Top 5 Must-See Movies in May 2023: Upcoming and Ongoing Releases

Movie lovers and cinephiles alike are eagerly anticipating the release of a number of upcoming and ongoing blockbuster movies this May. From action-packed thrillers to heartwarming tales, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Disney and Marvel fans, in particular, are in for a treat this month, with several highly anticipated new movies set to hit the big screen.
For those looking for a local touch, Malaysia’s film industry has also been churning out some exciting new movies that are not to be missed. Whether you’re planning a weekend outing with friends or a romantic date, a trip to the cinema is the perfect way to unwind and escape into a world of entertainment. With top-notch theaters like GSC and TGV offering comfortable seating, tasty popcorn, and an unbeatable movie-watching experience, the expectation is high that moviegoers will be able to fully enjoy these exciting new releases.

Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3

In Marvel Studios “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3” our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. The band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere, but it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 boasts a pair of exciting post-credit scenes, as revealed by writer-director James Gunn on social media. The first post-credit scene introduces a brand new team of heroes, featuring a mix of familiar faces and new characters.

As the original Guardians of the Galaxy go their separate ways, a new iteration of the team emerges. Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, and Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel, are joined by Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Phyla-Vell (Kai Zen), and Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova). In a fun and lighthearted scene, the new team discusses their favorite music artists. From Britney Spears and Korn to Garth Brooks and King Crimson, the eclectic mix of musical tastes adds to the scene’s charm. Finally, Rocket puts on Redbone’s ‘Come and Get Your Love,’ the iconic song that kicked off the franchise. With their new lineup and an infectious beat to get them in the mood, the gang sets off into battle.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’s second post-credit scene concludes with a poignant moment that tugs at viewers’ heartstrings. Star-Lord, also known as Peter Quill, returns to earth to reunite with his grandfather, resulting in an emotionally charged scene. The final shot shows the two sharing a meal in grandfather’s kitchen, with a newspaper headline in the background that reads “Alien Abduction: Kevin Bacon Reveals All.” The headline serves as a nod to the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, adding an exciting Easter egg for fans to speculate on.
As the scene unfolds, Peter laments the mundane task of mowing a neighbor’s lawn, suggesting that he may be living the life of a regular person after all the trauma he’s faced. It’s a touching moment that highlights the character’s growth throughout the franchise and provides closure for fans who have followed his journey from the beginning. Overall, the second post-credit scene serves as a fitting end to the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, leaving fans with a sense of satisfaction and anticipation for the franchise’s future.

Details of Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3:

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Anwar The Untold Story

The film depicts the tumultuous political career of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, chronicling his fight against corruption and the challenges he faced along the way. The film is directed by Indonesia’s Viva Westi and stars local actors Farid Kamil Zahari in the lead role as Anwar and Hasnul Rahmat as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Indonesian actor Acha Septriasa plays Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Set between 1993 and 1998, the movie explores Anwar’s experiences as Finance Minister, including his refusal to go along with the corrupt practices of others in the government. Ultimately, he was fired from the Cabinet and imprisoned, enduring torture and a lack of medical attention. The film provides a harrowing account of Anwar’s journey from a globally respected Finance Minister to a political prisoner.

The story of Anwar’s life serves as a testament to the political upheaval known as the Malaysian reformation, which saw citizens rally against corruption and demand accountability from their leaders. Through the film, audiences witness Anwar’s unwavering dedication to his principles, even in the face of immense pressure and opposition. His story is one of resilience and perseverance, and the film serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of great adversity. Overall, the movie is a poignant portrayal of one man’s fight against corruption, and its relevance extends far beyond the borders of Malaysia.

Details of Anwar The Untold Story:

Fast X

Fast X marks the tenth installment in the Fast & Furious Saga and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down, with the same core cast and characters that fans have grown to love over the years. Throughout numerous high-stakes missions and against all odds, Dom Torretto and his chosen family have outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and outdriven every foe in their path. However, in Fast X, they face their most formidable adversary yet: a vengeful threat from the shadows of the past, determined to exact blood revenge and destroy everything and everyone that Dom loves forever.
The film picks up after the events of 2011’s Fast Five, in which Dom and his crew took down Hernan Reyes, a notorious Brazilian drug kingpin, and his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. Unbeknownst to them, Reyes’s son, Dante, witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years meticulously planning his revenge against Dom. As the story unfolds, the stakes are higher than ever before as Dom and his team must do whatever it takes to protect themselves and their loved ones from Dante’s wrath.

