What to watch this week: From apocalyptic k-dramas to Italian conquests

This week features some exciting new releases that will satisfy all your weekend binge cravings. Chase your sci-fi dreams with an apocalyptic adventure, as you dig deeper into the Korean drama Goodbye Earth, reminisce about all the laughs Jack Black has gifted you in the past decade, with Kung Fu Panda 4, answer questions that will leave you clutching your heart in moral dilemma, with Deliver Me, and chase fortune and freedom, with Brigandi. 

Here’s the rundown for this week:

Kung Fu Panda 4 (English)

Jack Black returns as the lovable kung fu instructor, Po, who is now gearing up to become the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. Po also faces the daunting task of finding a new Dragon Warrior. With his paws full, Po awaits a new villain, the cunning Chameleon, a powerful shapeshifting sorceress, who wields a mysterious power that can resurrect past foes. 

The film has a surplus of adorable characters whose witty humor will make both kids and adults laugh out loud. Amid the escapades, will Po be able to juggle his newfound wisdom with defending the valley from these threats from the past?

Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Deliver Me (Swedish)

An emotionally rousing journey, this Swedish crime drama is sure to chill you to the bone. Set in a small town plagued by violence and social divides, two young friends, Bilal and Douglas, find themselves entangled in a crisis. Their lives are further torn apart when Douglas shoots Bilal, who is seemingly his best friend. 

Who will bear the responsibility of these misguided children, committing crimes? And should we allow ourselves to look at children as we look at criminals, as monsters? These are the questions posed at the center of this gut-wrenching tale, following just a couple of lost children, as no one is left untouched in a society where violence escalates and takes over. 

Starring: Olle Strand, Yasir Hassan, Yusra Warsama

Where to watch: Netflix

Briganti (Italian)

Southern Italy simmers two years after the Unification of Italy, as Fiesty Filomena, trapped in a loveless marriage, steals a map to the legendary Red Shirts’ Gold and flees into the brigandi-infested wilderness. Once captured by the ruthless Monaco gang, her fate collides with the enigmatic bounty hunter, Sparviero. Together, they navigate love, rebellion, and a quest for treasure against the backdrop of a newly-unified, brigand-ridden Italy. 

Starring: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Michela De Rossi, Giuseppe Lo Piccolo

Where to watch: Netflix

City Hunter (Japanese)

This action-comedy film revolves around a skilled marksman named Ryo Saeba. A live-action adaptation of a beloved manga, this story is set in the streets of modern-day Shinjuku, Tokyo and follows Ryo as his world turns upside down when his partner, Hideyuki Makimra, is mysteriously killed. 

As fate forces him in the direction of Hideyuki’s fiery sister, Kaori Makimura, Ryo is forced to team up with her. Thus begins a dangerous investigation. Will this unlikely duo be able to uncover the truth behind Hideyuki’s death?

Starring: Ryohei Suzuki, Misato Morita, Masanobu Ando, Asuka Hanamura, Ayame Misaki

Where to watch: Netflix

Goodbye Earth (Korean)

This week, get ready for an apocalyptic adventure with this Korean sci-fi thriller, based on Kotaro Isaka’s novel of the same name. 

The series is set in the near future, where the threat of an asteroid hurtling towards Earth engulfs Woongcheon City. A determined middle school teacher, Jin Se Kyung, fights to keep her students safe and sane amidst impending doom. Starring Yoo Ah In, Jeon Seong Woo, and Kim Yoon Hye, this series promises a gripping exploration of resilience in the face of destruction.

Starring: Ahn Eun Jin, Yoo Ah In, Jeon Seong Woo

Where to watch: Netflix