Adam Gunton
Thor: Love & Thunder
Released: 7 July
“Kids, get the popcorn out. Let me tell you the story of the Space Viking, Thor Odinson…”
The God of Thunder is back! Chris Hemsworth returns in Thor’s fourth solo outing with returning director, the wonderful Taika Waititi (director of Jojo Rabbit and Hunt for the Wilderpeople). What’s a 1500-year-old god to do when you’ve saved the world multiple times? Go on a journey of self-discovery of course. But this journey is cut short when Thor’s ex-girlfriend Jane Foster turns up wielding Thor’s old hammer Mjölnir! If that wasn’t enough, new baddie Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale, is intent on killing all the Gods. So, Thor and Jane, as well as returning characters Valkyrie and Korg, are going to have to team up and do the hero thing again. Also starring the Guardians of the Galaxy and Russell Crowe as Zeus, this latest Marvel outing is going to have all the spectacle of Thor: Ragnarok as well as the brilliant humour which set it apart from the films that came before.
Mrs Harris Goes To Paris
Released: 15 July
Mrs Harris is a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London. While cleaning she sees a couture Dior dress and falls in love with it and decides she wants to buy one herself. So, she saves up her money and travels to Paris and tries to buy one. This leads her on the adventure of a lifetime. She thought her life was almost over, that she had done everything she was going to do but Mrs Harris discovers she’s got so much more to give. It looks to be a heart-warming story that’ll have you leaving the cinema with a big smile on your face and your phone in hand, looking at trips to Paris.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Released: 1 July
Do you like Minions? Doesn’t matter. You can’t escape them. They’re everywhere. And more Minions are coming. If I’m keeping track, this is the fifth film with the Minions and this goes back to the origins of their leader, Gru, and how he came to be the super-villain we found in the first Despicable Me movie. In The Rise of Gru, Gru is a little boy with big aspirations but when he’s kidnapped by other super-villains it’s up to those little yellow scamps to learn some new skills and try and rescue him. It’s ridiculous and it’s made to sell more Minions and make more millions but it’s good silly fun and try as you might, you won’t be able to stop giggling at the sheer stupidity of it all.
The Railway Children Return
Released: 15 July
In this sequel to the beloved 1970 film, a group of children are evacuated from London during World War II to a Yorkshire village to live with strangers. While these evacuees try to adjust to their new life they encounter a young solider, who like them, is far from home and needs their help. This is sure to have fans of the previous film feeling nostalgic and has Jenny Agutter playing a grown-up role of her character from the 1970 film. If you’re looking a feel-good film, then you’re onto a winner with this one which also stars Sheridan Smith and John Bradley.
NOPE
Released: 22 July
Jordan Peele brings us his third horror film. Get Out was a tough act to follow but he did it masterfully with the chilling Us. Now Peele is tackling aliens in NOPE. OJ and his sister Emerald find their Californian ranch has something hiding in the sky. The residents of this lonely gulch seem to be under threat from an extra-terrestrial presence but rather than just run or hide, OJ and Emerald see this as an opportunity. Thinking someone might pay a lot of money for footage of a spaceship, they put cameras all over their ranch in an attempt to get the ship on film. But of course, it’s not going to be that simple. Expect Peele to subvert your expectations and keep you guessing throughout.