By Chris Kavan - 08/01/18 at 09:51 AM CT
The dog days of summer are upon us, but the Ratings Boards is keeping things strong. Another three big ratings updates, including revisiting two popular characters, one an insane, monstrous, scary individual - and the other is Michael Myers. I mean, come on, a nanny who can fly, jump into pictures and break into song at any time?! Much crazier than a dude in a mask with a grudge against his sister. Also, we have Mark Wahlberg flexing his action muscles once again as the leader of a crack CIA team with their own methods. All that and more in this week's update!
Disney has Marvel, Star Wars (and soon the X-Men and Avatar) but they also have a huge catalogue of films both animated and live-action. One of their most beloved (and, based on the film Saving Mr. Banks, quite contentious) properties is Mary Poppins. Disney hasn't really done much with it since the original film back in '64 but all that is about to change with Mary Poppins Returns. This time around Emily Blunt takes on the role of the magical nanny, and takes place in Depression-Era London with a grown Michael and Jane Banks (played by Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer) who get a visit from their long-ago friend after a personal tragedy. Michael now has three children of his own (played by Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh) and finds himself struggling to maintain both a family, personal and business life. Good thing he befriended a magical nanny when he was a child! Mary Poppins isn't alone, she has her good friend Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) to help things along. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding this - such as what music will be used (original or new or a combination) what the "personal tragedy" is (death, job loss, other?) and little else about the plot has been reveled. What has been revealed is a superb supporting cast including Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke and David Warner among others. I have to admit, Disney has done really well at reinventing their properties, so I don't see this as a cash-grab. If they treat the source material well, I have no doubt this will be another monster hit (as if Disney needs more of those). Rated Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action.
If you like your remakes with a bit more horror and violence, don't worry, I've got you covered. Despite being remade once already, we're getting yet another version of Halloween. Unlike Rob Zombie's 2007 version (and 2009 sequel) that explored the reason for Michael Myers, this version fast-forwards to the future and is directly related to the classic 1978 original. For Jamie Lee Curtis is back as Laurie Strode, who has not lost a beat, preparing herself for the day when her insane brother (also original Michael Myers actor Nick Castle) comes after her once again. And, wouldn't you know it, 40 years after their first terrifying encounter, her worst fears come true when the bus transporting several patients crashes, and he escapes (probably with some other terrible human beings, but this isn't their story, so forget them!). Relative newcomer Andi Matichak playes Laurie's granddaughter (with Judy Greer playing her daughter). The supporting cast includes Will Patton, Virginia Gardner, Miles Robbins, Toby Huss and Dylan Arnold. Zombie's version of Halloween never sat right with me and I'm hoping this film puts a final, finishing touch on this franchise (though there are rumors there will yet be another). Hopefully this still puts nice bow on one of the most influential horror icons, I have hope. Rated R for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use and nudity.
The final big film of the week is the later action film for Mark Wahlberg, Mile 22. He's not alone, as we have a lot of kick-ass people along for this ride including Walking Dead standout Lauren Cohan, MMA (and now WWE) legend Ronda Rousey and always creepy (in a good way!) John Malkovich and a well-rounded international cast including Iko Uwais, Poorna Jagannathan, Nikolai Nikolaeff, Alexandra Vino and Terry Kinney. The film focuses on the team leader of top tactical CIA unit (Wahlberg) who plays by their own rules who has to work with an elite intelligence office (Cohan) in order to smuggle a corrupt officer with critical information out of a dangerous city where everybody is after them. The usual happens - guns, explosions, fights - nothing an elite team of kick-ass people can't handle. While I don't see this as anything special, it does look entertaining - good enough for night in. Rated Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
Those are the big three this week, but there is plenty more to check out in the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
BLAZE
Rated R for language throughout, some sexual content and drug use.
CHANGE IN THE AIR
Rated PG for some thematic elements and brief language.
CINDERELLA
Rated PG for some thematic elements.
AN ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY
Rated PG for some mild peril and thematic elements.
HALLOWEEN
Rated R for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use and nudity.
THE LADYBUG
Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.
LITTLE ITALY
Rated R for some sexual references.
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action.
MATRIARCH
Rated R for violence and disturbing behavior, nudity, brief language and drug use.
MILE 22
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
PRETTY GIRL
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive and thematic material.
SCORPION KING: BOOK OF SOULS
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, suggestive content, and some partial nudity.
TIGER
Rated PG-13 for some language and sports action.
WHAT THEY HAD
Rated R for language including a brief sexual reference.
