- Susan May
What's on at the movies 6th July 2017?
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Spider-Man: Homecoming ✪✪✪✪ Opened
July 4
The Avengers films are not rocking my boat much these days. The jokes are getting a little old and where can they go with these things? There are only so many fight scenes you can watch. For me, they blur.
Now we have a new entry (well, old is new again) into the franchise. Spider-Man. Now the last reboot was not great, starring Andrew Garfield, who replaced the very good Toby Maguire. The last film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was one of the worst super hero films I've seen and most critics agreed. So I was expecting nothing from this third go at this character.
But bravo Sony Pictures! They've really done a great job here making something fresh out of the franchise by integrating Spidey into the Marvel Avengers' world. Tom Holland is a worthy replacement of Andrew Garfield. The problem with Spider-Man is that he is a teenage boy, so the actors can't continue to portray him once they begin looking as though they need a good shave.
This has Michael Keaton and Marisa Tomei too. Need I say more? Who doesn't love Keaton as the bad guy, possibly channeling the Birdman from his Oscar-winning film of the same name (which incidentally is still one of my fave films).
The fight scenes are spectacular, the jokes and laughs come all the way through and there is a story here that hasn't been told. The writing team are responsible for some of the more original comedies like Horrible Bosses, Vacation, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, so they bring that comic timing to bear where necessary in this outing of our favorite neighborhood hero.
A refreshing super-hero film with another scheduled for release in 2019. However, I see Spidey will reappear in 2018 Avengers: Infinity War. Loads of fun and suitable for all ages. By the way, stay until the very last credit rolls as there are two bonus scenes. The last one is worthy of your five minute wait for the very last laugh of the film.
Film Blurb
A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine--distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man--but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) starts playing in his neighbor hood Peter Parker sees the perfect chance to prove he should become part of the Avengers. Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jnr.
It Comes at Night ✪✪✪ Opened 6th July
This is promoted as a horror film and the trailer leads you to believe this is more a creepy, ghost-in-the-house thriller than what it turns out top be. However, go in knowing this is a small post-apocalyptic film dealing with family and choices. I think they've limited mentioning that this is an end of the world thriller because most people, unless you are under twenty, are not interested in this genre.
In saying that, this is an interesting take, which is more asking the question of the audience of 'What would you do?' to survive. Though I don't think this will be a huge crowd pleaser, it's a study for students of film in staging a piece in a confined space with only a few characters.
Afterwards, even though I wasn't sure I enjoyed this, I did find myself thinking over the concept and musing on choices one would need to make if the world ended up in this dilemma. Let's hope it never does because these decisions are not ones this reviewer could ever contemplate. You will not come out of this film feeling happy and chipper, let me assure you of that.
Film Blurb
Secure within a desolate home with his vigilant, protective and heavily armed parents (Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo), 17-year-old Travis (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) navigates fear, grief and paranoia amid scarce resources as a desperate young couple (Christopher Abbott and Riley Keough) seeks refuge in his family home with their young child. Despite the best intentions of both families, panic and mistrust boil over as the horrors of the outside world creep ever closer. But they are nothing compared to the horrors within, where Travis discovers that his father’s commitment to protecting the family may cost him his soul.
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