as successful as I want it to be, but this is a movie that I want to give a chance. With a cast on board such as Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Raised by Wolves, Die in a Gunfight), Guy Pearce (The Catcher Was a Spy, Mary Queen of Scots, Bloodshot), and Matilda Lutz (Revenge, Medici, The Divorce Party) there’s some real potential here. I also want to take into consideration that Fimmel was so interested in this project that when he had to drop out of the lead role due to filming schedule conflicts, he came back to play a different part when he became available again. It seems he really believed in this production, so I want to as well.

 
19 – The Voyeurs (9/10)

Production/Distribution: Divide/Conquer, Amazon Studios
Director: Michael Mohan
Writer: Michael Mohan
Actors: Ben Hardy, Cait Alexander, Caitlyn Sponheimer, Daniel Grogan, Emily Shelton, Justice Smith, Katharine King So, Madelline Harvey, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Noah Parker, Sarah Donna, Sydney Sweeney
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 120 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Pippa and Thomas move into their dream apartment, they notice that their windows look directly into the apartment opposite, this will set in motion a chain of events that will lead to disaster.
 
Voyeur’s trailer seemed to indicate this production will follow in the footsteps of movies such as Rear Window (1954). 
 
This sort of concept isn’t new, but it’s highly relatable - especially in a time when we've all been confined to our homes at some point. The peeping taboo is a guilty pleasure for some. 
 
It’s just human curiosity when you see a lit-up window and there are no blinds or curtains to obscure the view. I grew up with the notion that you kept your windows covered so you wouldn’t advertise your belongings to the world. I called open windows at night ‘rich people windows’ because, in my mind, whoever it was could afford to show off or lose those possessions.  It’s the same concept with passing a wreck on the highway – everyone looks. That’s why traffic gets snarled.
 
There’s a line, however, where innocent glances turn into a real invasion of privacy. I’d say that the couple in the movie definitely take things way too far – and there are obviously going to be consequences.
 
I’m curious to see if they get drawn into some sort of a swinging situation that deteriorates their relationship or if there is something really nefarious afoot.
 
18 - Collection (9/17)

Production/Distribution: The Warner Davis Company, Dark Dreams Entertainment
Director: Marianna Palka
Writer: Todd M. Friedman
Actors: Alex Pettyfer, Breeda Wool, Jacques Colimon, Jason Pace, Joseph Julian Soria, Mike Vogel, Nick Rhys, Paige Howard, Shakira Barrera, Willam Belli
Genre: Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 87 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: A grieving father grapples with the seedy, manipulative world of high stakes debt collection while struggling to shed the tragedies of his past. He'll find himself pitted against his best friend, his prodigy and his love.
 
At first glance, Collection looks like it might be an edge-of-your-seat thriller. There seems to be some conflicting reviews so far, though. Some have said they love the movie, and others have criticized cinematography, pacing, and characters.
 
This is the freshman writing project for Todd M. Friedman, so I tend to look at things with that in mind. It is not, however, the first rodeo for director Marianna Palka (Always Worthy, Bitch, Egg). I don’t recognize any of her work as a director, but I am familiar with some of her acting. 

 
That aside, Alex Pettyfer (Beastly, The Strange Ones, Echo Boomers) and Mike Vogel (She's Out of My League, Under the Dome, Sex/Life) are starring in this film. Pettyfer, especially, seems to be more selective with his roles; so that gives me hope that there is something redeeming here that overly-critical reviewers are missing. 

At least most seem to agree that Collection has a good soundtrack. That’s always a bonus for me.
 
Debt collection is something that so many people have to deal with. It always seems that in this day and age, creditors have less patience and compassion than they used to. It’s a relatable topic. Thankfully, the methods employed by the characters in this movie aren’t exactly legal. Pretty much everyone loathes talking to a collector, though. The pressure, threats of legal action, and harassing endless phone calls are enough to drive someone crazy.
 
One of the reasons Collection has landed a little lower on my list than it might have otherwise, is because I’m not sure about the shift in tone from debt collection to dealing with the cartel. The way that scenario plays out could have a good bit to do with whether Collection is successful or not. There are a lot of questions in the air here, but I was entertained enough by the trailer that it’s definitely worth a watch. If you’re skeptical, maybe check it out when Collection hits on-demand.
 
17 - Superhost (9/2)

Production/Distribution: Superchill, Shudder
Director: Brandon Christensen
Writer: Brandon Christensen
Actors: Sara Canning, Osric Chau, Gracie Gillam, Barbara Crampton
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 83 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: With their follower count dwindling, travel vloggers Teddy and Claire pivot to creating viral content around their most recent "superhost," Rebecca, who wants more from the duo than a great review.
 
Sometimes it’s sad that there are so few fresh perspectives in films these days. More often than not, ideas are just rehashed and recycled. Reboots, and remakes, and sequels, oh my! Genre tropes just get run into the ground.
 
For that reason, it’s fantastic when there’s something new afoot. Not only is Superhost a new concept, but it’s also on point with the modern world. Here we have social media influencers getting in over their heads. This is the age of cell phones, YouTube, live streams, and AirBNB. Superhost seems to take all of those elements and present a worst-case scenario of nightmares for these hapless travel vloggers.
 
I am definitely here for it.
 
The trio of Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries, Z, Nancy Drew), Osric Chau (2012, Supernatural, Circle of Bones), and Gracie Gillam (Dark Summer, Some Kind of Hate, Z Nation) seems to be right on target for some crazy moments and the harrowing situation out at this remote cabin in the woods. The trailer showed shades of comedy and cringe as well as hints at the level of trouble the vlogging duo gets themselves into.
 
Superhost will be a Shudder exclusive, and I can’t wait to watch and share the experience this month.
 
16 - Prisoners of the Ghostland (9/17)

Production/Distribution: Patriot Pictures, Eleven Arts, Baked Studios, Boos Boos Bang Bang, RLJE Films, Untitled Entertainment, XYZ Films, Bitters End, Umbrella Entertainment, The Searchers
Director: Sion Sono
Writer: Aaron Hendry, Reza Sixo Safai
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Bill Moseley, Canon Nawata, Charles Glover, Grace Feeney, Jai West, Jeffrey Rowe, Narisa Suzuki, Nick Cassavetes, Saki Ohwada, Tak Sakaguchi, Takato Yonemoto
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 100 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: A notorious criminal must break an evil curse in order to rescue an abducted girl who has mysteriously disappeared.
 
Where do I even start with Prisoners of the Ghostland?
 
All of the reviews, the catchy one-liner tags, and the trailer add up to the promise of an absolutely bonkers experience. I am definitely buying what they’re selling here.
 
Nicolas Cage (Color Out of Space, Primal, Willy's Wonderland) is notorious for his off-the-wall films and I think this one just flat out demolishes that wall entirely. Cage is quoted as saying “[Prisoners of the Ghostland] might be the wildest movie I've ever made, and that's saying something."
 
IMDb’s trivia section indicates that it took writer Reza Sixo Safai (A Girl Walks Alone at Night, The Persian Connection, Austin Found) 17 years to get this movie made. I’m dying of curiosity for an explanation why. Was it problems in development hell, or were they waiting for the right cast and production team to pull off the planned insanity? I’m going to bet on the latter.
 
I am a fan of Japanese culture. I loved how that blended into the story - from architecture to the fight scenes. The cinematography in the trailer alone is absolutely stunning.
 
Aside from Cage, there are a couple other names that catch my eye among the cast. Bill Moseley (3 from Hell, Gothic Harvest, I Am Fear) is a horror movie staple. Here, he’s playing The Governor, who is apparently the character that sends Cage off into the Ghostland to look for someone. Of course, that someone is played by Sofia Boutella (Atomic Blonde, Hotel Artemis, Modern Love). I’ve enjoyed her work too.
 
All in all, Prisoners of the Ghostland is one of those movie experiences that you just have to throw yourself into and hold on to your seat. It’s liable to be absolutely crazy, but at the same time thoroughly entertaining.
 
15 - We Need to Do Something (9/3)

Production/Distribution: Atlas Industries, Spin a Black Yarn, A Bigger Boat, Hantz Motion Pictures, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, IFC Midnight
Director: Sean King O'Grady
Writer: Max Booth III
Actors: John James Cronin, Lisette Alexis, Pat Healy, Sierra McCormick, Vinessa Shaw
Genre: Horror
Rated: Unrated
Length: 97 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: After Melissa and her family seek shelter from a storm, they become trapped. With no sign of rescue, hours turn to days and Melissa comes to realize that she and her girlfriend Amy might have something to do with the horrors that threaten to tear her family - and the entire world, apart.
 
