You Need to Check Out 'Kingsman,' 'Transparent,' and More This Weekend

Looking for some stuff to catch up on this weekend? Whether it's TV, movies, books, or anything in between—VICE has you covered. Read on for our staff recommendations on what to take in during your downtime:

Critics don't like the second Kingsman movie, and I understand. The Matthew Vaughn-helmed comic book franchise-cum-action film franchise has never been one for subtlety—the first installment, 2014's Kingsman: the Secret Service, literally ended with a sophomoric image of a woman's butt—and if you think Kingsman: the Golden Circle will show some signs of maturity, consider that it features one of the most, um, invasive tracking-device sequences seen in an American film this year. (In a way, it's a supreme act of trolling to release this film the same year as Wonder Woman.) And yet: the rakish chauvinism that threatens to fully stain this franchise continues to be gratefully overshadowed by crackerjack action sequences, snappy one-liners, truly bizarre plot details, and more charisma than you can fit on the lapel of your jacket. It's true escapist entertainment—and can't we all use an escape? — Larry Fitzmaurice, Senior Culture Editor, Digital

Transparent's back starting today, and our weekend is wrecked as a result. We'll be spending the next 48 hours on the couch with the Pfeffermans, binging on the angst and emotional traumas these characters can't seem to quit. After a circuitous third season that took us from South Central LA to Kansas to the high seas, Season Four starts out in Israel, where Maura's been invited to speak at a conference. The family soon follows. "It's like an Orthodox Jewish Disneyland," Sarah says in this season's trailer. Last season was peppered with self-actualizations cut-short: Sarah's flirtation with S&M, Maura's foiled surgery plans, Josh's short-lived acceptance of Jesus as his Lord and Savior. With the Israel trip, Jill Soloway catapults us back into the family's fraught attempts to find themselves. We're here for all of it—not to mention, this'll be the first round of Transparent produced in the Trump Era. As a result, Season Four feels particularly urgent. — Kara Weisenstein

Here's hoping you've been saving up: It's that time of year again, and not one but two major art book fairs are touching down in New York. Through Sunday, you can head to Long Island City to check out Printed Matter's New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1, then take the G train back to Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse to spend the rest of your vacation fund at the second annual Independent Art Book Fair. NYABF highlights include hard-to-find European publications from Études Books and Texte zur Kunst and the 8 Ball Zine Zone decorated by artist Sheida Soleimani; while IABF must-haves abound from Ed. Varie and Foundations Magazine. The earlier you arrive, the better—crowds are big and the demand for limited editions is even bigger. — Emerson Rosenthal

You don't always walk into a movie theater guaranteed to see a masterpiece, but that's the case this weekend. Hayao Miyazaki's first film with Studio Ghibli, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, is getting a rare national theatrical release thanks to GKIDS and Fathom Events' six-month-long Studio Ghibli Fest. Ticketholders will be transported into a bizarre sci-fi landscape full of the legendary animator's trademark fantastical creatures and flying machines. Based on a manga written by the Ghibli cofounder long before he allegedly declared anime a mistake, the film is essential to understanding both Miyazaki's craft and his views on environmental responsibility. Set in a world devastated by an ecological crisis, Nausicaä is a testament to both man's resilience and capacity for destruction, and it's also great to watch stoned. Tickets for Nausicaä in a theater near you are available here, in a dubbed version on September 24 and 27, and a subbed version on September 25. — Beckett Mufson