With so much grabbing for your attention and dollars these days, it’s easy to miss when the latest releases are heading to a cinema near you. So come back every week as we here at So, Is It Any Good? preview the new movies hitting screens, and give you the lowdown on what to watch this weekend.
This weekend, find your happy place with Trolls, fight for survival with Underworld: Blood Wars, it’s checkmate with the Queen Of Katwe, and get a whole new appreciation for Mad Max: Fury Road.
Trolls
Rating: G
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Russell Brand and Gwen Stefani
Synopsis: A hair-raising comedy filled with unbelievable adventure & incredible music! Known for their crazy, colourful, & magical hair, Trolls are the happiest, most joyous creatures ever to burst into song. From the genius creators of SHREK, TROLLS stars Anna Kendrick as Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls, & her polar opposite, Branch, played by Justin Timberlake. Together, this unlikely pair of Trolls must embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the only world they’ve ever known.
Trailer:
Why you should care: These technicolour toys are back in a big way and headed to the big screen in all their shiny, sparkly, big-haired glory. An all-star cast voices the characters, and you’ve probably been unable to escape that Justin Timberlake song for months. If you have kids and they’ve seen the commercials or the merchandise, you’re probably already getting ready to see it, but for the rest of you, your enjoyment of this will depend on your tolerance to bright colours, pop song covers, and relentless positivity. Find your happy place and dive in.
Who should see it: Shiny happy people
Underworld: Blood Wars
Rating: MA15+
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Charles Dance, Lara Pulver, Bradley James, James Faulkner
Synopsis: The next installment in the blockbuster franchise follows Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her. With her only allies, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.
OUR VERDICT
Trailer:
Why you should care: How did we get to the 5th (!) movie in this franchise? While the first Underworld was a pretty good time, the rest of them have sort of congealed into a great big vampiric mess. I’m not sure we needed another one, but with Kate Beckinsale slipping on the catsuit once again, at least there’s that going for it.
Who should see it: Vampires, lycans or bored action junkies
Queen Of Katwe
Rating: PG
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo
Synopsis: Queen of Katwe is the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.
Trailer:
Why you should care: A small story about chasing big dreams, this seems like a feel-good biopic about overcoming adversity in the vein of The Blind Side or The Pursuit Of Happiness which will give you a case of the warm and fuzzies as you leave the theatre. It features a great cast, and it’s nice to see Lupita Nyong’o not in a mo-cap performance… so there’s that. It’ll be a completely unoffensive time at the cinema.
Who should see it: Biopic buffs and chess champions
Mad Max: Fury Road – Black & Chrome Edition
Rating: MA15+
Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron
Synopsis: In apocalyptic story set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and almost everyone is crazed fighting for the necessities of life. Within this world exist two rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order. There’s Max, a man of action and a man of few words, who seeks peace of mind following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos.
Trailer:
Why you should care: Fury Road was a real cracker of a film, and normally we wouldn’t be interested in these gimmicky re-releases, but this one looks so damn pretty. George Miller has said this is the definitive version of the film, so it seems like they had the “black & chrome” back when they were composing these beautiful shots. It’s gotta be the best looking action movie ever right? Prepare to see it in a new light.
Who should see it: Mad cinephiles
So, who’s getting your hard earned dollars this weekend? Hit us up in the comments and let us know what you’ve watched, and if it’s any good!