We Need to Do Something reminds me of another movie we’ve reviewed in the past, Await Further Instructions (2018). The difference here, apparently, is that while the family is trapped inside their home they have no communication from the outside at all.
 
I’m highly curious at the hinted story element that the daughter of the family, played by Sierra McCormick (Some Kind of Hate, All Good Things, VFW), had something to do with the ‘storm’ that caused this familial calamity to occur. I’ve most recently enjoyed her work in American Horror Stories (2021-) and I’m excited about what she’ll bring to this role.
 
We Need to Do Something also might give us an interesting perspective, as well. Director Sean King O'Grady (Land Grab, True Life, How to Not) is known for his work as a documentarian, having produced and directed a number of them. I am interested in his debut in the world of fiction.
 
14 - I'm Your Man (9/17)

Production/Distribution: Letterbox Filmproduktion, Bleecker Street Media, Curzon, Filmcoopi Zürich, Majestic Filmverleih, Curzon Home Cinema, Filmarti, SWR
Director: Maria Schrader
Writer: Jan Schomburg, Maria Schrader, Emma Braslavsky
Actors: Annika Meier, Dan Stevens, Falilou Seck, Hans Löw, Henriette Richter-R, Jürgen Tarrach, Maren Eggert, Monika Oschek, Sandra Hüller, Wolfgang Hübsch
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Rated: R
Length: 105 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: In order to obtain research funds for her studies, a scientist accepts an offer to participate in an extraordinary experiment: for three weeks, she is to live with a humanoid robot, created to make her happy.
 
I’m Your Man is a slight shift from the typical movies you find on my Top 20 lists. I don’t often have foreign language films listed. It’s definitely not because I don’t like them – it’s generally because there are too many other options available in that month. This time, the fact that this movie is in German is absolutely irrelevant to me. If you don’t like subtitles, then it might not be for you. If that’s the case, by all means, scroll on.
 
For those that haven’t shuffled down the page, I’ll tell you why I am excited for I’m Your Man.
 
Dan Stevens (Kill Switch, Blithe Spirit, Earwig and the Witch) is one of those actors that I would watch in anything. His range is phenomenal, in addition to the bonus that he’s easy on the eyes.  In I’m Your Man, he gets to play an android custom built to be the perfect mate for the woman reviewing his manufacturer’s services. I can tell from the trailer that the cast had a lot of fun with this one.
 
His screen chemistry with Maren Eggert (The Dreamed Path, The Invisibles, Giraffe) was electric, and the story offers some seriously thought-provoking content. There’s more depth to this production than your average rom-com.
 
Of course, I think my favorite parts of the trailer for I’m Your Man were highlighting the comedic elements in the movie. The world is still crazy and we can all still use some laughter.  I’m Your Man is definitely more light-hearted than the other android-related sci-fi movies releasing this month.

 
13 - The Card Counter (9/10)

Production/Distribution: Focus Features, LB Entertainment, Astrakan Film AB, Bona Film Group, Convergent Media, Convergent Media, Enriched Media Group, HanWay Films, One Two Twenty Entertainment, Redline Entertainment, Focus Features, A Really Happy Film, ADS Service, Belga Films, Bir Film, Distribution Workshop, Filmfinity, Forum Film, Independent Films, Lucky Red, M2 Filmsk, NOS Audiovisuais, Odeon, Shaw Organisation, VVS Films, Volga Film Ukraine, Volga, Weltkino Filmverleih, Front Row Filmed Entertainment
Director: Paul Schrader
Writer: Paul Schrader
Actors: Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Willem Dafoe, Alexander Babara, Amye Gousset, Billy Slaughter, Britton Webb, Calvin Williams, Ekaterina Baker, Hassel Kromer, Joel Michaely, Tye Sheridan
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 109 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader's THE CARD COUNTER. Told with Schrader's trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past.
 
Martin Scorsese (The Snowman, Uncut Gems, The Irishman) and Paul Schrader (The Walker, Dying of the Light, First Reformed) have collaborated on a number of occasions, including the iconic movies of Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980). When these two get together, there is high potential for some really great cinema.
 
The Card Counter seems to be a tale of both redemption and revenge. Both are good angles for a story and get the audience invested. After watching the trailer, I’m not quite sure how all the puzzle pieces fit together, but I like the picture on the box, so to speak.
 
I’m wondering if there are  more comedic elements to The Card Counter, given Tiffany Haddish’s  (The Kitchen, Like a Boss, Bad Trip­) role in the movie. It would be wonderful, though, to see more of her serious side, however.
 
The rest of the cast are also quite gifted and recognizable. It’s no surprise that Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Siberia, Zack Snyder's Justice League) is involved with the movie, given his penchant to appear in Schrader’s projects. He’s such a wild card with his often over-the-top characters that I never know what I’m going to get. Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina, Suburbicon, Life Itself) and Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One, Deadpool 2, The Mountain) round out the collection of cast members I’m excited to see in this production.
 
The trailer for The Card Counter gave me the impression that it might be a slow burn. I’m hoping it’s paced a bit faster than that.
 
It looks like The Card Counter will be exclusively in theaters upon release.
 
12 - Crazy About You (9/28)

Production/Distribution:  Bedlam, BondIt Media Capital, Saban Films, Umbrella Entertainment
Director: Alan Lindsay
Writer: Callan Durlik     
Actors: Angus McLaren, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, John Cleese, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Callan Durlik, Megan Smart, Alan Little, Lucy-Rose Leonard, Jamie Timony, Chloe Brown, Monica Main, Igor Sas, Daisy Axon, Amelia Broun, Luke Hewitt
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rated: R
Length: 101 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Dumped by his girlfriend and sponsored by media scoundrel Brian King, desolate Jake walks all-but-naked up Western Australia's coast for charity, in the hope his gesture will win back Jasmine, until he meets mesmerizing backpacker Valerie.
 
Here, in the middle of the list, is a movie that just looks like a lot of fun. I laughed so much at the trailer for Crazy About You.
 
There’s really only one actor I recognize in this movie -- John Cleese (Absolutely Anything, Trolls, Arctic Dogs). The moment I saw he was involved, and that the production had graciously worked around his hectic schedule to get his scenes shot, I was sold.
 
Cleese can make anything funny. Seriously. Anything.
 
While he’s not the main character of this story, Cleese plays a benefactor that makes the lead character’s journey possible.
 
I am here for the shenanigans, the accents, and the fact it’s a love story is ok too.
 
11 - Malignant (9/10)

Production/Distribution: Atomic Monster, Boom Entertainment, Boom! Studios, New Line Cinema, Starlight Culture Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max
Director: James Wan
Writers: Ingrid Bisu, James Wan, Akela Cooper
Actors: Annabelle Wallis, George Young, Ingrid Bisu, Jacqueline McKenzie, Jake Abel, Jon Lee Brody, Maddie Hasson, Michole White, Patrick Cox, Paula Marshall, Rachel Winfree
Genre: Drama, Horror, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 111 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
 
The trailer for Malignant highlighted that the creep factor in this movie will be high and that the production spent big bucks on the CGI for those scenes. The background morphing was stunning in the way it just flowed.
 
The moment I realized that James Wan (Insidious, The Conjuring, Furious 7) was directing Malignant, I knew it had to be on my list. He is a master of the horror genre and I can’t wait to see what he has in store with this tale of terror.
 
We’ve seen movies before where a character gets premonitions of things happening – but this story takes a different angle on that concept. I’m on the edge of my seat to see how it all plays out. You can imagine I’m fairly giddy that Malignant is releasing on HBO Max along-side its theater run.

10 - My Little Pony: A New Generation (9/24)

Production/Distribution: Entertainment One, Boulder Media, Netflix, Allspark Animation, Hasbro Studios, Hasbro, Central Partnership, Encore Films, Entertainment One, Golden Village Pictures, Intercontinental Film Distributors
Directors: Robert Cullen, José Luis Ucha, Mark Fattibene
Writers: Gillian Berrow, Robert Cullen, Tim Sullivan, José Luis Ucha, Bonnie Zacherle
Actors: Elizabeth Perkins, James Marsden, Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, Kimiko Glenn, Liza Koshy, Michael McKean, Phil LaMarr, Sofia Carson, Vanessa Hudgens
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animation
Rated: PG
Length: 90 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: After the time of the Mane 6, Sunny--a young Earth Pony--and her new Unicorn friend Izzy explore their world and strive to restore Harmony to Equestria.
 
Most of the movies coming out this month are for adults or older kids. The handful of family-friendly productions hitting theaters and streaming in September are absolutely worth it, however.
 
