25. We Bought a Zoo
Director Cameron Crowe blew me away with Jerry Maguire, so I was excited going into We Bought a Zoo. I heard about this story about a family who literally buys a zoo and refurbishes it back to operation and succeeds. Matt Damon was great as Benjamin Mee and by the end of the movie, you're pulling with all you got for Mee. With a heartfelt story to go along with impressive performances from Damon and Scarlett Johansson, We Bought a Zoo was a pleasant surprise this year.
24. Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen is considered one of the best directors of all-time, and I found out why in Midnight in Paris. Who knew that a simple story about a couple (played beautifully by Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) on vacation to Paris could be so well made? Boasting a stellar supportive cast led by Marion Cotillard, Corey Stoll, and Kathy Bates, this was one of the best all-around movies of the year.
23. The Help
Going into this movie, I was skeptical to say the least. I didn't think I would enjoy a movie with an all-female cast. Thankfully, I was wrong. The cast, led by Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain, was absolutely superb and gets my award for best performance by a cast in a movie. Hilarious while still keeping the subject at hand serious, The Help really worked for me.
22. The Muppets
The opening song of The Muppets says, "I've got everything that I need right in front of me." For 90 minutes watching this movie, that was my exact feeling. Jason Segal and Amy Adams are wonderful, but the real stars, obviously, are the Muppets themselves, who came back better than ever. I'm still singing the songs a month later, a testament to how memorable they were, but also how memorable this movie was.
21. The Lincoln Lawyer
Matthew McConaughey had one movie this year: The Lincoln Lawyer, and for me, he hit a homerun. His past few movies had been comedic and romantic, but with this film, he goes back to his A Time to Kill roots and he shines as a result. This movie didn't make a lot of money and won't win any awards, but in my book, this was the biggest surprise of the year solely on the fact it wasn't even on my radar going in.
20. Cowboys & Aliens
Put Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in a movie together and more than likely I'll like it no matter what. Put them in a western and science fiction film in one and I'll probably really like, and I did. With a great story and top-notch action, Cowboys & Aliens proved once again that there is really nothing better than a good summer movie.
19. Super 8
People wondered how you capture the magic of older science fiction movies for today's younger audience. This year, we got that answer in Super 8: you have J.J. Abrams direct, Steven Spielberg produce, get a young unknown cast, and create some eye popping visuals. The result is E.T.- 2011 Version, and boy, did it work.
18. Courageous
When Facing the Giants hit theaters, folks believed that this church company was just making a one hit wonder. Then, they came back with Fireproof. Now, we have Courageous, by far the best of the three. The actors are learning and growing, and the writers are figuring out what the audience wants and needs to hear, and I was happy to go along for the ride.
17. In Time
Anything Justin Timberlake does I enjoy, and In Time is no different. Timberlake takes a rare serious role and plays it to perfection in a movie with the most interesting premise of the year. With non-stop action and a thriller all the same, In Time left me wondering when time really will be the currency.
16. Thor
As Marvel prepares for 2012's The Avengers, they first had to fit in some solo films, and number one of that list was Thor, a thundering success. Thor could have easily been bad. In the wrong hands, it could have been laughable and put The Avengers in question. However, with the steady directing hand of Kenneth Branagh and the solid performance by Chris Hemsworth in the lead role, Thor worked and had people believing that The Avengers is going to be awesome.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
With Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, it's hard to go wrong. He's perfect for the role, and once again, he shines, but this time, Geoffrey Rush as Barbosa and Ian McShane as Blackbeard match him toe to toe, Penelope Cruz isn't too shabby herself. With obvious hopes of a sequel, let's just hope we haven't seen the last of Captain Jack.
14. The Adventures of Tintin
Director Steven Spielberg first introduced us to Indiana Jones in 1981. Twenty years later, he gives us Indiana Jones in animation: Tintin. With an excellent voice cast led by Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, and Daniel Craig, Tintin is the rare animated movie that is, in a way, made for adults. With a great story, superb action sequences, and aspirations for sequels, I only hope there's more adventures to come.
13. X-Men: First Class
After X-Men Origins: Wolverine, people (not me) began to say that the X-Men franchise was done for. So what do you do? You do a prequel to it all, without Wolverine Hugh Jackman, and bring in a relatively unknown cast. All that to say: this movie wasn't supposed to be successful. But guess what: it was great! With James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender leading the way, First Class brought the X-Men back to glory.
12. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Just like X-Men, this one wasn't supposed to be good either. With a remake that virtually no one liked and a franchise that's been a punchline in the past, nobody gave this movie a chance. Then they saw it, and the apes were popular again. Andy Serkis gives an Oscar worthy performance as the leader Caesar and James Franco wisely lets him shine. More is likely to come from the franchise, and I'm so glad.
11. Captain America: The First Avenger
One last hero had get his solo before The Avengers, and it was none other than the popular Captain America, played excellently by Chris Evans. Some doubted that the beloved hero could be offered respect from the screen, but they were wrong. Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones know what's at stake here, and what they give us is one of the best movies of the year.
10. Fast Five
Fast Five was the first movie I saw of The Fast and the Furious franchise. Needless to say, it inspired me to watch the others. With the original cast back along with The Rock and an actual story this time around, Fast Five was one of the most entertaining movies of the year by far.
9. Real Steel
Hugh Jackman is the man, and he proved it once again with the surprise hit of Real Steel. What can honestly be wrong with a mix of Transformers and Rocky? With great fighting sequences and a surprising emotional story, Real Steel worked on all levels.
8. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
I would like to personally thank the brilliant mind who said that we needed Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law for Holmes and Watson because I could honestly say I could not think of a better duo for the roles. Jared Harris more than holds his own as the menacing villian on top of that. The story was top notch, the action was bonafide, and the ending was probably the best all year and one of the best all-time. There's nothing bad to say about this movie.
7. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Michael Bay, please don't stop making movies because even though most people aren't fans of you, I love your movies, and this one was just a stellar addition to the collection. The 3-D was pretty good, but the best part, perhaps all year long, was the hour plus long action sequence over Chicago as the Transformers fight to the death. Patrick Dempsey was surprisingly good as the human villian, and Shia LaBeouf still understands the importance of his character.
6. Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol
Ignoring his personal life, I am probably the biggest Tom Cruise the actor fan on the planet, and M:I 4 only made me more obsessed. By far the best of the series, Ghost Protocol gives you everything you would hope for: fantastic action scenes (the best being Cruise climbing the tallest building in the world), great story, and shockingly awesome acting, led by Cruise, Jeremy Renner (who could easily take over the franchise), and Simon Pegg. It's making money at the box office, so I can now hope for M:I 5!
5. J. Edgar
I'm probably in the vast minority here, but I thoroughly enjoyed J. Edgar, soley because of Leonardo DiCaprio's powerful performance in the lead. DiCaprio is slowly becoming one of my favorite actors, and you can tell from this performance that he really wants an Oscar, and he deserves it. Clint Eastwood does the best he can with this controversial figure, and turns it into one of my favorite movies of the year.
4. Warrior
I always thought Warrior would be a good movie, but I had no idea it would be this good. It was fantastic! Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte shine in their roles as the disjointed family, and director Gavin O'Connor works this movie so well that you are literally on the edge of your seat during the final fight. With Warrior, Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton proved to me that these are two actors of the future.
3. War Horse
My favorite director is Steven Spielberg, and that opinion was only strengthened by War Horse. This story is told from the point of the horse himself, Joey. You mostly see the human actors for no more than thirty minutes at a time (lead actor Jeremy Irvine maybe gets one hour of screentime), but for this movie, it really works. I don't know if it'll win Best Picture this year, but it should definitely be considered a front runner.
2. Moneyball
Baseball has had its turn in the movies, and most people agree that baseball movies simply aren't that great; but director Bennett Miller took on the tall task of bringing Moneyball to the silver screen, and he hits a grand slam. Brad Pitt stars as the lead character Billy Beane, a performance that demands an Oscar, and Jonah Hill stars as his assistant, which also demands Oscar attention. They have successful brought baseball back to the movies, and for that, I'm highly thankful.
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
For ten years, the biggest thing in entertainment was the Harry Potter series, books and movies, and in 2011, we finally saw them take their final bow, and what a way to go out! The actors have evolved in their roles so beautifully that we really think that Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson are Harry, Ron, and Hermione. We all knew that Harry would have to face Voldemort eventually, and we were so on-edge when that seat finally came to be. There will never be another series like Harry Potter. A series that people worldwide have come to love and care about. A series that has defined a generation. I hate to do it, but this ending was great, emotional, and.....magical.
