Seen in the Cinema: 2017.
All 2D, unless otherwise stated and see year 2016 concerning Dates & Location.
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- DirectorGarth JenningsChristophe LourdeletStarsMatthew McConaugheyReese WitherspoonSeth MacFarlaneIn a city of humanoid animals, a hustling theater impresario's attempt to save his theater with a singing competition becomes grander than he anticipates even as its finalists find that their lives will never be the same.(28-01-17) (K). Okay. Just. Wouldn't want a second-showing, but that is just me...
- DirectorChris McKayStarsWill ArnettMichael CeraRosario DawsonA cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.(04-02-17) (K) (Preview). Fun, funny & family friendly.
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsMatt DamonTian JingWillem DafoeIn ancient China, a group of European mercenaries encounters a secret army that maintains and defends the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.(20-02) (L). Not too bad, though not what I'd call a Yimou Zhang great, but, considering its Captain, it really does feel cut-short of any legendary discrepancy due to its transcendence into the English speaking market.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanPatrick StewartDafne KeenIn a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan leads a quiet life. But when Laura, a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.(02-03) (K). Ultra-violent. Extreme language. Basic plot. About okay. Not for the kiddies either.
- DirectorJordan Vogt-RobertsStarsTom HiddlestonSamuel L. JacksonBrie LarsonAfter the Vietnam war, a team of scientists explores an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong and must fight to escape a primal Eden.(09-03) (H). Creature feature that turns into a bug hunt. With its slightly annoying, and seemingly unwarranted, soundtracks that with, too, the weak short lived, creature-spotting episodes and, also, weak development of character only, just, keeps its head above water for its imaginary and mythical qualities: just.
- DirectorDaniel EspinosaStarsJake GyllenhaalRebecca FergusonRyan ReynoldsA team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth.(26-03) (K). Very intriguing, even if there are certain similarities of another, to the point of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery here, albeit by design or accident. This can hold its own, and rightly so, with what it shows us here. Very good.
- DirectorRupert SandersStarsScarlett JohanssonPilou AsbækTakeshi KitanoIn the near future, Major Mira Killian is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals.(01-04) (H). Pure sci-fi. Lovely stuff.
- DirectorTom McGrathStarsAlec BaldwinSteve BuscemiJimmy KimmelA suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying baby pairs up with his 7-year old brother to stop the dastardly plot of the CEO of Puppy Co.(10-04) (K). For small kids' and big kids' alike. Try it.
- DirectorKelly AsburyStarsDemi LovatoRainn WilsonJoe ManganielloA mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest, leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history.(11-04) (L). A true-blue family, fun exploration of adventure and wonder.
- DirectorDean IsraeliteStarsDacre MontgomeryNaomi ScottRJ CylerWhen Earth is on the verge of an alien invasion, five teenagers, who are infused with superhuman abilities, must harness their newfound powers to battle this threat - as the Power Rangers.(20-04) (C). A refreshing change from Captain-this, Bat-that and Super-whatsit...an okay and all round good egg, but a teen movie rather than one from the franchise that could involve a younger audience too. Worth a look.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.(04-05) (Sheffield IMAX) (3D). The plot seems familiar, with an extremely re-done, to the point of déjà vu, narrative, a somewhat unoriginal ploy to hook its audience, and this being its weakest link in the chain. With its combination of humour and fun factor this turns out to be its strong point, as expected. On this large screen the 3D comes across as exceptional and visually captivating: good stuff, all round, dare I say it out loud.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichael FassbenderKatherine WaterstonBilly CrudupThe crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.(12-05) (H). This feels a rather dissatisfied experience, as to the disappointing character development and quite bewildering choices made by certain, dull, crew members with their overall mission, for example.
This only sets the film to trip-over itself concerning what could have been, if exercised, a more reasonable and probable, and forgiving, plot. More thought and gutso may have saved the day, but it did not.
Certainly worth a second look, with trepidation, it could grow on you, or in you, but it has a lot of work to do, ironically. - DirectorJoachim RønningEspen SandbergStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushJavier BardemCaptain Jack Sparrow searches for the Trident of Poseidon to rule the sea while being pursued by old rival Captain Salazar and a crew of deadly ghosts who have escaped from the Devil's Triangle.(28-05) (K). Inhale-Exhale...and that's about it. Really.
- DirectorPatty JenkinsStarsGal GadotChris PineRobin WrightWhen a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.(02-06) (K). It's a fair extention of this genre of superheroes, I presume, but, still a smidgen of excitement and interest awaits for the second installment. We shall see.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonJack NicholsonKim BasingerThe Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.(12-06) (H). Oh my. What a disaster. If this was the height of 1980's filmmaking then heaven help us *cries and places head in hands*.
- DirectorAlex KurtzmanStarsTom CruiseSofia BoutellaAnnabelle WallisAn ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.(20-06) (K). While the first act [half] is the more exciting and engrossing of the whole, sadly, the latter half then tends to fall a little flat and wavers into what can only be described as a bit of a bore.
Overall, not bad at all, in fact, worth a second look, apart from a deceleration of a little interest during the second movement.
