Upcoming Movies You Should Be Hyped About: February 2018

Black Panther (2018). photo courtesy of io9.gizmodo.com

Only 28 days, but still so much to get hyped about.

THE 15:17 TO PARIS

(Feb 9^th)

photo courtesy of deadline.com

     The 15:17 to Paris tells the true story of three former American soldiers who, along with other passengers, confronted an armed assailant aboard a train from Amsterdam to Paris in 2015. The assailant, whose motives are still unclear, was subdued after approaching passengers with an assault rifle. Clint Eastwood directs the movie, which, interestingly enough, features the actual former soldiers who fought off the attacker in real life playing themselves. It’s an intriguing idea, and we’ll see how well it pays off when The 15:17 to Paris hits theaters February 9^th.

Watch the trailer here. 

BLACK PANTHER

(Feb 16^th)

photo courtesy of news.marvel.com

     The way things are going, I don’t think I need to convince anyone to see Black Panther; right now, it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest superhero movies of all time at the box office. Black Panther is the latest film from Marvel Studios, and it’s the first solo film for the titular character, who was introduced back in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who is both the new King of the fictional, prosperous African nation of Wakanda and the legendary Black Panther warrior, finds his kingdom under attack from an alliance of sinister forces. Together with the Dora Milaje, his team of elite bodyguards and assassins, the Black Panther has to face enemies from within and without Wakanda.

     It’s not hard to see why Black Panther is #solit. Early footage from the film looks exciting and fresh, with the fantastical land of Wakanda recreated in stunning visual detail. The action and cast look remarkable, with Michael B. Jordan’s villainous Killmonger and the Dora Milaje (Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, among others) making quite an impression. And Black Panther is capturing the cultural zeitgeist as a landmark in Hollywood representation, much the way Wonder Woman did last year. Black Panther marks the first time that an African superhero has headlined his own movie, the first time in the modern era of superhero films that an African-American actor has headlined a major tentpole, and the first time that a movie of this scale (and budget) has featured a predominantly African-American cast. All signs point to something truly special from Marvel Studios.

Watch the trailer here. 

ANNIHILATION

(Feb 23^rd)

photo courtesy of collider.com

     Annihilation marks the return of acclaimed screenwriter/director Alex Garland to the director’s chair after his critical and commercial success with Ex Machina (2015). Garland’s screenplays typically have to do with science fiction and/or dystopian story elements, and it looks like Annihilation will be no exception. The movie stars Natalie Portman as biologist Lena, who volunteers to enter a mysterious environmental disaster zone called the “Shimmer” after her husband (Oscar Isaac) is the only one to return from a previous venture. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson also star.

     I think what’s most exciting about Annihilation is how different (read: weird) it seems. There are elements of science fiction lore (everything from Alien to Arrival), but something about this movie is deliciously disquieting—and it’s not the monsters. Here’s hoping Annihilation can deliver on the eerie mystique its trailers promise.

Watch the trailer here. 

GAME NIGHT

(Feb 23^rd)

photo courtesy of darkhorizons.com

     For a change of pace, give Game Night a try. The action-comedy follows a group of friends (Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Kyle Chandler, Billy Magnussen, Lamorne Morris, and more) on a murder mystery-themed game night. It’s all harmless fun… until they begin to realize that this particular murder mystery might not be a game after all. If that sounds ridiculous, zany, and potentially amazing, that’s because it is.

Watch the trailer here. 

HONORABLE MENTION:

PETER RABBIT

(Feb 9^th)

photo courtesy of collider.com

     Loosely based on the children’s stories by Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit is 2018’s second major CGI-anthropomorphic-animal movie. In Peter Rabbit, Peter’s (James Corden) life is going swimmingly… until Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) moves in next door. Not only does McGregor despise Peter and his friends, but he also threatens to woo the neighborhood animal lover, Bea (Rose Byrne). Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Sia provide voices for Peter’s fluffy friends and family.

     It’s hard to tell from the footage released so far, but Peter Rabbit could make for an entertaining modern take on the subject material, buoyed by goofy, slapstick humor. But the trailers have yet to demonstrate whether there’ll be anything more to the movie than just goofy, slapstick humor. We’ll find out February 9^th.

Watch the trailer here.