5 awesome movies to catch in cinemas this December
Image: courtesy Universal Pictures
Every month we round up the best films on general release in Shanghai's cinemas. This month, we've got an underwater adventure from the DC universe, a Studio Ghibli classic, a little green fellow trying to steal Christmas – this time in animated form – and more.
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Aquaman
Photograph: courtesy Warner Bros
Getting a China release before the rest of the world, in the latest adventure from DC, Arthur Curry (Jason Mamoa) – son of a lighthouse keeper and a sea queen – learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Expect lots of ocean-based heroics, cool visual effects and a lot of trident throwing.
Two factors have us inordinately stoked: Director James Wan (The Conjuring, Furious 7) has shown himself to be a genius at big-budget Hollywood fun, while star Momoa seems to be taking all this superhero stuff extremely lightly, which is the way to do it.
📍On general release.
Crazy Rich Asians
Image: courtesy Warner Bros
Despite being a flop at the Chinese box office, bursting with attitude and heart, Hollywood's first Asian-centric rom-com in years makes up for lost time in a big way. A handsome Oxford-educated college professor, Nick Young (Henry Golding), flies his girlfriend Rachel (Constance Wu) to Singapore to meet his family and it turns out they pretty much own the place. Cue unfeasible extravagance that somehow manages to feel inclusive.
📍On general release.
My Neighbor Totoro
Photograph: courtesy Studio Ghibli
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Studio Ghibli’s very wonderful, very kawaii film My Neighbor Totoro comes to Chinese cinemas years after its 1988 release in Japan (it’s the first Studio Ghibli film to get a theatrical release in the Mainland). Ten-year-old Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei move to the countryside with their father to be closer to their ailing mother and embark on adventures with magical creatures from the nearby woods.
📍 On general release Fri 14.
The Grinch
Image: courtesy Universal Pictures
'All I want for Christmas... is for it to end,' says Benedict Cumberbatch, the voice of everyone’s favourite furry green Christmas hater in this animated reboot of Dr Seuss’ festive classic The Grinch, narrated by Pharrell Williams and including the voices of Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson and Angela Lansbury.
📍 On general release Fri 14.
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Photograph: courtesy Huace Pictures
Emerging auteur Gan Bi’s 'dreamlike' film noir Long Day’s Journey Into Night follows one man’s search for lost love. Luo Hongwu (Huang Jue) returns to his hometown and stumbles upon an old photo of a woman he once loved which leads him on a confused and unreliable path down memory lane.
📍 On general release Mon 31.