The Film Scout
Movies of May
As May ushers in the official commencement of the summer movie season, cinephiles have already been treated to a diverse array of cinematic delights. One of the most talked-about releases of the year has undoubtedly been ‘Dune Part 2.’ Captivating audiences and critics alike, this film has solidified its status as a major success. Furthermore, Dev Patel’s directorial debut in the action thriller realm with ‘Monkey Man’ has pleasantly surprised viewers, marking a promising start to his directorial career. Alongside these highlights, there appears to be a revitalization in the realm of horror cinema, with a slew of promising releases on the horizon. Among these, ‘Late Night with the Devil,’ ‘Abigail,’ and ‘Sting’ stand out as must-watch recommendations.
There’s so much out right now that I can talk about, including some new finds off the big screen. Lately, I’ve been hooked on ‘X-Men 97.’ Let me tell you, it’s blowing my mind. The storytelling in this cartoon is on another level. It’s crazy how they brought this series back and packed it with so much drama and mature storytelling. I mean, I almost cried watching it. It’s been a while since X-Men hit me like that.
May is shaping up to be a thrilling month for movie lovers! I’ve been counting down the days because there are some seriously exciting releases coming up. From action-packed blockbusters to gripping dramas, there’s something for everyone. Let me give you the rundown of my must-watch movies for May.
‘The Fall Guy’
Directed by David Leitch. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. This film is about a stuntman played by Gosling who is tasked with a mission to save his ex-girlfriend’s (Blunt) boyfriend, who is the star of a movie she’s directing. I’m excited about this movie simply because of the director. Not only did he direct ‘Bullet Train,’ but also ‘Deadpool 2,’ and he has his hand in a lot of other films like the ‘John Wick’ series and ‘Violent Night.’ This is a director who knows how to shoot action in style. He uses a lot of wide shots with clean fight choreography, and his movies are funny. ‘Bullet Train’ was very funny and ‘Deadpool 2’ is just perfect, so if you liked those movies, check this out. ‘The Fall Guy’ will be in theaters May 3rd.
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’
Directed by Wes Ball, and this is the 4th film in the recent Planet of the Apes series. If you were to ask me what I think the most underrated film trilogy is, the first thing that comes to mind is the ‘Planet of the Apes’ run of remakes and reimaginings. Not enough people talk about how amazing those movies are and it’s frustrating. While they still did well in the box office, I feel like the series just came and went. The series was made popular due to the incredible work by Andy Serkis playing the lead role of Caesar, as well as the beautifully realistic CGI. A lot of work goes into these movies and it’s rare for a trilogy of films where each entry not only gets better, but really sticks the ending in its storytelling. I’ve been a big fan of this series and it’s why I’m excited to see the latest entry. My only concern is that this one doesn’t involve Matt Reeves, who directed the last Ape films before going to direct ‘Batman.’ I’m not familiar with Wes Ball. The only films he’s directed are the ‘Maze Runner’ movies, which I admittedly haven’t seen. But I’m excited to see that this series is still live, so if you haven’t seen any of these films, please do yourself a favor and check them out. ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ releases May 10th.
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and directed by legendary director George Miller. This is a prequel set 15 to 20 years before the highly successful ‘Fury Road’ film released back in 2015. If you’re into high-octane car crashes and explosions, Mad Max delivers on all fronts. Furiosa is a character who appeared in Mad Max played by Charlize Theron. These movies are essentially road trip movies with explosions. This movie features a story about a young Furiosa who is snatched away from her family and must fight her way home. The film also stars Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, who plays as the antagonist. This movie looks to be another hit for George Miller, who is still pushing out amazing work at the age of 79. ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ comes out May 24th.
With such an exciting lineup of films on the horizon, it’s clear the summer movie season is off to an electrifying start. From epic blockbusters to gripping dramas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the cinema.
By John Houzer