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This week, there are NINE new films out for you to choose from, led by The Meg. Here are the titles, with more info below:
- The Meg
The Festival
The Negotiator (aka Beirut)
The Domestics
Under The Tree
Unfriended: Dark Web
The Darkest Minds
Dog Days
Sgt. Stubby: An Unlikely Hero
The Meg… the what?!
Not Meg from Family Guy, but five years ago, expert sea diver and Naval Captain Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) encountered an unknown danger in the unexplored recesses of the Mariana Trench that forced him to abort his mission and abandon half his crew. Though the tragic incident earned him a dishonorable discharge, what ultimately cost him his career, his marriage and any semblance of honor was his unsupported and incredulous claims of what caused it – an attack on his vessel by a mammoth, 70-foot sea creature, believed to be extinct for more than a million years.
But when a submersible lies sunk and disabled at the bottom of the ocean – carrying his ex-wife among the team onboard – he is the one who gets the call. Whether a shot at redemption or a suicide mission, Jonas must confront his fears and risk his own life and the lives of everyone trapped below on a single question: Could the Carcharodon Megalodon – the largest marine predator that ever existed – still be alive . and on the hunt?
This is easily one of the worst-titled movies of the year so far, and has been hanging around as an idea since 1997, but didn’t want to compete with 1999’s Deep Blue Sea. With a budget of $150m, it’s a good job they didn’t rush it out, eh?
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Also stars: Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, Robert Taylor, Jessica McNamee, Bingbing Li, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
The Festival comes from the creators of The Inbetweeners and is the first comedy feature film release from production company Fudge Park, formed by the writers and executive producers of that show, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.
When Nick’s (Joe Thomas) girlfriend dumps him at graduation, he has a colossal meltdown in front of the entire university. He’s convinced his life is over, but his best mate Shane (Hammed Animashaun) has the perfect solution: three days at an epic music festival. With the help of “festival aficionado” and certified oddball Amy (Emmy Award nominee Claudia O’Doherty), Shane tries to get Nick to embrace the music, the mayhem and the mud…
Note that for some bizarre reason, this film is released on a TUESDAY! So, it’s technically out next Tuesday, August 14th.
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Hit!
The Negotiator (aka Beirut) brings us Jon Hamm (Baby Driver) as a US diplomat, who flees Lebanon in 1972 following the tragic murder of his wife. Ten years later, he’s called back to war-torn Beirut by CIA operatives (Rosamund Pike) to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind…
with a script from Tony Gilroy, who brought us many of the Jason Bourne movies, and from director Brad Anderson, whose Transsiberian comes highly recommended, this came out four months ago in the US, and Hamm’s always worth a look, so I’ll definitely check this out.
Also stars: Shea Whigham, Douglas Hodge, Dean Norris, Mark Pellegrino, Kate Fleetwood, Jonny Coyne, Leïla Bekhti
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Hit!
The Domestics
In a terrifying post-apocalyptic world inhabited by gangs divided into deadly factions, a husband and wife race desperately across the countryside in search of safety and must work together as they are pushed to the breaking point in order to survive.
Despite being landed with an odd title, and the lack of talent of Kate Bosworth, this looks ace and I can’t wait to see it.
Writer/Director: Mike P Nelson
Stars: David Dastmalchian, Tyler Hoechlin, Kate Bosworth
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Hit!
Under The Tree
Agnes throws Atli out and does not want him to see their daughter Ása anymore. He moves in with his parents, who are involved in a bitter dispute over their big and beautiful tree that casts a shadow on the neighbours’ deck. As Atli fights for the right to see his daughter, the dispute with the neighbours intensifies – property is damaged, pets mysteriously go missing, security cameras are being installed and there is a rumor that the neighbour was seen with a chainsaw…
Following the silly feud that comes about, as shown in the trailer, given how things go out of control between the two neighbours, this could well be worth a watch.
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
Starring: Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Selma Björnsdóttir, Lára Jóhanna
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
Unfriended: Dark Web is the sequel to 2015’s Unfriended, which I didn’t bother with, as it looked complete junk, and it tells the story about a teen who comes into possession of a new laptop, and finds that it may have been stolen. He discovers the previous owner may be watching every move he makes and will do anything to get it back.
Watching this trailer, it just looks like utter rubbish.
Writer/Director: Stephen Susco
Stars: Rebecca Rittenhouse, Chelsea Alden, Betty Gabriel, Andrew Lees, Colin Woodell, Stephanie Nogueras, Douglas Tait, Ashton Smiley, Connor Del Rio
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
The Darkest Minds
After a disease killed 98% of children and young people in the United States, the 2% who managed to survive have developed superpowers, but have been locked in internment camps after being declared a threat. One of those 16-year-old girls, Ruby, manages to escape from her camp and joins a group of teenagers fleeing government forces.
Going for the teen audience, this post-apocalyptic movie just comes across as a load of supernatural nonsense and nothing we’ve not seen before.
Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Starring: Mandy Moore, Gwendoline Christie, Amandla Stenberg, Bradley Whitford
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Dog Days follows a group of interconnected people in Los Angeles who are brought together by their lovable canine counterparts.
Based on the trailer, it’s a cheesy romcom that pulls no surprises and looks utter rubbish.
Starring Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens and other people not in acting employment, this… just skip it.
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Sgt. Stubby: An Unlikely Hero
The true story of a stray dog who joins his new master on the battlefields of the First World War. For his valorous actions, Sgt. Stubby is still recognized as the most decorated dog in American history.
aka… lazy CGI comedy for kids
Director: Richard Lanni
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Logan Lerman, Gérard Depardieu
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.