Also, of note, try the 1999 Stephen Sommers's film of the same name. An exceptional part of the Universal Pictures canon, within this genre, that contains depth of writing, direction, humour, adventure and personality. So much better, in many avenues. - DirectorMichael BayStarsMark WahlbergAnthony HopkinsJosh DuhamelA deadly threat from Earth's history reappears and a hunt for a lost artifact takes place between Autobots and Decepticons, while Optimus Prime encounters his creator in space.(29-07) (K). Frankly, apart from the opening sequence, quite the bore-fest. It was painful enough having to hear the childish dialogue between the Transformers' and, once more, put up with the Americanization to a large part of the narrative. Overall, simply...tedious, juvenile and dreadful in many areas.
- DirectorKyle BaldaPierre CoffinEric GuillonStarsSteve CarellKristen WiigTrey ParkerGru meets his long-lost, charming, cheerful, and more successful twin brother Dru, who wants to team up with him for one last criminal heist.(01-07) (K).
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsAnsel ElgortJon BernthalJon HammAfter being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.(09-07) (K). One for the millennials, and its soundtrack, that shows it is following in the footsteps of the likes of The Driver, Bullitt and Hooper et al and it is not a bad result either. An added newbie to the genre that works well.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsAndy SerkisWoody HarrelsonSteve ZahnAfter the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.(15-07) (H).
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.(24-07) (C). When is this film ever going to grow-up? (rhetorical question).
- DirectorBrian FeeStarsOwen WilsonCristela AlonzoChris CooperLightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.(01-08) (K). A bit dull...even for myself too.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsFionn WhiteheadBarry KeoghanMark RylanceAllied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.(07-08) (L).
- DirectorDavid LeitchStarsCharlize TheronJames McAvoyJohn GoodmanAn undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.(09-08) (H).
- DirectorDavid SorenStarsKevin HartThomas MiddleditchEd HelmsTwo overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.(17-08) (K).
- DirectorTony LeondisStarsT.J. MillerJames CordenAnna FarisGene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a journey to become a normal emoji.(24-08) (C). OMG, FYI, IMHO, IYKWIM!
- DirectorVictor FlemingKing VidorStarsJudy GarlandFrank MorganRay BolgerYoung Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.(09-09) (K). Shown, as expected, in Academy format.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.(10-09) (K).
- DirectorKarel ReiszStarsAlbert FinneyShirley Anne FieldRachel RobertsA rebellious, hard-living factory worker juggles relationships with two women, one of whom is married to another man but pregnant with his child.(11-09) (L). England's new wave of working class cinema has truly arrived, a must see if this genre, as an English social document, and nineteen-sixties kitchen sink life both intrigues and excites.
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsBill SkarsgårdJaeden MartellFinn WolfhardIn the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.(12-09) (H). What can float may also sink, unfortunately this floater seems more than capable of sinking into a rather tedious kids' film. This yawn-fest is more akin to, say...The Goonies, E.T. and Stand By Me, all excellent cinema too, the point I'm making? Too many children and simply no adults here make this a kids film containing a killer clown. Horror and children on this scale makes for a dangerous and poor combination.
By two-thirds in the will to live slowly sunk further away and blew any further interest out of the water, and down the plughole of boredom. A very sobering effect. - DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsTom CourtenayJulie ChristieWilfred PicklesA lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.(25-09) (L). Classic British cinema...see it.
- DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsElliot PageDiego LunaNina DobrevFive medical students, obsessed by what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring experiment: by stopping their hearts for short periods, each triggers a near-death experience - giving them a firsthand account of the afterlife.(03-10) (H). Been there before, and looking back is the better alternative.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHarrison FordRyan GoslingAna de ArmasYoung Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.(12-10) (H).
- DirectorDean DevlinStarsGerard ButlerJim SturgessAbbie CornishWhen the network of satellites designed to control the global climate starts to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock for its creator to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone.(19-10) (H). An extremely weak and feeble attempt to produce an environmentally friendly concept with the predicted overjoyous outcome that only brings shame on the whole debacle: avoid, or better still, best placed in the non-recycled bin. Leave well alone.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.(27-10) (L). Take away the witt and Led Zeppelin soundtrack and all there is left is an empty cgi production-line of the repetitive Marvel canon. Saying that, it won't be too bad an experience seeing it at least once more, and once more only.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.(28-10) (K). A midnight showing of the full Director's cut with digital soundtrack...wonderful.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghPenélope CruzWillem DafoeWhen a murder occurs on the train on which he's travelling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.(13-11) (K). Excellent and classy too boot. Has Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh ever made an unworthy film? The clues are there and so are the answers that make this an equal to Mr. Sidney Lumet's work, another seen on first-release...love a good Agatha Christie "movie". Shame I knew the outcome...still, this 2017 interpretation of Ms. Christie's work is easy to follow and worth investigating.
- DirectorPaul KingStarsBen WhishawHugh GrantHugh BonnevillePaddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.(19-11) (L).
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckGal GadotJason MomoaFueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his new-found ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.(22-11) (K).
- DirectorStephen ChboskyStarsJacob TremblayOwen WilsonIzabela VidovicBased on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.(06-12) (Leeds).
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaOscar IsaacAs a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.(13-12) (K). As seen as a double-bill with Star Wars: The last Jedi.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaMark HamillRey develops her abilities with the help of Luke Skywalker, as the Resistance prepares for battle against the First Order.(14-12) (K). Seen as a midnight showing and double-billed with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
- DirectorCarlos SaldanhaStarsJohn CenaKate McKinnonBobby CannavaleAfter Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.(16-12) (L). Don't expect too much of any originality concerning the narrative, but hey, it's about the target audience, isn't it?