School Holiday Movie Round-Up
If you’re off to the cinema these school holidays, be prepared for a vastly different selection of films on offer covering more demographics, interests and both familiar or unique stories than I can ever remember. And there is a resounding roar…THE LION KING.
Digging into their vault of VHS best sellers and admired classics has been a successful Walt Disney practice with an exceptional update reworking live action of Aladdin, the most recent success. However this latest, a pristine digital honourable lovingly created version of the 1994 universally adored original is, in my prediction, the biggest box office gold yet for the mouse house while equalling the praise critically. The Lion King flashes onto the silver screen in theatres around Australia on the unusual opening day of Wednesday July 17th.
With a star-studded, A-list talented new voice cast in rare musical form, mixed original favourite James Earl Jones reprising Mufasa, directed by actor auteur Jon Favreau. Even the most beloved obsessed admirers of the timeless classic will no doubt be enamoured from this nothing short of excellent cinematic production for the entire family.
With a massive popcorn in one hand and a choc-top in the other, here are literally a plethora of other movies on show, I actually enjoyed them all!
NOW PLAYING:
SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME
129 min, Rated M (suitable from age 9)
Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Angourie Rice
Friendly neighbourhood spider-man on European vacation, final stanza in current Marvel Comics universe following on directly from Avengers Endgame.
TOY STORY 4
100 min, Rated G
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts
Just when you thought where else Pixar could go with their amazing toys coming to life, they make in my opinion, the best film of the series (so far).
YESTERDAY
116 min, Rated M (suitable from age 15)
Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran
Struggling one-man-band musician survives being hit by a bus to wake up in an alternate world where nobody knows iconic band The Beatles.
SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2
86 min, Rated G
Harrison Ford, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate
Follow up to the delightful urban pet story and misadventures when their human owners leave them alone, good fun for animal lovers and kids.
AFTER
105 min, Rated M (suitable from age 15)
Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Pia Mia
Standard teen forbidden romance for the millennial generation goes through every cliché that has come before. Soundtrack and cast elevate proceedings.
STUBER
93 min, Rated MA (suitable from age 17)
Dave Bautista, Mira Sorvino, Kumail Nanjiani
Action comedy following a sight impaired, aggressive, overworked police detective on his first Uber car ride reluctantly partnering up with the driver.
BOOKSMART
102 min, Rated MA (suitable from age 17)
Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Lisa Kudrow
Best friends, straight-A alumni, day before graduation cannot believe how their wild fellow students are also successful, so they decide to party too.
CRAWL
87 min, Rated MA (suitable from age 16)
Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper, Annamaria Serda
Creature feature scary thrill ride high tension chiller story of survival as a daughter attempts to save her trapped dad from fresh prey after a hurricane.
OPENING WEDNESDAY JULY 17TH:
THE LION KING
118 min, Rated PG (suitable from age 8)
Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Beyonce
Book ahead, there are already many sold-out sessions across first few days. See description above: new generations to long time fans, just don’t miss it.
Shane A. Bassett