Honorable Mentions:
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
Source Code
Battle: Los Angeles
Tower Heist
Cars 2
Madea's Big Happy Family
Immortals
Green Lantern
Footloose
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Hugo
Water for Elephants
Dolphin Tale
Conatgion
Unknown
2011 is over..........................
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Top 25 Most Anticipated Movies for 2012
2011 has come to a close, and what a year in movies. Now, it's time to look ahead to 2012 and what we can expect from the new year. As was the case last year, summer looks promising with some down the road in November and December looking good too, and a lot of questions on some of films.
25. Gangster Squad
Summary: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Released: October 19
I'm excited for this movie for its cast alone. With veterans like Penn, Nick Nolte, and Josh Brolin working along side some of Hollywood's best upcoming stars like Gosling, Stone, and Anthony Mackie, this looks like a sure fire hit. Through in the story that the cast will be bringing to life and you've got my attention.
24. Dredd
Summary: In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, and Lena Headey
Directed by Pete Travis
Released: Spetember 21
The story itself intrigues me, but the fact that it's a comic book film not from Marvel or DC and I'm interested to see how they pull it off.
23. Man on a Ledge
Summary: As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion...
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, and Jamie Bell
Directed by Asger Leth
Released; Januray 27
The title alone gets my attention, and then the trailer came, and only bolstered its standing on this list. With an impressive cast and very intriguing storyline, this one is on my radar.
22. Snow White and the Huntsman
Summary: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron
Directed by Rupert Sanders
Released: June 1
Finally! We have our first summer movie on our list, and happens to a story we all know and love with its own unique twist. I love stories with their own twist in them, and the fact that we get to see Kristen Stewart in her first major starring role in the post-Twilight era working along side Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, only helps. Watch out. This one could be a shocker.
21. Total Recall
Summary: As the nation states Euromerica and New Shanghai vie for supremacy, a factory worker begins to suspect that he's a spy, though he is unaware which side of the fight he's on.
Starring: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, and Bryan Cranston
Directed by Len Wiseman
Released: August 3
Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the original Total Recall as it went on to become a classic. Now, Colin Farrell gets his chance to discover his true identity in his own version. With a more modern and realistic take on the story, this could become this year's Inception: the rae summer movie that makes us appreciate thinking at the movies.
20. Prometheus
Summary: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, and Michael Fassbender
Directed by Ridley Scott
Released: June 8
Ridley Scott is returning to the world of science fiction, and it looks like he'll be returning to the world of his cult classic Alien in what appears to be a prequel. Scott says it's not, but watch the trailer and you'll be able to think about it Alien. Nevertheless, there's reason to be excited. The director, the story, and the ever-impressive cast, led by 2011's breakout star Michael Fassbender, have us ready to return to Alien.
19. Taken 2
Summary: In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace
Directed by Olivier Megaton
Realesed: October 5
The first Taken tooks us by surprise by being great and almost reviving Liam Neeson back to superstar status. It's only logical a sequel comes, and who better to do it than the guys behind The Transporter series. But let's be honest: you had me at Liam Neeson in Taken 2.
18. John Carter
Summary: Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, and Willem Dafoe
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Released: March 9
The Incredibles director Brad Bird had a very nice transition to live action movies this past year with Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol. Now, Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton gets his turn, and with an interesting premise and impressive trailer, I can't wait to see what he can do.
17. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Summary: The G.I. Joe team faces off against Zartan, his accomplices, and the world leaders he has under his influence.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, and Bruce Willis
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Released: June 29
What do you do when a movie isn't well received and bombs at the box office? You make a sequel! How do you improve on that first failure? Bring in Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. I'm sold!
16. Safe House
Summary: A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, and Robert Patrick
Directed by Daniel Espinosa
Released: February 10
In my book, Denzel Washington can do no wrong. Put him in the position of the bad guy, and I am so there. Throw in the fact he's butting heads with Ryan Reynolds, I'll be there opening night.
15. The Expendables 2
Summary: Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Directed by Simon West
Released: August 17
It's been too long since we could say about a movie "Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger," and I am pumped for his return to the big screen. Oh, and having Stallone, Statham, Couture, Li, Hemsworth, Willis, Norris, Van Damme, and Lundgren along for the ride doesn't hurt either.
