Films to Watch: May 2018
With May the 4th being Star Wars Day, what better month than to preview the new Star Wars Movie! Check out Solo – A Star Wars Story, as well as a bunch of other upcoming flicks for the month of May
Solo – A Star Wars Story
It’s been 41 years since the first Star Wars film hit the silver screen. 11 feature length films and almost $9 Billion later, it’s the “granddaddy” of all movie franchises.
When Disney first purchased the franchise in 2012, there was an air of uncertainty of whether they would be able to do the originals justice. 2015’s The Force Awakens was well-received by critics and fans, and even 2016’s Rogue One (the first installment in the anthology series) managed to satisfy the tastes of the Star Wars faithful. Last year’s offering, The Last Jedi, drew acclaim from critics, while some fans were left disappointed by the film’s direction.
Solo – A Star Wars Story is the second installment in the anthology series and follows the adventures of a young Han Solo and Chewbacca, including meeting Lando Calrissian. Not much is known about the plot at this point (phew, no spoilers) but the film’s pre-production has already provided enough drama. Chris Dickens, the film’s original editor, was fired and replaced. Alden Ehrenreich, a relatively unknown actor cast as Han Solo, was assigned an acting coach after Lucasfilm were left unsatisfied with his performance. The film’s original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, were also fired after almost five months shooting due to creative differences. Ron Howard was then approach to take the helm.
Plenty of turbulence in pre-production doesn’t bode well, but the casting of stars like Donald Glover and Emilia Clarke are redeeming qualities and maybe the change of direction by Lucasfilm and Disney brass is perhaps for the better. One does wonder whether the “Disneyfication” of a franchise will cause a disturbance in the Star Wars legacy. Watch it and let yourself be the judge.
Deadpool 2
Ryan Reynolds returns as the sharp-tongued anti-hero Deadpool in this hotly anticipated sequel. The first Deadpool film brought a breath of fresh air to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in desperate need of a new dimension, so expect the sequel to pick up right where it left off. Josh Brolin has been perfectly cast as the villainous Cable, and with the film based on Deadpool’s formation of the X-Force, it’ll be action packed with plenty of jokes and fourth-wall breaking.
The Breaker Upperers
Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek star as two romance cynics who create an agency designed to break up unhappy couples and help them move on with their lives. James Rolleston (Boy) also stars in this homegrown flick. With Kiwi comedy on the rise in cinemas, the Breaker Upperers is set to follow in the footsteps of What We Do In The Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Isle of Dogs
If you’re a film buff, you’re definitely well aware of Wes Anderson. His distinct visual style is now on showcase in the world of stop-motion animation with Isle of Dogs, a comedy about a young Japanese boy who takes off on a mission to find his missing dog. The voices of Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum and Ed Norton star in this film – expect thrilling cinematography, a gripping story and plenty of laughs.
