In the wake of August’s typhoons, the cinema certainly acted as the perfect getaway from the wet and wild weather. With more heavy showers likely to follow in the coming weeks, here are our recommendations for must-see movies of September covering the extreme ends of the realism spectrum, from powerful documentaries to escapist fiction.
It
The long-awaited film adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic 1986 novel It follows the plight of an entourage of misfit teenagers who club together to ward off a demon incarnated as a child-killing clown. Due to the story’s cultish appeal, which was also fuelled by the controversial sightings of pranksters posing as killer clowns in the US during 2016, box office trackers predict that It will attract a record-breaking US$60 million in its opening weekend. See it if you dare.
Beaufort scale: 11, violent storm
In theatres 7 September
Baby Driver
Not your typical action movie, The Guardian describes Baby Driver as a “romantic musical disguised as a car-chase thriller”. Its protagonist Baby (played by Ansel Elgort) suffers from tinnitus and orchestrates his life of joyriding, romantic pursuit and facing his nemesis (played by Kevin Spacey) against his playlist of carefully-selected soundtracks. As a result, action sequences and slower-paced character interactions alike are juxtaposed against modern music hits in perfect synergy. A must-see for music lovers and those who want to experience a more playful approach to a predictable genre.
Beaufort scale: 8, fresh gale
In theatres 14 September
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Following Hong Kong’s T10 typhoon in August and the devastation of hurricane Harvey in Texas, the release of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power comes at an appropriate time. A decade on from the 2006 release of An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore returns with another hard-hitting documentary on climate change, capturing his efforts to persuade global leaders to invest in renewable energies, culminating in the signing of the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement. Al Gore’s sequel is compulsory viewing for diehard docu fans and for viewers who wish to stay woke on how our planet is faring.
Beaufort scale: 12, hurricane force
In theatres 14 September
The Lego Ninjago Movie
For something more light-hearted and child-friendly, a spin-off sequel to the original Lego movie promises more of the same wacky entertainment. Centred on a group of lego-fied teenagers, they cope with the pressures of high school by day, but by night, they’re ninjas, tasked with protecting their island home Ninjago from Garmadon, The Worst Guy Ever, who just so happens to be the main character’s father. Jackie Chan voices the eccentric Sensei Wu who guides the team to hopeful victory.
Beaufort scale: 2, light breeze
In theatres 28 September
Text: Martin Reid