Preview This! "Ben-Hur"
Opening this week at a theater near you:
"Ben-Hur" (2016)
A nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) is falsely accused of an assassination attempt by his childhood friend and adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell). After years of being a slave under the Romans, Ben-Hur returns home to seek revenge but instead, he finds redemption. "Ben-Hur" Website
What to Watch For: This is the 5th film adaptation of the 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" by Lew Wallace.
Word on the Street: Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley rewrote the script that Keith Clarke originally wrote.
My Take: I am very interested to see the chariot race which runs about 10 minutes in length.
"Hell or High Water" (2016)
A divorced father (Chris Pine) and his ex-con brother (Ben Foster) plan a series of bank robberies to save the family farm from foreclosure. A tough Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) and his partner (Gil Birmingham) are hot on the heels of the bank robbers. "Hell or High Water" Website
What to Watch For: The film was nominated for Un Certain Regard Award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Word on the Street: Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the Georgia Film Critics Association winning "Sicario", wrote the script.
My Take: I always enjoy watching Jeff Bridges on the screen.
"War Dogs" (2016)
Two young men (Jonah Hill, Miles Teller) win a 300 million dollar contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. "War Dogs" Facebook Page
What to Watch For: The film is based on a true story.
Word on the Street: Director Todd Phillips is known for the "Hangover" series of films.
My Take: I think that Miles Teller is one of the best young actors in Hollywood today.
"Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016)
A young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armor that was worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past. "Kubo and the Two Strings" Facebook Page
What to Watch For: The film stars the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, and Matthew McConaughey.
Word on the Street: Director Travis Knight is known for his work on "ParaNorman" (2012), "Coraline" (2009) and "The Boxtrolls" (2014).
My Take: Since hearing about this film last year, I have put it on my must-see list.
"Our Little Sister" (2016)
Three sisters have lived in their late grandmother's house since their mother and father broke up and left for other lovers. At their father's funeral, they learn they have a half-sister, a thirteen-year-old girl who, now, needs someone to look after her. "Our Little Sister" Website
What to Watch For: This Japanese film won 9 times, including Best Film and Best Director at the 2016 Awards of the Japanese Academy.
Word on the Street: The film currently has an excellent 74 rating on Meteoritic based on 25 critic reviews and an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
My Take: It will be interesting to see how it does at the box office since this film is based on a popular manga series called, "Uimachi Diary."
"Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World" (2016)
Filmmaker Werner Herzog explores the way in which the online world has transformed how virtually everything in the real world works. "Lo and Behold" Website
What to Watch For: Herzog interviews such internet icons as ace hacker Kevin Mitnick, Bob Kahn who invented Internet Protocol, and Tesla/SpaceX entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Word on the Street: The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
My Take: Herzog directed one of my favorite documentaries "Grizzly Man" (2005)
If you can't make it to the movie theater this weekend, then stay at home and watch movies on Atlanta's CW.
Saturday
1:00 pm
"The Blue Lagoon" (1980) Two children (Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins) are shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. Now they must make a life for themselves and learn about life and love on their own.
Sunday
1:00 pm
"Ramona and Beezus" An imaginative and accident-prone third grader's skills are put to the test when she helps her family face their biggest hurdle yet. The film stars Joey King, Selena Gomez, and Bridget Moynahan.
3:00 pm
"The Blue Lagoon" (1980) Two children (Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins) are shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. Now they must make a life for themselves and learn about life and love on their own.
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