Category: activities

Black Widow is webbed up. Wonder Woman has been lassoed until August (at least). And James Bond’s license to kill is suspended until November. So what is a filmgoer to do? Basically, spend summer at home. With movie theaters shut down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Hollywood has all but mothballed its blockbuster line-up. And the films that haven’t been postponed are instead headed straight to on-demand platforms, joining the original productions already planned to debut digitally on various streaming services. So while it may be the strangest summer movie season in memory, there will still be plenty to watch. Here are nine of the ones to look for while we wait for big screens everywhere to reopen.

Scoob! 

Debuts: May 15, VOD

Zoinks! Originally planned for a theatrical release, this computer-animated comedy is now beaming directly to on-demand platforms. Along with those meddling kids from the Mystery Machine — Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker), Shaggy (Will Forte), Velma (Gina Rodriguez), Daphne (Amanda Seyfried) and Fred (Zac Efron) — longtime fans can look for cameos from such other Hanna-Barbera characters as Dynomutt (Ken Jeong) and Blue Falcon (Mark Wahlberg).

The Lovebirds 

Debuts: May 22, Netflix

A newly-shredded Kumail Nanjiani stars with Issa Rae in this action-comedy about a couple on the verge of splitting up who becomes ensnared in a murder mystery when they witness a crime. Can they save their relationship — and their own lives? Promisingly, The Lovebirds is helmed by Michael Showalter, who previously directed Nanjiani in the 2017 indie hit The Big Sick.

The Vast of Night

Debuts: May 29, Amazon Prime

Actually, Amazon is opening this 1950s-set science-fiction mystery in theaters before its Prime Video launch — drive-in theaters, across the country May 15 and 16. (Moreover, tickets for each car will be priced at 50 cents.) Drive-ins have been surging in popularity as they allow people to gather while also maintaining a social distance. Plus, the 1950s marked the pinnacle of the drive-in’s popularity. In the movie, a small-town switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and a radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) attempt to trace a frequency that may be alien in origin.

Artemis Fowl 

Debuts: June 12, Disney Plus

When his villainous father (Colin Farrell) goes missing, 12-year-old genius and budding criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) sets out to confront the mysterious, supernatural forces who may be responsible for his father’s disappearance. Kenneth Branagh directs this first installment of what presumably could be a franchise, considering that Eoin Colfer’s bestselling fantasy series spans eight novels.

Da 5 Bloods 

Debuts: June 12, Netflix

Lured by the promise of buried gold and still haunted by the Vietnam war, four African American veterans — Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. — return to the country to search for the remains of their squad leader (Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman). Filmmaker Spike Lee directs what many expect to emerge as a serious Oscar contender.

The King of Staten Island 

 

Debuts: June 12, VOD

Following everyone from Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy to Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, Pete Davidson is the latest Saturday Night Live star to leap to the big screen. Or at least he was supposed to be before movie theaters shut down around the world. Now this semi-autobiographical comedy is bound for on-demand platforms. Judd Apatow (who previously launched the film careers of Seth Rogen, Steve Carrell and Amy Schumer) directs.

7500

Debuts: June 19, Amazon Prime

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper, The Dark Knight Rises) stars in this confined nail-biter about the co-pilot of a packed international flight who finds himself locked in the cockpit during a terrorist attack. Unable to make an emergency landing, he must save himself, the passengers and what’s left of his crew without letting the hostage-takers seize control of the plane.

Hamilton

Debuts: July 3, Disney Plus

Disney — which reportedly paid $75 million for the rights to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash musical — will debut Hamilton on its streaming service almost a year ahead of its previously-announced theatrical bow. Unlike such other musical adaptations as Mamma Mia, the Hamilton movie is an actual recording of a staged performance with the original Broadway cast. Nevertheless, it is expected to be event viewing — especially since tickets to a live production of the Broadway phenomenon can cost hundreds of dollars.

The Old Guard 

Debuts: July 10, Netflix

Once again cracking skulls and thumping bad guys after roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron — who is also the producer of this action-heavy graphic novel adaptation — stars as an immortal mercenary whose team of fellow immortal warriors has been protecting us mere mortals throughout the centuries.

Whether you’re sore after spending weeks at your new home office — otherwise known as the sofa and coffee table — or simply stressed about the state of the world, we could probably all use a spa day right about now. So while the businesses themselves remain temporarily shut down — along with most vacation plans involving oceanside massage tables — why not bring the spa experience home to you? For one thing, it’s not complicated (because it’s not like you need another thing to stress about). And for another, a little wellness can do wonders — even if it’s from the normalcy of your own bathtub.

