Movies Not to Miss: October 2017

Writer: Casey Lee

Which of these are you going to watch?

As the Fall releases are slowly entering into full swing, this October is an odd month with a mix up across genres and titles coming from the independent and blockbuster spheres.

If expanding your horizons is not suited to your taste, there are still the safer and standard blockbusters, especially if you are spoiling for some horror that doesn't involve clowns.

So if you need a little guide on what to see this October, here are the movies we recommend you not to miss!

After 30 years, a new Blade Runner of the LAPD officer named K uncovers a dark secret that could spell the end of humanity. To prevent it from happening, K has to find Rick Deckard, the Blade Runner who went missing. The 1982 classic is one of Ridley Scott's most worshiped science fiction works of cinema (beside his own "Alien" franchise), but this sequel would not run through the mill of Ridley's sequel machine (as seen in the aforementioned "Alien" franchise) but it has been entrusted to another worthy director, Denis Villeneuve.

Since his Oscar nomination for last year's "Arrival", this has been a highly anticipated project for fans of the original Blade Runner and Villeneuve, who also has the privilege of having Ryan Gosling in the lead, together with the return of Harrison Ford. Expectations will be above and beyond to see if "Blade Runner 2049" will be a worthy addition to the Blade Runner universe, or it will end with tears in rain for diehard fans.

General Release Date: 5 October

Liam Neeson may be done with action movies, but everyone knows that he is the most menacing when he is talking to you on a phone, and he demonstrates this as one of the most scandalous whistleblower in modern American history; Mark Felt, also better known as the informant 'Deep Throat' in the Watergate scandal. Based on the biography of Mark Felt, written by John O'Connor, this biopic is directed by Peter Landesman, who previously brought some Oscar buzz for Will Smith in 2015's "Concussion" and handled another American scandal in 2014's "Kill the Messenger" with Jeremy Renner. Whether this would start any Oscar talk for Neeson largely remains to be seen from here, but it's always good to see Neeson put more chops into some serious acting and an American accent.

General Release Date: 5 October

"Youth" follows and celebrates the lives of the young men and women who are part of the Red Army's art troupe during the 1970s. After his scathing commentary on Chinese bureaucracy that backfired on him when exhibitors refused to screen his "I Am Not Madame Bovary" last year, director Feng Xiaogang's next project might seem like a peace offering to the Chinese elite. Screened as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, it would be wise not to be fooled that Feng is not sharing his thoughts in what could easily just be a harsh coming-out-of-age drama of youths, who were proud patriots during the height of the Cultural Revolution.

General Release Date: 19 October

When an international conspiracy with a terrorist organisation is discovered to threaten China, an elite fighter squadron is deployed to destroy the terrorist base, while there could also be enemies within. Made in collaboration with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, you can now add China to the list of countries with aerial dogfight movies, thanks to this directing debut of actor Li Chen. Starred by Fan Bingbing, Leon Lee, Wang Qianyuan and Guo Mingyu as the top pilots of China, if you are not here for some Chinese jingoism (which you probably have gotten a dose of from "Wolf Warrior 2"), then you are to see some aerial arsenal, and things will get blown up.

General Release Date: 19 October

Captured and enslaved, Thor finds himself on the planet Sakaar where the only way to survive is in the gladiatorial pits. Thor would have to defeat his greatest rival; The Hulk, in order to win his freedom and return to Asgard before it is utterly destroyed by Hela and the coming of Ragnarok. The second half of superhero season begins with the Marvel cinematic universe once again taking the lead over the DCEU. The "Thor" series has arguably been one of the duller outings in the MCU, but hopes are being pinned on director Taiki Waititi, who bursts into the scene with "What We Do in the Shadows" and "The Hunt for Wilderpeople", to inject some much needed satirical comedy that could serve as a meta-piece to the MCU, while also paving the way to "Infinity War". Aside from the returning cast of Agsardians with Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, and Jaime Alexander, "Ragnarok" also brings in Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Benedict Cumberbatch's Dr Strange, and making their Marvel debut is Cate Blanchett, and Karl Urban.

General Release Date: 26 October