With Oscar season quickly approaching, we have been keeping our eyes on the stellar films of 2012. The end of the year brought a slew of heavy-hitters and really paved the way for this year's crop of films. I'm interested to see what stands out the most. Here's a list of the 13 films I'm looking forward to the most.
13. "Thor: The Dark World"
Release date: November 8
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Chris Hemsworth ("Thor"), Natalie Portman ("V for Vendetta") and Anthony Hopkins ("Hannibal")
Synopsis: Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness after the events of "The Avengers." (IMDB)
Comments: What I really like about Marvel's approach to the individual superhero sequels following the success of "The Avengers" is the fact that they don't stand alone. These aren't just following what happened after "Thor" or a completely unrelated adventure, it ties in to the action-packed final battle of "The Avengers." This is what I believe will help make this film a success. The addition of Zachary Levi ("Chuck") as Fandral and the return of Tom Hiddleston ("Thor") as Loki doesn't hurt either.
12. "A Good Day to Die Hard"
Release date: February 14
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Bruce Willis ("Die Hard"), Jai Courtney ("Jack Reacher") and Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("The Thing")
Synopsis: John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces. (IMDB)
Comments: Sometimes I feel as if I am compelled to see the "Die Hard" films out of pure obligation, but the trailer to this one seems like a new twist on what we know and love about John McClane. The addition of Jai Courtney as his son, Jack, lead me to believe we're going to get a bit of the "like father, like son" treatment and I'm actually looking forward to it. I'll probably see this on Valentine's Day instead of a chick flick.
11. "Star Trek Into Darkness"
Release date: May 17
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Chris Pine ("Star Trek"), Zachary Quinto ("Star Trek") and Zoe Saldana ("Avatar")
Synopsis: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. (IMDB)
Comments: The 2009 remake was a wonderful alternate origins story for James Kirk and crew. It not only made perfect sense and retained feasibility (in regards to relation to the original storyline), we were introduced to important characters and really had a chance to dive deep into their personalities. Oh, and let's not forget the humor and "edge of your seat" action sequences. I'm most interested in seeing Benedict Cumberbatch ("War Horse") as Khan and the further exposure to the Kirk-Spock bromance. It should be a wild ride.
10. "Oz: The Great and Powerful"
Release date: March 8
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG)
Starring: James Franco ("127 Hours"), Michelle Williams ("Shutter Island") and Rachel Weisz ("The Mummy")
Synopsis: A stage magician is hurled into a fantasy world, and must use his wits to stay ahead of three enchantresses who have plans for him. (IMDB)
Comments: Though the premise is a little vague, the trailers have showcased an exquisite fantasy world and a wonderful cast of actors for this film. I'm looking forward to this unique take on the origins of the Wizard of Oz. We're sure to find an interesting storyline filled with romance, humor and perhaps a bit of action. I'm also expecting homage to the novel as well as the original film.
9. "After Earth"
Release date: June 7
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Will Smith ("Men in Black"), Jaden Smith ("The Pursuit of Happyness") and Isabelle Fuhrman ("Orphan")
Synopsis: After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet that was evacuated by humans 1,000 years earlier. (IMDB)
Comments: Will and Jaden Smith are both phenomenal actors that have delivered nothing but gold over the past couple of years. The trailer to this film gives me the inkling that we'll feel a bit of "I Am Legend" coupled with any other post-apocalyptic sci-fi action film. We're sure to see intoxicating character profiles, mind-blowing visual effects and a hard-hitting story.
8. "Carrie"
Release date: October 18
MPAA rating: Not yet rating (projected R)
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz ("Hugo"), Julianne Moore ("Magnolia") and Judy Greer ("13 Going on 30")
Synopsis: A sheltered high school girl unleashes her newly developed telekinetic powers after she is pushed too far by her peers. (IMDB)
Comments: Have you seen the poster for this film? Have you checked out the trailer yet? Maybe you should; then you will see why this remake cracked the Top 10. Chloë Grace Moretz has already proven she can take on any type of role, and this film shouldn't be any different. My only qualm is that the release was pushed back from March 15 to October 18. Now, I have to wait seven extra months to check this film out.
