Must-see Movies this May:

These two are a must see for those relieving stress of AP exams and the upcoming final exams. Currently in Japan, both “Cinderella’ and ‘Furious 7,’ have been storming the box office. We highly recommend the following critically acclaimed films.

Cinderella

In Disney’s latest version, director Kenneth Branagh has been applauded for restoring the magic to the glass slipper. The film is a modern retake of the overused-but-still-classic tale of Cinderella. The dramatic delivery of actors Lily James as Ella, Cate Blanchett as the stepmother, and Helena Bonham Carter as the lovable-Godmother brought a new flare to the beloved fairytale. While it was faithful to to the original storyline, the soul-moving script and the old Disney magic (that has been missing in so many recent movies) is destined to keep you on the edge of your theatre seats. Darya (11) said, “I liked how they didn’t distort the original storyline by integrating new twists. It was still classical but refreshingly up-to- date…And it’s definitely a movie that you can watch over and over again.”

Furious 7

The highly anticipated film, ‘Furious 7,’ has been dominating the Japanese box office. The movie kicks-off from the previous movie, ‘Fast and Furious 6,’ where the villain, Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), was put into a coma by Dom (Vin Diesel).This time, however, the plotline focuses on Owen’s brother, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), seeking revenge against Dom and his family for his comatose brother. Although it seems as though the movie mostly consists of stunts, explosions, and bloodshed, (SPOILER ALERT) the ending gives the viewers a touching farewell to the beloved character Brian O’Connor portrayed by Paul Walker. As a fan of the ‘Fast and Furious’ series, the movie undoubtedly was a hit.The movie kicked off with a bang and ended with an even bigger bang. Fan, or not, the movie will surely take you on a thrilling and emotional rollercoaster ride.

New Movies to Look Forward to in May:

While exams may be looming around the corner at this time of year, there are plenty of new movies coming out, which will hopefully relax you rather than distract you from your studies. Upcoming movies that people are anticipating include ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ and ‘The Avengers: Age of Ultron.’

Pitch Perfect 2

With its stunning musical numbers, hilarious comedic moments, and a message that empowers girls in ‘Pitch Perfect’, many fans of the first movie are excited for the release and debut of ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ in Japan. The sequel includes favorite characters from the first movie like Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson who are still at it with their hysterical jokes. Furthermore, there will be a new addition to the Barden Bellas: Hailee Steinfeld, who brings an element of excitement and youth to the sequel. The competition and intensity increase as the new musical groups such as the renowned Pentatonix compete with the Barden Bellas at the Acapella world championships. An IMDb user, named Another Guilty Pleasure!, believes that, “It’s a guarantee that Pitch Perfect 2 will be more successful than the original and talk of a three-quel will no doubt arise; however, if this is to be the Bella’s last performance, it’s a worthwhile hit to finish on.”

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

‘The Avengers: Marvel Avengers Assemble’ was generally well-liked among the viewers with the movie beautifully transcribing the original comic books. Since the success of the first Avengers movie, viewers are skeptical of a sequel surpassing its excellence. The movie was released in the U.S. early in May, so there are plenty of reviews to get a good idea of how the movie turned out. While some people generally dislike the fact that the movie is over the top, many fans of the franchise enjoyed the increase in action, intensity, and special effects. Returning actors, including Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth, mingle with new heroes and villains, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and James Spader. ‘The Avengers: Age of Ultron’ appears to be a movie that possesses the good qualities of the first movie with a couple of new additions such as increased action and character development that make the movie more exciting.