There is always a seat at Dominic Toretto’s table, and the Fast X cast just keeps growing. It was announced that Jason Momoa, also known as Aquaman, would be joining the franchise as the antagonist Dante, adding himself to the long list of villains who have challenged the Toretto crew both physically and mentally. In March 2022, Daniela Melchior from The Suicide Squad joined the cast in an undisclosed role. But it’s not just DC that gets to have fun in Fast X, as Brie Larson from Captain Marvel also joined the cast as government agent Tess. We will also meet a new member of the Toretto family, with Rita Moreno playing Dom’s grandmother. Furthermore, there are possibilities that Kurt Russell might reprise his role in the movie since his character’s fate in the last film was left somewhat ambiguous. There have also been rumors that Gal Gadot’s character could make a comeback, so there is a chance that she might appear. Cardi B has already been confirmed to return for the final installment.

Details of Fast X:

The Little Mermaid

Get ready to dive into the magical world of The Little Mermaid with Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of the classic tale. With an impressive team and cast, this remake is set to make a splash. First announced in 2016, the film has Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda attached to write additional music, bringing their musical genius to the beloved story.
Released in 1989, the original film of The Little Mermaid is a musical that loosely adapts the fairy tale of the same name by the father of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows Ariel, a teenage mermaid and the youngest daughter of King Triton, who is also the princess of Atlantica, an underwater kingdom. Fascinated by humans, Ariel embarks on a path of adventure, love, and magic, but this journey also leads her to strike a risky deal with the devil.
The film’s lead, Ariel, will be played by Halle Bailey, known for her work as part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle and her role on Freeform’s Grown-ish. Bailey’s stunning rendition of “Part of Your World” in the official trailer, released during the Oscars, has already garnered much attention and excitement. Fans can expect to see some familiar faces in the film, including Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

Introducing the talented young performer, Halle Bailey! She is an American singer and actress, best known for her work as one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, and for playing Sky on the hit show ‘Grown-ish’. Born on March 27, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia, Halle was raised in Los Angeles. Along with her sister Chloe, she began making music videos on YouTube in 2011, starting with a cover of Beyoncé’s hit song “Best Thing I Never Had”. The duo opened for Beyoncé on the European leg of her Formation tour and are signed to her label, Parkwood Entertainment.
Their debut album, ‘The Kids Are Alright’, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. In 2020, they released their second studio album, ‘Ungodly Hour’, which was a critical and commercial success. Halle and Chloe wowed audiences with their stunning harmonies during their performance of a cover of “Where Is The Love” at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Beyoncé was first introduced to Chloe and Halle after seeing their cover of “Truth Hurts”, which has since garnered over 17 million views on YouTube. Halle’s impressive talent and hard work have led her to the role of Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’, where she is sure to make a splash with her incredible voice and acting skills.

Details of The Little Mermaid:

Transformers : Rise of the Beasts

Prepare to be transported back to the world of Transformers with the upcoming movie, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. This latest installment in the franchise is both a reboot and a tribute to the beloved animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers, featuring animal-themed robots that have captured the hearts of fans across generations.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and written by Darnell Metayer, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, and Josh Peters based on a story by Joby Harold, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the seventh movie in the Transformers series. The movie draws heavily on the Beast Wars era of the classic cartoon. The Beast Wars franchise was launched in 1996 as an animated series, which later expanded to include its own toy lines, other shows, video games, and comic books. Unlike the original Transformers, the Beast Wars characters were animal-themed Transformers who transformed into creatures like gorillas, cheetahs, and rhinoceroses.
While Michael Bay’s original Transformers trilogy was hugely successful, recent entries like The Last Knight and Bumblebee fell short of expectations. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts hopes to reinvigorate the franchise with a fresh story centered around the Beast Wars characters, introducing warring factions of animal Transformers.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts features a star-studded cast, with Anthony Ramos (Hamilton) leading as ex-military family man Noah and Mark Wahlberg not returning. Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah) plays the role of an artifact researcher named Elena, while Luna Lauren Vélez (Dexter) is cast in an undisclosed role. Though the human cast is small, the roster of new and old Transformers is extensive.
Peter Cullen returns to voice Optimus Prime in his G1 design, while Pete Davidson voices Mirage, closer to his G1 origins. Liza Koshy (Work It) lends her voice to Arcee, and Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso) voices Wheeljack. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) plays Nightbird on the Terrorcon side, and the new villain Scourge is voiced by Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones). Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy) voices the Maximals leader Optimus Primal. David Sobolov voices Rhinox alongside Terrorcon Battletrap, and the Maximal Cheetor is also set to appear, although no voice actor has been named.
Michelle Yeoh, known for her role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” has been cast to voice the character of Airazor in “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.” The announcement was made in October 2022 on the official Transformers Twitter account. The film’s director, Steven Caple Jr., shared behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram showing both Yeoh and Pete Davidson recording dialogue for their respective roles.

Details of Transformers : Rise of the Beasts:

So whether you’re a die-hard action fan or a lover of heartwarming stories, this month’s new movie releases are sure to leave you entertained and satisfied. So grab some popcorn, settle into your seat, and get ready to be transported to a world of excitement and adventure. With so many great new movies to choose from, there’s no better time to head to the cinema and experience the magic of the big screen.