14. Battleship
Summary: A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, and Brooklyn Decker
Directed by Peter Berg
Released: May 18
Based off the popular game, Battleship looks a lot like Transformers 4, and for me, that's enough to get me excited. Then, you tell me Liam Neeson is the captain of the ship, I'm all in.
13. Men in Black 3
Summary: Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Released: May 25
It's been too long since one of my favorite actors in Will Smith starred in a movie (last one was 2008's Seven Pounds). Now, he returns to MIB territory with an interesting story, good looking cast, and a tremendous first trailer. Here come the men in black, and I'm ready for them.
12. Brave
Summary: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Released: June 22
Last summer, Pixar released Cars 2, a big risk that didn't pay off for most people (except me). Now, they're taking another big risk by venturing into princess territory, and that makes me excited. You know since Cars 2 wasn't liked, Pixar's going to put everything into Brave, and I, being the biggest Pixar fan ever, can't wait to see the final product.
11. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Summary: After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner
Directed by Bill Condon
Released: November 16
Last year, we said goodbye to Harry Potter. This year, we say goodbye to Bella, Edward, and Jacob in what promises to be a thrilling end to the saga. Here's hoping that this is as magical an ending as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 because if it is, box office records could be set.
10. Lincoln
Summary: The sixteenth President of the United States guides the North to victory during the Civil War.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Released: December
Steven Spielberg had quite a year in 2011 with War Horse and Adventures of Tintin, helping him get back into the Oscar voters' brains. While he might not win this year, next year's offering looks like gold thanks to the fact you have the great Daniel day-Lewis portraying Abraham Lincoln. That enough is exciting, but when you have Jones, Gordon-Levitt, Jared Harris, and Sally Field as your supporting cast, there's reason to think this could be your 2013 Best Picture.
9. The Great Gatsby
Summary: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Released: December 25
Leonardo DiCaprio is slowly becoming one of my favorite actors in the business, and the fact he's starring as Jay Gatsby in an adaption of one of my favorite books is exciting. This could compete with Lincoln at next year's Oscars. Here's hoping it does.
8. Wrath of the Titans
Summary: Perseus embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, who has been targeted for capture by his traitorous son, Ares, and his brother, Hades.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by Jonathan Liebesman
Released: March 30
The remake of Clash of the Titans was not well-received, but made enough money to spawn a sequel. The trailer promises much of the same from the first movie: action upon action upon action with a story thrown in there somewhere. For some people, that doesn't work. For me, it does.
7. The Amazing Spider-Man
Summary: Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans
Directed by Marc Webb
Released: July 3
This is considered a reboot to the Spiderman franchuise, which worries me a little. But with Andrew Garfield stepping in as the famous webslinger, and Emma Stone stepping in as his lover Gwen Stacey, all those worries are gone. A sequel is already in the works, which means the studio obviously has confidence in this one, and if they have confidence, we should have confidence.
6. The Bourne Legacy
Summary: A story centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum's novels.
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Norton
Directed by Tony Gilroy
Released: August 3
A Bourne movie without Matt Damon? I know it's weird, but Jeremy Renner is more than capable of taking over this franchise (check out Mission: Impossible 4). With new direction and a pretty good cast, Bourne 4 is looking to be pretty good.
5. Skyfall
Summary: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by Sam Mendes
Released: November 9
Bond 23 has been on hold for some time now, but now that it's been given the green light, they're going full steam ahead. Craig is back as Bond, a role he was born to play, and Bardem and Fiennes are reportedly the villiams. Enough said. I'll be there.
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Summary: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage
Directed by Peter Jackson
Released: December 14
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is beloved by fans worldwide, and now we get to see how it all started. What's not to be excited about?
3. The Hunger Games
Summary: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth
Directed by Gary Ross
Released: March 23
The whole world is waiting in desperation for The Hunger Games. I'm part of the world, so I'm also waiting in desperation. Check out the trailer and you will be too. Let the games begin!
2. The Dark Knight Rises
Summary: Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Tom Hardy
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Released: July 20
Christopher Nolan reworte the book on how to do comic book movies with The Dark Knight. We knew a sequel was coming, but the question was: how do you get a villian that can follow Heath Ledger's Joker? I think they hit it out of the park with Hardy as Bane. I hope I'm right because if I am, Nolan could become immortal.
