Let’s Go to the Movies

There’s something about going to the theater to watch a movie that can just never be matched by a night at home watching television. These days I tend to see more kid’s movies than anything else since date nights are tough to come by when you have three children, but my wife and I still manage to catch several films per year. With four months left in 2019, here are the half dozen I’m most excited to catch on the big screen before we ring in 2020.

Ad Astra (releasing on 9/20/19)

Brad Pitt plays an astronaut sent to the far reaches of the solar system to save it from disaster while investigating that pending catastrophe’s relationship to the disappearance of his father years earlier while on a space mission of his own. Rated PG-13 and also starring Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and Liv Tyler.

Joker (releasing 10/4/19)

Two years ago I speculated on this very blog about who might be the next actor to play my favorite comic-book villain, the Joker. What do you know, one of my picks got the part. Joaquin Phoenix plays the titular role in this new and rumored dark take on Batman’s arch nemesis. Rated R and also starring Robert De Niro.

Zombieland: Double Tap (releasing 10/18/19)

All four of our humorous zombie-killing heroes from the 2009 hit are back for this long-awaited sequel. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin are joined by a slew of additional stars including Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, and Thomas Middleditch in what looks like another fun post-apocalyptic hack-and-slash trip through America.

Motherless Brooklyn (releasing 11/1/19)

One of my favorite actors, Edward Norton, wrote, directed, and stars in this tale of a detective suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome in 1950s New York City who tries to solve the mystery of his mentor’s murder. Based on an award-winning novel by Jonathan Lethem, this film is rated R and also stars Bruce Willis, Willem DaFoe, and Alec Baldwin.

Jumanji: The Next Level (releasing 12/13/19)

I told you I watch a lot of kid’s movies. 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t go into it expecting much yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all back for this sequel along with Nick Jonas and several newcomers in what looks like another fun, comedic adventure.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (releasing 12/20/19)

Sure, Star Wars: The Last Jedi wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, but it was still pretty darned entertaining. J.J. Abrams is back to direct this final installment and like just about every other Star Wars geek, I can’t wait to see how it all ends. Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, and John Boyega are all back alongside archive footage of Carrie Fisher and the return of both Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. Come on Disney, take my money now!

There are quite a few other films I bet will prove worthy, but these are the six I’ve got to see on the big screen. If you know a good babysitter, get in touch!