A prime example is Netflix’s new My Little Pony: The Next Generation. My guess is that this is the launch of a new series or perhaps a movie franchise. I’m thankful someone picked up the reins to carry these stories forward after the show airing on cable TV came to its inevitable conclusion.
 
I loved watching My Little Pony n' Friends (1986-1987) when I was little. I even had the pony castle and a handful of the dolls. I’ve enjoyed sharing these shows with my daughter as she gravitated to the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (2010-2020) series all on her own.
 
The new title is right, however, it’s time for some ponies focused on a new generation. Fans of the prior series can still enjoy it, of course. I am pretty sure I saw an Easter Egg in the trailer, just for them! 
 
I am all about the messages of friendship and unity these new ponies with undoubtedly tackle. 
 
9 - Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog (9/14)

Production/Distribution: Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Stretch Films, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Director: Cecilia Aranovich
Writers: John Dilworth, Michael Ryan
Actors: Jeff Bennett, Jeff Bergman, Marty Grabstein, Grey Griffin, Matthew Lillard, Kate Micucci, Chuck Montgomery, Paul Schoeffler, Frank Welker, Thea White
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 78 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: The movie involves Scooby-Doo and his friends finding a strange object in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas, the backwoods hometown of Courage and his owners, Eustace and Muriel Bagge.
 
I will watch anything that has Scooby-Doo in it. That’s just facts.
 
Scooby-Doo has been a fixture in nearly all of my life. Who wouldn’t love a talking Great Dane? In fairness, I do have a few friends that aren’t onboard the Mystery Machine with me, Selina included, but who am I to judge, right? 
 
Unfortunately, I’m afraid I haven’t really watched most of the Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002) series. I’ve seen a few episodes here and there. It’s just been a bit out there for me, and the animation style wasn’t my favorite. That being said, I think that this is a brilliant mashup. So many absolutely bonkers things happen to Courage that it fits right in for the Mystery, Inc. crew. I don’t think you necessarily have to be aware of what happens in Nowhere to enjoy this story.
 
There’s excellent news to share, however, because Matthew Lillard (Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob, Bosch, He's All That) is back in this movie voicing Shaggy. He’s been doing a damn good job of embodying that character since the original voice actor passed away. I was pretty upset they’d replaced him in a movie not too long ago. Apparently, a good number of others were, too. Maybe the studios heard our outcry and corrected their course. Regardless, he’s back!
 
I am glad, too, that they haven’t tried to mess with the voice of Scooby, himself. Frank Welker (Animaniacs, Curious George, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?) is iconically portraying that role. He started off with only voicing Fred when the first show aired in 1969 and has continued to play his part in the majority of the series and productions from that point on. He picked up the voice of Scooby around when the original voice actor passed in 1997. I think there would be torches and pitchforks if they tried to replace him. 
 
It seems that Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog will be heading directly to DVD and digital platforms, so you have several options to enjoy this film once it is released.
 
8 - Night of the Animated Dead (9/21)

Production/Distribution: Warner Bros. Animation, Hemisphere Entertainment, The Long Game, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Warner Brothers Entertainment
Director: Jason Axinn
Writer: John A. Russo
Actors: Josh Duhamel, Katee Sackhoff, Dulé Hill, James Roday, Jimmi Simpson, Katharine Isabelle, Nancy Travis, Stefan Marks, Will Sasso
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 96 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: In Night of the Animated Dead, siblings Barbara and Johnny visit their father's grave in a remote cemetery in Pennsylvania when they are suddenly set upon by zombies. Barbara flees and takes refuge in an abandoned farmhouse along with stranded motorist Ben and four local survivors found hiding in the cellar. Together, the group must fight to stay alive against the oncoming horde of zombies while also confronting their own fears and prejudices.
 
Night of the Animated Dead is simply that – an animated retelling of George A. Romero’s (Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Survival of the Dead) landmark horror film Night of the Living Dead (1968).
 
“They’re coming to get you, Barbara!” Is a movie line that has stuck with me since I first watched it. I think it is probably also the most quoted line from the iconic horror flick.
 
There’s a spectacular cast lined up, and the story is a classic. I can’t wait to watch it. Night of the Animated Dead will be released directly to digital platforms and DVD several days later. I believe it will be available on Amazon Prime Video. From what I’ve seen, however, I am not sure if it will be included with the Prime subscription or at a rental fee.
 
7 - CopShop (9/17)

Production/Distribution: Sculptor Media, Zero Gravity Management, G-BASE, WarParty Films, Raven Capital Management, Open Road Films, Briarcliff Entertainment, Elevation Pictures, Entract Films, Roadshow Films, STX International, The Searchers, BGFilm, Eagle Films
Director: Joe Carnahan
Writers: Kurt McLeod, Joe Carnahan, Mark Williams
Actors: Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Armida Lopez, David Vaughn, J.R. Adduci, Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau, Keith Jardine, Ryan O'Nan, Tait Fletcher, Toby Huss
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 108 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station-but when the hitman turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.
 
When you see the director that had the A-Team (2010) flying a tank has made an action-thriller with Gerard Butler (Machine Gun Preacher, Hunter Killer, Greenland) and Frank Grillo (Point Blank, Hell on the Border, Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard), you know to hold on to your seats. It’s going to be a wild ride.
 
Absolute mayhem would be the first words that came to mind after watching the trailer for CopShop. Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, Stretch, Boss Level) appears to be in fine form here. There’s humor blended in with all of the action.
 
Speaking of humor, the badass yet witty female officer played by Alexis Louder (Harriet, Watchmen, The Tomorrow War) was my favorite element of the trailer. I can’t wait to see her performance in the whole movie.
 
CopShop will be releasing to theaters, though I am unsure whether or not it will be available On-Demand immediately.  
 
6 - Kate (9/10)

Production/Distribution: 87North, Screen Arcade, Netflix
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Writer: Umair Aleem
Actors: Amelia Crouch, Ava Caryofyllis, Elysia Rotaru, Eoin O'Brien, Jun Kunimura, Mari Yamamoto, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michiel Huisman, Miku Patricia Martineau, Miyavi, Patrick Newall, Tadanobu Asano, Ulf Pilblad, Woody Harrelson
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 106 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: A female assassin has 24 hours to get vengeance on her murderer before she dies.
 
September seems to be a great month for kickass female characters. Kate is set to deliver some brutal action as Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Birds of Prey) titular character seeks revenge on her would-be murderer.
 
Aside from the cast, which also includes Michiel Huisman (Orphan Black, The Ottoman Lieutenant, The Age of Adaline) and Woody Harrelson (Seven Psychopaths, True Detective, Midway), I’m excited at what Kate’s director will bring to the table.
 
Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (Snow White and the Huntsman, Maleficent, The Huntsman: Winter's War) hasn’t been a principal director for very long, however, he has lead and supervised VFX for films for most of his career. That means that this movie is going to be gorgeous and well-rendered - if nothing else.
 
You never know what you’re going to get with relatively new writers and directors, however. Sometimes there is magic immediately. I’m hoping that this duo just goes for it, guns blazing with the writer, Umair Aleem’s (Extraction) sophomore screenplay.
 
The good news is that you won’t have to wait to catch Kate. This film is a Netflix Original and will drop directly to that streaming service upon release.
 
5 - Queenpins (9/10)

Production/Distribution: AGC Studios, Marquee Entertainment, Red Hour Films, Elevation Pictures, MM2 Entertainment, STX Films, The Searchers, BGFilm, Eagle Films, Paramount+, Showtime Networks
Directors: Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly
Writers: Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly
Actors: Annie Mumolo, Bebe Rexha, Garrett Wareing, Jack McBrayer, Joel McHale, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Kristen Bell, Marc Evan Jackson, Nick Cassavetes, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Root, Vince Vaughn
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 110 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.
 
I laughed so hard at the trailer for Queenpins.
 
A couple of housewives start a coupon scam to save money and spread the benefits to other coupom clippers... for a fee. 
 
The crazy thing is that it’s said this is based on a true story. I feel like I need to find that news article at some point.
 
I can’t wait to see what shenanigans Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Frozen II, Gossip Girl) and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Why Women Kill, The Good Place, Cruella) are up to, and how they pull off this multi-million dollar coupon heist. There are plenty of other well-known cast members to geek out over, too. 
 
