With July gone and stores stocking their shelves with back to school Items, it’s the perfect time to escape the madness and see a movie. August is just getting started with a slew of hot movies coming out for your amusement.
Suicide Squad (PG 13)
Aug. 5 sees the much anticipated premiere of Suicide Squad. Directed by David Ayer, the all-star cast includes Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Will Smith, Jared Leto and Ben Affleck. This film is the precise opposite of the superhero movies you are used to watching. In fact, it’s more of an anti-hero movie. Dangerous and psychopathic super-villains are kept prisoners in a secret location where a mysterious agency decides to use them at their discretion for dangerous missions. In exchange, they are offered reduced sentences. They either succeed or die trying, thus the name Suicide Squad. Screening time is 130 minutes long and sure to please die hard DC comic fans.
Pete’s Dragon (PG)
Pete’s Dragon hits theaters Aug. 12 and is a beautifully crafted remake of the animated Disney classic. The perfect family film stars Robert Redford as Mr. Meacham, a man who loves to enchant children with tales of a mysterious dragon who resides in the deep woods. Bryce Dallas Howard plays his daughter, Grace, who has heard these stories her whole life and has assumed they have been tall tales all along, that is until she comes across Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan boy who insists he lives in those woods with his friend Elliot, who just happens to be a friendly dragon. Determined to get to the truth, Grace enlists the help of a young girl, Natalie (Oona Laurence), to explore whether a real dragon could possibly exist. A wonderful story of trust, belief, family and so much more. Runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Ben-Hur (PG-13)
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Aug. 19 unveils Ben-Hur, starring Morgan Freeman, Jack Huston, Nazanin Boniad, Ayelet Zurer and Rodrigo Santoro. This is the fourth film variation of the same name based on the novel by Lew Wallace. This movie, unlike the previous three, explores Jesus’ interaction with Ben-Hur in depth. Huston does well as Judah Ben-Hur but it’s a hard task to follow in Charlton Heston’s footsteps.
Mechanic: Resurrection (R)
Dennis Gansel makes his directing debut on Aug. 26, which sees the sequel Mechanic: Resurrection. Jason Statham reprises his role from the 2011 action movie. Jessica Alba, Michelle Yeoh and Tommy Lee Jones also star. Arthur Bishop (Statham) had put his past behind him and has been enjoying life until Gina (Alba) arranges for the love of his life to be kidnapped. The only way he can save her is to complete three unfeasible assassinations while making them look like accidents. Statham still has it in this great action thriller. Alba returns to the screen as the villain, which she plays seamlessly.
Make sure to check your movie listings as there are many more movies coming out. Sit back, relax and enjoy. See you at the movies.
