Coming Attractions: April

Two gigantic franchises look set to divide a substantial chunk of April’s box office between them, but that’s not all that is on offer – or that we are excited about – in the month of movies. Documentary, drama, animation, and a killer horror also vie for attention, meaning there’s plenty for those not enamoured with costumes or cars….


Fast & Furious 7 – April 2nd

What’s left to say about this series that hasn’t already been said? Every synonym for “awesome”, “ridiculous” and “awesomely ridiculous” has been used up, and that’s before we saw instalment 7 drive a bunch of cars out of a cargo plane. We’re stupidly excited about seeing this, and expect to tear up at Paul Walker just as much as the rest of the cast tear up whatever settings they’re thrust into – particularly the promised scrap between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

Movie times and info


Dior and I – April 2nd

As if the fashion industry didn’t pose enough challenges, Raf Simon had just weeks to prepare his first collection for Dior in the wake of his disgraced predecessor’s departure. Captured in fly-on-the-wall fashion, this doco reveals a seldom-seen human dimension to couture, with Simon not just up against the clock, but also needing to understand and ingratiate himself with the Dior staff he is relying on to work miracles with his designs.

Movie times and info


The Book of Life – April 2nd in 2D and 3D

Given the effects-heavy nature of his live -action features, the notion of Guillermo Del Toro getting behind some animated carry-on possesses some Tim Burton-like anticipation. This Romeo and Juliet-inspired tale sees afterlife gods tussle over the fate of a human trio, and features the voices of Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, and – surprise – Ron Perlman. OK, Del Toro is just an executive producer, but take a look at the trailer below and try to tell us you don’t want to see it.

Movie times and info (Also in 3D)


Testament of Youth – April 23rd

Positively reviewed wartime weepie, stars Alicia Vikander (A Royal Affair) as Vera Brittain in this historical drama based on her autobiography. Recalls Brittain’s experience as a woman coming of age during World War I. Co-stars Kit Harington (Pompeii), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess), Dominic West (300) and Oscar-nominee Emily Watson (War Horse).

Movie times and info


Avengers: Age of Ultron – April 23rd in 2D and 3D

Wow. It’s almost here. After teasers and trailers and sneak peeks and posters and images and way too much analysis of the around 2% of movie Marvel have shared, we finally get to see the much-loved Avengers suit up again under the watchful eye of Joss Whedon. With Marvel continuing to kick much movie ass in the wake of the first team-up film there’s a lot to live up to – but we expect Whedon to bow out with a hiss and a roar before handing over the next two films to the Russo brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier).

Movie times and info (Also in 3D)


It Follows – April 30th

Our third-fave film at last year’s NZ International Film Festival, and one of the best horrors in ages, It Follows is currently blazing a box office trail around the U.S. and making a welcome return to our screens shortly. The simple, innovative premise sees a young woman contacted by a former one night stand who has passed a little something on – a curse that sees an evil presence pursue her in unrelenting fashion. Unless, that is, she passes it on to someone else. By sleeping with them. Seriously, if you’re a horror fan do not miss this.

Movie times and info


Dying of the Light – April 1

The basics:  Nicolas Cage is a CIA agent pressured to retire when diagnosed with early signs of dementia. Which sounds awesome. And then he goes rogue when a terrorist resurfaces. Written and directed by Paul Schrader, screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, and co-produced by Nicolas Winding Refn, director of Drive. One more time – Nicolas Cage plays a CIA agent with dementia, making this probably the most entertaining Cage straight-to-home-video release this month, over faith-based doomsday thriller Left Behind.

The buzz: Uh oh. A terrible 9% on Rotten Tomatoes. Which kinda makes us want to see this even more. One of the lone positive voices in the wilderness comes from the New York Times, saying “On a commercial level, Dying of the Light sometimes plays as just another high-concept vehicle for a comically overacting Mr. Cage. But Mr. Schrader’s vision is strong enough to rage against the hackier calculations.”

Get it on DVD


The Search for Weng Weng – April 8

The basics: Pint-sized Filipino movie star Weng Weng left a cinematic impact in excess of his under three feet in height. An Aussie filmmaker heads off to track him down, and in the process delves deep into the weird and wonderful world of B-movies in the Philippines.

The buzz: Not enough reviews for Rotten Tomatoes, but Variety say “for the most part Search is delightful and unexpectedly deep.”

Get it on DVD


 The Congress – April 9

The basics: The director of Waltz with Bashir turns his taste for animation to sci-fi here, with Robin Wright starring as Robin Wright, an ageing, out-of-work actress. When she agrees to have her image scanned and kept in a movie-making computer-powered animated world, little does Wright know that she’s at the vanguard of sweeping, psychedelic changes that will redefine human existence.

The buzz: 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. Time Out calls it a “dizzying, disjointed, always fascinating live action-animation hybrid”, while AV Club leans towards “folly of the first order, but one that many people will nonetheless want to see, if only because it’s so out there”.

Get the DVD


Particle Fever – April 9

The basics: Science documentary on the the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, capturing the build-up to the 18-mile long particle smasher being activated after 20 years of planning and building. Alongside the sheer scale of the device and its scientific potential, some of the world’s top physicists are seen up close and personal.

The buzz: 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety says”A documentary about science for professionals and laypeople alike, Particle Fever celebrates an event of earth-shattering importance, though what far-ranging transformations it heralds remain unknown”. Time Out New York astutely observes it’s “that rare, exhilarating science doc that’s neither dumbed down nor drabbed up.”

Get the DVD


Escobar: Paradise Lost – April 15

The basics: Canadian surfer (Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games) meets the girl of his dreams in Colombia, but gets a brutal reality check when he meets her uncle: drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Benicio del Toro). Uh oh!

The buzz: 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not too many reviews for this, but Globe and Mail optimistically opines “A genre film that gets a lift above mediocrity thanks to an overripe performance by Benicio del Toro as a slovenly, charismatic king of blow”.

Get the DVD


Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead – April 15

The basics: A no-holds-barred, independent, Aussie, post-apocalyptic zombie film. The poster’s pull-quote is “Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead“. Seriously, is there anything more you need to know?

The buzz: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. “Displays enough gonzo elements to please genre fans, with its resemblance to the Mad Max series clearly not coincidental,” says Hollywood Reporter. Village Voice says the filmmakers “remind us why we love these bloody movies in the first place, evincing Raimi-esque glee at twisting the rules of zombiehood like so much taffy.”

Get the DVD or Blu-ray 


What do the following three films have in common – Monster, Pumping Iron, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot? We can’t really think of anything, other than they are all out this month. For reference, Monster is the true story of real life serial killer Aileen Wuorno for which Charlize Theron won an Oscar; Pumping Iron is all about Arnie and muscles; and Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a 70s crime classic pairing Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. Sounds like a swell triple-feature to us!