CinemaNerdz

The Preview Reel: New LEGO, Spy, and Horror Movies

Scott Davis
The Preview Reel

Welcome to this week’s “Preview Reel” column, where we look at the week’s upcoming wide-release movies. The horror film It dominated the box office again last weekend as two new releases struggled to find their audience. It would appear though that the two-week reign for the Stephen King adaption is about to end as two high-profile releases (The LEGO Ninjago Movie and Kingsman: The Golden Circle) and one small budget horror flick (Friend Request) hit screens. All three movies seem to be targeting different demographics, but which one is best for you? Let’s find out.

 

The LEGO Ninjago Movie

What we are excited about: The LEGO Movie franchise has turned out surprisingly good animated films. The LEGO Movie was arguably the best animated movie of 2014, even though it was completely snubbed at the Oscars, and this year’s The LEGO Batman Movie was an enjoyable riff on the classic comic book hero. If they can keep the same brand of humor for this installment, we’re in.

What we are worried about: While The LEGO Movie had a wide appeal and The LEGO Batman movie benefitted from the character of the Caped Crusader, we’re not really sure about Ninjago. We’re not young enough to understand the brand so maybe it is hitting its target demographic, but we’re wondering if we’ll get the same kick out of seeing Ninjago characters as we did Batman characters. It’ll probably be broad enough for everyone to get the jokes, but it might not be as fun as the previous two forays.

The Buzz: This movie doesn’t have quite the same buzz as The LEGO Movie or The LEGO Batman Movie, but those were both beloved so there is some interest in this one. It currently sits at 100% on RottenTomatoes and 63 on MetaCritic with very few reviews. Families have been ignored the past month or so, which means this has a chance to be a pretty sizable hit. Look for an opening around $55 million.

Final Thoughts: The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie were both insanely enjoyable, and we hope the same continues for this installment.

 

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

What we are excited about: Matthew Vaughn has been one of the more popular directors during the past couple of years. His name has been thrown in the ring for new Star Wars and DC Extended Universe movies, and for good reason. The guy knows how to make entertaining popcorn flicks. Kick-Ass was a great riff on the comic-book genre, X-Men: First Class reignited people’s interest in that universe, and Kingsman: The Secret Service was a fun take on the spy genre. He’s back in the director’s chair for the sequel and we’re looking for the same kinetic energy the first one gave us. With additions to the cast including Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, and Julianne Moore, the star power is even brighter than the first.

What we are worried about: While the trailers have plenty of excitement, there is a little bit of a “more isn’t always better” feel to it. The cast is bigger, the special effects look grander, the locations are vaster, and the action looks especially ramped up. We’re just hoping they don’t forget the smart satire and witty dialogue that made the first one so good.

The Buzz: The first Kingsman film was a huge success and is one of the more beloved R-rated action movies of the past couple of years. While that installment was somewhat of a surprise hit, there won’t be any surprise here. Even with the mediocre reviews (54% on RottenTomatoes, and 49 on MetaCritic) the movie should have a big opening weekend of $50 million.

Final Thoughts: We’re huge fans of the first Kingsman, so we’re hoping Matthew Vaughn can bring us another hit.

 

Friend Request

What we are excited about: Not much, but we will say that if the movie can bring us the same simplistic joy that was found in 2015’s Unfriended, maybe we’ll accept this Friend Request.

What we are worried about: Everything about this movie looks cheap. The special effects look off, the camerawork seems wonky, and the story just looks like a cheap rip-off of Stephen King’s Carrie. Nothing about this movie seems scary other than the fact that it somehow got made.

The Buzz: As it does every year, horror movies are in vogue during the fall season. It was a huge success and Annabelle: Creation did better than people thought it would. Maybe audiences simply like getting scared. With a 38% on RottenTomatoes and most horror buffs choosing It over this, look for a weekend around $8 million.

Final Thoughts: Maybe this is worth a rental on a Saturday night when you have nothing else to do, but this doesn’t seem worthy of a trip to the theater.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a recent graduate of Oakland University where he earned a degree in journalism. He worked for the student newspaper on campus, The Oakland Post, where he became the paper's managing editor. He also earned a minor in Cinema Studies at OU. Scott enjoys all things film and TV related, especially the blockbuster kind. He might be the biggest Christopher Nolan fan you know.
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