5 movies to watch as cinemas reopen in Hong Kong: Marvel’s latest Doctor Strange instalment, DC’s The Batman and more
- This week, you can catch the second film of the Fantastic Beasts series, and witness Robert Pattinson’s debut as the Dark Knight
- Next month, Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Doctor Steven Strange, who must traverse the multiverse to fix a problem he created in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home
Two films you should see when you head back to cinemas? Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Batman. Photos: Courtesy of Marvel Studios; APAfter closing for more than three months, Hong Kong’s 64 cinemas finally reopened last Thursday under the city’s eased social-distancing measures that allow those with two doses of a coronavirus vaccine to enter the cinema.
Whether you’re a big Marvel fan or you just want to see a cute animal cartoon, here are five new releases that you will not want to miss.
1. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Release Date: April 21
The Secrets of Dumbledore is a sequel to The Crimes of Grindelwald, and most of the cast stays the same, though Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen plays the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
As Grindelwald makes plans to take control of the world, Professor Dumbledore (Jude Law) entrusts Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) with leading a tight circle of the best witches and wizards to strike back. The film is certainly action-packed and a must-see for any Potterheads.
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2. The Batman
Release Date: April 27
Starring Robert Pattinson as Batman, the latest DC Comics film sees the superhero, who has been fighting crime in Gotham City for two years, uncover corruption while pursuing a serial killer named the Riddler (Paul Dano).
Yet, as the evidence and danger pile up, the Dark Knight must forge new relationships and bring justice to crimes that have long plagued the city.
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3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Release Date: May 4
Directed by Samuel Raimi, the film follows the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), in which Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts a prohibited spell that opens a rip in the universe and unleashes many villains.
To contain the aftermath, Strange teams up with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) on a journey through the multiverse to fix the damage. As the first Marvel movie to hit cinemas this year, it is the perfect choice for a wholesome family activity.
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4. DC League of Super-Pets
Release date: May 19
Directed by Jared Stern, this animated film features the adventures of an all-animal team with superpowers. The story centres on Krypto the Superdog, who fights crime in Metropolis alongside Superman. However, when Superman and the Justice League are kidnapped by villains, Krypto has to lead a group of rag-tag animals to rescue them.
Aside from its hilarious plot, the movie also boasts a top-notch voice cast, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Krypto, American television star John Krasinski as Superman and stand-up comedian Kevin Hart as a hound named Ace.
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5. Thor: Love and Thunder
Release date: July 8
The highly anticipated film, Thor: Love and Thunder, is set to come out in a few months, but it’s worth getting excited for even now. Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), the film stars Chris Hemsworth who plays Thor as he sets off on a journey to find inner peace.
The God of Thunder’s spiritual getaway is put to a halt when he must stop Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) from driving all gods to extinction. With Tessa Thompson reprising her role as Valkyrie, Natalie Portman returning as Thor’s ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, and Taika Waititi directing and starring in the movie, this is sure to be a joke-filled and action-packed return to cinemas.