1. Warcraft (Universal, 3,400 Theaters, 123 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy violence, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score at press time: 23% Fresh [91 Reviews]): The World Of Warcraft is an inventive and insanely popular game that has been dominating many users’ computers for over 20 years now. The fantasy game has evolved from an online game where players can fight against each other to a role playing game where players interact with each other.
Neither version really lends itself to the cinematic experience, especially since the nature of the game relies mostly on user experience and, well, films don’t.
The plot involves orcs from a dying planet who invade a neighboring realm in order to conquer and colonize it. The mostly human residents of the attacked world don’t like this too much, and war develops.
The reviews aren’t good, but that doesn’t matter at all. The film has already made its production budget back overseas, so likely anything the film makes in the U.S. will be gravy.
2. The Conjuring 2 (Warner Brothers, 3,343 Theaters,134 Minutes, Rated R for terror and horror violence, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score at press time: 72% Fresh [82 Reviews]): It’s rare that a horror film ends up being the best reviewed film of the week, but this franchise is a step above your typical horror series.
Once again we dip into the case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren for another supposedly “true” story of a real-life haunting. This time they travel to England to investigate an evil spirit that has possessed a young girl.
Wikipedia lists 9 real life hauntings done by the Warrens. The films Annabelle and The Amityville Horror have been based on their cases already, and who knows if they will be revisited. But there are plenty of other cases for future sequels. I hope they get to a haunting that happened in my neck of the woods, the Smurl Haunting, in a future endeavor.
3. Now You See Me 2 (Lionsgate/Summitt, 3,232 Theaters, 129 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for violence and some language, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score at press time: 32% Fresh [68 Reviews]): I liked the film of this series quite a lot. Yes, it had plot holes you could drive a truck through, but the cast was superb, the acting was great, the effects awesome, and story interesting enough that you’d be able to overlook it flaws.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. The first film was a massive enough hit that it will spawn not one but two sequels. This is the first in line.
Everyone is back except Isla Fisher, who had to skip this one due to pregnancy (and I’m sure the fact she almost died on the first one had nothing to do with it either). She’s replaced by Lizzie Caplan, as the Four Horseman have to deal with the repercussions after an attempt to discredit a tech millionaire goes terribly wrong.
