There are some great films coming to your local cinema over the next twelve months. In fact, 2017 may be one of the busiest years on record for massive blockbusters and those in the know are already saying it may produce more movies grossing over $1billion than any before it.
With that in mind, here are ten films to look forward to in 2017.
Please be aware that some of the trailers featured in this article may be unsuitable for children.
War for the Planet of the Apes
Director Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was one of the most successful films of 2014, both commercially and critically, so expectation for this follow-up is high to say the least.
With Woody Harrelson joining the series after the success of The Hunger Games, it promises to be yet another smash hit in the revitalised franchise as we follow man’s battle against ape kind. It’s released in July.
Kong: Skull Island
In a universe where King Kong and Godzilla reside, Kong: Skull Island follows a band of characters as they embark on a mission to an uncharted Pacific island. Unbeknownst to them, it is inhabited by mythical monsters, as well as the legendary Kong.
With a cast that includes Samuel L Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and John Goodman, it’s sure to be a winner and the most recent trailer (above) shows off so mightily impressive special effects and stunning cinematography. Kong: Skull Island hits cinemas in March.
Star Wars: Episode VIII
Star Wars fatigue hasn’t set in yet, and with the amazing Rogue One still being on everybody’s lips, Episode VIII promises to be 2017’s biggest film. Details are very sketchy, as they always are with the saga, but expect it to follow on from The Force Awakens’ cliff-hanger climax.
A trailer hasn’t descended yet, with director Rian Johnson not even allowing press visits to the film’s sets. We can expect a first look at the sequel in March.
With the recent passing of Carrie Fisher, fans and newcomers to the series alike should flock to see this in their droves. As always, the film will be released in December.
Beauty & the Beast
Disney is on a role at the moment with their impressive live-action reboots of classic animations. Next to receive the treatment is Beauty & the Beast which stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.
The story is a tale as old as time so needs no introduction, and with a cast that features Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Emma Thompson and Sir Ian McKellen, it looks like this live-action remake will be just as successful as its predecessors. You can be their guest in March.
T2: Trainspotting
This trailer is unsuitable for children.
It’s always exciting when an indie director announces a sequel to one of the best-received indie films of all time. Well, Danny Boyle declared he was just doing that with a long-awaited follow-up to 1996’s Trainspotting.
Featuring the majority of the first film’s original cast, the story is being kept tightly under wraps, though should feature more of what made its predecessor so controversial at the time. January is its month of release.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
Competing with Star Wars: Episode VIII for biggest film of the year is the Guardians sequel, Vol. 2. With Marvel ramping up the stakes for this high-budget follow-up, it’s sure to be a massive success, both at the cinema and with its merchandise.
Director James Gunn returns, with the story being kept away from the prying eyes of the public for now. The first full trailer for the film was very warmly received indeed, especially with the inclusion of the adorable Baby Groot. The film is out in May.
Alien: Covenant
This trailer is unsuitable for children.
Ridley Scott returns to the director’s chair after the success of 2015’s The Martian with the retitled Prometheus sequel, Alien: Covenant.
Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender return with Scott promising a film that answers the questions that Prometheus failed to, all the while tying into the Alien universe better than its predecessor. Its first trailer has fans very excited; looking like it returns to the series’ horror roots. Alien: Covenant is out in May.
Transformers: the Last Knight
Say what you will about the Transformers series, but they certainly sell tickets. The previous three films have all grossed over $1billion worldwide and The Last Knight will no doubt do the same.
Mark Wahlberg returns to the franchise in this 5th instalment which will obviously feature more cars, explosions and American flags than you can shake a stick at. Michael Bay says it’s his last outing behind the camera for the series; I’m sceptical of that claim. Transformers: the Last Knight comes to cinemas in June.
Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan. That is all.
In all seriousness though, Dunkirk loves to be a superbly crafted take on the Dunkirk landings of 1940. Featuring a superb cast, beautiful cinematography and a score crafted by the incredible Hans Zimmer, it’ll be a rousing and emotional film that’ll look into Operation Dynamo like no picture before it.
Former One Direction member Harry Styles also makes his acting debut here, which is certainly an interesting choice on Christopher Nolan’s part. We shall see how that plays out. Dunkirk is released in July.
The success of Kingsman: the Secret Service was completely unprecedented. It was marketed as another spy movie rip-off, but Matthew Vaughan’s black comedy was so much more than that.
