A Stuy Student’s Guide to Springtime Flicks

Whether you're planning a movie day with friends or just looking for a movie to watch, here’s a list of some spring-time flicks you may want to check out before they’re off the big screen.

Spring is the beginning of blockbuster season, but it’s also known as the time of the year when mediocre movies are put on the big screens, expected to come in and out of theaters without much attention. Despite the spring season usually lacking any Oscar-worthy releases, it’s still important to know what’s available to watch, no matter what the season; and who knows, maybe an Oscar film managed to sneak its way into a May release date. With that in mind, here are nine movies, ranging from blockbusters to slight obscurities, that you may want to go check out during the warm months before the summer rolls in!

Beauty and the Beast

March 17, 2017

This was perhaps one of the most anticipated spring-season flicks of this year: a real-life adaptation of the Disney animated movie “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), one of three animated films in history to have been nominated for Best Picture. This new adaptation stars Emma Watson as the widely-admired Disney bookworm, Belle. It has been praised for its beautiful set and costume design, having brought to life Belle’s famous yellow ballroom gown, as well as the grandiose character design of each of the objects. Though it came out almost two months ago, tickets are still being sold, so I recommend you catch it in theaters before it leaves the big screen for good.

Gifted

April 7, 2017

This movie is about a little girl with a brain all Stuyvesant students wish they had. An unparalleled genius in mathematics, “Gifted” follows the tug-of-war battle for a young girl’s life between her down-to-Earth uncle (Chris Evans) and his incredibly ambitious mother (Lindsay Duncan). Most people know Chris Evans as the honorable Avengers leader, Captain America, so watching him take on this vulnerable, average human role should be a nice change of pace for most viewers.

Fate of the Furious

April 14, 2017

The Fast and Furious movies are famous for their over-the-top car chases, with each scene in each new movie release crazier than the last. However, these movies are also heavily built on the family-like connections each of the characters have with one another. It’s a combination of the closeness between the characters and their unquenchable hunger for driving cars that causes them to get stuck in a situation crazier than the last. Though I don’t have high expectations for this movie ( car chases can only get so crazy before they become too painfully unrealistic to watch), if you find joy in watching the insanely impossible occur on-screen, go get yourself a ticket for this flick.

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

April 14, 2017

Sometimes, the most obscure movie can be the one most packed with surprises; after all, what expectations could you have for something you’ve never heard of? With this springtime indie film comes Richard Gere, a man famous for his role as a classy rich boy in the ‘90s film “Pretty Woman,” playing Norman, a devious middleman who’s made a living as a forgettable fixer. When Norman makes arrangements with someone on the rise to fame, the world begins to learn his name, and knowledge of his existence and schemes soon rise with his unwanted popularity, threatening the life he’s lived comfortably for so long. If you’re looking to get away from the Hollywood blockbuster and trying something out of the norm, why not go and give this flick a try?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 5, 2017

“Guardians of the Galaxy” was one of Marvel’s most highly regarded films, with a music score unrivaled by any action movie before it. Three years after this movie was first released, Marvel fans can rush back to the cinemas to watch Star-Lord, Gamora, Draxx, Rocket Racoon, and everyone’s favorite baby tree, Groot, go on another crazy adventure across the galaxy, but not without some sweet new tunes to accompany them! If you plan to go and watch this film, get ready to see some new faces and old rivals join the Guardian squad, alongside a highly-anticipated character reveal that everyone who’s seen the original film has been waiting for.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

May 12, 2017

Everyone knows the story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone. However, this year, filmmakers have decided to take a dark turn on this classic tale. Starring Charlie Hunnam from “Sons of Anarchy” (2011-2014) and Jude Law from the “Sherlock” (2009, 2011) films, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” turns the good-and-bad heroic tale of King Arthur into something far more complex, making the responsibility that comes with pulling the sword from the stone a much heavier burden than that of the original version. With this film comes a whole new twist on a myth that has been retold the same way for centuries, so go and see for yourself which version of the story you prefer.

Alien: Covenant

May 19, 2017

Whether or not you're a fan of the “Alien” franchise, this film is one of the biggest topics of conversation of the spring season. The sequel to “Prometheus” (2012), the first of the “Alien” prequel films, this film takes place before any aliens caused problems for Sigourney Weaver and her crew. When an expedition group made up of couples capable of colonization are sent to explore the outer reaches of space for a planet suitable for life beyond Earth, they happen to stumble upon a desolate planet that appears to be an uninhabited paradise. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and these unlucky explorers become the second crew to encounter one of the most terrifying sci-fi monstrosities to ever be put to the big screen.

Wakefield

May 19, 2017

Bryan Cranston, renowned Emmy-winning actor from “Breaking Bad” (2009-2013), stars in “Wakefield,” an independent movie that looks like it has enough potential to get the attention of the Academy this year. Following a man who runs away from his life in a most unusual way, the movie follows him watching from his attic as the ones he loved try and forget he ever existed. Simultaneously, Wakefield tries his best to unshackle himself from the restraints of the life he once lived. The number of things he must let go before he can truly be free may be too much for him to toss away completely, but only the movie can tell you just how far he’s willing to go to be free.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

May 26, 2017

Johnny Depp is back as everyone’s favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, in the latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” film! As is the case with all “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, one of Sparrow’s past enemies is back to take revenge, with powers more terrifying than any of the antagonists before it (they wouldn’t make it any other way). With the recent Pirates movies yet to be released, I can’t say I have many expectations for this film, except that Jack Sparrow will hopefully be as hilarious as he always is, finding even crazier ways to get himself out of trouble and making the movie worth a watch at least once just for the laughs.