MOVIES IN NOVEMBER 2013 TO WATCH FOR:
THOR: THE DARK WORLD
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
FROZEN
Nov. 1
ENDER'S GAME (SCI-FI/ACTION) Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis
PG-13 for some violence, sci-fi action and thematic material.
Although things have definitely wound down some, this adaptation of the classic 1985 science fiction novel is one of the more controversial major movies of the year, due nothing to the material itself, but to the material's author, Mormon novelist Orson Scott Card, whose venomous diatribes against the LGBT civil rights movement have encouraged ill-advised calls fro boycott. That would be unfortunate for all those else involved who need the movie to be a hit, whatever Mr. Card's opinions, but while I haven't read the book myself, it still doesn't look that appealing to me one way or another. The story involves a future where the human race faces annihilation by an alien race called the "Buggers" [snicker], and so children are trained to lead the defense against them. Lots of people love the book, but it might be more fulfilling to devoted science fiction aficionados.
SEE IT?: I'll wait and see how the reviews go over on this one before deciding.
PG for some action/peril and rude humor.
The animated feature film debut for special effects company Reel FX Creative Studios tells the story of Jake and Reggie, an odd couple pair of turkeys who travel backwards through time to the First Thanksgiving to prevent turkey from becoming the traditional main course of Thanksgiving dinner. Although any fifth grader ought to be able to tell you that the main course at the First Thanksgiving was actually venison, the movie doesn't look that interesting for the discerning viewer, but it'll probably be a harmless diversion for the kiddies. It's also nice to see a Thanksgiving movie come along, because while there as many movies with Thanksgiving dinner scenes as there are Christmas movies, there are hardly any movies which could qualify as actual "Thanksgiving movies".
SEE IT?: You'll probably not have much reason to go with bringing along a brood, but if that's the case, it's probably at least a little bit better than, say, ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH.
PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and language.
It's like THE HANGOVER, but with old people! Directed by that one guy who made THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (2010; Hey, remember that movie? It wasn't actually that bad...), Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam were party boys back in their day, but have now been long settled down. When Billy, the sworn bachelor of the gang, announces he's getting married to a significantly younger woman in Las Vegas, the friends reunite (some more enthusiastically than others), and find that their old party-land, as well as their relationships, have changed more than they realized.
SEE IT?: There's definitely an audience for this sort of thing, but they're mostly in the 50+ age range.
Nov. 8
PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content.
The reliable and occasionally excellent Marvel Cinematic Universe continues with Thor's second solo outing, directed by Alan Taylor, known for his work on the hit television series, Game of Thrones, and who promises to bring with him a grittier, earthier sensibility as opposed to Kenneth Branaugh's Buck Rogers-styled predecessor. Although the official synopsis is pretty vague, it involves the mighty God of Thunder defending the Nine Realms from a primitive race that threatens to plunge them into darkness, but he must reunite with Jane Foster, a human astrophysicist and his love interest, and is forced to turn to his treacherous brother Loki, as he is the only one who knows the nature of this new threat.
SEE IT?: Yes; the highly successful Marvel Studios ventures have provided some of the best superhero action in movies of recent years, and as this all leads into the next Avengers movie, it's practically obligatory viewing.
PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material.
Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Markus Zusak, Death narrates a story set in Nazi Germany, a time when Death was extremely busy. Liesel Meminger is sent to live with foster parents, who are harboring a Jewish refugee in secret. Fond of books, Liesel snatches them up from the book burnings, and brings them to share in secret with her family.
SEE IT?: The marketing campaign has been positively godawful, showcasing the syrupy, treacly tripe that is sometimes derisively referred to as "Oscar-bait," cloying, self-important, "inspiring" drama. Unless the reviews indicate far different, I'd give a resounding no to anyone not a woman over the age of at least 40.
Nov. 15
R for language, sexual content and brief nudity.
A basic Christmas chaos comedy about an African-American family getting together for the holidays and driving each other crazy.
