With 5 choices this week, the big news is the release of Captain America: Civil War. The year’s second biggest box office smash is now available to watch in the comfort of your own home. Joining Cap is a horror sequel, a pop music spoof, a Bruce Willis thriller and one of the most accomplished French films of 2015. Here are MHT’s recommendations on what to buy, rent, stream and skip for the week of September 13th:
Captain America: Civil War —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: The superheroes are fighting each other again! This time it’s Marvel’s superheroes.
Why Buy?
You’re Team Cap or Team Iron Man but you’re definitely not Team DC (except Batman because Batman is amazing!).
Why Rent?
You saw it at the movies and while you don’t need to see it over and over again, you do need to see those Black Panther scenes again. Oh and Spiderman, too.
Why Stream?
While you’ve avoided seeing it until this point, if you sneak a viewing through your friendly neighborhood streaming service, no one will know your secret identity as Superhero Movie Watcher.
Why Skip?
DC for life.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
One of the best movies of the summer and the best superhero movie since The Dark Knight. Don’t make me choose between those two though.
The Conjuring 2 —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Like The Conjuring, but a different supernatural case.
Why Buy?
Sleeping with the light on is your thing.
Why Rent?
You didn’t get the courage to see the 2nd one until it was out of theaters.
Why Stream?
Renting requires too many steps where you’ll probably change your mind so streaming will be much easier.
Why Skip?
The first one was lame.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
This has more to do with the rest of the selections this week rather than the quality of the movie itself. In some weeks, The Conjuring 2 would have found itself in the “Stream it!” slot but not this week.
Marauders –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: FBI agents investigate some brutal bank heists and suspect the bank’s owner.
Why Buy?
This movie has John McClane, Stabler, Drax the Destroyer and Vincent Chase. What more could you ask for?
Why Rent?
Okay, they aren’t actually playing those roles so maybe you should just rent it. Christopher Meloni is at least in a law enforcement role.
Why Stream?
You’ve seen Bruce Willis go direct-to-video before and it isn’t pretty but it isn’t going to stop you from seeing this. (It says Marauders was released in theaters on July 1st but there is no box office data to support this actually happened.)
Why Skip?
There’s a sucker born every minute… let him watch it.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
I’m sorry but anything with Christopher Meloni in it that even remotely resembles his role as Stabler and I’m in.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping –MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Mockumentary of the fake music career of Conner4Real.
Why Buy?
You’re a big fan of The Lonely Island.
Why Rent?
You’ve been a fan of Adam Samberg since his SNL days but you’re still a little unsure about this one.
Why Stream?
You need a good laugh and also something you don’t have to pay much attention to.
Why Skip?
This is not Spinal Tap.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
Plenty of funny scenes although it doesn’t really hold together as even a good movie. But it should make you laugh a few times.
Standing Tall –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Coming of age tale of an adolescent abandoned by his mother who ends up in and out of juvenile detention centers.
Why Buy?
Not sure why but speaking French might help.
Why Rent?
You love critically acclaimed films and don’t mind subtitles.
Why Stream?
This film was nominated for 8 awards at the César Awards and won for Most Promising Actor (Rod Paradot) and Best Supporting Actor (Benoit Magimel).
Why Skip?
Unless it is followed by fries or toast, you skip everything else attached to French.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
Standing Tall looks like a hidden gem if you can get over the subtitles.