Kingsman back to save the world
Movies
Big releases on Sept. 22: Kingsman: The Golden Circle; The LEGO Ninjago Movie.
Big picture: At this point, Hollywood has me convinced that around 50 per cent of the planet’s population works for a secret intelligence agency. There’s just that damn many spies out there.
This Kingsman: The Secret Service sequel follows the exploits of an independent (fiction, right?) international intelligence service. This time around, Colin Firth and his espionage buddies team up with former ally, a secret American spy organization called The Statesman. To do what? Save the world, naturally. (Makes you really respect 007 for working solo all these years).
Meanwhile, who knew those little tiny, colourful blocks — and choking hazards — you played with as a child would become a multifilm, mega franchise? This flick follows LEGO ninjas in the battle for Ninjago City.
Forecast: Ninjago has a solid foundation. Count on more amusing LEGO family fun.
TV
Big event: Star Trek: Discovery (Sept. 24, CTV and Space).
Big picture: A new Trek is back on the small screen for the first time since Enterprise launched its aborted voyage in 2001. This one is set a decade before the exploits of Captain Kirk and Spock in the original series. Discovery will largely be told from the perspective of the ship’s first officer (The Walking Dead’s Sonequa MartinGreen), and will be far more serialized. However, don’t fret Trekkies; there will be plenty of the familiar. Spock’s father Sarek will be a series regular (played by James Frain), and Rainn Wilson inhabits the role of classic Trek villain Harry Mudd.
Moreover, there will still be some kind of alien/android/cyborg type character on the ship’s bridge learning what it means to be human. The CBS All Access series airs exclusively on Space in Canada after Week 1. Michelle Yeoh helms the ship as Captain Philippa Georgio.
Forecast: Set your phasers for success. Star Trek’s utopian vision of a humanity that has overcome prejudice, stupidity, warmongering, greed and environmental calamity is needed now more than ever. Trekkies will assemble and hopefully recruit a new generation that only knows the films.
Honourable mention: Jerry Before Seinfeld (Sept. 19, Netflix); Gaga: Five Foot Two (Sept. 22, Netflix). A one-hour stand up special featuring the comedian’s oldest material, and a documentary on a year in the life of Gaga, (On a side note, I hope LEGO makes a movie about a LEGO city populated only by Lady Gagas. Gagapolis, anyone?)
Music
Big releases on Sept. 22: The Killers, Wonderful Wonderful; Van Morrison (Roll With the Punches).
Big picture: Wherever he may be, Mr. Brightside should be ecstatic. The Killers are back with album No. 5, while Van the Man is stilling rolling with the industry’s punches at album No. 37. The Killers track Tyson Vs. Douglas wins my award for most intriguing song title of the week. Not to be outdone is Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The band’s new collection of epic instrumentals didn’t make my big releases, but the group wins most intriguing album title of the week for Luciferian Towers.
Forecast: Brandon Flowers and co. finally getting back in the studio together is wonderful, wonderful, indeed.
Honourable mention: Cold Specks. Ladan Hussein, known on stage as Cold Specks, is an ever-shining Canadian treasure. @chrislackner79