SEE IT?: No; there must be an audience for this sort of thing, because they keep making 'em, but the last dozen or so generic holiday comedies of similar concepts introduced nothing new, and this is directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the man who brought us SCARY MOVIE 5 already this year.
Nov. 22
PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.
The most hotly-anticipated movie of the season follows up last year's enormously successful adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling book series, after Katniss and Peeta have returned from the Hunger Games victorious, but having planted the seeds of rebellion, quickly recognized by the tyrannical President Snow, who has designs to douse the sparks of revolution before they can spread. The 75th Annual Hunger Games will include a lineup of victors from past years, setting the stage for the bloodiest games yet.
SEE IT?: Yes; this is more of a cultural event than a movie. It's a conversation starter and practically essential viewing for members of society. The change of directer (from Gary Ross to I AM LEGEND-director, Francis Lawrence) is a little troubling, judging by the quality of the first film, it should get pretty far on its material alone, and the significant investment this kind of film represents means that they're likely to follow through.
PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language.
David Wozniak is a ne'er-do-well down on his luck when he discovers that he is the biological father of 533 children via sperm donations he made twenty years earlier. Now, 142 of them have come with lawsuits to find out who their father is, and David is forced to grapple with whether or not to reveal himself.
SEE IT?: Maybe; the concept alone is a very funny one, but other than that, the previews offer little more and Vince Vaughn is hardly a reliable comedy leading man. I'd wait for the report of others first.
Nov. 27
PG for some action and mild rude humor.
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Snow Queen, the kingdom of Arendelle is cast in an eternal winter when it's heir to the throne, Elsa, allows her emotions and magical abilities to overcome her, so Elsa's younger sister, Anna teams up with Sven, a mountain man, on a quest to find Elsa and end the winter, while an evil duke uses the situation to his advantage. Clearly attempting to emulate the success of TANGLED (2010), this long-in-gestation Disney animated feature represents an extensive trial and error process over several attempts.
SEE IT?: Yes, undoubtedly; Disney animated features are a grand tradition, and the fairy tale/princess movies have a special place of their own. Admittedly, the previews so far have sucked big time, but the previews for TANGLED, the best Disney animated feature since the "Disney Renaissances" in the 1990s, were really crappy too, so I'll be taking a leap of faith.
R for strong brutal violence, disturbing images, some graphic sexuality and nudity, and language.
A remake of the 2003 cult classic South Korean action-thriller shocker, Spike Lee directs this story about an advertising executive who is kidnapped one night and held as a solitary prisoner for twenty years without explanation. When he finally escapes the one-room apartment holding him, he sets out to unravel the conspiracy surrounding him and discover the purpose of his torment.
SEE IT?: Maybe, but with strong caution; the original was not an easy viewing experience to put it lightly, and the American version isn't likely to tone anything down much, however, if you've already seen the original, it's unlikely that that film's power will translate to a remake to those already familiar with the story's originality and revelations.
R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief sexuality.
This action-thriller starring-vehicle for Jason Statham finds him as a low-level DEA agent whose family comes under fire when he crosses paths with a drug kingpin and a band of drug traffickers.
SEE IT?: If you're a big Statham fan sure, but his action movies are usually pretty generic, and this doesn't look especially different. Having James Franco as the villain is intriguing (his character is named "Gator", this in the same year he played a gangster named "Alien" in SPRING BREAKERS), but I just don't have much faith in this one outside of the star's established fan-base.
PG for thematic material, language and a menacing situation.
A contemporary adaptation of the Langston Hughes play, a Baltimore teen travels to New York to live with his estranged relatives, a preacher and his wife. When he finds the preacher's rules not to his liking, he decides to return home to his single mother, and finds spiritual enlightenments along the way.
SEE IT?: Maybe; this is clearly a specialized interest movie, but if you're a Black Protestant, or otherwise a fan of gospel choirs, then this might be reasonable holiday viewing.
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