Movies Not to Miss: February 2017

Writer: Casey Lee

Which of these are you going to watch?

Only going into the second month of 2017 and the movie release schedule is already looking busy as ever. Even though Chinese New Year is for the most part already over, the annual slush of Chinese New Year selections are just now coming in to keep the festive mood up. In the meantime, couples looking for a movie outing to sink or scream into each other's arms are spoiled with a good selection of horror and romance to choose from.

For the award watchers, February continues to bring in some strong contenders that will be a must watch for them as the Academy Awards are set to be held within this month.

With lots of movies ahead of us in this short February, here are the movies not to miss this month!

Buddies In India

India and China have seemed to found themselves as amicable partners when it comes to being movie collaborators. Shortly after Jackie Chan's own voyage into Bollywood with "Kung Fu Yoga", Mainland China's own martial arts trained Wong Baoqiang makes his own comedic expedition into Southern Asia as a man searching for his father's secret will. This is Wong's directorial debut as he leads the cast in this multicultural and multi-coloured reimagining of "Journey to the West", helping to keep the laughs in and adrenalines high in cinema halls with its outrageous cast of two-timing characters, and even more outrageous Bollywood inspired set pieces that could match with "Kung Fu Yoga".

General Release Date: 2 February

The LEGO Batman Movie

If there is one good thing that comes out from every disappointment in DC's cinematic universe so far is that Warner Bros. has someone willing to pick up the slack. Easily becoming a hot favourite from his multiple first tries in the bat-shit crazy brick fest, "The LEGO Movie", "The LEGO Batman Movie" is a deserved spin-off starring the Caped Crusader that is more selfish and sarcastic than the growling brooding billionaire that he is. Although Phil Lord and Chris Miller are handing off directing duties to Chris McKay, Will Arnett returns to voice his version of the iconic superhero who likes to fight around. Featuring a bricked cast to voice as familiar characters from Gotham City, Zach Galifianakis will be the Joker, together with Michael Cera as Robin, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon and Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth. The trailers have already shown "The LEGO Batman Movie" to pass all hurdles of being a better DC movie than any that has come before it, but can it beat its LEGO predecessor?

General Release Date: 9 February

The Space Between Us

If you and your significant other are not keen on seeing "Passengers" for the fifth time, but still want to show your love that reaches beyond the stars, then it's time to bring that love earthbound with "The Space Between Us". Young star Asa Butterfield plays as the first human child to be born on Mars who makes a connection with a girl living on Earth. The young Martian gets a chance to visit Earth as he physically connects with his Earthling friend and they go on a road trip to discover themselves. Butterfield is paired together with Britt Robertson ("Tomorrowland"), while "Hector and the Search for Happiness" director Peter Chelsom puts his soft touch on this down-to-earth romance, that is also supported by Gary Oldman.

General Release Date: 16 February

John Wick: Chapter 2

After being rudely roused back to the world of assassins, John Wick goes to Rome to fulfil a blood oath that will have him going against the best of the best assassins around the world. After breaking grounds on the action genre in 2014, this is easily the most hotly anticipated sequel to a potential trilogy-spanning franchise starring Keanu Reeves in what is easily his most memorable action role since "The Matrix". Stunt coordinator and director Chad Stahelski also return to mark the second chapter of this gun-totting franchise, along with the familiar faces of Ian McShane, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Thomas Sadoski, and Lance Reddick, while Common is the new face with a cameo by Lauren Fishburne as a mini reunion for "The Matrix" alumni.

General Release Date: 16 February

A Cure for Wellness

After playing in the huge budget sandbox that landed in one of the biggest losses for Disney, director Gore Verbinski is now back to another charted territory of his; horror. Responsible for setting off the American adaptation of "The Ring" series from Japan (which is getting its third instalment also being release here in February), Verbinski is finding "A Cure for Wellness" with Dane DeHaan as an executive sent to an institutional wellness center to bring back the CEO of his company. When DeHaan suffers an accident and is brought within the walls of the institution, he undergoes a treatment that is sure to make you question your own insanity.

General Release Date: 16 February

Hidden Figures

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name, "Hidden Figures" is another true story of the African-American women mathematicians who were behind calculating some of the most crucial rocket trajectories for NASA during the space race with Russia. Directed by Theodroe Melfi, starring Taraji Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae as the leading trio, "Hidden Figures" is noteworthy in the Best Supporting Actress category with Spencer gunning for her second Oscar in the same category that she won for in "The Help". But that won't be all to look out for - aside from its empowering civil rights undertones - as the cast also has Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and Best Actor contender Mahershala Ali.

General Release Date: 23 February