Five Movies To Watch (When Possible) - Arts & Culture

What is the first thing you are going to do when we have all been vaccinated? I want (in no order) to travel, to hug people (hopefully), to get down in the club (I hate nightclubs), and most importantly, to watch a movie in the cinema.

Netflix has so far satiated my movie-viewing experience, but nothing can replace the feeling of viewing of watching something great (or terrible) together with a huge group of strangers. Other people (like my dad) can’t abide by the sound of chewing popcorn and people answering their phones in the middle of pivotal scenes but I think when we are all back to normal-ish, I will treasure all those things.

Here is a list of movies I can’t wait to watch.

The Box, directed by Yang Jung-woong

The Box, starring Park Chanyeol and Jo Dal-hwan
The Box, starring Park Chanyeol and Jo Dal-hwan (2021)

In the vein of charming musical drama movies like August Rush and OnceThe Box is directed by Yang Jung-woong and stars EXO’s Park Chanyeol and Jo Dal-hwan. Set to be the feel-good movie of the year, The Box tells the story of Ji-hoon, a shy, aspiring singer, and Min-soo, a washed-up hitmaker who chances upon Ji-hoon and helps him on his journey. This will be Chanyeol’s final project before he heads off to the military for his mandatory service and based on early reviews, he does not disappoint. Chanyeol makes use of his powerful, underrated voice, singing a selection of songs that range from Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy to Coldplay’s A Sky Full of Stars, and Break Your Box, an official song for the movie.

The French Dispatch, directed by Wes Anderson

The French Dispatch, starring Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothée Chalamet.
The French Dispatch, starring Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothée Chalamet (2021)

What are the things you expect out of a Wes Anderson movie? A zany plot, an eclectic cast of characters, and a fierce commitment to a visual style that has served the director well in a career that has spanned 25 years. The French Dispatch has all of this and more. The story revolves around the French bureau of a Kansas newspaper, set in a fictional French city during the postwar years. The cast reads like a veritable who’s who of regular Anderson players: the list of actors includes Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothée Chalamet.

A Quiet Place: Part II, directed by John Krasinski

A Quiet Place: Part II starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Cillian Murphy
A Quiet Place: Part II, starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Cillian Murphy (2021)

The follow-up to 2018’s smash horror hit with the same name, A Quiet Place: Part II follows the Abbott family after the events of the first film. This time, they are dealing with the outside world in even more terrifying silence. Something about the premise seems to be synchronicity with our current situation. This is one of those movies that are served well by viewing it in the cinema. Watching the first one in such thick silence made it an unforgettable experience.

Dune, directed by Dennis Villeneuve

Dune, starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem
Dune, starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem (2021)

Adapted from the Frank Herbert novel of the same name, Dune is one of those plots that I can’t explain. I haven’t read the book, and admittedly every time I read the Wikipedia summary, it stays in my brain for about ten seconds before it goes away. This means I’m probably still going to enjoy watching it because…I don’t understand what I spoiled myself for. Does this make sense? In the interest of this article, I tried re-reading it to write a summary and ended up with an unwieldy synopsis that made no sense and made the movie seem unwatchable, which I am 100% sure it will not be, given that it was directed by Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem and more. The trailer looks amazing.

The Moon, directed by Kim Yong-hwa

The Moon starring Do Kyungsoo, Sol Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae
Do Kyungsoo

A story about a man left on the moon, this is the one movie on this list that has not been filmed yet (there isn’t even a poster, the above picture is from EXO’s Sing For You album cover) . The Moon is nonetheless highly anticipated both for its anticipated use of VFX, and for being the return vehicle for EXO’s Do Kyungsoo, after his stint in the army. Kyungsoo has steadily been building an impressive resume of acting work, from the highly acclaimed 100 Days My Prince (available on Netflix) and Swing KidsThe Moon will be his third outing of the Along With The Gods’ director Kim Yong-hwa, and the casting announcement was made while he was still in the army (that’s how excited people have been). The Moon also stars veteran actors Sol Kyung-gu (Memories of a Murder) and Kim Hee-ae (The World of The Married).

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