By Chris Kavan - 05/18/16 at 12:47 PM CT
Either I have fallen behind or the MPAA has decided to up their schedule because there is a double dose of movies this week. You would think that would result in a massive list, but, unsurprisingly, there are really only a few big films even with two weeks worth taken into account. The biggest films are both from Disney: Finding Dory, the next, big Pixar film and The BFG, based on the best-selling book. You also have one of my most anticipated films of the summer, Jason Bourne and the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film Out of the Shadows. It should be an exciting summer, it will interesting to see what the coming weeks bring us.
By far one of the franchises I am most happy to see return to theaters is Matt Damon reprising his role as Jason Bourne. If the trailers are any indication, it has lost none of the impact that made the original films so good. Granted, Paul Greengrass also likes a lot of those fast jump cuts and it's not to everyone's taste but I, for one, have loved pretty much every minute of this series. Plus, besides the returns of Julia Stiles you have some new faces in the form of the very talented Alicia Vikander along with Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel and Riz Ahmed. All told, among all the superheroes and CGI this summer, I have a feeling this action star is still going to be able to stand out. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief strong language.
Disney has been on a red hot streak this year with Zootopia, The Jungle Book and Captain America: Civil War pushing the studio to $1 billion in record fashion and helping the Marvel franchise to $10 billion in its entire run. They have a lot more films that should prove to be as popular and two of the biggest are likely to be Finding Dory and The BFG. Both films are targeting the lucrative family audience. Finding Dory is the Pixar sequel to the wildly popular Finding Nemo and Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks are both back to reprise their roles with big names like Idris Elba, Dominic West, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Diane Keaton, Ed O'Neill and Ty Burrell joining the cast. Out of all the animated films, Finding Dory has the edge is only because of the Pixar name and the fact the original film is so beloved. I don't think they will mess this up and if any animated film is going to hit the $1 billion mark worldwide, it will be this one. The BFG is more of an unkown but, much like The Jungle Book, I think it will be a hit with families and adults alike. Coming out in the prime spot just before the 4th of July holiday, the film concerns a girl who finds the Big Friendly Giant, who lives up to his name by being a kind soul instead of children-chomping typical giant. The fantasy and friendly story stars Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement and Ruby Barnhill as the young girl. Both films are rated PG.
The other big name getting its rating would be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. I have yet to see the original film and, truth be told, have little interest in doing so (though I do believe it is on my Netflix list). That being said, it did make enough to warrent this sequel which brings back our four fun-loving, martial artist turtle brothers (voiced by Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Alan Ritchson and Jeremy Howard) who look to continue to protect the city from the evil Shredder (Brian Tee) the the evil Footclan. It looks like Bebop and Rocksteady are joining the group, along with the hidious Kraang. Megan Fox and Will Arnett return as April O'Neil and Vernon Fenwick while Stephen Amell joins the cast as the hockey-loving badass Casey Jones. The trailers sure show a lot of action, but I still have no idea what this movie is actually going to be about yet. One thing is for certain, there will be lots of CGI and action. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.
That is the main films but be sure the check out the complete MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
ACE THE CASE (aka KID WITNESS)
Rated PG-13 for some elements of violence and peril, and brief teen drinking.
THE BFG
Rated PG for action/peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor.
THE BOOK OF HENRY
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language.
C STREET
Rated R for some sexual content and drug material.
CERTAIN WOMEN
Rated R for some language.
DON'T THINK TWICE
Rated R for language and some drug use.
EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS
Rated R for language, some sexual references and brief nudity.
END OF A GUN
Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality.
FINDING DORY
Rated PG for mild thematic elements.
GROWING UP SMITH
Rated PG-13 for some language and brief drug use.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, some nudity, drug use and violence.
HONEY 3
Rated PG-13 for some sensuality.
IMPERIUM
Rated R for language throughout.
THE INNOCENTS
Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including sexual assault, and for some bloody images and brief suggestive content.
JASON BOURNE
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief strong language.
JOSHY
Rated R for drug use and language throughout, sexual content/nudity and a disturbing image.
A LIGHT BENEATH THEIR FEET
Rated R for some teen sexuality and drug use.
MAXIMUM RIDE
Rated PG-13 for some violence.
A MONSTER CALLS
Rated PG-13 for thematic content and some scary images.
MORRIS FROM AMERICA
Rated R for teen drug use and partying, sexual material, brief nudity, and language throughout.
PIPER
Rated G
A REMARKABLE LIFE
Rated R for sexual references.
SHOVEL BUDDIES
Rated R for language throughout including sexual references, and some drug content.
THE SPACE BETWEEN US
Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality and language.
THE STEPS
Rated R for sexual content/nudity, language and some drug use.
SWAN PRINCESS: PRINCESS TODAY, PIRATE TOMORROW
Rated PG for some mild peril.
A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS
Rated PG-13 for thematic content and some disturbing violent images.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.
TICKLED
Rated R for language.
WILSON
Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality.
