Looking Forward: DECEMBER 2016

The month of December not only holds some big blockbuster films...but it also where you can find a lot of movies running in for the Oscars. Kindly note that films like A Monster Calls or Live by Night will not be mentioned here, because they will only have wide release in the US on January 2017...



Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dec 16-USA, Dec 15-UK, Dec 15-Singapore)

            This is it. This is the big one for me. I am super stoked about this film. This being a Star Wars movie should already make it one of my most anticipated film. But also, what I've seen in all the trailers so far made me excited even more. I thought I can't get any more excited about this film, and then that last trailer dropped - and now I am super excited beyond any realm of imagination. If that trailer had dropped last year, Rogue One may well be number one (or two) in my most anticipated movie of the whole year.
             And really, the best thing about this film is the fact that it takes place just before the original Star Wars (A New Hope). And this makes it a feel like a true prequel and will surely have lots of scenes that connects it with the original film. And for any Star Wars fan who loved the original trilogy (basically, every one of us), this film will surely take us back to the moments & feels of the original Star Wars.
             And to add on, the director Gareth Edwards is a brilliant director - and I love his visual style, and he knows how to play with scale - like that scene with the large AT-ATs in the first teaser trailer. And not to mention some brilliant cast which includes two of my favourite actors alive in Mads Mikkelsen and Ben Mendehlson. I am sure to watch this in IMAX the first time around...and then watch it again many more times. This is a must watch film - and for those of you not convinced...really watch the trailers of this film, especially the final trailer below!!

Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKDdMAI-onI (Teaser)
(Must See!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyHweFaQw8s (Trailer #1)
(Super Cool!! Must See!!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Mr2XfpADo (Trailer #2)


Passengers (Dec 21-USA, Dec 21-UK, Dec 22-Singapore)

             This film has a great premise, a great director (Morten Tyldum), and a great cast (Jennifer Lawrence & Chris Pratt). This isn't like a must-watch movie for me, but the above points definitely are reasons to be excited about it. To let you know, I'm actually one of those people who have had quite enough of Jennifer Lawrence in too many movies...but it doesn't change the fact that she's a terrific actress (when she's on her game). In any case, the premise is really interesting - with these two individuals suddenly awoken from their hibernation pods while still 90 years away from their destination in space. This is a really interesting premise, and the trailer do indeed convince me of that.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVXQq2u6OP0


Assassin's Creed (Dec 21-USA, Jan 1-UK, Dec 22-Singapore)

              I am excited about this film...but not as much as I thought I would - for two reasons. Firstly, the film is told to be set 40% in the past and 60% in the present. But I don't really want to see the scenes in the present. The scenes in the past are the fun parts - being in an entirely different period & setting. When I played the games, I really dread the scenes in the present, and I immediately wish to go back to the setting in the past.
             Secondly, the trailers. I mean they did show some very cool scenes - but the music that accompanies it...terrible. The musics are so off and doesn't fit the tone of the trailer. Now, I know that this is only the trailer and not the movie itself - but trailers are supposed to make me excited for the film. These one doesn't do that for me.

Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2e6Oruy_fA (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pC2IjvLSKs (Trailer #2)



Other Movies:

             First, we have La La Land (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbK-_dVgybE), a musical drama by director Damien Chazelle, who surprised a lot of people with his Oscar-nominated film, Whiplash. This film will have its wide release on December 16th. Still on the same day, we have The Space Between Us (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FjFJ5N2MjA) which carries a very interesting premise. Meanwhile, if you're looking for an animated film, Sing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_jxPEwJNeA) comes out on December 21st. And finally, we have Gold (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLXPv5NsA4) that comes out on December 25th.