Can you believe August is all ready here? We are more than half way through the year and we have just entered the last month of the summer movie season. Fortunately there are a bunch of options at the movies to choose from and we are here to walk you through it all.
In our Monthly Media Roundup for this month, we detail some of the most interesting movies being released. There are some films coming out that we have waited years for, as well as some potential hidden gems. So let’s not waste any more time!
August 5
Shaun the Sheep Movie
Stars: Shaun and some some sheep
Official Synopsis:
When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan, and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
It is a tragic fact that traditional animation is going the way of the dinosaur. While there is nothing inherently wrong with CGI animation, it’s good to support those that are keeping the arts alive. The Henson company is still trailblazing the puppetry and animatronics fields, while the impact of Aardman Animations’ Wallace and Gromit stop-motion franchise can still be felt…here…since this is a spin-off of that property. In any case, do you really feel like taking the kids to see Minions…again…?
August 7
Fantastic Four
Stars: Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Tobey Kebell,
Official Synopsis:
“Fantastic Four,” a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
What more can be said about this movie, than what we have been saying for the past year and a half. But it doesn’t really matter, because the day is here when everybody’s imaginary Fantastic Four childhood will be ruined. Am I simply an anarchist who wants to see the F4 world burn?
Nope, on the contrary. The movie has one of the most talented collections of Hollywood talent around, ranging from the cast, to the writer and director. However, a troubled production and internet outrage has marked this film for doom since the beginning. (Pun totally intended.) The low expectations could end up working to the movie’s benefit in the end. We will find out very soon…
Cop Car
Stars: Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford
Official Synopsis:
Kevin Bacon (“The Following,” HBO’s “Taking Chance,” “Mystic River”) stars in director Jon Watts’ delightful throwback thriller “Cop Car.” When two good-natured but rebellious young boys (James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford) stumble across an abandoned cop car hidden in a secluded glade they decide to take it for a quick joyride. Their bad decision unleashes the ire of the county sheriff (Kevin Bacon) and leads to brutal consequences.
This is the movie that got director Jon Watts the job to direct Spider-Man…so this is the movie that I am going to watch. Spidey aside, I would be first in line for this one anyways. A movie with Kevin Bacon acting like a lunatic simply can not fail. Check out his past dips into insanity in movies ranging from, X-Men: First Class to Stir of Echoes. Watching him go bonkers on some meddling kids seems like a grown-up Scooby Doo dream come true. Can’t wait to check this out.
The Gift
Stars: Jason Bateman, Joel Edgerton
Official Synopsis:
Can you really go through life having never wronged anyone? Even if you are unaware of how, or when, and even who you may have wronged….chances are there is someone out there who won’t ever forget it…or you. Simon and Robyn are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon’s high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin. Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts prove troubling, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered after more than 20 years. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, she starts to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us, and are past bygones ever really bygones?
This looks like like a creepy ass movie. It will be interesting to see how Jason Bateman handles the dramatic role. Joel Edgerton (Warrior) takes a stab behind the camera this time and also plays the lead villain. This has an interesting story that should be able to creep out teens and adults alike. Every knows, or knew, that kid in high school that wasn’t quite all there. It looks like this movie could deliver some genuine chills.
August 14
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, Alicia Vikander
Official Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
Once an actor chooses to be Superman, it’s hard for audiences to ever see the actor as anything else. George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Nicolas Cage can attest to that. (If you don’t get the joke…click here.) So it will be interesting to see if Henry Cavill can pull off another charismatic transformation.
The television show that this is based on is a distant memory and much like this summer’s movie season, Mission Impossible ended up being the more memorable 1960’s TV spy show. Armie Hammer (The Social Network) was once cast as Batman in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal movie that fell apart, so this could be viewed as the World’s Finest team-up, in an alternate DC reality. It has been a stellar year for spy movies going from Kingsman: The Secret Service, Spy, to Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, there has been a string of successful espionage flicks and certainly the people behind The Man from U.N.C.L.E. hope the trend continues. I will take a wait-and-see approach on this one…
August 21
Hitman: Agent 47
Stars: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Ciaran Hinds, Thomas Kretschmann
Official Synopsis:
“Hitman: Agent 47” centers on an elite assassin who was genetically engineered from conception to be the perfect killing machine, and is known only by the last two digits on the barcode tattooed on the back of his neck. He is the culmination of decades of research – and forty-six earlier Agent clones — endowing him with unprecedented strength, speed, stamina and intelligence. His latest target is a mega-corporation that plans to unlock the secret of Agent 47’s past to create an army of killers whose powers surpass even his own. Teaming up with a young woman who may hold the secret to overcoming their powerful and clandestine enemies, 47 confronts stunning revelations about his own origins and squares off in an epic battle with his deadliest foe.
