Weekend Watch: Holiday Edition

Welcome to the Weekend Watch: Holiday Edition. There’s a lot out there this time of year. So hopefully we can point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage) this holiday season.

Movies

Passengers (Opened 12/21)

Loren: Yay scifi stuff! Boo precociousness! I don’t know, the first time I saw the trailer this looked pretty cool but every other time it’s been more of a, I don’t know, slog to get through. That can’t be good right?

RDT: Despite the reviews and early “buzz,” or lack thereof, I like these two actors. So, given how cheap tickets are where I am right now, and the amount of downtime I have, I’m pretty sure I’m going to see this.

Rick: I enjoy that there’s more notable sci-fi coming out, but early reviews of this have not been favorable. Must have been a lot of studio meddling because this script was one of the most highly regarded entries on the Black List. I may catch this at a matinee or on Netflix down the line.

Jen: A week ago I was a mark for this film. It only took one review to ruin it for me and, while I still may see it eventually on some streaming outlet, I’m not spending my money on this one.


Sing (Opened 12/21)

Loren: Illumination does not make very good animated movies. I’m sorry.

RDT: I’ve been told I’m taking my niece to see this or Moana. Fingers crossed she picks Moana.

Rick: I’m sure this is fun, but it’s just not for me.

Jen: I think my 6 year-old niece is going to love it. I’ll be seeing something else.


Assassin’s Creed (Opened 12/21)

Loren: I want this to be good to break the curse but, *sigh*, it’s tracking at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. Oh well. Maybe the next video game movie will get it.

RDT: Sadly, it looks like this will not be the video game movie to “reverse the curse.”

Rick: I mean, the stunts will be good, right?

Jen: What’s the over/under on those blind trust fall things? I’m thinking it will be a high number.


A Monster Calls

Loren: At first I thought this was going to be a horror movie, then a cancer drama, then a children’s imaginary friend movie, then I don’t know what.

RDT: I’m intrigued, but I’m also tired and don’t really feel like writing any more.

Rick: I turned down a free screener of this because I have every intention of seeing this in the theater.

Jen: I like that this flips the current “dead kid” trope to a more traditional “dying parent” trope.


Silence (Limited)

Loren: Last Spider-Man, Kylo-Ren, and Taken in White Messiah Complex.

RDT: I should want to see this. But I just don’t.

Rick: Here are all the monies for tickets, please, thank you.

Jen: Interesting, I love The Last Temptation of Christ and this does feel like a spiritual (no pun intended) successor from Scorsese. I won’t see it in theater, but will likely check it out eventually.


Why Him?

Loren: This looks terrible. I’ll probably end up seeing it.

RDT: More like “Why us?” amirite?

Rick: FFS.

Jen: It’s nice to see Bryan Cranston will be able to make that boat payment.


Dangal (Opened 12/21)

Loren: Look at Disney getting into that super niche sub genre of Female Bollywood Sports movies.

RDT: Looks like I forgot to write something about this. ….Or did I….?

Rick: I know I’m probably wrong, but I feel like this came out earlier this year. Regardless, I’m in.

Jen: There are some movies I feel bad about not seeing. I will not feel bad about not seeing this.


Patriots Day (Opened limited 12/21)

Loren: I don’t need to see this. It feels too soon, like when they made those 9/11 movies in 2002 or whatever. It kinda feels in poor taste.

RDT: Like my other cohorts, I feel no need to see this anytime soon, if at all.

Rick: I remember watching this unfold while waiting for a flight at Philadelphia International Airport. It’s burned in my memory. While I think I’d rather see an in-depth documentary on the subject, I’m going to give this a shot.

Jen: I’m sure this is great but it’s a bit too close to home for me to spend 2 hours re-watching this story.


Julieta (Opened limited 12/21)

Loren: I feel slightly lesser than for not knowing what was happening in that trailer.

RDT: Sigh. Yeah. I got nothing.

Rick: Pedro Almodóvar has an uncanny ability to craft wonderful female characters. I have a feeling this will continue the trend.

Jen: I find this intriguing. I don’t know when I’ll squeeze it in but consider it added to the list that RDT will question the existence of.


The Bad Kids (NYC)

Loren: To echo what Rick says bellow, this looks much more like a docuseries for HBO than a standalone feature.

RDT: I’m interested. If it goes streaming, I’ll check it out.

Rick: This feels like it should be a series instead of a single feature. Nevertheless, it looks excellent. Sign me up.

Jen: I am completely fascinated by alternative education systems so I definitely want to check this one out.


TV/Netflix/Blu-Ray

Travelers, season 1 (Netflix original)

Loren: Yet another Time Travel show for this season. This looks pretty ok. I might add it to the queue but I’m not going to be all comital about it.

RDT: If it’s good, I’ll add it to the list. If not, it’ll be promptly be forgotten.

Rick: Ehh, maybe? Unless something really grabs me from the get go, I’m having a hard time committing to any TV shows these days. Also, apparently this has been airing in Canada for a while now, so there’s a ton of spoilers out there.

Jen: This feels like a show I get excited about and then am disappointed by for several episodes till it starts to get better and then is cancelled on a cliffhanger.


Trollhunters, season 1 (Netflix original)

Loren: I normally love animation but this did nothing for me.
I kinda made this face ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

RDT: I am intrigued by Guillermo Del Toro’s involvement.

Rick: 1) You had me at Guillermo Del Toro. 2) I was secretly hoping the kid would be hunting down and executing the Trolls from that terrible movie that came out earlier this year. That minor disappointment aside, this is going in the queue.

Jen: Sure, why not?


The OA, season 1 (Netflix original)

Loren: The Lady™ ate this up last week and loved it.

RDT: We (I) missed this last week. I considered hiding my mistake and just leaving it off, until I heard The Lady™ talk about it. Her taste in men may be questionable, but I trust her when it comes to tv. It’s on the list.

Rick: Yeah, remember when I said I’m having a hard time committing to TV shows lately? That is not the case with this one. I have no idea what’s going on in this trailer, but I must find out as soon as possible.

Jen: Yep. Yep. I’m starting this tonight.


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

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