In between Spring Training games and getting outside as much as possible before it becomes melt-your-face-off hot, there are some great movies to catch this March. There's a bit of Disney magic, some good old-fashioned action, and a festival for the rest-of-y'all. (Okay, everyone can enjoy the festival, we just enjoy a good rhyme.)
See also: The 15 Sundance 2015 Films You Need to Know
Cinderella
Did we really need a new version of the Cinderella story? Of course not. But do we really need to indulge in a slice of delicious cake even though we're already still full from dinner? No, but it just feels so good. And that's what this is. An unnecessary, but delicious treat from the studio that knows how to do a fairy tale right. Game of Thrones fans can rejoice that Robb Stark went on to become Prince Charming in a faraway land, wooing Downton Abbey's Lily James as the orphan-turned-princess. Just go and enjoy and don't forget to be home by midnight or your car might turn into a pumpkin. Cinderella opens Friday, March 13.
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
If there's one thing Shailene Woodley has proven over the last year it's that she can carry a movie based on a book to box office success. Between the first film in this series and the sob-fest The Fault in Our Stars, she's owned the young-adult market, but this is the film that will decide if we all get on board. It's an intriguing story and the first film left a lot of loose ends open (as first films in a series of four are wont to do), meaning this series could be made or broken on the success of this film alone. It's certainly worth a look, as are the books worth a read if you need a refresher on what's going on. Insurgent opens Friday, March 20.
Danny Collins
Kicking off this year's Phoenix Film Festival at the Harkins 101 Scottsdale is Danny Collins , a film starring the Al Pacino as an aging rock star facing a breakdown after discovering a letter from John Lennon that could have changed his life. The Phoenix Film Festival has been bringing interesting and quality films to the Valley for years now and this year's lineup is no exception. For this opening night event, director Dan Fogelman will be on hand for a pre-screening Q&A. Check out the Festival's website for the full list of movies, as well as information on how to get tickets to opening night and other events. Opening night is Thursday, March 26, starting at 6 p.m., and the festival runs through Thursday, April 2.
Casino Royale
If there's such a thing as the best James Bond film ever made, our money is on this one. With the Bond du jour, Daniel Craig, in his first time in the role, a high stakes poker game, the kills that started it all, and the loss that made him the man we'd all grow to love, it truly is as close to perfect as a franchise film can be. Grab martinis beforehand (shaken, not stirred, of course), put on your favorite spy gear and head out to Harkins Theatres for their Tuesday Night Classics series on Tuesday, March 24. These special screenings cost $5 and have been gaining in popularity, so arrive early.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
In honor of Leonard Nimoy's recent passing, FilmBar presents two screenings (10 p.m. Friday, March 13, and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15) of one of his most beloved films with proceeds going to the American Lung Association. Pardon us for the spoiler (although, can you really spoil a decades-old classic?), but Spock's death at the end is one of the most moving scenes in film history, made even more poignant by the sacrifice he makes for the rest of the crew. Good luck not shedding a tear.
