STAR WARS EPISODE VIII THE LAST JEDI
Fri 15 Dec
The Skywalker saga continues this December as Disney are set to release the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. It centres around the arrival of a young woman called Rey who serves to upend Luke Skywalker’s solitary and tranquil existence, as she exhibits strong signs of the Force. Resuming immediately from where the prequel The Force Awakens left us – with Rey’s arrival on the aquatic planet Ahch-To. So, we can expect some Karate-Kidesque training montages between Daisy Ridley as Rey and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. For those of us who aren’t fanatical about Star Wars, it may be time to climb aboard this particular train, as The Last Jedi sees director Rian Johnson – whose directorial past includes Breaking Bad and Looper – at the helm, and a short appearance from Tom Hardy.
JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Weds 20 Dec
It’s time to return to the jungle. When four teenagers unearth a video game console with a game unbeknown to them, they are swept into the game’s jungle surroundings and pulled into combat. Continuing the story of the 1995 Jumanji, this time there is a post-board game twist: the teens appear as their avatars, who take the form of Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and everyone’s favourite rock; Dwayne Johnson. The Johnson/Hart duo made for a well-matched comic foil in the 2016 film Central Intelligence, and if the trailer is anything to go by it seems promising that director Jake Kasdan has capitalized on the chemistry between the two in this action adventure. Undoubtedly an easy watch, forking out to watch this in 3D will be worth it.
THE COMMUTER
Fri 12 Jan
Despite his previous suggestions that his action movie days are coming to an end, Liam Neeson stars in this upcoming action thriller, playing an insurance salesman whose everyman routine is disturbed on a daily commute home. This film marks his fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Saura; the two having previously worked together on Unknown (2011), Non-Stop (2014) and Run All Night (2015). Sharing a similar transportation theme to Non-Stop – set on baord an airplane – their fourth film finds us on a train where Neeson is approached by mysterious woman who railroads him into uncovering the identity of a fellow passenger on the train who “doesn’t belong”. As time works against him, the star must either determine which passenger is in mortal danger or chance putting the safety of his own loved ones in jeopardy.
PITCH PERFECT 3
Fri 22 Dec
The third chapter of the heart-warming comedy that brought us Fat Amy has arrived. The Barden Bellas take their acapella prowess overseas in this threequel, having graduated college and all living mundane lives. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson star once again and engage in what seems to be an increased amount of action – cue the Bellas leaping out of an exploding boat. Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins also return to reprise their roles as the dry humoured acapella commentators, and seem just as negative as usual. Although the Pitch Perfect series has never delivered an especially explosive plot, the themes of sisterhood and friendship that run throughout coupled with the head bopping musical numbers have made the previous films an uplifting watch with endless uncontrollable laughter. So bring on the overtly sexual jokes and electrifying harmonies.