1. The Avengers
Summary: Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by Joss Whedon
Released: May 4
The stage is set. The cameos are over with. Now, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Nick Fury are finally together to try to pull off the biggest superhero movie of all time. My only question is: how far in advance can I purchase my ticket?
25. Gangster Squad
Summary: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Released: October 19
I'm excited for this movie for its cast alone. With veterans like Penn, Nick Nolte, and Josh Brolin working along side some of Hollywood's best upcoming stars like Gosling, Stone, and Anthony Mackie, this looks like a sure fire hit. Through in the story that the cast will be bringing to life and you've got my attention.
24. Dredd
Summary: In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, and Lena Headey
Directed by Pete Travis
Released: Spetember 21
The story itself intrigues me, but the fact that it's a comic book film not from Marvel or DC and I'm interested to see how they pull it off.
23. Man on a Ledge
Summary: As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion...
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, and Jamie Bell
Directed by Asger Leth
Released; Januray 27
The title alone gets my attention, and then the trailer came, and only bolstered its standing on this list. With an impressive cast and very intriguing storyline, this one is on my radar.
22. Snow White and the Huntsman
Summary: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron
Directed by Rupert Sanders
Released: June 1
Finally! We have our first summer movie on our list, and happens to a story we all know and love with its own unique twist. I love stories with their own twist in them, and the fact that we get to see Kristen Stewart in her first major starring role in the post-Twilight era working along side Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, only helps. Watch out. This one could be a shocker.
21. Total Recall
Summary: As the nation states Euromerica and New Shanghai vie for supremacy, a factory worker begins to suspect that he's a spy, though he is unaware which side of the fight he's on.
Starring: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, and Bryan Cranston
Directed by Len Wiseman
Released: August 3
Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the original Total Recall as it went on to become a classic. Now, Colin Farrell gets his chance to discover his true identity in his own version. With a more modern and realistic take on the story, this could become this year's Inception: the rae summer movie that makes us appreciate thinking at the movies.
20. Prometheus
Summary: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, and Michael Fassbender
Directed by Ridley Scott
Released: June 8
Ridley Scott is returning to the world of science fiction, and it looks like he'll be returning to the world of his cult classic Alien in what appears to be a prequel. Scott says it's not, but watch the trailer and you'll be able to think about it Alien. Nevertheless, there's reason to be excited. The director, the story, and the ever-impressive cast, led by 2011's breakout star Michael Fassbender, have us ready to return to Alien.
19. Taken 2
Summary: In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace
Directed by Olivier Megaton
Realesed: October 5
The first Taken tooks us by surprise by being great and almost reviving Liam Neeson back to superstar status. It's only logical a sequel comes, and who better to do it than the guys behind The Transporter series. But let's be honest: you had me at Liam Neeson in Taken 2.
18. John Carter
Summary: Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, and Willem Dafoe
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Released: March 9
The Incredibles director Brad Bird had a very nice transition to live action movies this past year with Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol. Now, Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton gets his turn, and with an interesting premise and impressive trailer, I can't wait to see what he can do.
17. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Summary: The G.I. Joe team faces off against Zartan, his accomplices, and the world leaders he has under his influence.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, and Bruce Willis
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Released: June 29
What do you do when a movie isn't well received and bombs at the box office? You make a sequel! How do you improve on that first failure? Bring in Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. I'm sold!
16. Safe House
Summary: A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, and Robert Patrick
Directed by Daniel Espinosa
Released: February 10
In my book, Denzel Washington can do no wrong. Put him in the position of the bad guy, and I am so there. Throw in the fact he's butting heads with Ryan Reynolds, I'll be there opening night.
15. The Expendables 2
Summary: Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Directed by Simon West
Released: August 17
It's been too long since we could say about a movie "Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger," and I am pumped for his return to the big screen. Oh, and having Stallone, Statham, Couture, Li, Hemsworth, Willis, Norris, Van Damme, and Lundgren along for the ride doesn't hurt either.
14. Battleship
Summary: A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, and Brooklyn Decker
Directed by Peter Berg
Released: May 18
Based off the popular game, Battleship looks a lot like Transformers 4, and for me, that's enough to get me excited. Then, you tell me Liam Neeson is the captain of the ship, I'm all in.
