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“Hostiles” (R) – It’s 1892, and an unsympathetic Army captain (Christian Bale) is ordered to trek from New Mexico to Montana to return a Cheyenne chief (Wes Studi) to his lands to die. The party includes the chief’s son (Adam Beach) and other family members. They encounter a young widow (Rosamund Pike) whose family has been slaughtered by Comanches. “Hostiles” offers an unforgiving look at settler life and Indian relations, and we are not spared the gore or strife along the way. Although it’s set on the plains, this is no cowboys and Indians Western. It’s a violent film about violent times. The characters are damaged goods, raw and shaken by the tragic consequences of war.
“Zombies” (TV-G) – The Disney Channel continues its string of hits with the original movie “Zombies,” starring Milo Manheim as Zed, an ebullient Zombie kid, and Meg Donnelly as Addison, a cheerleading charmer. “What could go so wrong with a girl and a Zombie?” you ask. In the post-apocalypse town of Seabrook, Zombies are segregated and regulated for the safety of the suburbanite residents, but this happens to be the year that Zombies are allowed to attend the local preptastic high school. It’s one part Romeo and Juliet love story, one part celebration of triumphing over our differences, with a sprinkling of super-cute song and dance numbers that will have you bopping along.
Scene from “Paddington 2” (Warner Brothers photo)
“Paddington 2” (PG) – Now that Paddington bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is comfortably installed with the Brown family (Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins), he has his eye on a delightful pop-up book in a local antiques store, meant as a present for Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday. Paddington takes a series of odd jobs in a hilarious attempt to earn money to buy the book, but it is stolen and he is framed. The cast of characters is rich: Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan, an aging actor in desperate straits, for starters, plus Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Michael Gambon, Joanna Lumley and director Paul King. What you end up with is a heartwarming classic that’s as sweet as a marmalade sandwich.
“Maze Runner: Death Cure” (PG-13) – We first met Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) in “The Maze Runner,” where he was dropped in the middle of a fortress of a maze and, along with a group of compatriots, battled to make it out. Two films later, the situation is reversed, and to save their friends, those same young men must fight to make it into the Last City, home of the evil WCKD organization that mazed them in the first place. Civilization is infected with a virus known as Flare, and their immunity to this virus makes them both targets and potential saviors. Many reprised roles in this finale film (Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Dexter Darden, Thomas Brodie-Sangster) will thrill fans of the series, but it’s a lot to take on for someone unfamiliar with the backstory.
New TV Releases
“The Pink Panther Show”
“Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue” The Complete Collection
“Shameless” Season 8
“Unforgotten” Season 1
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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