As the semester comes to a close, it's time to think about your plans for the winter break. Like many people during this time, we will be heading to the movie theater. Even though winter is traditionally the time the movie studios release movies that they are not confident in, this policy is changing. Furthermore, this gives movies without a lot of studio support room to shine. For example, Deadpool was released in February of last year and was a huge success, despite having a very small budget and little help from the movie studio. Here are 3 movies to keep an eye on while you are trying to stay warm during the break.
By far and away, the most anticipated movie this winter will be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Since I am a huge Star Wars fan, I am extremely excited about this movie. To give you an idea of my level of love for the franchise, I own two lightsabers and my oldest daughter learned the words 'Star Wars' before she learned 'Dad' or '아빠' For the record, she just called me and my wife 엄마, which my wife thought was hilarious. Anyway, this will not be a direct sequel or prequel, so you can go into the movie without seeing any of the ot-hers. The story revolves around a rebel cell that steals the plans to the Death Star. The movie studio making it is Disney, which is the same one that does the Avengers and the good Marvel Comics movies. They also did Star Wars Episode 7 which was the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time, making more than two billion dollars. Though expectations are high, there were long and expensive reshoots for the movie during the summer, which is usually a sign that the movie is having problems. Come see it on December 16th, right at the end of the semester.
About a month later, a new thriller called Split will come out about a man with multiple personality disorder who has kidnapped several girls and he has to figure out what he has done. This is another movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan who is responsible for excellent mo-vies such as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, but also some of the worst movies like The Happening, After Earth, and The Last Airbender. His last movie was called The Visit and it was well received, so hopefully he can make another hit. This movie will open on January 20th.
Right as the new semester starts, there will be another movie in the X-Men Universe with Professor X and Wolverine called Logan. It is set in the future in which an evil corporation has killed all of the other X-Men and is destroying the planet. The two mutants must stop them, but their powers are slowly fading away. This will be the 8th and final time Hugh Jackman will play the Wolverine. Come see the final chapter on March 3rd.
Though these are my three picks, there are many other quality movies coming out such as John Wick: Chapter 2, The Lego Batman Movie, and many more. So if you have the time and are willing to brave the cold to go see a movie this break, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Prof. Jonathan West
(M.A.College of Liberal Arts)