Hi
Everyone,
I
thought I'd start off this blog page with a few random musings on a
number of different film and TV related topics. Firstly, a television
series I've enjoyed immensely is ending – and it feels like a
bereavement!
But, first of all, here's a link to a playlist of the major movies being released in the UK in August 2016. As usual, it starts with a short introduction mentioning the latest edition of my movie releases magazine Big Films Monthly:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfDuKEBVFFg&list=PLsYqS17xRd6cEf8fvgucTAKnDm-rbOGHP
But, first of all, here's a link to a playlist of the major movies being released in the UK in August 2016. As usual, it starts with a short introduction mentioning the latest edition of my movie releases magazine Big Films Monthly:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfDuKEBVFFg&list=PLsYqS17xRd6cEf8fvgucTAKnDm-rbOGHP
The
BBC's excellent adventure series The Musketeers apparently
draws to a close tonight. My TV Guide says that, here in the UK, the
last ever episode of the show airs this evening. (1st
August 2016 – BBC1 at 9pm). Over the course of it's run, this
historical action series (starring Tom Burke, Santiago Cabrera,
Howard Charles, and Luke Pasqualino - as the eponymous musketeers)
has brought high adventure and political intrigue into our homes. It
perhaps had a shaky start, but the three season series has ended up
being essential viewing for many of us. It will be sorely missed.
If,
like me, this leaves you craving for more adventure; you could – if
you haven't already done so – check out a bunch of movies still
playing in cinemas. A lot of these feature films have had
hostile reviews or lacklustre box-office attendances. But, if you're
sitting on the fence; undecided as to whether to go along or not, I
urge you to give the following films a chance:- Ghostbusters, Ice
Age: Collision Course, The BFG, and The Legend of Tarzan. I've
been to see them all – and had a blast!
I
don't normally talk about DVD releases on this blog, but felt I just
had to mention the release on disc of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
This is a very interesting (and claustrophobic) film which has
excellent performances from its central cast Mary Elizabeth Winstead,
Dan Trachtenberg, and John Goodman. In fact, John Goodman is so good
here – I think (if there's any justice in the world) he should be
nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the picture. He's that
good! Incidentally, Mark Kermode has recently talked about how the
production came about - on his blog Kermode Uncut. Should it
have been associated with Cloverfield at all? Incidentally, see a
slimmed-down John Goodman in the trailer for Kong: Skull Island
which dropped at San Diego Comic-Com last week.
http://bbc.in/2agTuUw
[Video Clip from Kermode Uncut]
https://youtu.be/fYAZldYMPPw
[First Trailer for Kong: Skull Island]
In
what is perhaps a Summer with less blockbusters than one might
expect, I'm glad to report that (in addition to Star Trek Beyond
and Jason Bourne which opened at the tail end of last month)
there's one new offering, at least. Suicide Squad comes out on
5th August 2016. I'm looking forward to this one; which is
stuffed to the gills with villains from the DC comic book universe –
notably Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and the Joker.
Family
audiences will, no doubt, enjoy Swallows and Amazons, Asterix: The
Mansion of the Gods, Nine Lives, Pete's Dragon, Blinky Bill, and the recently released
Finding Dory. Comedy fans can check-out David Brent:
Life on the Road, Up for Love, Bad Moms and War Dogs. Here's
a run down of all the major movies opening in the UK in August 2016:-
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods, Bad Moms, Blinky Bill: The Movie,
David Brent: Life on the Road, Lights Out, Mechanic: Resurrection,
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Nerve, Nine Lives, Pete's Dragon,
Popstar: Never Stop, Never Stopping, Suicide Squad, Swallows and
Amazons, The Purge: Election Year, The Shallows, Up for Love, and
War Dogs.
The
films only showing in certain “key cities” or which are generally
regarded as being “limited releases” include:-
Almost
Holy, Behemoth, Black, Bobby Sands: 66 Days, Clean Hands, Cosmos,
Happy Bhaag Jaayegi, ID2: Shadwell Army, Mohenjo Daro, My Best
Friend's Wedding, Sweet Bean, Tickled, The Confession, The Idol,
and The Wave.
A
number of limited releases have nevertheless been given their own
little spot in the August 2016 newsletter, and these are:-
400
Days, Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words, Julieta, Kids in Love, Songs
for Amy, The Carer, The Childhood of a Leader, Valley of Love,
and Weiner-Dog.
Additional limited
releases added to the schedule of films opening in the UK (since the magazine was
compiled) include:-
Gary
Numan: Android in La La Land, Kasaba, Thirunaal, Rustom, Shajahanum
Pareekuttiyum, Thodari, Main Teri Tu Mera, Ambulance,
and A
Flying Jatt.
Please note: There are previews for Noel Clarke's BrOTHERHOOD from August 29th 2016.
Please note: There are previews for Noel Clarke's BrOTHERHOOD from August 29th 2016.
Also
not
included in the magazine are this month's “Event Cinema” special
screenings and the like. This, however, is what's happening in August
2016:-
-
5th August 2016 – Beatrice Et Benedict: Glyndebourne 2016
-
14th August 2016 – Branagh Theatre Live Romeo and Juliet – Encore (with Lily James and Richard Madden)
-
26th August 2016 – Deep Blue Sea – NT Live 2016 [Picturehouse]**Source of info www.launchingfilms.comPlease note, however, that the Picturehouse cinemas website has this event listed as being on1st September 2016. http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/56769-the-deep-blue-sea
Here
is the link to my latest newsletter (which is a download of a little
under 36MB):-
As
I write this last paragraph, I've just learned from the Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode BBC
"Wittertainment" movie podcast (or whatever it's called) that The BFG has made it to the
top of the UK box-office chart. I'm glad it is finding an audience on
this side of the water – even if it is being squeezed out by other
movies in the USA and is limping-along overall. If you decide to go
to see it – or another movie or two instead – I hope you have a great
time. Happy viewing!
Here are some trailers for the above mentioned films:-
Almost Holy
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
Bad Moms
Behemoth
Black
Blinky Bill: The Movie
Bobby Sands: 66 Days
Clean Hands
Cosmos
David Brent: Life on the Road
Gary Numan: Android in La La Land
Happy Bhaag Jaayegi
ID2: Shadwell Army
Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words
Julieta
Kids in Love
Lights Out
Mechanic: Resurrection
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Mohenjo Daro
My Best Friend's Wedding
Nerve
Nine Lives
Pete's Dragon
Popstar: Never Stop, Never Stopping
Songs for Amy
Suicide Squad
Swallows and Amazons
Sweet Bean
The Carer
The Childhood of a Leader
The Confession: Living the War on Terror
The Idol
The Purge: Election Year
The Shallows
The Wave
Tickled
Up for Love
Valley of Love
War Dogs
Weiner-Dog
400 Days
Almost Holy
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
Bad Moms
Behemoth
Black
Blinky Bill: The Movie
Bobby Sands: 66 Days
Clean Hands
Cosmos
David Brent: Life on the Road
Gary Numan: Android in La La Land
Happy Bhaag Jaayegi
ID2: Shadwell Army
Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words
Julieta
Kids in Love
Lights Out
Mechanic: Resurrection
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Mohenjo Daro
My Best Friend's Wedding
Nerve
Nine Lives
Pete's Dragon
Popstar: Never Stop, Never Stopping
Songs for Amy
Suicide Squad
Swallows and Amazons
Sweet Bean
The Carer
The Childhood of a Leader
The Confession: Living the War on Terror
The Idol
The Purge: Election Year
The Shallows
The Wave
Tickled
Up for Love
Valley of Love
War Dogs
Weiner-Dog