Anticipation for the five-day-long Thanksgiving break is building inside the minds of students and staff. The break is an excellent time to spend time with your family, indulge in a delightful dinner and dessert, watch some football, go Black Friday shopping, enjoy your time off from work or school and be thankful for all the blessings you have in your life, but those five days away from school or work could also be used to catch up on some of the great movies that are playing or coming soon. If catching up on some movies is how you will spend your Thanksgiving break and you are unsure of what to see, VistaNow has taken the time to provide a wide selection of movies that must be seen:
“Doctor Strange”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSzx-zryEgM
Genre: Sci-Fi/Adventure
Runtime: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for “sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence”
Release Date: Now Playing (November 4, 2016)
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mads Mikkelsen
Plot: “An arrogant surgeon’s career is destroyed, but he is then offered a chance to defend the universe as a powerful sorcerer.”
Although this was not one of Marvel’s best movies, I would still recommend seeing “Doctor Strange” (2016) if you have not done so already because Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance, the great action, the entertaining story and the trippy visuals are definitely worth the ticket price.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdgQj7xcDJo
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Runtime: 2 hours, 13 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for “some fantasy action violence”
Release Date: Now Playing (November 18, 2016)
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Gemma Chan, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Zoe Kravitz, Ron Perlman, Jon Voight, Dan Fogler and Carmen Ejogo
Plot: “Seventy years before Harry Potter read his book in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, writer and wizard Newt Scamander journeys through New York’s secret magical community to locate and catch magical creatures he accidentally set loose.”
Fans of the “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-2011) have been on a hiatus from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World and it’s magic for almost five years now, but the wait has finally paid off. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (2016) serves as a prequel to “Harry Potter” that fans and non-fans alike should take the time to go see because it is absolutely magical.
“Arrival”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMgyWT075KY
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Runtime: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for “brief strong language”
Release Date: Now Playing (November 11, 2016)
Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg and Forest Whitaker
Plot: “A linguist is recruited by the military to translate the complex language of an alien race that has landed on Earth.”
Denis Villeneuve’s suspenseful and mysterious sci-fi flick is a must-see for anyone who was a fan of “The Martian” (2015), “Gravity” (2013) and/or “Interstellar” (2014). The film boasts a talented cast accompanied by an ingenious director, so this one definitely will not disappoint.
“Trolls”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyjm5VQ11TQ
Genre: Animation/Family
Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Rating: Rated PG for “some mild rude humor”
Release Date: Now Playing (November 4, 2016)
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Russell Brand and Zooey Deschanel
Plot: “A grouchy and pessimistic troll joins the happiest troll in Troll Village to rescue their friends.”
I am going to be honest; I think this movie looks annoying and ridiculous. The trailers do not impress me that much, the radio will not stop playing “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, and the overall story does not sound interesting, however I will agree that this does look like a cute film to take little kids to go see and it does look like it could be funny and entertaining.
“Moana”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI
Genre: Animation/Adventure
Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Rating: Rated PG for “peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements”
Release Date: November 23, 2016
Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk and Phillipa Soo
Plot: “A young Hawaiian woman, accompanied by a demi-god, sets off on a magical journey to a fabled island.”
Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho both star in this Disney Animation flick that looks absolutely amazing. The Hawaiian culture, humor, and stunning visuals that are featured in “Moana”’s (2016) trailers make this one a must-see.
“Bleed For This”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6ny-fROX8
Genre: Drama/Sports
Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes
Rating: Rated R for “language, sexuality/nudity and some accident images”
Release Date: November 18, 2016
Starring: Miles Teller, Katey Sagal, Christine Evangelista, Aaron Eckhart, Ciaran Hinds and Ted Levine
Plot: “The true story of boxer Vinny Pazienza who miraculously and inspirationally recovers from a near fatal car crash to continue boxing.”
Fans of boxing movies and admirers of inspirational stories should be sure to check out Miles Teller as Vinny Pazienza in “Bleed For This” (2016). This film’s message about rising from tragedy and never giving up are both crucial lessons that the world desperately needs to learn.
“Lion”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RNI9o06vqo
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for “thematic material and some sensuality”
Release Date: November 25, 2016
Starring: Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara and David Wenham
Plot: “A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, but sets off on a journey to find his real family 25 years after having been adopted by an Australian couple.”
The recognizable cast of “Lion” (2016) is going to be more than enough to get people into theaters to see it, but the emotional and heartbreaking story is what makes it such an important film to watch. This is also a great movie to see during the Thanksgiving season since it teaches people to be thankful for what they have.
“Manchester by the Sea”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsVoD0pTge0
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 2 hours, 17 minutes
Rating: Rated R for “language throughout and some sexual content”
Release Date: November 18, 2016
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Liam McNeill, C.J. Wilson, Heather Burns, Tate Donovan and Matthew Broderick
Plot: “An uncle is forced to take care of his nephew after his brother dies.”
This contender for the 89th Oscars is an excellent drama that admirers of deep, emotional stories should definitely be sure to check out.
“Moonlight”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: Rated R for “some sexuality, drug use, brief violence, and language throughout”
Release Date: Now Playing (October 21, 2016)
Starring: Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monae, Naomie Harris and Jaden Piner
Plot: “A young black man’s journey from his childhood to adulthood and his struggle to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood is documented in this film.”
The praise for “Moonlight” (2016) from both critics and audiences has been astounding so it is safe to assume that this film could not be all that bad. The trailers and small clips shown from the movies are also pure masterpieces that only heighten audience’s interest.
“Loving”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRXuCY7tRgk
Genre: Drama/Biography
Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for “thematic elements”
Release Date: Now Playing (November 4, 2016)
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Terri Abney, Alano Miller, Jon Bass and Michael Shannon
Plot: “An interracial couple in the 1950’s are sentenced to prison in Virginia for getting married.”
This shocking true story about interracial marriage and the fight to make it legal in the United States is one that will surely be making it’s way to the Oscars in February. You do not want to miss this one.
“Allied”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlp94-C31cY
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Rating: Rated R for “violence, some sexuality/nudity, language and brief drug use”
Release Date: November 23, 2016
Starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, Daniel Betts, Simon McBurney, Marion Bailey, Lizzy Caplan, Anton Lesser, Matthew Goode, Josh Dylan, August Diehl, Charlotte Hope and Sally Messham
Plot: “An intelligence officer operating in North Africa meets and falls in love with a French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission. Their relationship is tested and tried by the pressures of World War II when they reunite in London.”
Brad Pitt reprises yet another World War II role in this glorious film that was directed by the great Robert Zemeckis. World War II film fans and romance buffs should most definitely keep an eye on “Allied” (2016).
Be sure to share this story on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and let VistaNow what you are going to be watching during Thanksgiving break.