4 - Yakuza Princess (9/3)

Production/Distribution: Filmland International, XYZ Films, Magnet Releasing, Magnolia Pictures, Vortex Media
Director: Vicente Amorim
Writers: Vicente Amorim, Danilo Beyruth, Kimi Lee, Tubaldini Shelling, Fernando Toste
Actors: Charles Paraventi, Eijiro Ozaki, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kenny Leu, Lucas Oranmian, Mariko Takai, MASUMI, Nicolas Trevijano, Toshiji Takeshima, Tsuyoshi Ihara
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 112 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: The heiress to half of the Yakuza crime syndicate forges an uneasy alliance with an amnesiac stranger who believes an ancient sword binds their two fates. She must unleash war against the other half of the syndicate who wants her dead.
 
I love martial arts movies. I love Japan-oriented stories. Yakuza Princess just checks off all sorts of boxes. The story element of fate being tied to a katana is also very interesting and on point for the genre. I have been super excited to watch Yakuza Princess since Selina was able to review it as part of the Fantasia Film Festival recently.
 

You can see her review here: Yakuza Princess.

3 - Dear Evan Hansen (9/24)

Production/Distribution: Marc Platt Productions, Perfect World Pictures, Universal Pictures, Toho-Towa, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International, Flixzilla, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Director: Stephen Chbosky        
Writer: Steven Levenson
Actors: Amandla Stenberg, Amy Adams, Avery Bederman, Ben Platt, Colton Ryan, Danny Pino, DeMarius Copes, Isaac Powell, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Liz Kate, Nik Dodani
Genre: Drama, Musical
Rated: PG-13
Length: 137 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical about Evan Hansen, a high school senior with Social Anxiety disorder and his journey of self-discovery and acceptance following the suicide of a fellow classmate.
 
Mental health is important.
 
So many kids go through school in the same shoes as the main characters in this story. I could really relate on so many levels. You might want to keep some tissue nearby while you watch this one. Not only is it based on a successful musical stage production, the message is powerful, and the music is second to none.
 
Don’t let Dear Evan Hansen pass you by.
 
2 - Cinderella (9/3)

Production/Distribution: Columbia Pictures, DMG Entertainment, Fulwell 73, Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video, Sony Pictures Releasing, Amazon Studios
Director: Kay Cannon
Writer: Kay Cannon
Actors: Billy Porter, Camila Cabello, Charlotte Spencer, Idina Menzel, James Corden, John Mulaney, Maddie Baillio, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Romesh Ranganathan
Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Rated: PG
Length: 113 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: A modern movie musical with a bold take on the classic fairy tale. Our ambitious heroine has big dreams and with the help of her fab Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true.
 
I absolutely adore this new spin on the classic tale. It’s wonderful that they kept the musical format, too. The cast is amazing, and the story takes into account societal updates. Cinderella isn’t a damsel in distress that just needs to be swept away from her horrible family. She has aspirations and dreams to own a business. She has talent and a mind of her own.
 
The sass from the “Fabulous Godmother” in the trailer is absolutely hilarious and I am loving it. Of course, it’s Billy Porter (Like a Boss, Equal, Pose). Enough said, right?
 
I could really ramble on forever, but the point is that this Cinderella is most certainly one to watch, and it will be available on Amazon Prime Video exclusively.
 
1 - Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (9/3)

Production/Distribution: Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios, Fox Studios Australia, Forum Hungary, Kinomania, NOS Audiovisuais, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Italia
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham, Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin
Actors: Alexandre Chen, Andy Le, Awkwafina, Ben Kingsley, Benedict Wong, Calvin Chen, Dallas Liu, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Kelli Bailey, Meng'er Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Paul W. He, Ronny Chieng, Rosalind Chao, Simu Liu, Tim Roth, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Wah Yuen
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes
 
IMDb Blurb: Shang-Chi, the master of unarmed weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
 
I’ll be honest. I am completely unfamiliar with the character highlighted in this MCU movie. Haven’t seen a single comic or heard any stories from MCU fan friends. You know what, though? That’s OK.
 
I don’t think you have to be familiar with the background, origin info, or comic storylines to enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
 
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has me super excited for this next chapter and that it takes us to a new place we haven’t visited before – story-wise at least.
 
Considering the current debacle with Black Widow (2021) and Disney+, it looks like this movie will be in theaters exclusively for 45 days. It should drop on the streaming platform shortly after that for home viewing.
 
MCU movies are always best on the big screen, though, so if you can safely attend a theater near you please do so.

Movies to Look out For

According to: Selina

 

 Night of the Animated Dead .20

The Voyeurs .19

Martyrs Lane .18

The Eyes of Tammy Faye .17

The Card Counter .16

Wild Indian .15

The Duke .14

CopShop .13

Superhost .12

We Need to Do Something .11

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie .10

Queenpins .9

My Little Pony: A New Generation .8

Prisoners of the Ghostland .7

Cinderella .6

Malignant .5

Kate .4

Yakuza Princess .3

Dear Evan Hansen .2

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings .1

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

We found an unsafe image on this post, so we've removed all media from this part of the page for your safety. Never give out any personal information to a site you don't know, or that does not begin with "https"

Streaming Services: HBO Max
Movie Name/Year: Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Length: 100 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Film Rites, NOS Audiovisuais, New Line Cinema, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, HBO Max
Director: Taylor Sheridan
Writer:  Michael Koryta, Charles Leavitt, Taylor Sheridan
Actors: Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon Bernthal, Aidan Gillen, Nicholas Hoult, Jake Weber, Medina Senghore, Tyler Perry, Boots Shoutherland, Tory Kittles, James Jordan, Lora Martinez-Cunningham, Howard Ferguson Jr., Ryan Jason Cook, Laura Niemi
 
Blurb from IMDb: A teenage murder witness finds himself pursued by twin assassins in the Montana wilderness with a survival expert tasked with protecting him -- and a forest fire threatening to consume them all.

Selina’s Point of View:
The trailer really made Those Who Wish Me Dead seem epic. On top of that, I haven’t really seen many Angelina Jolie (Maleficent, Wanted, Changeling) flicks in a while, and Jon Bernthal (The Peanut Butter Falcon, The Punisher, Baby Driver) is always a bad-ass. So, I was looking forward to it.
 
By about 30 minutes in, I thought there was a bit of a bait and switch thing happening.
 
After a couple of really powerful scenes to start with, it felt like nothing was happening. When something engaging did happen, it was based around an oft-repeated flashback. Which is a problem for me.
 
Whenever a movie replays a single flashback as many times as this one did, it feels heavy-handed. Like the creators just don’t trust the audience to get what they should have from it, so they need to force it a bit more down their throat. I don’t like that. It immediately turns me off.
 
However, the film does pick up.

After the slow burn of the first half (no pun intended), the rest of it is non-stop intensity.
 
The main characters face the elements, antagonists, and even each other. I no longer felt the passing of time as I watched.
 
I was completely invested in how the story would turn out for everyone involved. I felt my chest tighten with nerves, I was relieved where there was success, and grief-stricken with the failures. I felt just about everything the creators wanted me to feel as the credits rolled.
 
The acting was as great as I expected it to be – maybe better. Aside from Jolie and Bernthal, there was Nicholas Hoult (The Banker, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Favourite) and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, Project Blue Book, Peaky Blinders) – both respected actors that absolutely killed their antagonist roles (still no pun intended). I REALLY loved the arc that Medina Senghore (The Three Way, Happy!, Keeping Company) got to play out, and she was absolutely flawless in it. Even the teen actor, Finn Little (Reckoning, Angel of Mine, Storm Boy), was on point.
 
I think this film will stick with me for a bit. I do think it could have been cut by about 15 minutes, but the end product is still decent.

Cat’s Point of View:
The world tends to be on fire a lot these days. It was only a matter of time until flames became the backdrop for mainstream media productions with more regularity. This particular movie is an adaptation of the 2014 book by author Michael Koryta. It’s Koryta’s first adapted work, but there are more on the way, it seems.
 
Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with this author, and so I am unable to offer insight as to whether or not the film sufficiently or successfully brought the story to life. What I can tell you is that I was intrigued.
 
One of the big draws to this story was the cast involved in bringing it to the screen.
 
Angelina Jolie got to tap into quite a bit from the spectrum of her range here – motherly protector, bad-ass, and tragic heroine – specifically.  I was absolutely here for it. Aidan Gillen was in his comfort zone as a slimy and ruthless character, and Jon Bernthal absolutely brought what I was hoping for to his character. My only disappointment in this department was that Tyler Perry had such a small blip of time on the screen in comparison. It was effective, sure, but let me down a little. When a name that big is associated with a film, you tend to expect an expansive role to showcase their talent.

The fire effects were very realistic. I felt hot just watching this as if the screen could radiate the intensity of the forest fire blazing through. The action was really solid, too. The story had a few holes but nothing was too big to prevent the enjoyment of the movie, at least.
 
