Movies to Look Forward to - December 2018

The end of the year is in sight and just one more motnh left for new movies to be released. Here are the movies to look forward to in the month of December.

December 6th – Kursk
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Colin Firth, Léa Seydoux, Michael Nyqvist, Matthias Schoenaarts, Max von Sydow
Description: The film follows the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster and the governmental negligence that followed. As the sailors fight for survival, their families desperately battle political obstacles and impossible odds to save them.

December 6th – Mortal Engines
Director: Christian Rivers
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Robert Sheehan, Hera Hilmar
Description: A mysterious young woman named Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar) joins forces with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head, and Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an outcast from London, to lead a rebellion against a giant predator city on wheels.

December 12th – Ralph Breaks the Internet
Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack Brayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill
Description: Six years after the events of "Wreck-It Ralph", Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

December 13th – Aquaman
Director: James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Willem Dafoe, Leigh Wannell, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Beach
Description: Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.

November 19th – Mary Poppins Returns
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emiy Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury, Emily Mortimer, Ben Wishaw, Meryl Streep
Description: Decades after her original visit, the magical nanny returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.

November 20th – Bumblebee
Director: Travis Knight
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Justin Theroux
Description: On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.

November 20th – Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, Rodney Rothman
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld, Live Schreiber, Mahershala Ali, Jake Johnson, John Mulaney, Lily Tomlin, Shameik Moore, Bryan Tyree henry
Description: Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.

10s Movie Review - Free Fire

Director: Ben Wheatley
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Coperly, Jack Reynor

Description: Set in Boston in 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shootout and a game of survival.

Review: The cultural influence of director Quentin Tarantino is clearly present in Ben Wheatley’s “Free Fire”. It’s filled with action and morbide humor and is basically set in one location. But Wheatley doesn’t manage to succeed completely.
In an abandoned warehouse in Boston, a group of criminals come together to close a weapons deal. The group with the money: IRA-member Chris, Justine, old Frank and hitmen Stevo and Bernie. The group with the weapons: South African Vernon, ‘failed’ Black Panther member Martin and Gordon and Harry. Chaperon is the bearded Ord.
It’s clear from the start that they don’t want to have anything to do with each other. It doesn’t help that Harry and Stevo had an argument the day before. Tensions get high and it soon escalates. Bullets flying all over the place, people hiding and getting hurt and not knowing who is on which side.
“Free Fire” has two basic elements: humor and action. The shootings are filmed in all kinds of ways, to keep it interesting, but even with almost 90 minutes runtime the film drags a bit sometimes. It’s all a bit too chaotic to stay interesting constantly. You’re actually waiting for something to happen.
The humor takes some time, but eventually it’s strong and it has a macabre touch. This is the strong point of the film. “Free Fire” is an entertaining film, but doesn’t stay interesting the entire runtime. It’s saved by the good humor.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - This is the End

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Danny McBride, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Rihanna, David Krumholtz, Emma Watson

Description: While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.

Review: Relaxing with his friend Seth Rogen, smoke some weed, play video games and eat junk food. That’s the weekend Jay Baruchel had in mind in “This is the End”. Sadly for him, that chill weekend ends up in the apocalypse.
Against his will Jay joins Seth for a house warming party at James Franco’s house. The new mansion is filled with Hollywood’s finest. When Jay and Seth quickly go to a store, they witness a weird happening where people are sucked into the sky. It’s followed by a giant sink hole in front of Franco’s house.
“This is the End” is a comedy that can go two ways: you either love it or you hate it. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have proved themselves before, with the comedy “Superbad”. And again they manage to make us laugh. It’s the end of days, packed with simple, tasteless jokes and pretty enjoyable (sorry to say) death scenes of famous movie stars. By mocking themselves and Hollywood, “This is the End” never has a dull moment.
“This is the End” is a film that is self-aware and not to be taken too seriously. The actors exaggerate their own character, and that’s why it’s a fun movie that I love. A guarantee for laughs.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Director: Stefano Sollima
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Donovan

Description: The drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro).

Review: “Sicario” was a great success, but it’s not the type of movie you expect a sequel for. The story didn’t leave a lot left to even suggest a sequel.
But like most sequels, “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” can’t live up to the first film. The sequel has to work without genius directo Denis Villeneuve, cinematographer Roger Deakins and leading lady Emily Blunt. Those were three elements that made the first film so strong. That Blunt wasn’t asked back is actually logical, due to the storyline. Hers was done at the end of “Sicario”. But she is missed as the moral compass of the film and the person you can identity with.
Main character in “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” are Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro, this time in a leading role). Both characters are antiheroes and do things you would probably not agree with. In a moral sense that is. There is no nuance and they don’t blink while abducting a young girl.
The screenplay is really good and the dialogues too. It is never repetitive and different from the first film. It’s a really pleasant film and a solid sequel. But I think they needed Villeneuve to get it to the same level as his film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Bohemian Rhapsody

Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aiden Gillen, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers, Allen Leech

Description: A chronicle of the years leading up to Queen's legendary appearance at the Live Aid (1985) concert.

