This weekend at the movies, audiences can choose to encounter the king of the apes, a big friendly giant, or decide for themselves whether a purge is necessary.
The Legend of Tarzan finds its titular hero (Alexander Skarsgård), having acclimated to life in London as John Clayton III, an aristocrat, called back to his former home in the jungle. Hired as a trade emissary of the House of Commons, Tarzan is invited to investigate the activities at a mining encampment. Directed by David Yates and written by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, The Legend of Tarzan has quite the cast in Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Djimon Hounsou, Jim Broadbent, and Christoph Waltz.
Based on the 1982 novel by beloved children’s author, Roald Dahl, The BFG is directed by Steven Spielberg and tells the story of Sophie, an orphan who encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul. The BFG is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children. Sophie befriends the BFG and accompanies him on a mission throughout Giant Country in a quest to stop the man-eating giants. The cast is led by Mark Rylance as the BFG, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Bill Hader.
The third installment in The Purge series, The Purge: Election Year begins two years after the events of the second film, The Purge: Anarchy. Former police sergeant Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) has become head of security for U.S. Senator Charlene Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), the front-runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. A betrayal forces them onto the streets of D.C. on the one night when no help is available, where they must stay alive until dawn. Written and directed by James DeMonaco, The Purge also stars Mykelti Williamson, Betty Gabriel, Edwin Hodge, Kyle Secor, Joseph Julian Soria, and Liza Colon-Zayas.
REEL’s Choice: The Purge: Election Year
Given that we are in a tumultuous election year ourselves, we’re taking a break from the horrors of current cable news coverage of the presidential race and making The Purge: Election Year our optimal choice for this week’s theater trip.