Overall, the story was fairly basic where it comes to a ‘being chased by assassins’ sort of plot. The fire and a few twists along the way did elevate it a bit, but not by a huge margin.
 
I did appreciate the redemption aspect involved. Don’t get me wrong, though. I enjoyed it. I am just unsure if I’ll remember all the details after time passes a bit. It just didn’t hit me as hard or resonate as deeply with me as other fire-themed movies of the past have – such as Always (1989) or Backdraft (1991).
 
Even so, I’d still have no problem offering a recommendation for Those Who Wish Me Dead. It’s a solid bet in the entertainment department. HBO Max also makes it easily accessible to anyone with a subscription, if theaters aren’t available in your area yet.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 64%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – 60/100
Metacritic User Score – 5.6/10
IMDB Score – 6.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Streaming Services: HBO Max
Movie Name/Year: Mortal Kombat (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Length: 110 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: New Line Cinema, NetherRealm Studios, Atomic Monster, Broken Road Productions, Karo Premiere, Universal Pictures International, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max
Director: Simon McQuoid
Writer: Greg Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel, Greg Russo, Ed Boon, John Tobias
Actors: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, Mehcad Brooks, Matilda Kimber, Laura Brent, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroyuki Sanada, Chin Han, Ludi Lin, Max Huang, Sisi Stringer, Mel Jarnson, Nathan Jones, Daniel Nelson, Ian Streetz, Yukiko Shinohara, Ren Miyagawa, Mia Hall, Angus Sampson, Damon Herriman
 
Blurb from IMDb: MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

Selina’s Point of View:
I’m so glad I didn’t see this in theaters for my first watch.
 
Don’t get me wrong, seeing it on the big screen would be a hell of an experience, but I was 100% unable to control my excitement the whole time. I was whooping, and laughing, and making all sorts of noises that would have been unacceptable at the theater.
 
I get my second vaccine in a couple of days, then I’ll be hitting my local theater for a second viewing.
 
This right here is the R-rated masterpiece that fans always deserved.
 
I’ll admit that it’s not perfect. There are a few bits that felt awkward or strangely acted. Like it tried to be campy in those parts but missed the mark. Those moments were noticeable, but not nearly enough to ruin the effect of the entire thing.
 
Cole Young, the main character of the film – portrayed by Lewis Tan (Sacrifice, Mortal Kombat X: Generations, Iron Fist), has not appeared in any games. He adds an unknown factor, and I’m glad they included him. However, it does mean there’s a bit of an ‘origin story’ feel at times.
 
Mortal Kombat, like the games, pulled no punches. It was brutal. Fatalities were included, and they were just as insane as they are in the games. There was blood, gore, and death. It was glorious.
 
The graphics were such an upgrade. Obviously, that was expected. The original film was made in the 90s. Technology has come a long way. Still, it was nice to see that the production company, and creative team, took the flick seriously enough to put together such a gorgeous film.
 

Any time there was lightning, flames, ice, or any other ability, on screen – it appeared flawlessly. Even Goro looked really realistic.
 
Most of the actors perfectly fit their characters.
 
I raved about the images of Sisi Stringer (Bloody Hell, Children of the Corn, Matt Gaffney Must Die) as Mileena before the film came out. She could have used a bit more screen time, and she was great, but she certainly wasn’t the best of them.
 
Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl, True Blood, A Fall from Grace) as Jax was absolutely perfect. In pictures, I wasn’t sure how well he translated into the character, but in motion he was Jax. There was no one else who could have been more Jax.
 
Josh Lawson (The Little Death, Long Story Short, Holly Slept Over), also, fully embodied Kano. He added a much-appreciated dose of comedy. Without that, the brutality might have been a bit much. Joe Taslim (Star Trek Beyond, The Raid: Redemption, Fast & Furious 6) did great at making Sub-Zero threatening and terrifying. He had the intimidation aspect down. Max Huang (Police Story: Lockdown, Time Raiders, Sense8) brought Kung Lao to life and humanized him. Huang made the character feel relatable, but still almost untouchable.
 
I could go on and on about the cast. I wasn’t overly in love with the way Liu Kang was portrayed, but there were no other flaws that I could see.
 
It was a good film. It honored the feel of the controversial Mortal Kombat series. It didn’t seek to remove that controversy, and it gave fans what we wanted.
 
It paid complete respect to the games while still bringing a new life to the story. This is what a video game movie should be.
 
Production companies should take note.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
I have been giddily anticipating the release of this new Mortal Kombat since I first heard about it. I have been a fan of the franchise for a long time.
 
While I was lacking gaming consoles in my youth (unless using a friend or relative’s), I did enjoy playing the original Mortal Kombat game when I found it in arcade settings. It was an iconic and controversial game that had fans clamoring for it and parents railing against the graphic violence. When the original movie released in the summer of 1995, just before my senior year of high school, it was the hot ticket in town. I still listen to some of the songs from the soundtrack today.
 
Of course, that first movie, while satisfying at the time, did have significant room for improvement. I’ve often questioned the casting choice for Lord Raiden. I love Christopher Lambert (Bel Canto, Shadow of the Wolf, The Blacklist), but really? Of course, his signature raspy voice was what likely garnered him the role. He’s still voicing the iconic character in subsequent iterations of the game – most recently Mortal Kombat 11 (2019). I was over the moon when I saw that this new production was getting a more culturally appropriate upgrade with Tadanobu Asano (Battleship, Thor: Ragnarok, Midway) in the electrifying role.
 
Honestly, hats off to the casting of this movie. They really hit it out of the park with this one. I could prattle on about them forever. I’ll spare you that, though, and hit the highlights.
 
First, the martial arts talent is off the chart. Both Ludi Lin (Power Rangers, Aquaman, The Ghost Bride) and Max Huang, playing Liu Kang and Kung Lau respectively, are both former members of Jackie Chan’s (Rush Hour, The Foreigner, Iron Mask) stunt team ‘family.’ Their training with Chan was a considerable asset to the film, especially since Huang was able to draw on that training background in order to assist in making the fight choreography better. While I wasn’t able to dig up the information on the whole cast, I can confirm that they, as well as the actors for Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi, and Cole Young all have extensive martial arts backgrounds and perform their own fight scenes and stunts.
 
Cole Young is an original character introduced by this movie, but I am a huge fan of the actor that plays him already. Lewis Tan caught my attention during Into the Badlands (2015-2019) and Wu Assassins (2019-). He is well-deserving of this role here. While some of the iconic characters from the video game franchise didn’t make it into this movie, I think the reboot benefited from a little bit of ‘fresh blood’ with a new take on the story.
 

I was also doing fangirl cartwheels internally when I saw that Hiroyuki Sanada (47 Ronin, Helix, The Catcher Was a Spy) was cast here as Hanzo Hasashi. He’s one of my favorite Japanese actors and his range is phenomenal – both dramatically and in action scenes.
 
As I said, I could ramble forever. Though, I’ll try to reign myself in by switching up here. Let’s talk setting and special effects.
 
This Mortal Kombat film is said to be the biggest budgeted movie to film in South Australia, and I think they got a lot of bang out of those budget bucks because of the location. The use of the scenery to give a remote and otherworldly feel to the film was amazing. Further, the special effects weren’t too over-the-top. They enhanced the supernatural aspects of the film – such as Raiden’s lightning, Sub Zero’s ice, and Liu Kang’s fire, etc. – without making things cheesy. It’s said that the director wanted to use as little green-screen as possible.
 
Some might wonder about the well-known brutality of the fatalities involved with the fighting. Mortal Kombat pulled no punches with those. There’s a lot of blood and gore to be had with some of these fights. This film is definitely deserving of its R-rating. Keep the little kids out of the room when you watch this one.
 
I am seriously impressed that this was Simon McQuoid’s directorial debut. Of course, he did have a great team of producers to back him up – including James Wan (Insidious, Furious 7, Aquaman). I’m definitely looking forward to what he has in store for us in the future, and hope that there is a sequel in the works, at the very least.
 
