Movies Not to Miss: March 2020

Writer: Casey Lee

Which of these are you going to watch? .

Now that we're done with Oscar season and 2019, we are finally getting into what 2020 has to offer.

Animation starts out strong this month, whether you prefer western or Japanese animation. Action also takes the hot seat, though not in the traditional sense with invulnerable killing machines kicking down doors and taking names.

So before marching into our cinemas, these are the movies not to miss this March!

Onward

After an Oscar-winning outing in 2019, 2020 might seem to be a Pixar-less year, but it's a pleasant surprise that Pixar has another in the tank to start off the next animation race. Based on director Dan Scanlon's own experience of not knowing his own father, "Onward" is set in a magical world where two elf brothers use a magic staff to bring back their dead father for 24 hours. When the casting of the spell goes awry, they have to go on a quest to bring back the rest of their father before time is up. Other than having a story that is anchored to pull heartstrings, "Onward" goes forth with an exciting voice cast, led by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as the brothers, as they stumble upon friends played by Octavia Spencer, and Ali Wong.

General Release Date: 5 March

Trolls World Tour

Pixar won't be the only player in the animation scene this year as Dreamworks will be following up with another instalment of their rather enjoyable adaptation of the Trolls toy property. After being made the queen of the Trolls, Poppy and Branch discover that they are only one of six other Troll tribes who live in their own land with their own taste of music. When the Rock trolls decide to kill all other forms of music, Poppy and friends are set for a new adventure in a larger world. Returning director Walt Dohrn will be sharing directing duties with David P. Smith, as well as Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, and James Corden will be sharing the vocal works with Rachel Bloom, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Rockwell for a new world of music.

General Release Date: 12 March

Guns Akimbo

Sometimes a movie writes itself and it certainly feels that way after watching the trailer for "Guns Akimbo". What if Daniel Radcliffe wakes up one day to find guns bolted to his hands and has to survive a death match streamed online? Radcliffe hasn't taken on many action roles (as helpless as they are), so it's already interesting to see him carrying a gun (more so if he can't take them off) and see where this will go. Directed by the New Zealander Jason Lei Hawden who last directed the cult favourite "Deathgasm", there will also be plenty of fresh faces from Natasha Liu Bodizzo, Samara Weaving and Ned Dennehy who will be looking to make their mark on the action genre.

General Release Date: 19 March

A Quiet Place II

After finding out the weakness of the monsters but also knowing their home is no longer safe, it is up to Evelyn to take the Abbot children to find a new place to stay and survive. It was not surprising to see everyone clamouring for a sequel to silent hits of horror in recent years, so it's not surprising to see it get made as quickly as it was announced. John Krasinki may not be returning as daddy Abbot in the sequel but he will be continuing his directing duties to lead Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, while also introducing new characters played by Djimon Hounsou and Cillian Murphy, who are sure to open up the wider world the Abbots find themselves in.

General Release Date: 19 March

Mulan

Another year and another live-adaptation of a Disney cartoon. While 2019 was all about the animal kingdom, this time we are being taken to Disney's Asia. Directed by seasoned director Niki Caro as the second female director to oversee large project since Ava Duvernay's "A Wrinkle in Time", with the adaptation partly written by "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, Disney is letting this take on a serious tone with a PG-13 rating which aligns with its wartime setting. The world will be introduced to Chinese young star Liu YiFei in the titular role, but she is in good company with some of the biggest Chinese stars like Donnie Yen, Jet Li, and Cheng Pei Pe, and as a new villain in a form played by a devilish Gong Li.

General Release Date: 26 March