Ask one person, and they’ll say that their most anticipated movie of late 2015 is “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.” Ask another person, and they’ll say that it’s “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.” Everyone seems to have made their choice, whether it’s for the brutish strength of the Capitol or the incomparable power of the dark side. But which movie will truly win Bruin hearts?
However, the much-anticipated “Star Wars” doesn’t release until after finals week. To compensate, here are five movies, and “The Hunger Games,” that threaten to rip schoolwork out of student laps for a few entertainment-filled nights this quarter.
“The Martian”
Directed by Ridley Scott
Twentieth Century Fox
Oct. 2
There is a fleeting chance that “The Martian” could be the next Ridley Scott sci-fi masterpiece, a movie that might join the canon of Scott’s “Alien” and “Blade Runner.” Although that’s unlikely to happen, “The Martian” boasts a winning potential, taking the bestselling Andy Weir novel and throwing an incredible cast straight into the fold. If Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Donald Glover and more can’t bring audiences to the theater this fall, no one can.
“Goosebumps”
Directed by Rob Letterman
Columbia Pictures
Oct. 16
It’s the ultimate bundle of childhood nostalgia: The horror-lite stylings of R.L. Stine and a Jack Black performance reminiscent of “School of Rock” come together for a film that feels more “Ghostbusters” fun than it does real terror. “Goosebumps” knows exactly what its audience would want – rather than adapting one of Stine’s classic children’s novels, it throws them all together in an adventure that sees Black as the fictional Stine, protecting his novels from literally unleashing the ghouls inside. “Goosebumps” is lunacy, but it’s a lovable lunacy.
“The Last Witch Hunter”
Directed by Breck Eisner
Lionsgate
Oct. 23
Here’s a frightening, but serious proposal: Take Vin Diesel seriously. The man appears to know what he’s doing, backing up movies that seem to be one-and-done, à la “The Fast and the Furious” and “Pitch Black,” into franchises with hordes of devoted fans. He seems to think that “The Last Witch Hunter,” in which he plays the titular hunter eradicating the witches of New York City, can sway the same way. With “The Crazies” remake director Breck Eisner on board, don’t count Vin Diesel out just yet.
“The Peanuts Movie”
Directed by Steve Martino
Twentieth Century Fox
Nov. 6
It’s been decades since the Peanuts gang hit the big screen – or any screen, for that matter. Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Lucy and the rest of the seemingly unsupervised kids bring lessons of adolescence to the forefront when the Little Red-Haired Girl comes to town. “The Peanuts Movie” employs a retro-friendly, cell-shaded animation style, so it may just be the animated hit of the fall. The world can always use more Snoopy antics anyway.
“Spectre”
Directed by Sam Mendes
Columbia Pictures
Nov. 6
In 2012, the 007 franchise hit an amazing and unexpected high point with “Skyfall,” one of the most daring and artistic entries in the series to date. “Spectre” is director Sam Mendes’ big follow-up and has the chops to be another victory, with Tinseltown villain Christoph Waltz leading the charge as Franz Oberhauser, a character that he swears isn’t actually the classic Bond villain Blofeld. If “Spectre” does turn out to be Daniel Craig’s last outing as the famous character, there’s an assurance that it will be a splendid one.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Lionsgate
Nov. 20
This is it – the big one, the grand, exciting finale. Yet for a last hurrah, there doesn’t seem to be much surprise coming the audience’s way with “Mockingjay – Part 2.” The young adult novel qualities that have made “The Hunger Games” series so internationally beloved are exemplified in Jennifer Lawrence’s last outing as the rebellious Katniss Everdeen, ready to take on a Capitol she so readily provoked alongside a disturbed nation that wants her leadership. Book-read or not, it should be a fight for the ages, with a conclusion that will likely leave audiences, appropriately, divided.
– Sebastian Torellio