November Movies: Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts, Arrival,

[Mark Vader]

The month of November brings us the beginning of the big "Holiday Season" of movies, and it is deep with plenty of top notch choices. The race for Oscar will intensify also. There is quite a large number of dramas this month, but there is still a share of family fare, and some action. Big names, Big titles and Big effects will draw Big numbers to the box office, as Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest time of the year. Looking to take advantage of those numbers are two films from pre-existing franchises. One continues an epic line of comic book films, the other is from the universe from one of the most popular book series of all time.

 

Disney and Marvel continue their string of "Avengers" movies with another origin story, Benedict Cumberbatch is "Doctor Strange". A former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts. According to the Disney/Marvel timeline, this will be the final origin movie before the highly anticipated "The Avengers: Infinity War" hits screens in May 2018. Also starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt & Tilda Swinton.

 

Warner Bros. & director David Yates return to the Wizarding World, minus the boy wizard, with "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Gemma Chan, Jon Voight, Samantha Morton & Ron Perlman.

 

Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner & Forest Whitaker star in Paramount's sci-fi/drama, "Arrival". When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - led by expert linguist Louise Banks - are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers - and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

 

Lionsgate, director Mel Gibson and actor Andrew Garfield bring us the World War II drama, "Hacksaw Ridge". WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Also starring Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Rachel Griffiths & Hugo Weaving.

 

Paramount, director Robert Zemeckis, and actors Brad Pitt & Marion Cotillard bring us, "Allied". In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war. Also starring Jared Harris & Daniel Betts.

 

Sony and director Ang Lee bring us, "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk". 19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad - contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions. Starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Vin Diesel, Garett Hedlund, Steve Martin and introducing Joe Alwyn.

 

Amy Adams stars in "Nocturnal Animals". An art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband's novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale. Also starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber & Armie Hammer.

 

Jessica Chastain is, "Miss Sloane". A story of a brilliant and ruthless lobbyist who is notorious for her unparalleled talent and her desire to win at all costs, even when it puts her own career at risk. Also starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mark Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg & John Lithgow.

 

Haley Bennett stars in, "Rules Don't Apply". An unconventional love story of an aspiring actress, her determined driver, and the eccentric billionaire who they work for. Also starring Alden Ehrenreich, Taissa Farmiga, Lily Collins, Warren Beatty, Ed Harris, Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, Annette Benning & Martin Sheen. Directed by Warren Beatty.

 

Disney brings us the animated, "Moana". A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui. Starring the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement, Alan Tudyk & Nicole Scherzinger.

 

Dreamworks brings us the animated, "Trolls". After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and the curmudgeonly Branch set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Starring the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel & Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

 

Hailee Steinfeld stars in, "The Edge of Seventeen". High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother. Also starring Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick & Woody Harrelson.

 

In "Bleed For This". The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks. Starring Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal & Christine Evangelista.

 

Naomi Watts stars in, "Shut In". A heart-pounding thriller about a widowed child psychologist who lives in an isolated existence in rural New England. Caught in a deadly winter storm, she must find a way to rescue a young boy before he disappears forever. Also starring Charlie Heaton, Jacob Tremblay & Oliver Platt.

 

In "Loving", Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, are sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married. Starring Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton, Will Dalton & Dean Mumford.

 

In "Almost Christmas", A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Thanksgiving since their mom died. Starring Gabrielle Union, Jessie T. Usher, Danny Glover & Nicle Ari Parker.

 

Finally, Billy Bob Thornton stars in, "Bad Santa 2". Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve.

 

Calendar with Trailers

 

11/4

"Doctor Strange": http://marvel.com/doctorstrange

 

"Hacksaw Ridge": http://www.hacksawridge.movie/

 

"Trolls": https://www.dreamworks.com/trolls/

 

11/11

"Arrival": http://www.arrivalmovie.com/

 

"Almost Christmas": http://www.almostchristmasmovie.com/

 

"Loving": http://www.focusfeatures.com/loving

 

"Shut In": http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3317347865?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_1

 

"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk": http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/billylynnslonghalftimewalk/

 

11/18

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them": http://www.fantasticbeasts.com/

 

"The Edge of Seventeen": http://stxmovies.com/theedgeofseventeen/

 

"Bleed For This": http://bleedforthisfilm.com/

 

11/23

"Moana": http://movies.disney.com/moana

 

"Allied": http://www.alliedmovie.com/

 

"Rules Don't Apply": http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/rules-dont-apply

 

"Bad Santa 2": http://www.badsanta2.com/

 

11/25

"Miss Sloane": http://www.filmnation.com/miss-sloane/

 

That's all for now.....Enjoy!

