Top 3 Films of the Week

LondonNet Film Editor’s Official Top 3 Films of the Week

Blockbuster of the Week: Jumanji: The Next Level

Bethany, Fridge and Martha are unaware that Spencer has reclaimed pieces of the broken Jumanji video game cartridge in the basement of the house owned by his cranky grandfather, Eddie. When Spencer is sucked into the game a second time, Bethany, Fridge and Martha prepare for a return to the digital realm. Before they can select an avatar, Eddie and ageing pal Milo are sucked into the game and adopt the guises of Dr Smolder Bravestone and Franklin Finbar respectively.

Horror Of The Week: Black Christmas

As the Christmas holidays beckon, students of Hawthorne College prepare to leave campus for the safety of home. They are blissfully unaware that a hooded figure roams the hallways with murderous intentions. This diabolical figure follows one girl, Helena, home and stabs her with a broken icicle. Classmates Kris, Lindsay, Marty and Riley become concerned about Helena’s whereabouts and find themselves trapped inside their sorority with the killer.

Critics’ Choice: The Kingmaker

Award-winning film-maker Lauren Greenfield is granted intimate access to Imelda Marcos as the former first lady of the Philippines uses her knowledge and connections to help her son Bongbong secure the vice-presidency. To achieve this improbable return to power, Imelda attempts to rewrite her family’s widely reported history of corruption. She distorts the narrative to paint herself as a proud and patriotic matriarch, who will do whatever it takes to protect her homeland.

Also released this week….

Aquarela (12A) 

Award-winning St Petersburg-born director Victor Kossakovsky travels from the frozen waters of Russia’s Lake Baikal to Venezuela’s mighty Angel Falls and Miami in the grip of Hurricane Irma to celebrate the raw, untameable power of water at 96 frames-per-second… 

The Bikes Of Wrath (15) 

Australian filmmakers Cameron Ford and Charlie Turnbull are inspired by John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes Of Wrath to recreate the fictional Joad family’s 2,600 km pilgrimage from Oklahoma to California and reconnect to book’s core themes… 

Bolshoi Ballet Live Encore Screening: The Nutcracker (U) 

The world-renowned company performs the seasonal ballet to Tchaikovsky’s magical score, choreographed by former Bolshoi artistic director Yuri Grigorovich. The Nutcracker was recorded live on the stage of the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow… 

Citizen K (15) 

Born and raised in Moscow, businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once considered the wealthiest man in Russia until he was arrested and charged with fraud. Alex Gibney’s documentary travels to London, where Khodorkovsky lives in exile, to meet the architect of a far-reaching anti-Putin campaign… 

Fiddler: A Miracle Of Miracles (12A) 

In 1964, Jerome Robbins directed and choreographed the original Broadway production of the musical Fiddler On The Roof. Fifty-five years after the curtain rose, Max Lewkowicz’s documentary dissects the enduring popularity of the musical and the 1971 Hollywood adaptation… 

Gorillaz: Reject False Icons (15) 

Denholm Hewlett’s revealing documentary follows animated band mates 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs – the creations of Blur front man Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett – over the course of three years as the group embarks on a world tour and makes two critically acclaimed albums… 

Pink Wall (15) 

American ex-pats Jenna and Leon are both based on the UK when they cross paths and fall deliriously in love. Over the course of six scenes, shown out of chronological order, Jenna and Leon struggle to keep their relationship intact when other people intervene… 

Royal Ballet Live Encore Screening: The Nutcracker (U) 

A recording of a live performance of Peter Wright’s classic festive production set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, performed at the Royal Opera House in London under the baton of conductor Boris Gruzin… 

Sons Of Denmark (15) 

In 2025 Denmark, racial tensions peak following a major bomb attack on Copenhagen. Outspoken nationalist leader Martin Nordahl is poised to sweep to victory in the forthcoming parliamentary election, which would signal a major shift in the country’s cultural outlook… 

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker (12A) 

Following the death of Luke Skywalker, Rey finds herself on a parallel journey of self-discovery to Kylo Ren, who has assumed the position of Supreme Leader of the First Order after the demise of Snoke. Finn and courageous X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron accompany Rey on her daredevil mission…