Five films not to miss on the big screen

Posted on 8 August, 2019

I couldn’t find a film I wanted to review this fortnight so I’m using this space to remind you of some good movies still showing.

I just can’t do it. I cannot pay money to see a live-action Lion King. The live-action Jungle Book was frightening enough – and as for Aladdin? There was only one genie and he’s gone. Dear Disney, stop repeating yourself!

I don’t want to be any faster or more furious than I am either. So I am saving my movie money for next week – for Late Night, Palm Beach and yes, even Danger Close.

In the meantime – have you caught Yesterday yet? I don’t know how much longer it will be on and it is a gem – just ignore how utterly blind the hero, Himesh Patel’s character Jack, must be to miss the loving looks and actual beauty of Lily James.

The premise is great fun – an alternate timeline (or something) where the Beatles don’t exist. The music is brilliant and there is a little moment of what might have been that will tug at the heartstrings.

It is also interesting to note what other things are missing as well–pay attention as they slip by quickly–but Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis have tossed a couple of interesting ideas in there.

Whatever you do – do not miss Rocketman!

Bohemian Rhapsody was brilliant, a drama that happened to include music, but this is a full-on magical musical. I am in awe of Taron Egerton, who does his own singing and has twice his body weight in unstoppable energy on screen. How could you play Elton with anything less than the force of the sun?

The quality of the supporting cast is worth the ticket too. Bryce Dallas Howard as his mother…you’ll be grateful for your own mum. The delicious Richard Madden is excellent as a manipulative manager and Jamie Bell is a great choice to play Bernie Taupin, the wordsmith that made Elton’s music truly great.

I’ve reviewed Toy Story 4 and I think it is still the best choice for a family film this weekend. However, I did love the first Pets film and Pets 2 looks like uncomplicated fun.

And so to Spiderman: Homecoming. Another Marvel film (if you are not a fan, you have permission to groan). Another face under the Spidey mask. Another implausible evil guy with rule-the-world mania. Yawn.

But wait! This Spiderman (Tom Holland) actually looks young enough to be attending high school and so does his crush, MJ, played by Zendaya. She is a complete chameleon on-screen–less about a brand and more about actually acting each role she is in. Other bright young things could take notes.

I came back to the Spidey fold with Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. Classic animation telling a classically complicated and enjoyable comic book story. So I was keen for this one, the first since the behemoth Avengers: End Game, and it did not disappoint.

Yep, it has all the elements you would expect but it is fast, fun and even funny at times. Make sure you stay until the absolute end of the credits for a real throwback ‘treat’.

Feature image: facebook.com/Yesterday