8 films to see on the week of February 22 — February 28, 2019
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Hiccup, chief and ruler of Berk, having created a chaotic dragon utopia, leaves with Toothless to explore a hidden world which they thought was a myth. Directed by Dean DeBlois, this latest installment from the animated movie trilogy features the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington, Craig Ferguson, and F. Murray Abraham. Hollywood Reporter’s Michael Rechtshaffen writes, “Once again, the element of comedy also plays a significant role in the adventure, but just like the darker dramatic underpinnings at work here, the humor also feels somewhat edgier than before.” It received a score of 94% from review aggregate site Rotten Tomaroes.
MTRCB Rating: PG
The Vanishing
Inspired by a 1900 mystery where three lighthouse keepers disappear without a trace, the film has them find a wrecked rowboat with a chest full of gold. When a mystery boat arrives on the island, the three men make a choice that leads to their disappearances. Directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, the film stars Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan, and Olafur Darri Olafson. Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter writes: “Fine performances and eerie atmospherics enhance this slow burner.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
The Quake
THE OSLO Rift runs through the city of Oslo, Norway, and was the epicenter of a 5.4 magnitude earthquake which hit in 1904. Small quakes are recorded from the rift daily and another big one can be expected — what if it hits today, when the city’s infrastructure and density make it more vulnerable? This is the premise of this Norwegian film directed by John Andreas Andersen, and starring Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dahl Torp, and Katherine Thorborg Johansen. www.rogerebert.com’s Nell Minow writes, “Like too many other disaster movies, this one suggests that the primary purpose of catastrophe is family reconciliation with a side order of ‘I told you so.’ An enormous, literally earth-shaking catastrophe comes down to whether a father can overcome PTSD to save his little girl. That makes it difficult to enjoy the film as pure special-effects entertainment or appreciate it as a cautionary tale.” The film received a score of 81% from review aggregate site Rotten Tomaroes.
MTRCB Rating: PG
The Favourite
WITH the frail Queen Anne on the throne in early 18th century England, her lady in waiting Sarah Churchill essentially governs for her. Then Abigail Masham, a new servant worms her way into the Queen’s good graces. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the stars Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, and Rachel Weisz. The Atlantic’s David Sims writes, “Lanthimos always sets his movies in chilly pseudo-dystopias, which makes a palace full of mean aristocrats an ideal match for him.” The film received a score of 94% from review aggregate site Rotten Tomaroes.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Time & Again
A waitress/Writer meets a man she really likes — but he already has a girlfriend. Gaining the ability to turn back time, she goes back to make him fall in love with her instead. Directed by Jose Javier Reyes, the film stars Wynwyn Marquez and Enzo Pineda.
MTRCB Rating: G
The Prodigy
WITH THE disturbing behavior of her young son apparently signaling the presence of a supernatural force, his mother is torn between protecting him or investigating what is behind all of it. Directed by Nicholas McCarthy, the film stars Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert Scott, Peter Mooney, Colm Feore, and Brittany Allen. The Washington Post’s Alan Zilberman writes, “Trusting the audience’s intelligence, the filmmakers waste no time with ambiguity over whether Miles is evil or simply misunderstood. Buhler’s script is clean and economical, with an inexorable logic to each twist. What’s more refreshing is how the scariest moments upend the cliches of the genre.” Despite this upbeat review, the film received a score of just 45% from review aggregate site Rotten Tomaroes.
MTRCB Rating: R-16
Exit Point
A GROUP of prisoners, including a wrongfully accused cop, try to escape from a remote prison island. Writen, directed and starring Ronnie Ricketts, it also features Jerico Estregan and Jackie Lou Blanco
MTRCB Rating: R-13
It Came From The Desert
BASED on a 1980s video game, the film features rival motocross heroes and heroines, kegger parties in the desert, secret underground military bases, romantic insecurities and giant ants. Directed by Marko Makilaakso, it stars Harry Lister Smith, Vanessa Grasse, and Alex Mills. “Camp, cheesy and oddly charming, It Came From the Desert is a rare modern B-movie that is an absolute viewing pleasure,” writes Kat Hughes of The Hollywood News.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
