6 films to see on the week of January 25 – January 31, 2019
The Kid Who Would be King
AFTER Alex comes across a mythical sword in a stone, he is tasked to unite his friends and enemies to form a band of knights, and together with Merlin the wizard, they take on the wicked enchantress Morgana. Directed by Joe Cornish, the film stars Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Ferguson, and Rhianna Dorris. The Wrap’s Monica Castillo writes, “At times, it can feel like the movie doesn’t trust its younger audiences’ ability to follow the story: The script dumbs down the lines of dialogue, explaining everything even as it happens onscreen. The violence is tame and likely crafted with a PG rating in mind. Rarely do any of the battle sequences featuring large broadswords feel very dangerous at all, yet the film’s offenses are never so egregious as to wear down the viewer completely.” Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 88% rating.
MTRCB Rating: PG
The Possession of Hannah Grace
WHEN Megan Reed delivers a disfigured cadaver to the morgue during her graveyard shift, she begins to experience terrifying visions and suspects that the corpse may be possessed by a demon. Directed by Diederick Van Rooijen, the film stars Stana Katic, Shay Mitchell, Grey Damon, Louis Herthum, and James A. Watson, Jr. Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck writes, “Mitchell delivers a strong turn as the spunky heroine, effectively conveying both her character’s physical strength and emotional vulnerability. And comedian Nick Thune has some good moments as a friendly ambulance driver who can relate to Megan’s addiction issues. But their efforts are not enough to make this hopelessly derivative horror film anything other than forgettable.” Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 17% rating.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
The Upside
INSPIRED by a true story, the movie follows an ex-convict who develops a friendship with a paralyzed billionaire. Directed by Neil Burger, the film stars Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, and Nicole Kidman. Rolling Stone’s David Fear writes, “And even though you know The Upside is not the kind of movie that will untangle stuff as complicated as class and race despite the storyline, it’s still a disappointment to see the movie treat those elements with such superficiality.” Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 39% rating.
MTRCB Rating: PG
BTS World Tour — Love Yourself in Seoul
THE documentary takes place during the pop group BTS’s concerts on Aug. 25 and 26, 2018 at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, during the group’s Love Yourself Tour.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Tag Along: The Devil Fish
UNAWARE that two students are documenting the process, a medium performs an exorcism on a possessed man. But then the students accidentally release the devil fish demon possessing the man into the world and it is up to them and the medium to send the demon back to where it came from. Directed by David Chuang, the film stars Joe Shu-Wei Chang, Jen-Shuo Cheng, and Vivian Hsu.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Born Beautiful
AFTER the death of her best friend and yet another friend, Barbs decides to live a new life as a straight man named Bobby. Her new life leads her to meet Trisha’s ex-boyfriend Michaelangelo, then her ex-boyfriend Greg, then to a woman who claims that she is pregnant with Bobby’s child. Directed by Perci Italan, this spin-off from the 2016 comedy-drama Die Beautiful stars Paolo Ballesteros, Martin Del Rosario, Akihiro Blanco, Kiko Matos, and Chai Fonacier.
MTRCB Rating: R-16
