Opening This Week
Heneral Luna
Directed by Jerrold Tarog; stars John Arcilla, Archie Alemania, Alex Medina, Paulo Avelino, Bing Pimentel
During the Philippine-American War, revolutionary leader bats for true independence, while the elite elects to negotiate with the enemy. Infighting leads to the assassination of a hero. Arcilla tells the Inquirer: “There was something about the life of Luna… I can relate to his angst and principles, his intense emotions.”
Ricki and the Flash
Directed by Jonathan Demme; stars Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Kevin Klein, Rick Springfield, Audra McDonald
Rocker returns to the family she left behind to help her depressed daughter. Boston Globe’s Ty Burr remarks: “Feels like ‘Stella Dallas’ as remade by Jean Renoir… a humanist suburban fable.” Variety’s Andrew Barker thinks it’s “a shaggy, easily distractible film that… defies expectations to both charming and baffling effect.”
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Directed by Wes Ball; stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Young adventurers confront their biggest challenge yet, looking for clues about a mysterious organization. Fan the Fire’s Martin Roberts relates: The director “does a good job establishing his world.” Screenrant’s Ben Kendrick notes: It’s “on a collision course with familiar plots… explored in countless YA movies before it.”
Lost After Dark
Directed by Ian Kessner; stars Kendra Timmins, Justin Kelly, Robert Patrick, Eve Harlow
Teeners get stranded in a farmhouse where a murderer stalks them. CraveOnline’s Fred Topel calls it a “loving homage… [that] breaks some rules… but never makes fun of horror movies.” Examiner.com’s Jeff Beck describes it as “an intriguing attempt to recreate a 1980s slasher… [but] falls right in with the bad entries of the period.”
Sinister 2
Directed by Ciaran Foy; stars Shannyn Sossamon, James Ransone, Lea Coco
Protective mom and her twin sons move into a rural home that’s cursed by evil. The Hollywood Reporter’s Justin Lowe asserts: “Short on creative resources… [but the director] gets enough right to entice those partial to the original.” Dread Central’s Staci Layne Wilson notes: “The horror aspects are in full force.”
Boruto: Naruto the Movie
Directed by Hiroyuki Yamashita; with the voices of Junkon Takeuchi, Noriaki Sugiyama, Nana Mizuki
Years after the Shinobi War, Naruto’s son takes the Chunin exams with enigmatic Mitsuki. Myanimelist.net points out: “If you are truly a Naruto fan… it will not disappoint.” Otaku magazine’s Brendan Ha concurs: “Stunning sequences sprawl onto the screen… exhilarating scenes get the blood flowing.”
Asterix: The Mansion of the Gods
Directed by Louis Clichy, Alexandre Astier; with the voices of Roger Carel, Lorant Deutsch, Alain Chabat
Caesar builds an estate next to a Gaulish village to spread Roman culture among the residents. Montreal Gazette’s Brendan Kelly observes: “There’s a social complexity… unlike in mainstream American animated films.” Geekculture.com states: “So genuine in its delivery… a well-crafted comedic romp.”
