Here are our 5 movie picks for November 2013. Spoilers not included.
By Daniel Loy
Don Jon
Scheduled release: 7 November
Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Cast: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore
Joseph Gordon-Levitt wears many hats in this film. The multi-talented actor doesn’t just do the acting; he’s also the director and writer. No wonder he’s been labelled as one of Hollywood’s leading men.
Don Jon revolves around the life of Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a man whose gratification in life comes from watching pornography. Soon, he develops unrealistic expectations and goes on a journey to find a satisfying sex life. One day, he chances upon Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) and is determined to chase after her. Of course, with such pornographic tendencies he’s bound to face difficulties. Warning: NSFK(ids).
Ender’s Game
Scheduled release: 7 November
Director: Gavin Hood
Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld
Ender’s Game puts the focus on its young cast despite the presence of experienced actors Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley. The movie is set in the near future, where Earth and its inhabitants have almost been destroyed by an alien race.
Although Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) managed to save the day, him and his comrade Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) continue training the young in order to find a future commander. A boy named Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) seems to fit the bill, given his ability to overcome challenges and battle simulations. How will Ender fare in the fight to save his planet? Watch to find out.
Tom Yum Goong 2
Scheduled Release: 7 November
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Cast: Tony Jaa
Think of martial arts experts in movies, and a whole list of names pop up. Jason Statham, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, the list goes on. Popping up from under the radar is Tony Jaa, arguably the best action hero Thailand has produced.
A sequel to the 2005 hit Tom Yum Goong, Kham (Tony Jaa) returns to fight his enemies after being framed for the murder of Suchart, the owner of a large elephant camp. Expect nothing less than excellent fight choreography and intense action scenes from the star of the Ong Bak series as he dismantles his opponents in a bid to clear his name.
Captain Phillips
Scheduled Release: 14 November
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi
Actor Tom Hanks has been known to act in a diverse range of roles and fleshes out his characters pretty well. In this thriller that’s based on a true story, Hanks plays Captain Richard Phillips. His container ship, the Maersk Alabama, is hijacked by a bunch of Somali pirates. The hijacking of the American container ship was the first in 200 years.
The movie examines the relationship between Phillips and his captors, particularly the Somali pirate captain Muse, played by first-time actor Barkhad Abdi. Trivia: Abdi was working as a chauffeur before he was cast in this film and had no prior acting experience nor aspirations to be an actor.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Scheduled Release: 21 November
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
It’s not just the men who kick ass; heroines have become extremely popular in Hollywood. Jennifer Lawrence filled the titular role of Katniss Everdeen very well in The Hunger Games released last year, and this sequel looks set to build on that strong character.
Having won the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) have to leave their families and embark on a victory tour through the districts. The world is still suffering at the hands of the government, known as the Capitol, and a rebellion is imminent. To prevent the toppling of the Capitol, the upcoming 75th Annual Hunger Games pits Katniss against stronger opponents, in a bid to remove the symbol of hope for those who oppose the rulers.