What to Watch in the Theater:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (PG13) is in theaters now. Five years after the events of Godzilla, more Titans are brought back to life by the crypto-zoological organization, Monarch. They are manipulated through the use of sound waves, with various groups of humans trying to gain control and determine the fate of the giant beasts. There are many, but the film primarily focuses on a few, with the monsters getting a lot more screen time than in previous films. The fate of the world depends on the actions of a few humans and some epic battles between the Titans. The backstory of the human characters fittingly takes a back seat here, although there’s still enough to evoke an appropriate emotional response to this thrill ride.
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Late Night (R) goes into wide release today. Emma Thompson’s character, Katherine Newbury, has been on top as a late night talk show host for many years. Faced with the possible loss of her show, she and her staff try to revitalize the show and must adjust to their first female writer, a total newbie named Molly, who’s played by Mindy Kaling (who also wrote the film, based on personal experience in the industry). The stoic Katherine has to learn to open up and be human, while Molly learns that her dream job can be a nightmare. It’s not the funniest movie, but the interactions and relationships bring to light some important biases, and there’s a great deal of humor in the way these humans interact as they resist change and ultimately grow.
Our rating: 3.67 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Mirai (PG) is available on DVD. A young boy, struggling to deal with having a new baby sister, finds a magic place in his own home. This enables him to gain new perspectives by meeting some interesting characters and traveling to different times in his family’s life. This anime combines slice of life family interactions with fantastical elements, much like a Miyazaki film. It’s refreshing to have the English dub feature many Asian actors, unlike others that have gone strictly for name recognition in their voice actors.
Our rating: 4 out of 5
I Am Mother (TV14) is streaming exclusively on Netflix. This dystopian film shows a safe haven following the extinction of mankind. Home to thousands of human embryos, this center is outfitted to repopulate the planet, and we follow the upbringing of the first child, named Daughter. She is raised by a droid named Mother, and they happily coexist until a stranger enters their home. Daughter begins to question everything she’s ever known, as the stranger’s story seems to contradict what Mother taught her. Netflix got this one right – great SciFi setting paired with a thought-provoking story.
Our rating: 4.33 out of 5
Plus box office results, movie news, and what’s new on DVD and Blu-Ray.