Scarlett Johansson plays The Major in Ghost in the Shell from Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures in theaters March 31, 2017. Original Image via comicbookmovie.com | onetakekate.com

AT THE MOVIES THIS WEEK | March 30th

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A nice mix of flicks getting release in New Zealand this week, with a little something for everyone and certainly two movies that have fans chomping at the bit to check them out. Plus, it’s not a case of deja vu you’re feeling: each of the three major movies out this week are inspired by an original text; be that film, TV, novel or manga, so read on for some fun facts…

The Beast (Dan Stevens) and Belle (Emma Watson) in the castle library in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Original Image via Collider.com | onetakekate.com
The Beast (Dan Stevens) and Belle (Emma Watson) in the castle library in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Original Image via Collider.com.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The Disney live action treatment has been applied to Beauty and The Beast and I’m pleasantly surprised that it really lived up to my expectations. It’s a classic that’s had just the right amount of refreshing applied to it. Beauty and The Beast is no doubt going to have a long run in NZ cinemas and is well timed for those Autumnal school holiday movie missions. We all know the animated Disney version of this story released in 1991 but before that, this French fairytale titled La Belle et la Bête was written in 1740 by novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and has existed in children’s books, pantomimes and lower budget film renditions ever since.

Feature Image via comicbookmovie.com
Dax Shepard as Officer Jon Baker and Michael Pena as Officer Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello. Original Image via: Photo/Warner Brothers and eveningexpress.co.uk | onetkatekate.com
Dax Shepard as Officer Jon Baker and Michael Pena as Officer Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello. Original Image via: Photo/Warner Brothers and eveningexpress.co.uk.

CHIPS
Rebooted for modern audiences and with an added touch of silly, I’m looking forward to checking out Chips. From what I can remember of seeing the re-runs of the original TV show Chips, which ran from 1977 – 1983; it’s going to be irreverent, packed with ‘Ooh I know that guy‘ type of cameos and generally be a good time out in theatres for a movie that’s not too serious and maybe a little on the un-PC side of the comedy stakes. Plus, Vincent D’Onofrio is in it, so I’m keen.

Pilau Asbaek as Batou in Ghost in the Shell. Original image via http://trueviralnews.com | onetakekate.com
Pilau Asbaek as Batou in Ghost in the Shell. Original image via trueviralnews.com.

GHOST IN THE SHELL
Having been shot in Wellington and featuring a stack of our film industry figures, TV production, digital artists and stunt person talent on the crew; Ghost In The Shell has a big New Zealand connection; with NZ media outlets commenting on Scarlett Johansson‘s every move while filming was taking place over 2015 and 2016 (Ooh what’s she eating? Where’s she going to the gym? Ya know, that sort of thing…). Asides to that, there’s the casting controversies that have been wafting around Ghost In The Shell ‘s release too…more on that in another post however. Originally a manga series from 1989 and written by Masamune Shirow, it focused on the adventures and investigations of the Mobile Armored Riot Police that Section 9 and Major Motoko Kusanagi are a part of. Perhaps the most well known iteration of the Ghost In The Shell storyverse is the 1995 animated version, which also spawned 2004’s Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. If you like what you see Johansson and pals get up to in this 2017 live action version, you’ll be at ease to know that there’s a stack of content for you to apply to your eyeballs and ‘deep dive’ into.

So, which movie are you keen to see this weekend? Up for a bit of digital espionage and high concept feels in Ghost In The Shell? Want the pure escapism and feel good vibes of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast? Perhaps you’re after something completely different and silly by jumping on a patrol bike with Ponch (Michael Peña) and Baker (Dax Shepard) in Chips? Whatever you’re keen on, I wanna know! Tell me more in the comment below or hit me up on my socials on FB, IG and Twitter and let’s chat movies.

One Take Kate

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