A friend of mine was so confused when I told him that I was going to the movies this summer. He said that he could not believe that people watch movies in the cinema during summer. Given that I write a monthly must-see movies story for the site, clearly, I strongly disagree with him on this and I think going to the movies is a great activity all year round. So without further ado, here are my picks of what is worth watching on the big screen for the first month of 2019:
Mary Poppins Returns (January 1)
Yes, the original 1964 film starring the great Julie Andrews is a classic – let’s just address that elephant in the room already. But, Emily Blunt is an incredibly talented actress so the iconic Mary Poppins character is in great hands. In this sequel directed by Rob Marshall and also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, now grown up Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. The film is set in depression-era London and features brand new songs to sing along to.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (January 1)
I know we get an abundance of superhero films to watch but there is something about this film that feels new and unique. The film looks pretty cool (i.e. the animation looks impressive). The story is pretty interesting (multiple Spider-Men from multiple parallel dimensions team up to stop a threat to all realities). I’m convinced.
How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (January 3)
All good things must come to an end and this film is our goodbye to another successful trilogy. Given that this film concludes the series, does it really matter what the film is about? We’re saying goodbye to characters we’ve known for years! The ending will no doubt tug at our heartstrings.
Mary Queen of Scots (January 17)
This film is giving me soap opera vibes and I’m still not sure whether that’s a good or bad thing. The film does star two of last year’s Oscars Best Actress nominees (Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan) and that’s what’s really attracting me to check out this movie. The film explores the turbulent life of Mary Stuart (Ronan), including her attempt to overthrow her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. See, I told you… DRAMA.
