May’s must-see movies
With the Avengers having reached their Endgame, the 2019 blockbuster season is well and truly underway. Next month, Kiwi movie lovers will have plenty of choices screening at a cinema near them. There’s the sequel to Godzilla, King of Monsters (May 30), Brad Pitt-starring slice of sci-fi Ad Astra (May 23) and the latest Seth Rogen (Long Shot, May 2), Diane Keaton (Poms, May 9) and Rebel Wilson (The Hustle, May 9) comedies. Period dramas fans should check out Keira Knightley in The Aftermath
(May 2) or The Chaperone
(May 2), which looks at the teenage years of early film star Louise Brooks.
New Zealand cinema is represented by acclaimed documentary Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen (May 12) and South Auckland-set Samoan comedic coming-of-age tale
Brown Boys (May 9), while, for the kids, perennial favourite Asterix has an all-new animated adventure – The Secret of the Magic Potion (May 30).
However, after studying the upcoming schedules, Stuff has come up with this list of the movies you need to see as the nights start to get increasingly longer.
Aladdin (May 23)
Twenty-seven years after Disney wowed the world with its animated comedy musical, Guy Ritchie attempts to reinvent the tale lock, stock and barrel with this live-action version.
Little-known Canadian actor Mena Massoud takes on the title role, while Will Smith is the scene-stealing Genie.
All is True (May 9)
Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen star in this drama that looks at the final days in the life of renowned 16th and 17th century playwright and poet William Shakespeare.
Branagh also directs and the screenplay is by the writer of Blackadder, The Young Ones and Upstart Crow, Ben Elton.
Brightburn (May 23)
Elizabeth Banks stars in this sci-fi horror spin on Superman. She plays a woman who discovers a child from another world who crash lands on Earth.
However, instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he appears to be something far more sinister.
The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps (May 2)
As this new Kiwi documentary highlights, Martin Phillipps came tantalisingly close to conquering the international musical world with his band The Chills, but instead fell into decades of debt and addiction in his home town of Dunedin.
At 54, he’s been given a dire medical prognosis, forcing him to face his demons and realise his musical ambitions before it’s too late.
John Wick: Parabellum (May 16)
Picking up events straight after the end of the last instalment in 2017, Keanu Reeves is on the run after his assassination of a member of the powerful High Table.
With a multimillion dollar global contract out on him, his first objective is just to stay alive.
Anjelica Huston and Halle Berry join the party this time around.
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (May 16)
Although based on the 2016 video game of the same name, Rob Letterman’s movie promises a different, more comedic spin.
Ryan Reynolds provides the voice of the normally one-note Pokemon mascot who has to team up with the son of his former partner Harry Goodman to try to solve the mystery of how Harry disappeared.
Rocketman (May 30)
Aiming to be a Bohemian Rhapsody style box-office hit, Dexter Fletcher chronicles the life and music of Sir Elton John.
Taron Egerton plays the man formerly known as Reg Dwight, while Jamie Bell and Bryce Dallas Howard co-star.