For anyone that had any doubts about this new iteration of the beloved game franchise translating to the movie screen, I can assure you that this movie didn’t disappoint at all. I’m not even mad about the characters that were absent from this story – because that leaves room for more stories in the future. The ending here certainly left room for that to happen. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
 
I have a feeling that this is going to be the next movie to break pandemic box office records, considering the trailer alone has already smashed streaming records. If you have the chance to safely see it on the big screen, I encourage you to do so. Otherwise, HBO Max is an excellent alternative.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 56%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 89%
Metascore – 44/100
Metacritic User Score – 6.1/10
IMDB Score – 6.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In November (2019)

According to: Cat

20 - Primal (11/8)

Production/Distribution: Daniel Grodnik Productions, The Wonderfilm Media Corporation, Imprint Entertainment, Artem Entertainment, Pimienta, Dutch FilmWorks, Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Director: Nick Powell

Writer: Richard Leder

Actors: Nicolas Cage, Famke Janssen, Kevin Durand, Michael Imperioli, LaMonica Garrett, Tommy Walker, Rey Hernandez, John Lewis

Genre: Action

Rated: R

Length: 97 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A big-game hunter for zoos has booked passage on a Greek shipping freighter with a fresh haul of exotic and deadly animals from the Amazon, including a rare white Jaguar - along with a political assassin being extradited to the U.S in secret. Two days into the journey, the assassin escapes and releases the captive animals, throwing the ship into chaos.

This movie just looks like a lot of fun. I’m interested to see how the animals play into the chaos, and Kevin Durand (Dark Was the Night, Tragedy Girls, The Strain) as a jacked bad guy is awesome. I can’t wait to see him face off (no pun intended) with Nicolas Cage (The Croods, Between Worlds, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).

Bonus? We’re throwing Famke Janssen (Hemlock Grove, Status Update, The Poison Rose) into the mix. This could go one of two ways for her character – either casualty or heroine survivor that helps Cage’s character take down the big bad. What’s your guess for how this plays out?

As with any Cage movie, there’s an element of rolling the dice for whether or not this is one of the ‘good ones’ or one that will leave you with that cringey feeling. I’m really hoping that this is the former.

19 - Playing with Fire (11/8)

Production/Distribution: Paramount Pictures, Broken Road Productions, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Players, Walden Media, Viacom 18 Studios, Central Partnership, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures International

Director: Andy Fickman

Writers: Dan Ewen, Matt Lieberman

Actors: John Cena, Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery, Judy Greer, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Dennis Haysbert, Tyler Mane

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Family

Rated: PG

Length: 96 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A crew of rugged firefighters meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids.

It would seem that a comedy involving forest fires might be a bit much right now, with the current ones charring communities in California. Sometimes, however, it is a bit therapeutic to take something horrific and find a lighter spin to it just to take the edge off. The timing of this one with all things considered is really why it’s this far ‘down’ on my list this month.

Aside from the touchy topic and timing, this movie should be rather hilarious and entertaining. The cast is star-studded with many talented comedic actors. Then there’s John Cena (Ferdinand, Bumblebee, Fighting with My Family), another WWE wrestler that has transitioned to box office gold.

He’s no stranger to comedy, even in the ring. His film repertoire has been expanding of late. He’s proven he can handle a little of everything from action to voice work. Pitting him in a ‘serious’ action-type role vs a bunch of unruly kids? Let the laughs begin.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s a rite of passage involving movies with kids or kid-themes for our burly action-types. Look at successful actors that have come before. For example Vin Diesel (Riddick, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Avengers: Infinity War) had The Pacifier (2005) and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Pain & Gain, Moana, Skyscraper) had Tooth Fairy (2010). I think the trend may have started with Arnold Schwarzenegger (Escape Plan, Maggie, Aftermath) way back in the ’90s with Kindergarten Cop (1990). It’s a winning formula! I digress…

The trailers are hilarious for Playing with Fire and I am looking forward to all of the firehouse shenanigans.

18 - Earthquake Bird (11/1)

Production/Distribution: Scott Free Productions, Twenty First City, Netflix

Director: Wash Westmoreland

Writers: Susanna Jones, Wash Westmoreland

Actors: Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough, Jack Huston, Kiki Sukezane, Ken Yamamura, Naoki Kobayashi

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Rated: R

Length: 106 minutes

IMDb Blurb: An enigmatic translator with a dark past is brought in for questioning after an ex-pat friend, who came between her and her photographer boyfriend ends up missing and presumed dead.

I’ve been a little on the fence with this movie and its listing here. However, it stuck with me after viewing the trailer so I can’t deny the potential for this film. The cast is interesting, and I am intrigued by the story and the mystery of it. I also like the fact that it’s set in Japan. Their culture is so rich and steeped in history, and is fascinating to me. I’m curious to see how this story unfolds.

17 - The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (11/15)

Production/Distribution: Cayenne Pepper Productions, Dune Films, Roadside Attractions

Director: Swati Bhise

Writers: Swati Bhise, Devika Bhise, Olivia Emden

Actors: Devika Bhise, Derek Jacobi, Rupert Everett, Jodhi May, Nathaniel Parker, Ben Lamb, Sonia Albizuri, Arif Zakaria, Siyaa Patil, Auroshika Dey

Genre: Historical Drama

Rated: R

Length: 102 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A tale of women's empowerment, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of Lakshmibai, the historic Queen of Jhansi who fiercely led her army against the British East India Company in the infamous mutiny of 1857.

This month we are in for a treat! There are multiple movies featuring badass ladies whom were women of historical significance. This is one of them.

I’ll admit that I don’t know much about India’s history, but this story is one that should resonate well even without prior knowledge. It’s the universal fight for freedom and defending one’s homeland. This time, it’s a fierce queen and an army including female warriors leading the charge into the fray.

This has all the elements for a great historical drama and action movie.

16 - Arctic Dogs (11/1)

Production/Distribution: AMBI Group, Arctic Justice Movie, Assemblage Entertainment, QMI, CJ Entertainment, Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures, Volga, Falcon Films, Film Medya

Director: Aaron Woodley

Writers: Bob Barlen, Cal Brunker, Matthew Lyon, Bryan Thompson, Aaron Woodley

Actors: Jeremy Renner, Heidi Klum, James Franco, John Cleese, Omar Sy, Michael Madsen, Laurie Holden, Anjelica Huston, Alec Baldwin

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated: PG

Length: 92 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Swifty the Arctic Fox (Jeremy Renner) works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service, but he has much bigger dreams. He yearns to become a Top Dog, the Arctic's star husky couriers. To prove he can do it, he commandeers one of the sleds and delivers a mysterious package to a secret location. Once there, he stumbles on a hidden fortress overseen by the nefarious Otto Von Walrus (John Cleese)... [and] discovers Otto Von Walrus' villainous plan...

There were two animated movies that were vying for this position on my list. I’d have to say that the other movie would have fit in just as well here, so if you want to check out Klaus (2019), it’s opening this month as well. However, I couldn’t resist the pull to placing this movie on my list.

Why? The answer is John Cleese (Rat Race, Trolls, The Littlest Reindeer). When he’s involved in a project, that will always be my answer. Here, he’s playing the villain – and he makes for a hilariously wonderful one, at that.

Don’t get me wrong, the rest of the cast is on point. This should be a great and adorable family movie. Looking for something to do with the kids while they’re out for Thanksgiving break? This should still be in the theaters then – but it’s also one that you can enjoy right away.

15 - The Good Liar (11/15)

Production/Distribution: BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros.

Director: Bill Condon

Writers: Jeffrey Hatcher, Nicholas Searle

Actors: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Jim Carter, Russell Tovey, Mark Lewis Jones, Lily Dodsworth-Evans, Phil Dunster, Michael Culkin, Celine Buckens

Genre: Drama

Rated: R

Length: 109 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Career con artist Roy Courtnay can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.

November has a little something for everyone at the box office. This movie is worth giving a shot for its cast alone. Here, we have cinematic royalty with Sir Ian McKellen (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Mr. Holmes, Beauty and the Beast) and Dame Helen Mirren (RED, Winchester, Anna) starring in this film’s lead roles.

Both are so phenomenally talented that, even though I don’t often watch pure drama, I am looking forward to this movie based on their performances alone. Now add to that the fact that they’re essentially locked in a game of wits in the story as con man and would-be victim. I am dying to find out if she is able to turn the tables on him or not.

14 - Dark Waters (11/22)

Production/Distribution: Killer Films, Participant, Focus Features, WW Entertainment, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group

Director: Todd Haynes

Writers: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Mario Correa, Nathaniel Rich

Actors: Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, William Jackson Harper, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber, Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Louisa Krause, Chaney Morrow, Daniel R. Hill, Marc Hockl, Kevin Crowley, Scarlett Hicks, John Newberg

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated: PG-13

Length: Unknown

IMDb Blurb: A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.

Environmental issues aren’t exactly at the forefront of the concerns of our elected officials in Washington. This movie’s story is inspired by actual events. When you have something with such an impact, you have to keep putting it in the spotlight. (Yes, pun intended.)

