Top 5 New Movies in November 2019: Terminator, Doctor Sleep, and More – Update

We’re about to reach November on our calendar, and you know what that means – Christmas is coming. One more month to end of year holidays, where we all receive much needed respite from work. This doesn’t mean we should hate November; its presence only creates more yearning for Christmas break. In the meantime, here are some of the biggest movies coming out in the month of November, which offer plenty of opportunity for the chance to escape the tedium of work life, just for a little bit.

Other movies to take note of, besides the ones on the list, are Ford v Ferrari and Frozen II, which are released on November 15 and November 22 respectively. Ford v Ferrari is a car movie, as you already guessed from the title, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, whose characters attempt to build a revolutionary vehicle for Ford, in order to best the cars of Ferrari. Frozen II is the sequel to Frozen (obviously), where Anna, Elsa and the rest of the gang embark on a quest to discover the source of Elsa’s powers. I might need to start wearing ear plugs in the weeks after, since every child I encounter is probably going to be humming this movie’s version of ‘Let It Go’.

 

1. Terminator: Dark Fate | 1st November 2019

Early reviews for Terminator: Dark Fate speaks of its triumph over the more recent contributions to the Terminator franchise, though it needs to be said that a movie doesn’t need to do much to be better than Terminator Genisys. With the return of familiar faces like Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the addition of newcomer Mackenzie Davies to the mix, Terminator: Dark Fate looks to be a decent trip to the cinema. Having James Cameron back on board as producer also adds to the credibility of the film being up to snuff. Let’s hope Deadpool director Tim Miller has created a movie that can resurrect the franchise.

 

2. Doctor Sleep | 8th November 2019

Another month, another Stephen King adaptation. Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining, with the narrative revolving around Dan Torrance, the son of Jack Torrance, the man who went absolutely bonkers in The Shining due to the influence of a sinister presence. After all the events that happened in the Overlook Hotel (a name that practically screams ‘come stay with us’), Dan is trying to lead a normal life. However, this all changes when he meets Abra, a teenager who also possesses the same gift he has – the shining in other words. Now, the two have to go against members of the True Knot, a cult who feed of the shine of innocents in order to become immortal.

I’ve watched my fair share of Stephen King adaptations, but this synopsis sounds even more mind-blogging than all of his novels combined. With IT Chapter Two failing to impressive, and Pet Sematary and In The Tall Grass just failing entirely, Doctor Sleep is the last contender that hopefully can deliver something spectacular. With Mike Flanagan, director of Gerald’s Game (also a King adaptation) at the helm of things, I have high hopes.

 

3. Last Christmas | 8th November 2019

A Christmas movie, in November? How clever. Obviously December will bring a whole new crop of Christmas movies, so the best way to distinguish your movie from the lot is to have an earlier release. So when December comes, your movie is still in the theatres as an option, but your opening week wouldn’t have as much competition. Regardless, November or December, this movie would have been on my watch list just for Emilia Clarke alone. Her whole vibe is just suited for the rom-com world, and we all know she has the acting chops to carry the heavier emotional scenes as well.

Clarke’s character Kate has suffered a near-death experience, which has closed her off to the world. With encouragement from those around her, she starts taking an interest in life again, opening her heart to the possibility of love. Last Christmas is directed by Paul Feig, and other members of the cast include Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Dame Emma Thompson.

 

4. Charlie’s Angels | 15th November 2019

The song says don’t call them angels, but then they call themselves angels, so this is a complicated situation of a label only being okay if you’re the one using it on yourself. Confused? Don’t be. It is a simple dismantling of the angel of the house archetype that women still find themselves saddled with. These angels kick-ass, take no prisoners, and suffer no fools.

The film is not a reboot, merely a continuation of the previous films, paying homage but also headed along a new direction of representation and tone. While the previous Charlie’s Angels, with Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore, had a campy over-the-top tone and presentation, this version seems more like a generic action flick.

The trailers have yet to impress thus far, but who knows? Director Elizabeth Banks does sometimes deliver a decent movie, the first Pitch Perfect an example of this, and it has Patrick Stewart, so maybe it won’t be too bad.

 

5. Knives Out | 27th November 2019

The first important question we need to ask ourselves about this movie is this: What on earth have they done to Chris Evans’ hair? That, my dear friends, is a villainous haircut, and my money’s on him being the murderer in Rian Johnson’s whodunit offering. Out of 97 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Knives Out only has one rotten review. Let that sink in for a moment. It stands at a certified fresh score of 99%, with the critics praising the layering of suspense as well as the stellar ensemble.

Also, Johnson’s advice is that if you are already planning to watch the film, then don’t watch any of the trailers. Go into the cinema knowing as little as possible, and thank me later for an enjoyable cinematic experience.