With the majority of the first film’s cast returning to team up with their American counterparts, it’ll sure please US film-goers, but will it have the same British charm of its predecessor? Unfortunately, we haven’t even had a first glimpse of the upcoming film, though a trailer is expected imminently. The film is scheduled for release in October.
There you have it, ten films to look forward to over the next twelve months. It was difficult whittling down the hundreds of movies that are scheduled for release in 2017 and there will no doubt be some I’ve missed off. Which are you looking forward to? I’d love to hear from you.
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Despite battling through the pandemic, St Barnabas Hospice is facing a crisis due to a combination of more people than ever needing palliative and end-of-life care and a lack of its usual income streams.
As the pandemic continues, the hospice has found the past year incredibly difficult. Despite switching much of its fundraising efforts online and running appeals to make up as much of the shortfall as possible, the hospice is now losing out on more than £1,000 per day.
Michelle Webb, Director of Patient Care, said: “2020 was incredibly tough on everyone, and there is a lot to be said for how we came through previous lockdowns. As we entered 2021, we hoped we would see things return to normal much more quickly.
“The St Barnabas team, across the whole of Lincolnshire, are still working incredibly hard to give every patient we see the personalised, compassionate care our charity has provided to local people for nearly 40 years now. However, unlike the NHS, we must fund most of our care directly from donations and fundraising.”
As the hospice’s charity shops are also currently shut, income is simply not there, and its most lucrative fundraising events such as the Colour Dash, Moonlight Walk, and others cannot take place on the same scale as before.
The charity, which operates across Lincolnshire and helps with a variety of services including palliative care, welfare and benefits, grief support and more, has set up a Urgent Care appeal here, where people can contribute as much or as little as they feel they can afford.
NK Academy in North Hykeham is looking forward to welcome pupils back into school from Monday after the start of its coronavirus testing programme.
Only key worker and vulnerable children attended lessons in the latest national lockdown, whilst the remaining pupils moved to a remote learning provision.
With all students beginning their return to face-to-face teaching from March 8, The Lincolnite spoke with Jo Tunnicliffe, Headteacher at NK Academy, which has around 900 pupils.
All secondary school and college students will initially take three coronavirus tests. NK Academy is bringing in five year groups (8, 10, 11, 12, and 13) for testing on Thursday and Friday, 4 and 5.
Any who test negative will come back in on Monday and Tuesday for a second test. No more than 15 students at a time will wait in the allocated canopy area after being tested, before going straight to class if their test result is negative.
The Academy’s students in Year 7 and 9 will have a delayed start, returning on Wednesday, March 10 to be tested on that day. After the students have had their three tests, 3-5 days apart, they will have test kits to take home with them.
Students at NK Academy will have three tests, 3-5 days apart, before being given test kits to take home.
Staff and the 54 key worker and vulnerable children have been tested twice a week since January, with all results coming back negative. From March 8 staff will have test kits which they will use at home on Sundays and Wednesdays.
The main change on the return to school will be face coverings being mandatory in classrooms, to add to the already existing measures implemented by the academy such as year groups in zones, staggered break and lunchtimes, and sanitising stations.
Jo Tunnicliffe, Headteacher at NK Academy.
Mrs Tunnicliffe told The Lincolnite: “I am feeling quite excited that they are going to be back in school. It will be really good for them and for the staff to start getting back into routine.
“I am also a bit apprehensive about the testing and the logistics of it, as it has not been done at this scale yet.
“I think we have done a brilliant job [during the pandemic]. We have taken the silver linings where we can and done lots of work with risk assessments and we’ve been praised by the Health and Safety Executive for how we’ve managed contact tracing.
“The zoning areas have also been successful and is something we will keep post pandemic. Remote learning was set up within a week of the announcement this time last year and showed how quickly we can move in a really innovative way.”
Mrs Tunnicliffe added that the school has put money into supporting the small number of students who have struggled to engage during lockdown.
The school has made connections with local teaching schools with graduate trainees coming to work with struggling students. In addition, the school is working with the National Tutoring Programme.
She added: “We’ve done a really good job of remote provision and monitoring who has been engaged and who hasn’t. We are trying to avoid the word catch up and negative vocabulary and we will assess and work out what any gaps are and teach them in the best possible way.
“I’m a big believer in learning and trying to make the best of a bad situation. Whilst the pandemic has been horrendous in terms of national and local impact, we have taken those bits of positive wherever we possibly can.
“It has been a fantastic opportunity to connect more with parents and improve links with the local community.”
NK Academy is also looking forward to reintroducing charity and community events in the future, including afternoon tea for local businesses.
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