It’s an underdog tale of every-man standing up to major corporations. When you add in the excellent cast bringing the story to life and then add a little thriller flare to it, there’s a recipe there for a satisfying movie experience.

13 - Motherless Brooklyn (11/1)

Production/Distribution: Class 5 Films, MWM Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros., Karo Premiere

Director: Edward Norton

Writers: Jonathan Lethem, Edward Norton

Actors: Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Cherry Jones, Dallas Roberts, Josh Pais

Genre: Crime, Drama

Rated: R

Length: 144 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York, Motherless Brooklyn follows Lionel Essrog, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna.

I was initially on the fence about this film. It has steadily grown on me after watching so many of the trailers airing on television. As Edward Norton’s (Leaves of Grass, The Dictator, Isle of Dogs) character says in one such clip, it ‘keeps pulling on that thread.’

At first, I thought this was going to be something along the lines of Rain Man (1988) thrust into some sort of crime drama – but it became clear after watching another trailer version that Norton’s character isn’t necessarily mentally delayed – he has Tourette’s. Further, the film is showing how his character is overcoming the challenges of his condition to be a P.I. in an era where such conditions were significantly less accepted in society than today. It seems that the subject matter was treated respectfully, considering Norton consulted with and also received the approval of Tourette's Association of America.

The rest of the cast has some heavy hitters, as well. I’m intrigued with the story and eagerly anticipate figuring out what happened to Norton’s character’s friend.

12 - Judy & Punch (11/15)

Production/Distribution: Vice Media, Pariah Productions, Blue-Tongue Films, Samuel Goldwyn Films

Director: Mirrah Foulkes

Writer: Mirrah Foulkes

Actors: Mia Wasikowska, Damon Herriman, Benedict Hardie, Eddie Baroo, Virginia Gay, Tom Budge, Amy Christian, Don Bridges, Kiruna Stamell, Terry Norris

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Rated: Unrated

Length: 105 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Seaside (nowhere near the sea), puppeteers Judy and Punch are trying to resurrect their marionette show in an anarchic town on the brink of mob rule.

This one hits me right in the childhood. My grandfather had a large hard-back book of classic newspaper cartoon collections. I spent a good deal of time when I was little poring over those pages. It was one of my favorite pastimes at my grandparents’ house. Punch & Judy was one of the cartoons featured in the book. I don’t have much recollection about details from the comic strips aside from the characters were puppets, and they were rather violent – whacking each other with clubs.

Imagine my surprise when a movie pops up seemingly based on those characters. I’m sold. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they’ve done with the story.

11 - Noelle (11/12)

Production/Distribution: Walt Disney Pictures, Disney+, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Television

Director: Marc Lawrence

Writer: Marc Lawrence

Actors: Anna Kendrick, Billy Eichner, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Hagerty, Chelah Horsdal, Alvina August, Burgess Jenkins, Michael Gross, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Anthony Konechny, Anna Van Hooft, Diana Maria Riva, Ron Funches, Lina Renna, Lisa Chandler, Alison Araya, Dakota Guppy, Kayden Magnuson

Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Rated: G

Length: Unknown

RottenTomatoes Blurb: After Santa Claus decides to retire and his son gets cold feet on Christmas Eve, it falls to his daughter Noelle to take over the family business.

I am so excited that Disney is releasing a G-rated movie for this Holiday Season. Of course, this movie is going to be among the original content releasing with the launch of Disney+ streaming platform this month. They should really get a lot of bang for their buck, considering the talented cast featuring Anna Kendrick (Digging for Fire, Table 19, A Simple Favor) as the lead.

The trailer is hilarious and I’m just going to toss it out there right now that this may become a new family holiday tradition movie to watch together.

10 - Ford v Ferrari (11/15)

Production/Distribution: Chernin Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 20th Century Fox Argentina, 20th Century Fox Brazil, 20th Century Fox España, Forum Hungary, Imperial / Cinepix, Walt Disney Studios Japan

Director: James Mangold

Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Jason Keller

Actors: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone

Genre: Action, Biography, Drama

Rated: PG-13

Length: 152 minutes

IMDb Blurb: American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

While this isn’t a NASCAR movie, there’s sure to be quite a bit of automotive action going on in this historical drama. I’m a bit of a gear-head and enjoy classic cars. This film hits all the right notes for me. I’m interested at the outset.

Then combine the cast with the story and the talent is there to get this movie to the finish line. It’s got some stiff competition this month, though.

9 - Harriet (11/1)

Production/Distribution: Martin Chase Productions, New Balloon, Perfect World Pictures, Stay Gold Features, Focus Features, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures International, Universal Pictures

Director: Kasi Lemmons

Writers: Gregory Allen Howard, Kasi Lemmons

Actors: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Tim Guinee, Leslie Odom Jr., Vondie Curtis-Hall, Joe Alwyn, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Clarke Peters, Tory Kittles, Alexis Louder, Henry Hunter Hall, Zackary Momoh

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated: PG-13

Length: 125 minutes

IMDb Blurb: The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

I think the blurb says it all, really. I’m happy to see that this is getting a big-screen treatment. I hope to get a chance to see it in the theaters so I can show my support via the box office count.

8 - Charlie’s Angels (11/15)

Production/Distribution: Columbia Pictures, Brownstone Productions, 2.0 Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Perfect World Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Filmverleih, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures International

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Writers: Elizabeth Banks, Evan Spiliotopoulos, David Auburn, Carlo Bernard, Semi Chellas, Ivan Goff, Craig Mazin, Ben Roberts, Doug Miro, Jay Basu

Actors: Sam Claflin, Kristen Stewart, Patrick Stewart, Djimon Hounsou, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Nat Faxon, Noah Centineo

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Length: 119 minutes

IMDb Blurb: When a young systems engineer blows the whistle on a dangerous technology, Charlie's Angels are called into action, putting their lives on the line to protect us all.

I was relieved when I realized that this wasn’t a remake, but rather a continuation of the existing stories by expanding the Angels – both by drawing in new characters and giving the organization a more fleshed out view. This is a team on the level of MI-6 or something along those lines, rather than just a handful of kickass bombshells getting missions from an intercom speaker.

The movie looks like a lot of fun and should be a great way to unwind as the Holiday Season begins to ramp up.

7 - Midway (11/8)

Production/Distribution: Bona Film Group, Centropolis Entertainment, The Mark Gordon Company, Starlight Culture Entertainment Group, Starlight Culture Entertainment, RuYi Media,Salem Street Entertainment, Entertainment One, AGC Studios, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Central Partnership, Diamond Films, Dutch FilmWorks, Eagle Pictures, Elevation Pictures, Golden Village Pictures, Kinepolis Film Distribution, Lionsgate UK, Lionsgate, Metropolitan Filmexport, Mongkol Major, Monolith Films, Noori Pictures, Pro Video Film & Distribution Kft., Ukrainian Film Distribution, United International Pictures, Universum Film, GEM Entertainment

Director: Roland Emmerich

Writer: Wes Tooke

Actors: Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans, Ed Skrein, Aaron Eckhart, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Patrick Wilson, Tadanobu Asano, Alexander Ludwig, Nick Jonas, Darren Criss, Christie Brooke, Rachael Perrell Fosket

Genre: Action, Drama, History, War

Rated: PG-13

Length: 138 minutes

IMDb Blurb: The story of the Battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the sailors who fought it.

I applaud the production team for focusing on true stories and accounts of real soldiers that served through the Battle of Midway. It appears that great care was taken in the visuals as well as the stories themselves. With the stellar cast on board for this one, it should be a memorable experience in honor of those who fought so bravely.

6 - 21 Bridges (11/22)

Production/Distribution: AGBO, Huayi Brothers Pictures, MWM Studios, STX Entertainment, Concorde Filmverleih, Golden Village Pictures, Joy n Cinema, Megogo Distribution, Metropolitan Filmexport, Monolith, Roadshow Films, The Searchers, VVS Films, Viva International Pictures, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Film & TV House, GEM Entertainment

Director: Brian Kirk

Writers: Adam Mervis, Matthew Michael Carnahan

Actors: Sienna Miller, J.K Simmons, Chadwick Boseman, Keith David, Taylor Kitsch, Stephan James, Gary Carr, Victoria Cartagena, Jamie Neumann, Toby Hemingway

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated: Unrated

Length: 99 minutes

IMDb Blurb: An embattled NYPD detective is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy.

Intense is the first word that comes to mind after watching the trailer for this movie. The film seems to promise heavy helpings from all of the genres it draws from for this recipe for entertainment.