EMBRACE THE ESSENTIAL OILS

Known for their revitalizing properties, these flower and plant extracts can boost skin health as well as restore its vitality. At the spa, you will find them in everything from moisturizers to body scrubs. If you don’t have any essential oils at home, turn to your kitchen cupboards for such alternatives as salt (preferably sea salt, but even table salt will do) and sugar (which moisturizes while removing toxins), as well as olive oil and coconut oil. From there, choose from any number of recipes for making home-made bath salts or scrubs.

TREAT YOUR SCALP

By now we could all probably use a massage therapist to help unknot our tense, tired muscles. But how about a simple scalp massage instead? Studies have shown that scalp massage can boost serotonin levels as well as relieve chronic migraines. If you’ve been hunkered down at your desk or on your laptop while working remotely, it can ease the strain suffered by both your neck and eyes. And if you’re self-isolating alone, with no one to lend their helpful hands, there are video tutorials to teach you how to give one to yourself.

MAKE YOUR OWN FACIAL MASK

For a homemade facial mask, look no further than your fridge. Whether it’s honey (with its antibacterial properties) or avocado, matcha or green tea, olive oil or egg yolk, oatmeal or orange juice, your kitchen is packed with possibilities. Got powdered milk? Mix well with water. And if you don’t know what to do with those bananas you have? Mash them into a paste with orange juice and honey. And those are just some of the facial mask possibilities.

SET THE MOOD 

Scented wellness candles containing essential oils will not only provide the appropriately-dim, stress-freeing illumination but also produce a pleasing aroma. From lavender to peppermint to rose, there’s probably a scent suited for you, so confirm you will enjoy it before you light it. Now that you’ve arranged the stage, fill the room with soft, ubiquitous music. A soothing soundtrack will lower your heart rate and blood pressure as well as set your mind adrift.

SOAK IT UP

Once you’ve introduced the bath salts or essential oils (possibly in the form of a bath bomb, which will also add fragrances and color to the water), lit the candles and cued up your spa-like sounds, you’re ready to slip into the tub for a long, hot steep. Although many of the benefits of taking a bath are obvious — such as improving your mood or reducing aching muscles — others are less so. For example, because heat can boost blood flow, you are actually burning calories while you soak — roughly the same amount as if you had gone for a walk instead.

 

Call your mother already. And then what? With stay-at-home orders in place and everyone’s health at risk due to COVID-19, the annual afternoon brunches and family gatherings are out of the question. Besides, how is she supposed to see your smiling face behind a mask? But that doesn’t mean you still can’t take Mom to the movies (sort of). Consider this playlist for the perfect Mother’s Day movie marathon. Maybe you (and other family members) can even Zoom in to watch it with her. Bonus points for having her favorite snacks delivered to her door.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Streaming on: Disney Plus

One of the most popular and enduring movies of all time (literally — in adjusted dollars, its box office gross is more than $2 billion), this 1965 Best Picture Oscar winner has everything you could want in a movie for Mom: rapturous music, breathtaking mountain scenery, an aloof but charismatic aristocrat, looming peril in the form of Nazis and a family that needs a woman to pull them all together. Julia Andrews stars as the young nanny who takes charge of seven motherless children and ends up being much more to them — and their father. Odds are you have already seen this classic with your mom. But really, why not again? FOR AGES: 6 and up

MAMMA MIA! and MAMMA MIA!: HERE WE GO AGAIN

Streaming on: Hulu

ABBA songs, Greece and Meryl Streep — how can Mom possibly resist? Amanda Seyfried stars as Sophie, a young woman who invites three strangers (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her wedding after learning one of them is her father. Music (including the title track) and romance ensue along with the predictable emotional fireworks between Sophie and her mother (Streep). As a bonus, the sequel introduces Cher. FOR AGES: 12 and up

STEPMOM

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Julia Roberts stars as a woman planning to marry an older man (Ed Harris) while struggling to be accepted by the two children he shares with his less-than-warm ex-wife (Susan Sarandon). But what begins as a family dramedy emerges as a five-star salute to motherhood when the unexpected happens. Prepare tissues and your ugly crying face. FOR AGES: 12 and up

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Streaming on: Disney Plus

There is nothing a mom loves more than confirmation everything would fall apart without her. Which is more or less the plot of this family farce about a couple (Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt) with 12 children who move to the big city after he gets a job coaching his alma mater’s football team. But life is truly thrown into disarray when she goes on a tour to promote her new book, leaving her husband and the kids to fend for themselves. FOR AGES: 10 and up 

LADYBIRD

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

This tender, affecting coming-of-age drama follows the volatile, bittersweet relationship between a creatively-inclined high school senior (Saoirse Ronan), who dreams of leaving her hometown of Sacramento for somewhere more cultured, and her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf). The film was nominated for multiple Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Metcalf) and Best Director (Greta Gerwig). FOR AGES: 16 and up 

For wine lovers, it’s a taste of how things used to be. With wineries shuttered to slow the spread of the coronavirus, business owners have pivoted to the Internet and social media, offering virtual tours and tastings as a way of staying engaged with customers who are sheltering in place. Depending on the venue, online events range from customized question-and-answer sessions to group chats to live streaming discussions on platforms such as Instagram Live and Facebook Live. So if you can’t get out to visit the vineyards and estates of California wine country, you can at least bring them into your home.

