We are inundated with choices of what to watch at the multiplex and in our own living rooms. To help narrow your decision, here are some recommended films to pair with this week’s new releases: Black Panther, Early Man and Loveless.
Black Panther / Blade
Black Panther is already proving to be a hit for audiences, the box office, and critics alike. While the character was the first black superhero in mainstream comics, he is not the first black superhero in mainstream cinema. That distinction goes back twenty years with the release of New Line Cinema’s Blade. Wesley Snipes stars as the vampire turned vampire hunter, based on the Marvel comic created by Marv Wolfman. This double bill is bound to give fans a fun way to celebrate Black History Month.
Early Man / The Croods
There’s something about the plight of prehistoric man that has long attracted cartoonists. From Johnny Hart’s beloved B.C. comic strip to Hanna-Barbera’s The Flintstones, they have provided modern man with much amusement. Aardman Studios, the fine folks behind Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, are the latest animators to try their hands at the Stone Age in their iconic stop-motion style. DreamWorks Animation also transported audiences back to the good old, old days in their cave family dramedy, The Croods. So throw a meat platter together and gather your whole clan for this primordial pairing!
Loveless / Prisoners
In Prisoners, a couple is faced with the unimaginable when their daughter and her friend go missing. The husband (Hugh Jackman) goes on a downward spiral after taking the search into his own hands. You might wonder how such subject matter could be any more depressing - have the parents be emotionally detached and set it during a bleak Russian winter, that’s how. Loveless, winner of the Jury Prize at last year Cannes Film Festival, lives up to its name. This double feature is not for the faint of heart or those seeking a “good time,” but it does provide a great introduction to two of the best filmmakers working today: Andrey Zvyagintsev and Denis Villeneuve.
