Arts & Entertainment

Movies Out This Weekend: 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D,' 'Leap!' And 'Beach Rats'

This weekend's films range from animated ballerinas to larger-than-life cyborgs. Here's what to see and what to skip.

Elle Fanning and Maddie Ziegler star as rival ballerinas along with Carly Rae Jepsen in the animated film "Leap!"

For those looking for a more grounded movie this weekend, "Beach Rats" โ€” a coming-of-age tale about a teenager's complex life โ€” also hits theaters.

Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns in a digitally remastered 3-D version of his 1991 classic, "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Find out which of these are must-sees and which you'd be better off skipping.

Find out what's happening in Hollywoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Opening This Weekend


โ€œLeap!โ€ โ€” Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff, Dane DeHaan, directed by Eric Summer

Find out what's happening in Hollywoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


โ€œLeap!โ€ is a tale of an 11-year-old girl whoโ€™s very determined to become a ballerina in 1880s Paris. The setup? Fรฉlicie Milliner (voiced by Elle Fanning) and her best friend Victor (voiced by Nat Wolff) successfully escape their rural orphanage in hopes of finding a dance school in Paris. Fรฉlicie finds success as she impersonates rival ballerina Camille Le Haut (voiced by Maddie Ziegler) with the help of a mysterious mentor, Odette (voiced by Carly Rae Jepsen). The predictable French period animation lacks consistency in details and dialogue (Did you know that people could already say โ€œItโ€™s Hammer time!โ€ in the 1880sโ€” in Paris?) but is nevertheless enjoyable for the whole family.

See it. Suspend your beliefs and just enjoy a movie that is full of heart and soul.


Actors Harris Dickinson and Madeline Weinstein attends the 'Beach Rats' Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 23, 2017 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
Actors Harris Dickinson and Madeline Weinstein attend the "Beach Rats'" premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on Jan. 23 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)

โ€œBeach Ratsโ€ โ€” Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, directed by Eliza Hittman

The sophomore feature from award-winning writer-director Eliza Hittman, โ€œBeach Ratsโ€ is a coming-of-age drama about a young manโ€™s complicated double life. In his raw and uninhibited screen debut, Harris Dickinson portrays Frankie, a 19-year-old teenager who's grappling to escape his chaotic world โ€” including his closeted sexuality, a dying father, a potential girlfriend and discreet trysts with older men. The film is buoyed by evocative direction, textural cinematography and Dickinsonโ€™s magnificent performance.

See it. Despite lacking character development, the Sundance winner feels naturalistic and sensual.


 Studio Canal)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Edward Furlong in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (Photo Courtesy: Studio Canal)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D โ€” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, directed by James Cameron

One of the greatest sci-fi action movies of all time, James Cameronโ€™s 1991 โ€œTerminator 2: Judgment Day,โ€ has been restored to a spectacular 3-D version. Moviegoers can now better appreciate the beautifully crafted storytelling of Schwarzeneggerโ€™s cyborg transformation from villain to hero.

See it. This high-end digital version elevates the movie experience to larger-than-life thrills and excitement. If you thought Schwarzenegger was kidding when he said, โ€œIโ€™ll be backโ€ in 1991, think again.


Check out the trailers:


In addition to the three movies above, past weeks' favorites โ€” Robert Pattinson's "Good Time" and Aubrey Plaza's "Ingrid Goes West" โ€” will be released nationwide this weekend after previously being shown in limited theaters.


More movie news:


Top photo: Actress/dancer Maddie Ziegler (L) and actress/singer Carly Rae Jepsen attend the Weinstein Company's "LEAP!" at The Grove on Aug. 19 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for TWC)

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.