13. Men in Black 3
Summary: Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Released: May 25
It's been too long since one of my favorite actors in Will Smith starred in a movie (last one was 2008's Seven Pounds). Now, he returns to MIB territory with an interesting story, good looking cast, and a tremendous first trailer. Here come the men in black, and I'm ready for them.
12. Brave
Summary: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Released: June 22
Last summer, Pixar released Cars 2, a big risk that didn't pay off for most people (except me). Now, they're taking another big risk by venturing into princess territory, and that makes me excited. You know since Cars 2 wasn't liked, Pixar's going to put everything into Brave, and I, being the biggest Pixar fan ever, can't wait to see the final product.
11. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Summary: After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner
Directed by Bill Condon
Released: November 16
Last year, we said goodbye to Harry Potter. This year, we say goodbye to Bella, Edward, and Jacob in what promises to be a thrilling end to the saga. Here's hoping that this is as magical an ending as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 because if it is, box office records could be set.
10. Lincoln
Summary: The sixteenth President of the United States guides the North to victory during the Civil War.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Released: December
Steven Spielberg had quite a year in 2011 with War Horse and Adventures of Tintin, helping him get back into the Oscar voters' brains. While he might not win this year, next year's offering looks like gold thanks to the fact you have the great Daniel day-Lewis portraying Abraham Lincoln. That enough is exciting, but when you have Jones, Gordon-Levitt, Jared Harris, and Sally Field as your supporting cast, there's reason to think this could be your 2013 Best Picture.
9. The Great Gatsby
Summary: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Released: December 25
Leonardo DiCaprio is slowly becoming one of my favorite actors in the business, and the fact he's starring as Jay Gatsby in an adaption of one of my favorite books is exciting. This could compete with Lincoln at next year's Oscars. Here's hoping it does.
8. Wrath of the Titans
Summary: Perseus embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, who has been targeted for capture by his traitorous son, Ares, and his brother, Hades.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by Jonathan Liebesman
Released: March 30
The remake of Clash of the Titans was not well-received, but made enough money to spawn a sequel. The trailer promises much of the same from the first movie: action upon action upon action with a story thrown in there somewhere. For some people, that doesn't work. For me, it does.
7. The Amazing Spider-Man
Summary: Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans
Directed by Marc Webb
Released: July 3
This is considered a reboot to the Spiderman franchuise, which worries me a little. But with Andrew Garfield stepping in as the famous webslinger, and Emma Stone stepping in as his lover Gwen Stacey, all those worries are gone. A sequel is already in the works, which means the studio obviously has confidence in this one, and if they have confidence, we should have confidence.
6. The Bourne Legacy
Summary: A story centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum's novels.
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Norton
Directed by Tony Gilroy
Released: August 3
A Bourne movie without Matt Damon? I know it's weird, but Jeremy Renner is more than capable of taking over this franchise (check out Mission: Impossible 4). With new direction and a pretty good cast, Bourne 4 is looking to be pretty good.
5. Skyfall
Summary: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by Sam Mendes
Released: November 9
Bond 23 has been on hold for some time now, but now that it's been given the green light, they're going full steam ahead. Craig is back as Bond, a role he was born to play, and Bardem and Fiennes are reportedly the villiams. Enough said. I'll be there.
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Summary: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage
Directed by Peter Jackson
Released: December 14
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is beloved by fans worldwide, and now we get to see how it all started. What's not to be excited about?
3. The Hunger Games
Summary: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth
Directed by Gary Ross
Released: March 23
The whole world is waiting in desperation for The Hunger Games. I'm part of the world, so I'm also waiting in desperation. Check out the trailer and you will be too. Let the games begin!
2. The Dark Knight Rises
Summary: Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Tom Hardy
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Released: July 20
Christopher Nolan reworte the book on how to do comic book movies with The Dark Knight. We knew a sequel was coming, but the question was: how do you get a villian that can follow Heath Ledger's Joker? I think they hit it out of the park with Hardy as Bane. I hope I'm right because if I am, Nolan could become immortal.
1. The Avengers
Summary: Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by Joss Whedon
Released: May 4
The stage is set. The cameos are over with. Now, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Nick Fury are finally together to try to pull off the biggest superhero movie of all time. My only question is: how far in advance can I purchase my ticket?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)