Those in South Africa – and many other countries – can look forward to a long weekend this weekend thanks to Easter, which makes it the perfect time to go see some movies at the theatre.
While streaming is still the easiest, and cheapest, way to watch movies, going to the cinema is still an event and offers you something that simply can’t be matched by the house option, no matter how much you have invested in a home theatre.
With time a premium, even on a long weekend, and money even more so, we’ve put together a short list of movies that we recommend seeing in theatres.
John Wick: Chapter Four
John Wick is back for possibly his final outing as the series that started in 2014 (yes it has been that long).
After seeing it we can report that it’s far from our favourite of the four, but it’s a shining example of a movie that is elevated by the theatre. This movie really is improved with the hard-hitting sound and massive screen of the cinema, so if you had any interest in this one we recommend seeing it now at the movies.
Without spoiling anything, there’s an extended action sequence in Paris that had us hooked that simply won’t be the same if you watch it at home or on YouTube in a few weeks from now.
We hate to say “this is a dad movie” but this is a movie that the dads will enjoy and this is definitely the one if you need to drag your father to the movies this long weekend.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The most fun we’ve had at the movies in a long time, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves thoroughly surprised us with its heart, writing and creativity, on top of a genuine love for D&D.
If you need an outing for a group of friends, or even the family, this is the one to go to.
Friends and relatives don’t need to know anything about D&D to enjoy this, so everyone can go in blind and have a fun adventure in a magical world.
Our one complaint is the 13 age restriction on this one in South Africa which may stop some families from seeing it. We think that younger kids can happily enjoy it with no issues, but we’re not going to argue against the Film and Publication Board.
For more on Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, see our spoiler-free review here.
Avatar: The Way of Water
There’s a reason why the next Avatar movie is still in theatres despite releasing all the way back in December 2022.
Out of all the movies here this is the one that most needs to be enjoyed in cinemas. We also recommend paying extra for IMAX, or whatever the biggest screen is at your local Ster-Kinekor or Nu Metro, even if not every branch is still showing this movie.
Thankfully pure spectacle isn’t all that The Way of Water has to offer as it’s a fun time all the way through.
Again you can read our spoiler-free review here.
Honourable mention: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie seems like the obvious slam dunk choice for the kids’ family choice on this list, but we haven’t included it in the regular list for two reasons. The first reason is that we simply haven’t had a chance to see it, with no media preview available to South African journalists and the public release only happening today on 7th April. The other movies in this story all come with personal recommendations from us after watching them. The second reason is that those who have seen the movie early haven’t been giving it the best reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes currently displaying a paltry 53 percent on the Tomatometer.
Even with that in mind it still may be the best choice for many given the source material and the fact that even some of the negative reviews so far still say it’s perfectly fine for those who need something easy to entertain the kids for a while.
Alternatively, animated adventure Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is also still showing in some places despite the fact that, like Avatar, it came out in December 2022. The Last Wish has become an instant classic and is beloved by both critics and audiences already. Not bad for a Shrek spinoff movie, especially with Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
