Peninsula

From IMDb: Sequel to the 2016 South Korean zombie film. Released August 2020

Mary: I absolutely loved Train to Busan, I thought it was really clever and the script was great.
But I’ve got to be honest this does nothing for me at all, no spark, I don’t really feel like I want or need to see this sequel at all.

Lee: I’m also a huge fan of Train to Busan. There’s not much you can gauge from this trailer other than it’s an apocalyptic world with shed loads of zombies, so if they can bring great characters and intensity, and something with zombies that we haven’t seen before, like they did with the first one, then I’m all in for this.

Matt: I’ve still got Train to Busan on my watch list having heard so many good reviews, but I have to say if this sequel trailer was the only thing I had to go off, I don’t think I would be watching it! Hopefully this is just intended as a teaser, and there is much more being kept under wraps for now?

Clare: I’ve not seen Train to Busan but only heard amazing things about it. I want to watch it, but based on this sequel trailer, I don’t think I’ll cope!! Maybe if some indie cinema is doing a double bill that involves a lot of alcohol, I could try.
The make-up looks unreal!!

Extraction

From IMDb: Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Released on Netflix later this month

Lee: So they’re keen to stress that the guys behind two of the biggest movies in recent years are involved in this and, as much as I love Chris Hemsworth, I really struggle seeing him as anything other than Thor. This movie looks… OK, and I’ll certainly be checking it out, but Chris has got some serious convincing to do as far as I’m concerned after the god-awful mess that was MIB International

Matt: I’m glad we’re getting to seeing Chris Hemsworth de-Thor-ed again, because as much as he is good in that part, I reckon he’s got much more to give! This looks a little conventional though (similar to some of his previous films) and the trailer gives a bit too much away, but the action sequences look impressive with some creative cinematography. I imagine it’s still not something I would watch though, I’m afraid.

Clare: This looks pretty well made, but also just like 100 other ‘man carries big gun, shoots bad guy’ type films, and I can’t see anything different or unusual about it. It’s really not my kind of film, so I’ll be giving it a miss. A shame, as I love Hemsworth, and I need him to be able to do well outside of the Marvel universe, but for me, this is a no.

How to Build a Girl

From IMDb: Charting the journey of teenager Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein), who reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde: fast-talking, lady sex-adventurer, moves to London, and gets a job as music critic in the hope of saving her poverty stricken family in Wolverhampton. Released May 2020

Mary: Ok I’m not entirely what accent that is supposed to be 😂 But it looks like a laugh and I think after book smart this is probably another smart career choice for Beanie Feldstein.

Lee: I think anyone who saw Booksmart immediately fell in love with Beanie Feldstein, so another starring role for her is certainly very welcome. When I first saw the Booksmart trailer though, it did absolutely nothing for me, and I consequently avoided seeing the movie for about a year after it came out, before finally watching it and loving it. This trailer also does nothing for me, so hopefully the same thing will happen and I’ll end up enjoying the actual movie a lot more.

Matt: Although she’s an absolute joy, Beanie Feldstein seems such an odd choice for a film like this – not least because the entire cast except herself have authentic British accents, I’m worried she’ll stick out like a sore thumb and this could be a distraction! Which would be a shame, because she’s a fantastic comic performer. I might have to give this a miss.

Clare: I love Beanie Feldstein, and coming of age dramas that involve music and makeovers is my favourite genre of them all, so this is set up for me to love. I’ve not read the book, but friends who have adore Caitlin Moran, so I have high hopes for the script, my only concern follows what Matt has said, the accent isn’t sitting very well. But I’ll defo be trying to see this one.

The Half of It

From IMDb: A shy, introverted, Chinese-American, straight-A student finds herself helping the school jock woo the girl they both secretly love. In the process, each teaches the other about the nature of love as they find connection in the most unlikely of places. Released on Netflix next month

Mary: Ok that actually looks pretty great, bit unconventional obviously trying to tick a lot of boxes but it might just have the something to make it stand on its own. I’ll definitely give this a go.

Lee: I’m not really into teen romance movies, but there’s something about this one that makes me want to watch it. Smart characters and a believable romance/friendship storyline. As Mary says, a little unconventional looking, which is usually a good thing.

Matt: This reminds me a bit of a David Nicholls or Nicholas Sparks story, but with enough of a teen flick feel that it will be a nice, easy watch. I agree, I think this is different enough to hold its own – hopefully it will get seen!

Clare: At 30 years old, I’m not ashamed to say this gave me goosebumps. It looks charming, well acted, and as everyone has already said, a little unconventional. I will be watching this the minute it’s available – and yay to Netflix for continuing to cast non mainstream ethnicities and for creating more stories from the LGBTQ community.