It is a well known fact that as soon as the clock strikes twelve on October 31 and November rolls in, the Christmas season has officially begun—although, technically speaking, Thanksgiving is just a pit stop in the marathon.
There’s nothing that pairs better with the cozy holiday season than a movie to experience with your friends and family. Forget your declarations of “Netflix and chill”, here are a couple of upcoming movies you’ll want to watch in theatres with someone special.
Spectre (November 6): After the critical and financial success of Skyfall in 2012, Hollywood wouldn’t let Daniel Craig’s James Bond go gentle into the night. Now the 24th Bond film, number four for Craig, Spectre sees Bond being sought after by a shadow organization called SPECTRE.
Whatever it is that they want from him, it seems like they have some serious dirt on the agent’s past. Academy Award winning actor Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) is known for playing a duality of characters that can be incredibly cruel or charming, and now he gets a go at being a Bond villain.
Bond must uncover the truth about this dark organization and what connections Waltz’ Oberhauser has to his past. “It was me, James, the author of all your pain,” Oberhauser boasts. In early October, in an interview with Time Out London, Craig stated, perhaps sarcastically, that he would rather slash his wrists than play James Bond again.
To be fair he was referring to the here and now, expressing the need to recharge for a while before taking on the role again. As promised, director Sam Mendes delivers what appears to be the last ride for Craig, although the Fast and Furious team—among many other money making franchises—often says this on a loop. Time will tell if Craig allows himself to be dragged in again.
Mockingjay Part II (November 20): The streets will run with fanboy and girl tears this November as the final chapter of The Hunger Games trilogy comes to a close. To date, while there have been many contenders, The Hunger Games has been the most widely received and most successful Young Adult franchise at the box office in sales, marketing and merchandizing ever since the curtain closed on Harry Potter’s last act in 2011.
Split into two parts, this installment of Mockingjay picks up where part one left off, covering the revolution that the last two movies have been hinting at. Finally agreeing to be the symbol of the rebellion, with the aid of District 13, Katniss Everdeen implores the people of Panem to stop killing each other at the request of a dictator and instead turn their weapons on President Snow (Donald Sutherland).
It seems they will stop at nothing to topple the Capitol and the autocratic regime headed by Snow, even if it means losing loved ones.
Creed( November 25): A follow up to Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies, Creed stars Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as the late Apollo Creed’s son. Years have gone by since Rocky Balboa faced off against his former opponent, now the old coot faces a new challenge—playing mentor.
Adonis Johnson is somewhat of a wayward soul, having not known his legendary father as a child, but with the guidance of Rocky he hopes to become a good man and an even better boxer. Initially, being protective of a character he has played for several decades, Stallone had his reservations about the spin-off project.
However, with some goading from his agent and hearing director Ryan Coogler’s reasoning for his take on the universe, Stallone eventually caved. Just when you think you’re out, they pull you back in.
After the all around failure of Fantastic Four, which did nothing to bolster the careers of its very capable young cast, hopefully Creed proves that the botched superhero film was just a small stain on Jordan’s growing resume.
The Good Dinosaur (November 25): What would happen if the fabled asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs missed its mark? What if it just sped past Earth instead of impacting it? In this alternate reality, dinosaurs and humans inhabit the Earth together.
We follow Arlo the Apatosarus, whose shy disposition doesn’t quite scream hero, on his journey home after he is separated from his father. Arlo and his adorable and feisty human guide Spot go on a soul searching adventure in which tons of emotional peaks and character development is sure to occur.
After Inside Out, this is the second Pixar movie that has been released this year, a first. And we all know how special that is considering they are just now making a sequel to Finding Nemo almost a decade later. When you have the power, you can make the people wait.
Legend (November 20): This crime thriller is a biopic that chronicles the rise and fall of brothers Reggie and Ronnie Kray. Tom Hardy (Mad Max, The Dark Knight Rises) plays both of the infamous twins. Described as the most dangerous men in Britain, the intimidating identical duo were heavily involved in organized crime in the East End of London throughout the 1950s and 60s.
The loose comparison can be made that they were the Al Capone(s) of Britain. Hardy can also be seen in western drama The Revenant alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, which is due out Christmas day.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 18): Arguably one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes as a particular treat this holiday. Episode VII is a continuation of George Lucas’ iconic space adventure 30 years after the events of 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
While the “legacy” cast is reprising their roles–Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, and Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher as twins Luke and Leia Skywalker—the movie will feature fresher faces.
Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) are among those who are showcased most prominently in the trailers and whose journey the plot will most likely revolve around.
Director J.J Abrams, who recently helmed the rebooted Star Trek films, has been adamant about keeping major plot details wrapped under more layers than an onion. Despite this, what the title of the film and the few lines of dialogue from the last two trailers seems to hint at is a revival for a younger generation that was raised thinking the stories of the Force, the Jedi and the Dark Side were the stuff of legend. The nostalgia is strong with this one.
Other releases include:
The Peanuts Movie (Nov 6)
By the Sea (Nov 13)
The Night Before; Victor Frankenstein (Nov 25)
Krampus, Macbeth (Dec 4)
In the Heart of the Sea (Dec 11)
The Hateful Eight; The Revenant (Dec 25)
Zhana Johnson
Senior Features Editor
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