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Seeing strange today will report

[shrader]

I went to see Strange last night but the theater was broken. I did get three free tickets out of the deal though... wait, make that two free tickets since there was no refund

[Mark Vader]

Seeing strange today will report

I'm hearing good things. I'll probably have to wait until later in the week to see it.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

It's awesome cumberbatch really classes up a marvel movie

[DC Tom]

Side note: "Arrival" is based on Ted Chiang's short story "The Story of Your Life." Find it and read it, particularly if you're a writer. It's a good story...but from a technical perspective, it's probably the most brilliant thing I've ever read.

 

The movie may be good - I'm looking forward to it. But there is absolutely no way it can do the story justice.

[Mark Vader]

It's awesome cumberbatch really classes up a marvel movie

Glad to hear it.

[unbillievable]

American accent Cumberbatch is distracting.

[USMCBillsFan]

Saw Strange this weekend. Was better than I thought it would be.

[Simon]

Side note: "Arrival" is based on Ted Chiang's short story "The Story of Your Life." Find it and read it, particularly if you're a writer. It's a good story...but from a technical perspective, it's probably the most brilliant thing I've ever read.

 

The movie may be good - I'm looking forward to it. But there is absolutely no way it can do the story justice.

I freely admit I don't know squat about film-making but I can't imagine how they're going to translate the concept in that written story into a film medium (could that be a metaphor for translating it from HeptA to HeptB?).

Even the story is written with multiple temporal perspectives to which flashbacks/forwards couldn't possibly do justice.

Edited November 7, 2016 by Simon

[DC Tom]

I freely admit I don't know squat about film-making but I can't imagine how they're going to translate the concept in that written story into a film medium (could that be a metaphor for translating it from HeptA to HeptB?).

Even the story is written with multiple temporal perspectives to which flashbacks/forwards couldn't possibly do justice.

 

That's the thing...they're not flashbacks and flash-forwards so much as it is an entire story...

 

 

...written in the paradigm of an alien language that communicates events in a structure that lacks a temporal perspective.

 

 

(Possible spoiler.)

 

I remember getting about two paragraphs away from the end and having a true "holy ****!" moment, realizing what Chiang had written. If the movie can portray that, it'd easily be Oscar-worthy.

[Mark Vader]

It's awesome cumberbatch really classes up a marvel movie

 

 

American accent Cumberbatch is distracting.

 

Finally saw "Doctor Strange". I know absolutely nothing about this Marvel character.

 

I enjoyed this movie a lot. Great origin story, spectacular effects, and Marvel once again combines that element of fun, drama, action and comedy.

 

Look forward to seeing more movies with this character.

 

I agree that Cumberbatch does add a lot to this movie. He's a very talented actor. I did have to get used to him not having an English accent, but that was all good.

[Saxum]

Saw "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" with my wife and daughter at matinee. It was very difficult it understand what Newt was saying most of the time for his voice is so soft. I really wish movies would add close captioning.

[Mark Vader]

Saw "Arrival". Very good science fiction story. Amy Adams does a good job in a more understated performance. Jeremy Renner does a good job too. The suspense is played up well, and some good special effects too. An enjoyable movie.

 

Also saw "Nocturnal Animals". I think this movie is getting more high marks than it deserves. It is a good movie, but I don't think it's great. A good amount of people will find this movie off putting. At times it gets a bit too artsy and gratuitous. The opening credits scene alone pulls that off. The acting is what is superb. Amy Adams gives a strong performance, as does Jake Gyllenhaal who has double duty in this film. Great supporting roles by Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Michael Shannon as well. Amy Adams look alike Isla Fisher is perfectly cast too. Some harrowing moments in this movie are uneasy, another reason why it will turn off some viewers. I love the acting more so than the point or the subliminal messages that are being sent from this film.

[Mark Vader]

Saw "Hacksaw Ridge". An incredible story. Andrew Garfield is excellent as Desmond Doss.

The movie has some typical and cliche moments, but that's a minor quibble.

It took me awhile to take Vince Vaughn seriously in a serious role.

Hugo Weaving is a stand out in this movie.

Intense battle sequences are engrossing, but this movie is all about Andrew Garfield. Great job.

Also, it's great to have Mel Gibson back making movies.