By Chris Kavan - 11/23/16 at 10:53 AM CT
There's a lot to give thanks for this week - because the MPAA isn't taking any vacation. Thus, I'm most happy to report the newest Star Wars film is getting its rating. We also have one for an unforgettable office party and a feel-good faith-based film brought to you by... the WWE? Didn't see that one coming. In any case, I'm glad I don't have to stretch to find something to talk about this week - with the long holiday weekend ahead, movies are going to be out in full force.
There is no film this year that I am anticipating more than Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. When The Force Awakens came out, it broke all kinds of records and while I don't think Rogue One is going to have that kind of presence, hey, it's still Star Wars and I'm still a big fanboy. In any case, taking place before the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, we follow Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) who goes from criminal to rebel hero as she assembles a band of misfits to steal the plans to the Empire's superweapon, the Death Star. The cast looks great - Forest Whitaker plays Clone Wars veteran Saw Gerrera, we get a feisty re-programmed Empire droid (voiced by Alan Tudyk), a blind warrior monk who follows The Force even if he is no Jedi (Donnie Yen), his friend and protector and also one-time assassin (Wen Jiang), a charismatic captain (Diego Luna) and a hot-headed pilot (Riz Ahmed). Rounding out the cast is Mads Mikkelsen as Erso's father, and an integral part of making the Death Star operational and Ben Mendelsohn as the evil Director Orson Krennic. Previews have made this look very Saving Private Ryan-esque - certainly more battle-hardened than any previous Star Wars film. I'm interested to see if they can make this gritty while still giving us the Star Wars feel. My hopes are high for this one. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Coming in to lighten your holiday spirits is Office Christmas Party. A no-nonsense CEO (Jennifer Aniston) is looking to close down the branch run by her more party-hearty brother (T.J. Miller), he enlists the help of his Chief Technical Office (Jason Bateman) to impress a most important client (Courtney B. Vance) and save the day - and his job. The rest of the cast is made up of a lot of comedic talent: Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Rob Corddry, Matt Walsh, Randall Park, Jamie Chung and Abbey Lee help are all going to party down. Granted, the trailers make it seem pretty funny, but it's hard to say whether they're spoiling the fun by giving us all the good parts. In any case, those hard up for good comedy are likely to seek this one out and it should play well enough through December. Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and graphic nudity.
Our last major release this week is an interesting pairing. When I think of the WWE, of course it immediately brings to mind Christianity and heart-warming tales of faith instead of, you know, slamming someone's face with a chair. In any case, in 2016 WWE bought the rights to The Resurrection of Gavin Stone and by golly, we're going to see how this turns out. Gavin Stone (Brett Dalton) is a former child star who finds himself doing community service at a local megachurch. Still eyeing the spotlight, he pretends to be Christian in order to land the main role of Jesus in an upcoming Passion Play - but finds out that his true role in life is something much deeper. The WWE connection comes in the form of Shawn Michaels, who has a major role in the story. I mean, it can't be any worse than God's Not Dead 2 or the Columbine "true" story I'm Not Ashamed - can it? In any case, this is rated PG for thematic
elements including a crucifixion image (it's about a Passion Play - go figure).
Those are the main contributions this week, but be sure the check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
BEYOND SKYLINE
Rated R for sequences of bloody sci-fi violence, and language throughout.
BURN YOUR MAPS
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some mature sexual material, and brief strong
language.
THE COMEDIAN
Rated R for crude sexual references and language throughout.
CONTEMPORARY COLOR
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
DESPITE THE FALLING SNOW
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.
DETOUR
Rated R for some strong violence, sexual content, nudity, drug use, and language throughout.
KIKORIKI - LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Rated PG for some rude humor and peril.
MEASURE OF A MAN
Rated PG-13 for thematic content including some intense bullying, teen drinking and sexuality, and for language.
OCEAN WAVES
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material.
OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and graphic nudity.
THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE
Rated PG for thematic elements including a crucifixion image.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
SILENCE
Rated R for some disturbing violent content.
SO B. IT
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements.
SURF'S UP 2: WAVEMANIA
Rated PG for some rude humor and mild action.
WE DON'T BELONG HERE
Rated R for language.
WOLVES
Rated R for language throughout and brief sexuality.
YU-GI-OH! THE DARK SIDE OF DIMENSIONS
Rated PG for sequences of fantasy action and some suggestive material.
