KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — As the last month to end 2017, December has a release schedule that looks like the year is not ready to end.
While there is the annual event of a Star Wars movie that would have fans out in droves, there are some major blockbusters that should belong in the summer, but will be warming seats in cinemas for the continuing of the fall months.
Parents that aren’t taking their kids to watch Jedi knights fighting in intergalactic space wars to avoid buying merchandise, have a couple of wholesome choices to choose from. But if you aren’t a millennial with kids, there is even reason to go alone for a nostalgia trip.
Here are our recommended movies not to miss for December 2017 and we will see you next year!
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
Made for the 20th anniversary of the original anime, this first feature entry for the ongoing Sun and Moon series retells the iconic early days of Ash Ketchum as a Pokemon trainer. While not a complete reboot or retelling of how Ash met Pikachu, the 20th Pokemon feature would be making some alterations in the events to fit with the current canon, including some new Pokemons and characters that were not seen in the original anime. If you haven’t realized that the Pokemon animated series is now 20 years old, then this is for the diehard fans who are still playing Pokemon Go today.
General Release Date:7 December
Mumon: The Land of Stealth
After assassinating a ninja from another clan, the armies of Oda Nobunaga are sent to quell the ninja nation from the Iga province. Mumon, the strongest of the Iga ninjas and also the laziest who works only to satisfy his wife, is forced to lead the defense of his people from an invading army. Based on the novel by Ryou Wada, Mumon: The Land of Stealth makes its wide theatrical release in Malaysia after having a limited run earlier this year as part of the Anime Film Festival Malaysia. Yoshihiro Nakamura directs this adaptation with Arashi lead vocalist Satashi Ohno taking the lead role after intensive ninja training.
General Release Date: 7 December
Wonder
August Pullman is an 11-year-old boy with Treacher Collins syndrome who has been home schooled all his life. When his parents decide to send him to a school, Auggie will have to overcome his social anxiety due to his condition, but also live in the wonderment of life. Based on the novel by R.J. Palacio, this adaptation of an extraordinary boy is made extra extraordinary with the casting of Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. But it gets even more extraordinary when it is directed by Stephen Chbosky, for his second directorial feature, since his uplifting adaptation of his own novel Perks of Being a Wallflower.
General Release Date: 7 December
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Star Wars fans are back for another annual pilgrimage to cinemas in costumes, this time for a sequel to the new trilogy since 2015’s The Force Awakens. With little to go on as to what will happen in Episode 8, much has happened behind the making of this, which sadly includes the passing of Carrie Fisher. This would be her final appearance on film and the franchise, as producers have agreed to not use her digital likeness in future installments. Returning with full force is John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and Oscar Issac as the leading characters in this new trilogy, Mark Hamill finally answers what will happen to the last Jedi, while Benicio del Toro has an undisclosed role that could shake things up a bit for the galaxy. This would be the first Star Wars directed by director Rian Johnson, who is now making it in the big leagues since 2012’s Looper, and we will finally get to see the Star Wars that he had envisioned.
General Release Date: 14 December
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
After 20 years since the boardgame adventure was brought to life, this may fall under one of the sequels no one asked for, especially since the death of Robin Williams. Not a direct sequel to the 1995 classic with no reprising characters, it still shares the same premise of a group of teenagers getting sucked into the world of Jumanji, this time through a video game. It’s clear that they are trying to update the premise with more focus on the comedy, by having Sex Tape and Bad Teacher director Jake Kasdan at the helm, but we would take any excuse to see Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart team up again. Just as long as we don’t end up eating any cake.
General Release Date: 21 December
Pitch Perfect 3
What started as an unexpected hit back in 2012 is now coming to an end with the Barden Bellas making their last call. After graduating from college, the girls are struggling to fit in with their jobs and adult lives. When Aubrey proposes for the Bellas to reunite and go on tour for the US troops stationed in Europe, the acapella queens are about to face some stiff competition from bands who perform with actual instruments. While all the ladies of the Barden Bellas are in for their final romp to finish things acapella style, Elizabeth Banks is passing on her directing duties to Trish Sie who last did Step Up All In, with Kay Cannon taking a crack on the third script of the series. This will be last time we might see acapella with an attitude, so get ready to aca-see this in cinemas for your musical dose.
General Release Date: 28 December
All the Money in the World
Based on the nonfiction book written by David Scarpa on the real kidnapping of John Paul Getty III; grandson to the richest oil tycoon J Paul Getty in the 1970s. After being extorted for a fortune, the grandfather famously refuses to pay the ransom, while John Paul Getty III’s mother desperately tries to find help so that her son can be rescued. Director Ridley Scott has been a busy man this year. After giving the masses what they want out of an entry in the Alien franchise, he’s now out again to put himself within reach of an Oscar. Aside from Scott, All the Money in the World seems to have the stars written in it, with Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, and most recently Christopher Plummer, who replaces Kevin Spacey after his recent sex scandal put a damp on the film. We are not sure if the reshoots to replace the scenes with Spacey in it would be done on time for its current release date, but if it does we could be seeing one of the fastest reshoots in moviemaking. Still though, don’t let that be the reason to see All the Money in the World as the story is one that certainly money cannot buy.
General Release Date: 28 December
Battle of the Sexes
Set prior to the historic tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973, Battle of the Sexes is the dramatised telling of the events that lead up to the match and delves into the personal lives of the proponents that led them there. This is the closest made for Oscar movie we will get to see this year before the Oscar season rolls out in full early next year, and we are very excited to see two performers bring out what could be their best so far. After winning her first Oscar for La La Land and a nomination for Foxcatcher for Emma Stone and Steve Carrell respectively, both of these actors are setting out to show that they are Oscar-capable actors in this biopic by the Little Miss Sunshine directing duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Already riding the rave wave since its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September, Battle of the Sexes also stars Sarah Silverman, Andrea Riseborough, Bill Pullman and Alan Cumming.
General Release Date: 28 December
The Greatest Showman
There are many Christmas traditions; decorated trees, Christmas presents, family gatherings and a dazzling musical. If musicals to you meant grand sets, ensemble choreographies, and a powerful singing voice with romantic lyrics, then you are probably not getting any of that in Pitch Perfect 3. Luckily Christmas is not ruined, because there’s The Greatest Showman, which is based on the story of P.T Barnum, who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Announced since 2009, it has taken this long for the studios to take a gamble on an original musical. This would be the directorial debut of visual effects artists Michael Gracey, which will foreshadow how he will do as the director for the live action adaptation of Naruto. Other than that, The Greatest Showman seems to have the best singing voices from Zac Efron (High School Musical), Zendaya (Spider-man: Homecoming) to Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), who will be singing off lines by La La Land lyricists Pasek and Paul, and music provided by composer John Debney.
General Release Date: 28 December
