Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).
Movies
The BFG
Loren: I seem to recall reading the book when I was a kid but I don’t remember too much about it. I don’t know how I feel about the look of this movie. I may see it on Netflix a few years down the road, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
RDT: Return of classic Spielberg? Reviews seem to say so (somewhat, at least). I’m so behind on movies though, I don’t think I’ll rush right out. But I’ll see it eventually.
Rick: Is “meh” an acceptable response?
Jen: See Rick’s answer above. I want to care about this movie. I just don’t.
The Purge: Election Year
Loren: I purposefully didn’t see the original Purge because it looked a little too “torture porn” for my taste. I did want to see the sequel where they took that concept and turned it into an action, survival movie. Same can be said for this one. At some point maybe I’ll go back and watch 2 and then Election Year.
RDT: The first one was pretty much horror, right, Rick? I guess this one and the last one are more like violent, action thrillers…? As of now, this one is the best reviewed (currently 61% on Rotten Tomatoes). I feel weird jumping into a franchise three movies in though. And I don’t like horror. Basically, I’m saying I have no idea if I’m ever going to see this movie or not.
Rick: I have never seen any of the Purge movies. I may go back and watch them one day, but I’m not super interested in them.
Jen: I am fascinated that they are releasing a movie, in an election year, about murdering people, and co-opting the tagline of a major candidate for public office to promote said murders. And no one is suing anyone about it. I love love LOVE me some Elizabeth Mitchell. I never saw the other films, but if anything gets me to vote yes (see what I did there?) for this one, it’ll be her.
The Legend of Tarzan
Loren: I found myself saying “wait” a lot during that trailer. Like, “Wait, so this is like some meta sequel to a Tarzan movie we never saw, but Christoph Waltz clearly has?” or “Wait, does Tarzan have some sort of talking-to-animals telepathy that I didn’t know about?” or “Wait, is this going to be good *5 seconds later* no, probably not.”
RDT: Is this really a story that needs to be told yet again? You Tarzan. Me pass.
Rick: This feels like a movie that’s more about Tarzan’s abs than about Tarzan as a character. I’d rather spend my time watching old Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan flicks or even Disney’s version (that Deep Canvas software makes amazing visuals) before bothering with this.
Jen: Dear Alexander Skarsgard’s abs, You’ll be in my heart, yes you’ll be in my heart, from this day on, now and forever more. However, even those abs, and the literal mustache-twirling of Christoph Waltz, won’t get me to give up 2 hours to this.
Our Kind of Traitor
Loren: This is the first I’m hearing of this one, and I’m in. I like a good espionage/spy movie and with that cast how could you go wrong. I will say, however, that I don’t think I need to see this in the theater, but I’m pumped to watch it from my couch.
RDT: That’s a hell of a cast. I probably won’t catch it in the cinema (I feel with a movie like this, it’s more appropriate to say “cinema”), but I’ll see it eventually.
Rick: Like Loren, this is the first time I’ve seen anything regarding this movie. I’m down for a good spy thriller, though.
Jen: I liked Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and this has such a similar feel but with less Gary Oldman receding hairline and more Ewan McGregor man-bob. I’ll check it out when it streams.
The Innocents
Loren: I won’t lie to you guys, I don’t think I’ll be seeing this one.
RDT: I don’t think this is for me.
Rick: I had this one marked on my calendar already. Definitely one to see in theaters.
Jen: This looks fantastic. I hope Rick enjoys it.
Life, Animated
Loren: Wow, that looks pretty amazing. I love the idea of animating some parts. This will get added to my growing list of documentaries that I want to check out.
RDT: I remember this story from a podcast (maybe This American Life?). It’s a fascinating story. And when it pops up streaming, I’ll definitely check it out.
Rick: This trailer played before Hunt for the Wilderpeople (which is pretty great, BTW) and the entire theater was misty-eyed by the end. I’ll definitely see it.
Jen: I’m not crying, you’re crying. Shut up and take my money.
Satanic
Loren: This looks hilarious. Mainly due to the fact that their friend(?) kills herself in front of them and they respond with maybe we should blow this off and just go to Coachella. Yes, that’s what you should do.
RDT: I actually watched (most of) the whole trailer (which is rare for “non-horror guy” me). But it doesn’t look scary at all. At first, I thought it was a, maybe not parody but, comedy-ish horror flick. I guess not. Regardless, not for me. I do enjoy Sarah Hyland on Modern Family though.
Rick: Hahahahaha! No. This will in no way be any good. I’m betting the only reason this didn’t go direct to home video is because Sarah Hyland had a stipulation in her contract that it get a theatrical release. Grab a copy of Witchboard and enjoy Tawny Kitaen’s big hair and even bigger assets while she’s menaced by an Ouija-summoned demon instead.
Jen: :grabbing copy of Witchboard::
TV/Netflix/Blu-Ray
The Fundamentals of Caring (Netflix Original)
Loren: This looks like a much better version of that Emilia Clarke movie from a few weeks back. I like Paul Rudd a lot so this might be a good random day movie.
RDT: This premiered last week and we (I) missed it. I actually already watched it. A bit of a clichéd story, sure, but the cast is pretty great (Selena Gomez!) and the chemistry between the leads (Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts) makes it pretty watchable. You got some time to kill on a Saturday afternoon, pop some popcorn, throw it on the Netflix machine and enjoy.
Rick: Oddly enough I put this in my queue a few days ago. I figured it hit on Tuesday or something. It’ll be a good weekend morning movie.
Jen: Paul Rudd is adorable, Selena Gomez is un-objectionable, and Craig Roberts is not the Darryl from The Office (although I think having him in the role would have been a brave choice) so consider it on deck for my post-Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Netflix blues.
Marco Polo, season 2 (Netflix Original)
Loren: There was a season 1?
RDT: I didn’t watch season 1 and currently have upwards of 30 other tv shows to catch up on. So I’ll pass.
Rick: No matter how much Netflix tries to push this on me, I have zero interest in watching.
Jen: You, sir, are no Game of Thrones.
So that’s your upcoming weekend in review. Let us know what you saw, liked and/or hated.
As always, you can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hollywoodpicturenews, or @HWPicNews on Twitter. And send in your questions/comments to questions@hollywoodpicturenews.com.
From Hollywood,
–Loren, RDT, Rick, and Jen