Buena Vista Winery

Located east of Sonoma, Buena Vista is the oldest commercial winery in California, still standing on the original grounds it was founded on in 1857. Not surprisingly then, considering this storied history, the winery’s virtual tour transports participants back in time to explore the vineyard as well as the oldest wine cave in the state, guided by an actor portraying Buena Vista’s founder Agoston Haraszthy a.k.a. “The Count.”

St. Suprey Estate Vineyards and Winery

Beginning April 30, this Chanel-owned winery in Rutherford is offering The Great Sustainable Seafood Tour, a weekly virtual tasting centered on seafood, led by estate chef Tod Kawachi and including a roster of guest chefs, among others. Each Thursday for six weeks, virtual tourists will receive a recipe paired with one wine from a six-bottle tasting kit.

Quintessa Winery

This winery in St. Helena has launched an Instagram Live series to educate virtual tourists about all aspects of the estate: from discussing the latest vintages and their biodynamic garden to hosting special tastings, such as one happening May 2 that will feature 2013, 2016 and 2017 vintages. For an aerial tour, 360-degree drone footage can be found here.

Far Niente

For a more customized experience, this Napa Valley wine estate, which dates back to 1885, offers an online tasting in which a wine educator takes the virtual visitor through a personally curated selection of wines. For something more social, while still practicing social distancing, they provide virtual group happy hours, in which they send the wine to your door and then schedule a time that is convenient for the entire group to meet.

Bouchaine Vineyards

At Bouchaine in Napa’s Carneros region, their tasting program lets tourists choose from three different virtual experiences, each with its own set of wines to be sent to their door. From there, the participant can book a session with a private host who — from a perch overlooking the vineyards — will guide guests through a conversation about the selected wines.

Have you ever wanted to swim with sharks while avoiding the, uh, sharks? Or climb Mount Everest without suffering a freezing, suffocating death? Then have we got the risk-averse getaway for you — from the comfort of your own snack-riddled sofa. Between the technological advances of virtual reality and the pandemic-induced shutdown that has halted all travel, exploring the world and all its fascinating, frightening dangers has never been so utterly safe.

Mount Everest

Skip the lifelong commitment to training and preparation (really, where do they expect us to find the time?) and venture out over some of the planet’s most astonishing peaks. The first tour, courtesy of Discovery, speeds you along with helicopter rescue pilots as they soar over treacherous, breathtaking terrain. After that, keep exploring the highest pinnacles between Nepal and China with this interactive 360-degree map from Google Maps.

The Great Barrier Reef 

Sir David Attenborough narrates this interactive trek through the Great Barrier Reef and the planet’s largest — and highly-endangered — coral reef system. Naturally, it is an ideal educational tool for children — although adults will appreciate it as well as a break from lockdown normality. Among the things you’ll learn as you navigate five locations with videos, audio and virtual reality: the bottom of the reefs generate a discord of distinctive sounds.

Swimming with sharks

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, you don’t have to bother. Instead, stay dry and still get up close with these majestic predators. This 360-degree video Mexico’s Lower California Peninsula puts you in the thick of things. Or thanks to Exploreorg’s live stream in the Atlantic off Cape Fear, North Carolina, you can wait for a glimpse of one. Once you’ve encountered a few sharks, check out BBC Earth’s Our Blue Plant VR video series to swim with bottlenose dolphins and manta rays.

Ancient caverns

If scaling new heights doesn’t appeal to you, how about descending into the depths of the planet? The world below, it turns out, is no less illuminating than the one above. And this way, you don’t have to fret about what might be down there in the dark with you. Carlsbad Caverns is a national park in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico and includes a limestone chamber, known as the Big Room, which is almost 4,000 feet long and 255 feet high, making it the fifth-largest such chamber in North America. Meanwhile, the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in southern France boasts some of the best-preserved cave paintings in the world. As a bonus, your guide on this tour is Daisy Ridley.

Titanic

Was there enough room for two on the raft? While this virtual excursion doesn’t answer that pressing question, for fans of Titanic who don’t want to board a bathyscaphe to the deep, it nevertheless delivers 360-degree tours of the famed ship — from its staircases, chambers, and decks to its final resting place on the ocean floor.