Review: ‘Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?’ The two first lines from Queen’s most famous hit “Bohemian Rhapsody”. And those two lines describe the life of charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury, who was constantly struggling between his life as showstopper on stage and his doubting social life.
When “Bohemian Rhapsody” was released in 1975, critics were divided. Was it a masterpiece or experimental crap? Whatever you think, nowadays it’s a timeless classic and radio station still often play it. According to the record company Queen presented it to in the days, the radio stations were never going to play a six minute song. But Freddy and his guys decided to release it anyway and turn their back to the record company.
Mercury was born in Zanzibar, as Farrokh Bulsara, and grew up in an Indian family in London. He was always extraordinary and had a distinctive look due to his teeth. When three band members of the band Smile tell him he can never be a lead singer because of his teeth, Mercury has his answer ready: he was born with four extra teeth, which eventually give him a wider range. Hired, and Queen was born.
Mercury becomes their front man and he is the one that calls the shots. He is extravagant, a showstopper and gets his band in unknown creative territory. No one has ever heard anything like Queen or saw anyone like Mercury.
Most hits were born due to creative differences, arguments and the experimental nature of Mercury. This is the focus in the first half of the film. The second half is more focused on Mercury and his inner struggles.
All the actors look like the bandmembers, but it’s Rami Malek that steals the show. From beginning to end, you got the feeling that you’re not watching an actor but you’re actually seeing Freddy Mercury. He looks, walks and talks like Mercury and his performance is unforgettable.
The biopic ends with the memorable performance Queen delivered at Live Aid in 1985. It wasn’t only a highlight for the concert, but also a comeback for Queen. This part of the film is the biggest highlight and the film ends with a bang. Every detail in this sequence is right and Rami Malek is hypnotizing as Mercury. Really mind blowing!!!
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is the biopic both Freddy Mercury and Queen deserved. Definitely one of the best films of 2018.

Rating: 5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Evanna Lynch, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Timothy Spall, Clémence Poésy, Warwick Davis, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters, Toby Jones, Imelda Staunton, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Matthew Lewis, Chris Rankin, Mark Williams

Description: As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Review: The last book in the Harry Potter series was split into two films. Although the film is very long, there is more room for development. This is in fact only half a film. It’s foremost a buildup to the second part and the climax.
The length is something that you feel here. Although it’s only half the book, it takes two and a half hour. And many scenes are repetitive, where Harry, Hermione and Ron are searching for the Horcuxes.
The three main actors have become better over the years, but only Emma Watson can easily keep up with the once that have more experience, like Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith. It’s visible that Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint still have a lot to learn.
I don’t think it was the best decision to split the final book in two films, because this is probably my least favorite of all the films. However, together with the second half of this film, it is better.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Reviews - Incredibles 2

Director: Brad Bird
Genre: Animation/ Action
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Bob Odenkirk, Sophia Bush, Brad Bird, Isabella Rossellini, Samuel L. Jackson, John Ratzenberg, Barry Bostwick

Description: Bob Parr aka Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is left to care for the kids while Helen aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is out saving the world.

Review: “Incredibles 2” takes off where the first film ended in 2004. The ‘Underminer’ attacks the city with a giant machine. Frozone manages to make sure it doesn’t crash a monorail and the Incredibles protect a safe in a bank, rescue a helpless granny and try to catch the Underminer. But they also have to look after Jack-Jack. “Incredibles 2” is a great joy to watch and very entertaining, but it’s never as good as the first.
Even before the golden age of superhero films, director Brad Bird showed us that the ‘Fantastic Four’ kind of film works. “The Incredibles” embraced strange super powers and payed an ode to the spy film. With bombastic music, retro futuristic cities, transforming vehicles, heroes running over water and super robots.
“Incredibles 2” brings us the same kind of spectacle. This time, Elastigirl gets all the big action scenes. Highlights are the vehicle Elasticycle, a chace with a flating train and a fight with Screenlaver. Pixar did it again with amazing animation techniques.
While Elastigirl is being a hero and hunting the mysterious Screenslaver, Mr. Incredible stays at home to take care of the kids. It’s cliché, the way Bob underestimates being a stay-at-home dad, while Helen is enjoying her new freedom. Both storylines are saved by the many action sequences. And the confrontation between Jack-Jack and a stubborn raccoon is something to mention. No word is said, but the creativity put into to this sequence is fantastic.
The villain Screenslaver isn’t as interesting as Syndrome from the original. Screenslaver is a bit more predictable and the motivation is a bit superficial.
The focus is mostly on Elastigirl and Jack-Jack, the rest is overshadowed a bit.
When it comes to action, great music and excellent animation, this film is perfect. The entertainment level is very high. But the story doesn’t add much more.

Rating: 4 / 5