Must-See: Buzz-Worthy Movies of November

As the final weeks of both the semester and the year begin to pass by, it might be hard for many of us to find the time to make it to theaters for all of the major releases coming up.

Thankfully, the sheer depth and diversity of the selection of films coming to theaters soon means that anybody, regardless of taste, will be able to find at least one film worth seeing among the smorgasbord of cinematic treats hitting a nearby silver screen.

“Spectre”

Release Date: Nov. 6

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Plot: After an unauthorized mission in Mexico City goes awry and draws national attention, the higher-ups at MI6 are forced to pull the plug on the “00” (Double “O”) program, including its top agent 007, AKA James Bond. However, Bond (Daniel Craig) believes that all of these events are being orchestrated by a shadowy organization known as SPECTRE and launches his own investigation, not knowing that SPECTRE has been doing the same to him for a long, long time.

Buzz: A new James Bond film is always an event worthy of attention, though “Spectre” may just be the biggest thing to happen to the franchise since Daniel Craig’s first appearance as the character in 2006’s “Casino Royale.” Not only do you have the director of “Skyfall” returning to helm another dark and stylish 007 adventure, but you also get to see the return of one of Bond’s most classic nemesis in the form of the evil SPECTRE and their sinister leader (Christoph Waltz), this time given the much darker and more threatening presence the other Bond films have brought to the screen.

“The Peanuts Movie”

Release Date: Nov. 6

Directed by: Steve Martino

Plot: Snoopy and Charlie Brown prepare for the greatest missions of their lives in this film set to hit big screens. Snoopy wants to face-off against his arch-enemy The Red Baron, whereas Charlie Brown is determined to win the affections of the new girl in town.

Buzz: It’s odd to think that it’s taken so long for Charles Schulz’s legendary comic strip to finally get a big-budget adaptation, but if there’s one thing the now 65-year-old series has proven over the years, it’s its own timelessness, so there’s no reason to doubt that this version should lack any of the classic charm.

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”

Release Date: Nov. 20

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Plot: The epic “Hunger Games” saga comes to a close as Hunger Games-contestant-turned-revolutionary-leader Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) leads a rebellious army of Panem citizens against the tyrannical President Snow.

Buzz: Adaptations of young-adult series have come and gone after the “Harry Potter” boom, though it’s probably safe to say that none have found quite the fame and success as the “Hunger Games” saga. Now that the story of Katniss Everdeen has reached its final chapter, it’s difficult to see exactly how much staying-power the series will have among the competition, though now all fans and moviegoers have to do is sit back and enjoy the fireworks of the action-packed conclusion of this year’s Hunger Games.

“The Good Dinosaur”

Release Date: Nov. 27

Directed by: Peter Sohn

Plot: In a world where the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs never hit, a young Apatosaurus forms an unlikely bond with a feral human child, and the two set off on their own epic adventure.

Buzz: At this point in the company’s history, it’s pretty safe to say that Pixar has a monopoly on the emotions of several generations of moviegoers. Even before literally giving emotions, emotions earlier this year in “Inside Out,” audiences of every age have worshiped the makers of “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo” as Hollywood royalty, and even their less-hyped productions manage to garner a lot of buzz. This simple story of boy-meets-dinosaur may very well find its way on the long list of small concepts Pixar has sculpted into gigantic emotional features.

“Creed”

Release Date: Nov. 27

Directed by: Ryan Coogler

Plot: Decades after the events of the original “Rocky” movies, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of the late boxing champion Apollo Creed decides to follow in his father’s footsteps, beginning his own quest for glory under the tutelage of his father’s former friend and rival Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

Buzz: When asked if there was ever going to be a follow-up to 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” Stallone famously said, “What’s [Rocky] going to fight, arthritis?” It’s a fair enough point, but few true fans of the “Rocky” franchise are likely to argue that the direction that filmmaker Ryan Coogler is taking isn’t at least an interesting and natural continuation of the storied franchise, while also being unique and completely its own movie.

“The Danish Girl”

Release Date: November 27

Directed by: Tom Hooper

Plot: A dramatization of the true story of Lili Elbe, a Danish artist who underwent one of the first recorded successful sex-reassignment-surgeries in 1930 (Eddie Redmayne plays their pre-transition identity Einar Wegener), and the complications her identity caused in her relationship with her wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander).

Buzz: The term “Oscar-bait” is thrown around a lot when describing movies that come out around this time of year, which, for those uninformed, is meant to mean that the movie in question may have been made solely for the purpose of garnering critical praise and, as the name indicates, Oscar nominations. Though this isn’t in any way a comment about the ultimate quality of the film, it’s pretty hard not to notice the “The Danish Girl” may be the most Oscar-hungry movie to come out in a long, long time.