01With Chinese New Year coming up this month, it’s no surprise that CNY movies will be dominating the cinemas when the festival kicks off in February 16. Heck, there are so many Chinese New Year movies this month that we’ve decided to compile a separate list dedicated to those movies, which will be published next week.
That’s not to say there are no non-CNY movies hitting the cinemas this month. We’ve still got lots to look forward to, from the roar of Marvel’s Black Panther to Oscar-worthy drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. There’s also two Asian action movies (Guardians Of The Tomb and Operation Red Sea)
Marrowbone (Feb 1)
Cast: George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Charlie Heaton
Director: Sergio G. Sanchez
Not long after moving to their mother’s childhood home, the Marrowbone siblings’ mother passes away. They decide to conceal her death so that they can remain together, but they are soon haunted by an evil presence within their new home.
Why you should watch it:
Yes, a horror movie isn’t exactly the best way to start the Chinese New Year month, but hey, the festival is still two weeks away. Besides, this Spanish period horror film has been getting some decent reviews, which is more than you can say for a majority of horror films out there.
Guardians Of The Tomb (Feb 1)
Cast: Li Bingbing, Kellan Lutz, Kelsey Grammer, Shane Jacobson, Wu Chun
Director: Kimble Rendall
A team of scientists discover a well-preserved mummified Emperor from Ancient China, but are attacked by a swarm of man-eating funnel web spiders that seem to have enhanced intelligence and power.
Why you should watch it:
The trailer looks like Indiana Jones meets Attack Of The Killer Spiders (we’re sure there’s a movie like that somewhere), and it features some A-list Asian stars like Wu Chun and Li Bingbing. Frankly though, we’re just curious to see what Kelsey Grammer is doing in this film, and whether he ever gets a chance to say, “I’m listening”.
Acts Of Violence (Feb 1)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Shawn Ashmore, Melissa Bolona
Director: Brett Donowho
Three ex-military brothers take the law into their own hands when the fiancee of one of them is kidnapped. They track her down with the help of a cop who is investigating a human trafficking case.
Why you should watch it:
OK, fine, we’re grasping at straws a little here, but hey, there’s Bruce Willis, and even though his most recent films have been … well, patchy at best, it’s always fun to watch him play someone who finds it hard to die on screen.
Molly’s Game (Feb 8)
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Former Olympic-class skier Molly Bloom, who has been organising a long-running high-stakes poker game for the rich and famous, is arrested by the FBI, and turns to criminal defense attorney Charlie, who learns that there is much more to his client than what he reads in the papers.
Why you should watch it:
Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain’s performances have garnered widespread praise, the latter earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Drama). The movie is also in the running for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, so you know this is going to be one heck of a story.
Black Panther (Feb 15)
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis
Director: Ryan Coogler
T’Challa is now the king of Wakanda and heir to the mantle of the Black Panther. But after the events of Captain America: Civil War, he returns to his country to find his position challenged by a long-time rival and conflicts within his own country that may spillover into the outside world.
Why you should watch it:
Because Marvel Studios hasn’t let us down yet, and it sure as hell isn’t going to start now. This is also the last film before the universe-binding Avengers: Infinity War in May, so expect lots of loose ends being tied and an Infinity Stone-sized gap being filled.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Feb 22)
Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage
Director: Martin McDonagh
Mildred Hayes is frustrated by the lack of progress in her daughter’s murder case, so she decides to send a message to the town’s police. Her method includes painting three big signs with controversial messages, which she directs to the town’s chief of police. This does not bode well with the revered man and things get worse when his second-in-command, who has a violent nature, gets thrown into the mix.
Why you should watch it:
It has been dominating the awards leading up to the Academy Awards, and is one of the frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscar. And judging from the trailer, it’s going to be one heck of a dark comedy.
Operation Red Sea (Feb 22)
Cast: Prince Mak, Zhang Yi, Hai Qing, Du Jiang, Huang Jingyu
Director: Dante Lam
Loosely based on the real-life evacuation of the 225 foreign nationals and almost 600 Chinese citizens from Yemen’s southern port of Aden in 2015, this film follows the Jiaolong Assault Team on a deadly rescue mission at the North African Republic. During the mission, the team is ambushed, resulting in heavy casualties, and must now hit back at the terrorist leader who orchestrated the attack.
Why you should watch it:
Dante Lam seems to be carving out quite a career in making action-packed war movies. Here, he follows up his thrilling Operation Mekong with yet another movie loosely based on a real-life military operation. If his past record and the trailer is anything to go by, Operation Red Sea is set to be another winner for Lam.
Annihilation (Feb 22)
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, Oscar Isaac
Director: Alex Garland
A group of soldiers enters an environmental disaster zone and only one comes back out alive, though grievously injured. His wife Lena, a biologist, volunteers for another expedition into the zone to find out what happened to him and hopefully, save his life.
Why you should watch it:
Though better known for novels like The Beach and 28 Days Later, Alex Garland is slowly gaining a reputation as a director, with his 2015 sci-fi thriller Ex Machina getting a Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay. It should be interesting to see what he can do with someone else’s material this time around.