It’s not that the Hitman video game wouldn’t make a good movie. But it already got its chance and more importantly, we don’t want it messing things up for all future video game franchises…when it inevitably fails again. This feels like the perfect movie to rent in a couple of months. It seems that this franchise would have more success as a long-form television series, much like The Transporter is attempting to do this fall season. If this was the only action movie offered this weekend, it might have been a safer gamble. But after seeing John Wick, it is hard to get excited about this movie.
American Ultra
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kirsten Stewart
Official Synopsis:
“American Ultra” is a fast-paced action comedy about Mike (Eisenberg), a seemingly hapless and unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe (Stewart), is suddenly turned upside down. Unbeknownst to him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as his secret past comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to summon his inner action-hero in order to survive.
This movie looks like a mess, but every now and then that can be a good thing. Stoner action-comedies have worked in the past, the most recent example being Pineapple Express. Eisenberg is taking a swing at being a hero, before he becomes the face of villainy for the DC film universe as Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like this is the right vehicle for him to broaden his appeal. But if it makes you laugh and you have fun, mission accomplished right? This is probably the best bet for this particular weekend.
Sinister 2
Stars: Shannyn Sossamon, Robert Sloan, Dartanian Sloan, James Ransone
Official Synopsis:
The sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit horror movie. In the aftermath of the shocking events in “Sinister,” a protective mother (Shannyn Sossamon of “Wayward Pines”) and her 9-year-old twin sons (real-life twins Robert and Dartanian Sloan) find themselves in a rural house marked for death as the evil spirit of Buhguul continues to spread with frightening intensity.
A horror movie has to bring something new to the table, in order to capture modern audience’s attention. And the first Sinister certainly did have something fresh to offer. Director Scott Derrickson is not returning for the sequel to his movie, because he is preoccupied preparing Doctor Strange for Marvel, which shoots in a few months. However he did return to co-write Sinister 2, but that may not be quite enough to get me into a seat.
August 28
Z For Zachariah
Stars: Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine
Official Synopsis:
In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: another human being. A distraught scientist, he’s nearly been driven mad by radiation exposure and his desperate search for others. A fragile, imperative strand of trust connects them. But when a stranger enters the valley, their precarious bond begins to unravel.
A movie with only three characters set in an apocalyptic wasteland, has a high probability of not working. However, when you throw together three of the hottest up and coming actors in Hollywood with Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Doctor Strange), and Chris Pine (Wonder Woman), you have to take notice. While the original book is a slow-burn, it is a gripping tale about human survival and instincts, that could be interesting food for thought if handled correctly. Don’t expect this to be around at awards season, but seeing these three actors stripped down to their core, before they throw on costumes next year will be worth a ticket.
Turbo Kid
Stars: Munro Chambers, Laurence Laboeuf, Michael Ironside
Official Synopsis:
“Turbo Kid” is a mad vision of future past, a BMX-riding 1997 post apocalypse with bright hair to combat grey sky. In a post-apocalyptic future, THE KID, a young solitary scavenger obsessed with comic books must face his fears and become a reluctant hero when he meets a mysterious girl named APPLE. Despite their efforts to keep to themselves, ZEUS, the sadistic and self-proclaimed leader of the Wasteland, plagues THE KID and APPLE. Armed with little more than blind faith and an ancient turbocharged weapon, THE KID learns of justice and friendship and embarks on an incredible journey to rid the Wasteland of evil and save the girl of his dreams.
This looks like good old-fashioned 80’s nostalgic fun. It’s clear that this is a fusion of inspiration combining elements from Mad Max, BMX Bandits, Mega Man, Troma films, and a whole lot of other places…and that is only what I caught in the trailer. Heck this even has 80’s bad guy staple, Michael Ironside. It looks like this is the futuristic grandson of Hobo With a Shotgun, I can understand if this isn’t for you… Actually… I don’t understand it…You are nothing to me… Sign me up.
What movies are you looking forward to this month? When you see them, let us know what you thought of the August’s films in the comment boards, , , and ! Share our stories by clicking below!
Source: Coming Soon