I was hooked right away and am invested in seeing how this all plays out. The mind boggles at the level of coordination and manpower it would take to literally close off all the bridges and tunnels in New York City.

5 - Knives Out (11/27)

Production/Distribution: FilmNation Entertainment, Ram Bergman Productions, Media Rights Capital, Lionsgate, T-Street, 01 Distribution, Aurum Producciones, Belga Films, BfParis, CJ CGV Viet Nam, Cineplex, Concorde Filmverleih, Encore Films, Golden Village Pictures, Independent Films, Lionsgate UK, Metropolitan Filmexport, Mongrel Media, Paris Filmes, Victor Loewy, bf Distribution, Eagle Films, GEM Entertainment, JL Vision Film

Director: Rian Johnson

Writer: Rian Johnson

Actors: Toni Collette, Daniel Craig, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Lakeith Stanfield, Don Johnson, Edi Patterson, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Riki Lindhome, Frank Oz

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery

Rated: PG-13

Length: 130 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

I have been eagerly anticipating this movie ever since I ran across a video of some cast interviews. This cast, by the by, is absolutely bonkers in the best way. I remember being rather amused that Chris Evans (The Avengers, Snowpiercer, The Red Sea Diving Resort) mentioned having so much fun playing a person of questionable morals after so many years on the screen as wholesome and squeaky-clean roles such as his Marvel Comic superhero persona. Of course, I had to look up the info on the film to see what he was talking about. I was instantly hooked.

Knives Out promises to be a wild ride of dark comedy and the thrill of mystery. I can’t wait for the tale to unravel and the culprit’s reveal. Give the trailer a peek and see if you have any initial guesses.

4 - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (11/22)

Production/Distribution: Big Beach Films, Tencent Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Affirm Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures International

Director: Marielle Heller

Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster

Actors: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Tammy Blanchard, Wendy Makkena, Enrico Colantoni, Christine Lahti, Susan Kelechi Watson, Maddie Corman, Maryann Plunkett, Noah Harpster, Kevin L. Johnson, Carmen Cusack, Rebecca Watson

Genre: Biography, Drama

Rated: Unrated

Length: 107 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod... After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America's most beloved neighbor.

I am ridiculously excited to see this movie. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001) was such a wonderful and warm part of my childhood, and holds such a dear place in my heart. Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was such a special person that brought much kindness, understanding, and hope to multiple generations through his television shows, personal appearances and just him being himself.

On top of that, Tom Hanks (A Hologram for the King, Inferno, The Post) was the perfect actor to portray Mr. Rogers on the screen. I honestly don’t know of anyone else that could even come close to filling those shoes. Hanks is able to capture that warm-fuzziness and radiated kindness in a way that few can.

While this film isn’t a biopic focusing solely on Rogers, it does seem to revolve around the bigger picture – his legacy. The movie tells the story of how he befriended a critic – it’s a testament on how his kind heart and inclusive world-view changed and enriched lives.

This is a definite must-see for me.

3 - Frozen II (11/22)

Production/Distribution: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, B&H Film Distribution, Walt Disney Studios Japan, Walt Disney Studios Sony Pictures Releasing, Forum Hungary

Directors: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck

Writers: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Robert Lopez, Marc Smith

Actors: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Jason Ritter, Alan Tudyk, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, Ciarán Hinds, Martha Plimpton, Alfred Molina, Santino Fontana

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated: PG

Length: 103 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.

Frozen (2013) was a refreshing spin on the usual fairytale tropes. It was one of the first movies to buck the fantasy cartoon princess love at first sight trend. Then there’s Olaf. All the Olaf.

I’m excited that we’re re-visiting this enchanted story-verse to share more adventures with the royal sisters. I am hoping this sequel fares better than the majority of Disney-hit follow-ups.

Even if it’s not as brilliant as the first movie, it will provide lots of wonderful family fun just in time for the beginning of the Holiday Season.

2 - Terminator: Dark Fate (11/1)

Production/Distribution: Tencent Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Lightstorm Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Skydance Media, TSG Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Argentina, 20t h Century Fox Brazil, 20th Century Fox de Venezuela, Big Picture 2 Films, Cinecolor Films, Forum Hungary, Galaxy Distributors, Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E., Imperial / Cinepix, Nordisk Film, Odeon, Press Play Pictures, Ukrainian Film Distribution, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Director: Tim Miller

Writers: James Cameron, Charles H. Eglee, Josh Friedman, David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray, Gale Anne Hurd

Actors: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna, Diego Boneta, Ferran Fernández, Tristán Ulloa, Tomy Alvarez, Tom Hopper, Enrique Arce, Manuel Pacific, Fraser James, Pedro Rudolphi, Diego Marínez, Kevin Medina, Steven Cree

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated: R

Length: 128 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young girl from a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future.

The Terminator (1984) franchise is one of those that has just permanently etched itself into my personal cinematic landscape. I love the movies, even if some were better than others. It’s one of those iconic brands that has filtered into our every-day lives. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard or have said a comment regarding the ‘rise of the machines.’  This is, after all, the franchise that coined the immortal phrase ‘I’ll be back.’

I am even more excited that this new movie is going old-school and bringing back the cast combo that started it all with Linda Hamilton (Chuck, Bad Behavior, Curvature) joining Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Expendables, Sabotage, Killing Gunther). Not only that, but with this film ret-conning all the movies from 3 forward, assigning them to alternate timelines; this story picks up as the direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

That really feels like a great move on James Cameron’s (True Lies, Titanic, Avatar) part. It seems some of the more successful elements from the other movies may be incorporated with this one, given the few nuggets of information given by the trailers and promotional interviews. Whether that’s so or not, I have to give kudos to the Terminator saga for giving us some wonderful badass female roles. Director Tim Miller (Rockfish, Deadpool, Love Death & Robots) has some big shoes to fill, but I have faith in him. Even though this is only his second full-length feature film, he has made quite the impression with his body of work to-date. He also has Cameron in his corner on the production team, so I’m expecting good things.

For anyone who is just joining the adventure of this series, you can catch up with The Terminator available to watch for free on YouTube, as well as listed with other streaming services such as Netflix, VUDU, and Amazon. T2: Judgement Day is also available via the same services, but also via Xfinity cable subscription. I’m probably going to have a mini-marathon before going to see this new movie, just for fun. I can’t wait!

1 - Doctor Sleep (11/8)

Production/Distribution: Warner Bros. Pictures, Intrepid Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Warner Bros., Karo Premiere, Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais

Director: Mike Flanagan

Writers: Stephen King, Mike Flanagan

Actors: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Jacob Tremblay, Carel Struycken, Emily Alyn Lind, Zahn McClarnon, Cliff Curtis, Bruce Greenwood, Chelsea Talmadge, Alex Essoe, Carl Lumbly, Jocelin Donahue

Genre: Horror

Rated: R

Length: 151 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Years following the events of "The Shining," a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

I practically had to flip a coin to decide which movie to list as my #1 this month. Doctor Sleep won by a narrow margin. I have been dying to see this sequel, and also quite intrigued when I realized that the film references the Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket) version of The Shining (1980). Stephen King (The Stand, The Green Mile, Castle Rock) is well known for his distaste for that adaptation – so much so that it’s become a piece of pop culture, itself. (Prime example: Ready Player One (2018).)

Doctor Sleep’s director apparently convinced King that audiences view that version of The Shining as an iconic piece of cinema, and would find the sequel amiss without references thereto. Bravo good sir.

The little tidbits that nodded to Kubrick’s film were spine-tingling when intermingled with the ‘current time’ experiences of Danny Torrance. I, as well as many fans, have long wondered what happened to The Shining’s characters after-the-fact. The novel version of the sequel is, of course, on my infamous to-read list. One of these days, my precious… I digress.

My point is that I can’t comment as to whether or not this seems like it’s following events faithfully, but I’d say that if the movie has King’s blessing it must be pretty close. Both the cast and trailers have me very excited. I hope to see this one in a theater so I won’t have to wait so long for it to hit a streaming service. 

Movies to Look out For

According to: Selina

Ford v Ferrari .20

Midway .19

Honey Boy .18

Klaus .17

The Shed .16

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi .15

Motherless Brooklyn .14

Noelle .13

To Be of Service .12

Judy & Punch .11

The Irishman .10

Knives Out .9

Terminator: Dark Fate .8

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood .7

Charlie's Angels .6

I Lost My Body .5

21 Bridges .4

Harriet .3

Frozen II .2

Doctor Sleep .1

FAQ:

              What makes a movie eligible for Trust the Dice’s Top 20?