7. "Gangster Squad"
Release date: January 11
MPAA rating: R
Starring: Sean Penn ("Mystic River"), Josh Brolin ("W.") and Ryan Gosling ("Drive")
Synopsis: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s. (IMDB)
Comments: So, we're presented with a ragtag group of cops forming an undercover group of justice enforcers that can do whatever they want to bring Mickey Cohen down? What's not to like about that premise? If that wasn't enough, our stars are joined by a plethora of talent including Emma Stone ("The Help"), Nick Nolte ("The Thin Red Line") and Giovanni Ribisi ("Avatar"). Either someone knows how to make a heck of a trailer or this is sure to be an action-packed thrill ride. I'm interested to see just how evil Sean Penn can be.
6. "Iron Man 3"
Release date: May 3
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr. ("The Avengers"), Guy Pearce ("Memento") and Ben Kingsley ("Schindler's List")
Synopsis: Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin. (IMDB)
Comments: Anytime an archenemy is introduced in a film franchise, there's a bit of anxiety to see who is going to attempt to fill the shoes. I wasn't surprised, then, to see that Sir Ben Kingsley (one of the greatest actors in the world) was chosen to bring his unique sense of evil to this role. Once I saw the trailer, I was instantly hooked. The character of Tony Stark has been filled perfectly by Downey, Jr. and I can't wait to see the clash unfold on the big screen.
5. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
Release date: November 22
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence ("The Hunger Games"), Josh Hutcherson ("Bridge to Terabithia") and Liam Hemsworth ("The Expendables 2")
Synopsis: The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen, which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell. (IMDB)
Comments: A lot of people are thinking this film is going to be exactly like the first one and, in a sense, that's correct. Yes, there will technically be another round of "Hunger Games," but what makes this different is the fact that we don't have a bunch of teenagers running around killing each other. The Quarter Quell is an event in which 24 victors from previous years are forced to compete again. This adds an interesting element when there are elderly people competing as well as familiar faces. The casting crew definitely stood up to this challenge as well, casting talent such as Philip Seymour Hoffman ("The Big Lebowski"), Jeffrey Wright ("Casino Royale") and Toby Jones ("Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets") as a few of the previous victors. More of our favorites from the first film will also be reprising their roles.
4. "The Great Gatsby"
Release date: May 10
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio ("Inception"), Carey Mulligan ("Drive") and Joel Edgerton ("Warrior")
Synopsis: 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. (IMDB)
Comments: Gatsby is one of my favorite novels and the fact that Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge!") is directing this period piece makes excited to see it. His directing style is fantastical and exuberant and that's exactly the feel you get when you're reading the novel. Leonardo DiCaprio is playing our protagonist, which will make watching this film that much more intriguing. Everything he touches is golden and I don't see why this film will be any different. I'm going to go ahead and say it: Oscar 2014 nominee with this film.
3. "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For"
Release date: October 4
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected R)
Starring: Clive Owen ("Children of Men"), Jessica Alba ("Sin City") and Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler")
Synopsis: The town's most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants. (IMDB)
Comments: Not much is known about this sequel (short of casting), but the sensationalized neo-noir/graphic novel style that Robert Rodriguez ("Sin City") has made a name for himself with has always been one of the most intriguing styles I've ever seen. The fact that Frank Miller (author of the graphic novels) is co-directing this one will prove to maintain the essence of the graphic novels. It's definitely my top pick for the month of October.
2. "Man of Steel"
Release date: June 14
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Henry Cavill ("Immortals"), Russell Crowe ("Gladiator") and Amy Adams ("The Fighter")
Synopsis: An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world. (IMDB)
Comments: This reboot/origin story has been highly anticipated since its announcement. Henry Cavill is striking as Clark Kent and I'm pretty sure Amy Adams will probably end up being my favorite version of Lois Lane. Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter") is going to be the baddie in this film. Shannon is always a superb pick for a bad guy due to his stellar acting ability mixed with his acute sense of evil. This is definitely the film I'm looking forward to the most this summer.
1. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"
Release date: December 13
MPAA rating: Not yet rated (projected PG-13)
Starring: Richard Armitage ("The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"), Martin Freeman ("The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey") and Ian McKellen ("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring")
Synopsis: The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug. (IMDB)
Comments: As the first installment of this film left me mesmerized, I was sad to figure out that I'd have to wait an entire year to see part two. This is why "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is my most anticipated film of 2013. The way the first film was set up delivered an unforgettable film experience and characters that we quickly fell in love with. To continue the journey with Bilbo Baggins and the group of dwarves is something that I've been looking forward to since the end of the first film. It's sure to be quite an adventure.
Be sure to check back later for more information on upcoming films.
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