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This week, there are SEVEN new films out for you to choose from: Han Solo goes out on his own in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Sheila Hancock decides to live life to the full in Edie, a political CGI movie in The Breadwinner, a biographical tale in Zama, lame kids CGI in The Little Vampire 3D, more lame kids CGI in The Giant Pear, and talking animals are back in Show Dogs.
Solo… Han Solo…
Ooh, it’s like James Bond all over again, but that has been revealed as the title of the Star Wars spin-off released in May, although the full-title is technically, Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Sadly, it’s not a movie version of Felicity Kendal’s ’80s sitcom, but you can’t have everything.
The brief premise is that during an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion. Given the lacklustre The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, with a decent Rogue One, Solo is the film out of this run of a total of five which I’m least looking forward to.
Why? Well, the lead role of Han Solo is taken by Alden Ehrenreich (Rules Don’t Apply). Maybe he’ll be okay in this, but my choice – as I’ve said before – would be Anthony Ingruber who played a young Harrison Ford in The Age of Adaline. I mean, he actually LOOKED like him!
Then again, watching the trailers, it looks like a poor man’s rip-off of Guardians of the Galaxy. I’ll go see it as it’s Star Wars, but it doesn’t feel like Star Wars. Feels more like Marvel meets Spaceballs!
As for the timing of this, why isn’t it released at Christmas like all the rest? Because this weekend marks the 40th Anniversary of the US release for Star Wars … or, rather, the 41st Anniversary, so… yeah. Why May, then? Good point. They missed last year’s, then.
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
Edie
83 year old Edie (Sheila Hancock) believes that it is never too late – packing an old camping bag, leaving her life behind and embarking on an adventure she never got to have – climbing the imposing Mount Suilven in Scotland.
I’m not wild about this, but in the hands of Ms Hancock, it could be pretty decent.
Director: Simon Hunter
Also stars: Kevin Guthrie, Paul Brannigan
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
The Breadwinner
Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom-and danger. With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is an inspiring and luminously animated tale about the power of stories to sustain hope and carry us through dark times.
From executive producer Angelina Jolie and the creators of the Academy Award nominated The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, comes the highly-anticipated new feature based on Deborah Ellis‘ bestselling novel.
It’s rare I go for a CGI cartoon-style movie, but this looks more adult than most, so could be worth a watch.
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Laara Sadiq, Shaista Latif, Ali Badshah, Noorin Gulamgaus, Kawa Ada
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
Zama
Based on the novel by Antonio Di Benedetto written in 1956, on Don Diego de Zama, a Spanish officer of the seventeenth century settled in Asunción, who awaits his transfer to Buenos Aires.
This has a lot of critical acclaim, but I wasn’t feeling any love for it at all.
Director: Lucrecia Martel
Writers: Antonio Di Benedetto
Novel: Lucrecia Martel
Stars: Daniel Giménez Cacho, Lola Dueñas, Matheus Nachtergaele
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
The Little Vampire 3D
The story of Rudolph, a thirteen year old vampire, whose clan is threatened by a notorious vampire hunter. He meets Tony, a mortal of the same age, who is fascinated by old castles, graveyards and – vampires. Tony helps Rudolph in an action and humor packed battle against their adversaries, and together they save Rudolph’s family and become friends.
Dire-looking CGI kids movie. Avoid.
Directors: Richard Claus, Karsten Kiilerich
Stars: Rasmus Hardiker, Amy Saville, Jim Carter, Tim Pigott-Smith, Alice Krige, Miriam Margolyes, Matthew Marsh
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
The Giant Pear
Life in Solby is nice and peaceful until one day Mitcho and Sebastian find a message in a bottle by the harbour. The bottle is from the missing mayor of Solby with a message that he is on a mysterious island and has made a great discovery. Now they must embark on a perilous journey to help save the mayor and bring him home, and in the process they uncover something that will bring great pleasure to the city of Solby – a giant pear.
Another dire-looking CGI kids movie. Avoid.
Director: Amalie Næsby Fick, Jørgen Lerdam, Philip Einstein Lipski
Writer: Bo Hr. Hansen
Novel: Jakob Martin Strid
Starring: Alfred Bjerre Larsen, Liva Elvira Magnussen, Peter Frödin
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Show Dogs – another film with talking animals. Just what no-one needed!
If you’re looking for a plot, Max (Ludacris), a macho, solitary Rottweiler police dog is ordered to go undercover as a primped show dog in a prestigious Dog Show, along with his human partner, Frank (Will Arnett), to avert a disaster from happening.
Looks terrible, but then it’s clearly not trying to complete, this weekend.
Director: Raja Gosnell
Screenplay: Max Botkin, Marc Hyman
Also stars: Stanley Tucci, Natasha Lyonne, Alan Cumming, Gabriel Iglesias, Shaquille O’Neal
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.