As with any storytelling medium, there’s a huge diversity of narrative options in movies.
That’s on vibrantly full display with today’s selection which encompasses an animated search for belonging and connection, some tense Cold War politicking bundled up with an origin story and some good old-fashioned, globetrotting shoot-em-up vengeance like John McClane used to make way back when.
And you can even stream two of them from the comfort of your loungeroom! (Just make sure you’ve ordered in enough popcorn and choc-top ice creams.)
So, here’s to Hollywood, lots of cinematic variety and lose yourself in a story for a couple of glorious hours …
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Peter (voiced by Noah Jupe) is searching for his long-lost sister, and when he crosses paths with a fortune teller in the market square there is only one question on his mind: is his sister still alive? The answer: he must find a mysterious elephant and also the magician who will conjure it – sets Peter off on a harrowing journey to complete three seemingly impossible tasks that will change the face of his town forever, taking him on the adventure of a lifetime. The Magician’s Elephant is directed by VFX artist / filmmaker Wendy Rogers, an experienced visual effects supervisor making her feature directorial debut. The screenplay is written by Martin Hynes. Based on the book of the same name written by two-time Newbery Award winning author Kate DiCamillo. Produced by Julia Pistor. Animation by Animal Logic. (courtesy First Showing)
The Magician’s Elephant premieres on Netflix on 17 March.
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Tetris: The Movie tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers TETRIS in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with the original inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the iconic video game to the masses. Based on a true story, Tetris is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish. Tetris, also known as Falling Blocks, is directed by Scottish filmmaker Jon S. Baird, director of the films Cass, Filth, and Stan & Ollie most recently. The screenplay is written by Noah Pink. It’s produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron. (courtesy First Showing)
Tetris begins streaming on AppleTV+ on 31 March.
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John Wick (Keanu Reeves) takes on his most lethal adversaries yet in the upcoming fourth installment of the series. With the price on his head ever increasing, Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Osaka to Berlin. John Wick: Chapter 4 is directed by American stuntman-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski, director of both John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum previously. The screenplay is Michael Finch and Shay Hatten, from characters created by Derek Kolstad. Lionsgate presents, a Thunder Road Films / 87eleven production. (courtesy First Showing)
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in cinemas on 23 March in Australia and 24 March in USA.