[Anchor] It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.
[Report]

This weekend, and the next, are going to be great if you’re into imagination, quality, suspense, fun, drama...do I need go on?

There’s only one new release this weekend, but it’s a big one - Marvel’s Black Panther. As such, all other movies are giving it a wide berth, and smartly so, for it is turning into one of the best-rated superhero movies ever.

And opening next weekend is The Shape of Water, a fantasy-drama from celebrated director Guillermo del Toro.

So in short, two great options over what are shaping up to be two great weekends. Let’s slip into our black spandex suits and dive in.

[Slug CG]

Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

[Slug CG]
Black Panther (2018, Ryan Coogler)
T’Challa returns home to Wakanda to take his place as king.

Black Panther follows T'Challa who, after the events of Captain America: Civil War, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T'Challa's mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.

We’re really getting to the point where viewers who aren’t at least somewhat invested in the Marvel universe are going to start feeling pretty lost when it comes to the latest movies in the series. Black Panther requires having seen the above Civil War, as well as Avengers: Age of Ultron, to really understand what’s going on. But luckily, most everyone has seen these movies.

Black Panther is a new breed of superhero movie - one that elevates the form to thrilling new heights while telling one of Marvel’s most absorbing stories and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.

[Slug CG]
The Shape of Water (2017, Guillermo del Toro)
A janitor develops a bond with a creature at a research lab.

The Shape of Water is set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment.

Essentially a different (read: very different) take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, The Shape of Water is a lovely, empathetic tribute to Old Hollywood, monster movies, outsiders, and love that could only come from the mind of del Toro. It’s visually distinctive, a common theme for del Toro’s films, is scored wonderfully, and features a beautiful performance by Sally Hawkins.

Anyone looking for a beautiful, moving tale about a woman’s romance with a secret fishman will be well rewarded here. Seriously.