2012 has come to a close at the cinemas, and what a year it was! The box office was in the best shape in history. This Oscar season is being called the best ever, and quality films appeared week in and week out. 2013 has an extremely tough act to follow.
As I look ahead to the year ahead at the theaters, there's reason to be excited. As is the case in most recent years, summer looks the most promising with sequels of well beloved franchises coming to the silver screen. A very early look at Oscar season next year also looks promising. Those two factors give me hope that 2013 can be just as good, if not better, than 2012.
Here's my list:
20. The Monuments Men
Synopsis: In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renown works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them.
Starring: Daniel Craig, George Clooney, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett
Director: George Clooney
Release: December 20
When you took an early look at next year's Oscar race, The Monuments Men should be on top of everyone's list, and I'm no exception. George Clooney just "gets" movies, whether it be acting or directing. Here, he does both, and he has assembled one of the best cast I've ever seen, with 2011 Oscar winner Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, and, potentially, Matt Damon, joining the four listed above. Couple that cast with a scheduled release for next Christmas, the film's distributor obviously has early confidence in it. Notice, I've given you reason to be excited without saying a word about the plotline. Anything done around this time in history is sure to become a solid movie, reminding me a little of 2012's Argo in terms of story. I look forward to seeing this incredible cast at work.
19. Prisoners
Synopsis: A Boston man kidnaps the person he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Terrence Howard
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Release: September 20
Giving The Monuments Men a run for its money for the best cast ensemble next year is Prisoners. After watching Hugh Jackman give a career best performance in 2012's Les Miserables, I'm really anxious to see him follow-up and prove to everyone that he is one of the finest actors in the business. Jake Gyllenhaal is a very capable actor, as he proved in the highly-acclaimed 2012 film, End of Watch. The storyline is also intriguing, and new director Denis Villeanueve is an up and coming filmmaker. Jackman and Gyllenhaal working together will get me to the theater. The supporting cast and plot gets Prisoners on this list.
18. Ender's Game
Synopsis: 70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Kingsley
Director: Gavin Hood
Release: November 1
As evidenced by The Hunger Games this past year, a cult-classic novel with a young but talented leading cast with a very strong supporting cast and a solid director can be successful. The people behind the Ender's Game have clearly taken a page out of The Hunger Games's book. Viola Davis and True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld join the cast above in what can be a very capable franchise. Any time a franchise is getting started, I'm going to be there to see if the franchise has potential. Unlike most franchise starters, though, Ender's Game's cast is top-notch, and that's why it makes the list.
17. Oblivion
Synopsis: One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, and Andrea Riseborough
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Release: April 19
I'm one of the biggest Tom Cruise fans around, and I'm especially fond of the movies that Cruise dares to venture into the science fiction genre, such as Minority Report and War of the Worlds. The storyline looks very promising and having Morgan Freeman support Cruise also doesn't hurt. Joseph Kosinski is also a visual artist, having directed 2010's Tron: Legacy and delivering some of the best visual effects in recent memory. The first trailer was also very encouraging, and I can't wait to see Tom Cruise continue his career resurgence.
16. Anchorman: The Legend Continues
Synopsis: The continuing on-set adventures of San Diego's top rated newsman.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carrell
Director: Adam McKay
Release: December 20
Of all of Will Ferrell's hilarious films over the past decade, Anchorman is my personal favorite. Ron Burgundy is one of the funniest movie characters I've ever witnessed, and it reminds me of a time when Ferrell was naturally funny and not trying too hard. I'm hoping that this sequel will see Ferrell return to his former, hilarious self. Ferrell won't be alone, though, as they have also brought back his whole news crew, led by Applegate, Rudd, and Carrell, who are equally as funny as Ferrell in the first film. Adam McKay is also back behind the camera, who has directed Ferrell to his best movies to date (Talladega Nights and The Other Guys to name two). If this movie can recapture the magic of the first one, we'll have ourselves yet another cult-classic comedy.
15. Despicable Me 2
Synopsis: Gru, the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions and a host of new characters return.
Starring: Steve Carrell, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig, and Russell Brand
Directors: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
Release: July 3
One of my favorite animated movies of all-time is Despicable Me. The film is just hilarious with the characters being so well-developed and delivering a surprisingly powerful ending, and, lest I forget, Gru's minions, some of the funniest creatures in movie history. Saying all that, I expect nothing less from the sequel. With the original cast coming back with some pretty impressive additions as well, the vocal work will, no doubt about it, be extraordinary. The story is the only thing worrying me at the moment, considering there is still no released plotline. However, after two absurdly funny trailers featuring the minions, I feel confident that the laughs will be abundant here, and isn't that all we really want from Despicable Me 2?
14. Pacific Rim
Synopsis: When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace.
Starring: Idris Elba, Ron Perlman, Charlie Hunnam, and Charlie Day
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Release: July 12
Guillermo del Toro is widely considered one of the finest blockbuster directors working today, and he's back this summer with what will surely be a cult classic in some circles. The first trailer is very promising, showing that Toro is bringing the action big time on this one and not holding anything back. A solid, while not spectacular, cast has been assembled, but honestly, the only draw here is a science fiction film from one of Hollywood's finest directors, reminding me on J.J. Abrams' Super 8 in 2011 and Ridley Scott's Prometheus in 2012, and if Pacific Rim is on the same level of quality as those two, it will be a hit.
13. After Earth
Synopsis: After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet that was evacuated by humans 1,000 years earlier.
Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Isabella Fuhrman, and Sacha Dhawan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Release: June 7
M. Night Shyamalan is due for a solid hit. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he could do no wrong and was a household name nationwide following The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. Then came the last ten years, where Shyamalan has gone from genius to laughing stock with such duds as The Happening and The Last Airbender. He needs a hit, and After Earth has all the makings of a hit. Will Smith is one of the finest actors in the business, and his son, Jaden, is also very promising. Visuals have never been lacking in Shyamalan's work, so they will be there. The first trailer previews a potentially powerful story as well. If I'm right, Shyamalan will be back no doubt. If I'm not, his career could be on the verge of being over.
12. The Lone Ranger
Synopsis: Native American spirit warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tom Wilkinson
Director: Gore Verbinski
Release: July 3
Johnny Depp truly embodies the term "actor." Whatever role he plays, he's fully committed with no holding back, and as a movie buff, that's something I can really admire. If the first two trailers are any indication, The Lone Ranger is no different. That, in itself, is reason to be excited. Depp, however, also teams up once again with Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski, a franchise that made Depp a worldwide icon. If his interpretation of Tonto is as great as his Jack Sparrow, we might not only have a new franchise on our hands, but we could also be looking at one of the best movies of 2013 come next December.
11. Saving Mr. Banks
Synopsis: Author P.L. Travers travels from London to Hollywood as Walt Disney Pictures adapts her novel Mary Poppins for the big screen.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, and Paul Giamatti
Director: John Lee Hancock
Release: December 20
When I first saw the following words, I thought I was going to faint: Tom Hanks stars as Walt Disney. Tom Hanks is one of my personal favorite actors of all-time. I have yet to see a movie of his that I did not thoroughly enjoy. Walt Disney is also one of my idols, and Hanks, on the surface, looks like the perfect Disney. Now, for the rest of the movie, Colin Farrell will probably have a significant amount of screentime, something I think he can definitely pull off, and veterans Thompson and Giamatti are clearly high-quality actors. Director John Lee Hancock also is coming off directing Sandra Bullock to an Oscar win in The Blind Side, so he is more than capable of pulling off a movie like this. Hanks needs to get back into the Academy's favor, and with this film, he might be able to.
10. Monsters University
Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at the University of Fear -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Julia Sweeney
Director: Dan Scanlon
Release: June 21
You won't find a bigger fan of Pixar on the planet than me. I consider every installment that Pixar has rolled out a classic, and I expect nothing short of excellence from Monsters Univeristy. Monsters Inc. is one of my favorite Pixar films and also one of the funniest. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are picture perfect in lending their voices to Mike and Sulley. Pixar needs a hit after 2011's Cars 2 was poorly received and 2012's Brave didn't receive the normal praise that comes with a Pixar film. They clearly expect big things from this movie since they re-released Monsters Inc. in 3D this past December. Pixar hasn't failed me yet, and I don't forsee them starting now.
9. The Fast and the Furious 6
Synopsis: Plot unknown.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Michelle Rodriguez
Director: Justin Lin
Release: May 24
2011's Fast Five is still one of my favorite films of recent memory. That was the first film of the franchise that I had watched. Needless to say, I went back and watched the first four with all films being solid popcorn entertainment. This cast proved in Fast Five that they can deliver the goods in the action department and, shockingly, in the story department. Obviously, the plot isn't there right now, but a rumor is going around that the trailer debut could come during the Super Bowl, which showcases obvious confidence in the film. If they can capture the magic they found in Fast Five, the franchise will be back with a lot of gas left in the tank.
8. Thor: The Dark World
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.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Anthony Hopkins
Director: Alan Taylor
Release: Novemeber 8
2011's Thor could have been really bad and laughable. However, it was thoroughly entertaining and Chris Hemsworth showed that he is a star. He completely embodied the Norse god of thunder's character, and I expect the same in this sequel. Alan Taylor takes the directing reigns away from Kenneth Branaugh, a move that I feel will work beautifully considering Taylor's background working with Game of Thrones, a universe along the same lines as Thor's. If Marvel wants to continue it's streak of hits, Thor will be its first true test, but it's a test I believe it will pass with flying colors.
7. The Wolverine
Synopsis: Wolverine travels to Japan to train with a samurai warrior.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Brian Tee, and Tao Okamato
Director: James Mangold
Release: July 26
In my opinion, all the credit for the X-Men franchise being the success it is should go to Hugh Jackman who completely shines as Wolverine. Unlike most people, I also thoroughly enjoyed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so my expectations for this one are high. James Mangold is one of the best all-around directors in the business, having directed virutally every genre in the business. Plus, this will be Jackman's immediate follow-up to Les Miserables, so I'm very anxious to see what he brings to the table here after going through a film of Les Mis's caliber. Wolverine deserves this movie, and so do we.
6. The Great Gatsby
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.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Release: May 10
Leonardo DiCaprio is easily one of my top five favorite actors as he embraces every character that he portrays with such power and yet restraint that you witness a masterpiece every time he's in front of the camera. His role as Jay Gatsby looks to be yet another role that fits DiCaprio like a glove. The book this movie is based on is one of my favorites of all-time with its simple yet complex and powerful message. The cast here is absolutely fantastic. Baz Luhrmann is great when it comes to combining story with visuals (check out Moulin Rouge!), and he is more than capable of giving The Great Gatsby the big screen adaption it deserves. I have Oscar calling Gatsby's name come next January, and I have me calling its name come this May.
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
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.
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, and Benedict Cumberbatch
Director: Peter Jackson
Release: December 13
2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a very effective kickoff to this proposed trilogy, and I'm anxious to see what Peter Jackson and the gang have up their sleeve for the second installment. Martin Freeman was absolutely phenomenal in An Unexpected Journey, a pleasant surprise as it turned in to one of my favorite performances of the year. He's worth the price of admission in and of himself. Ian McKellan and his group of dwarves were also great, and as long as this cast is together with this director adapting this book to the big screen, I'm going to be interested and going to the theater.
4. Star Trek: Into Darkness
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.
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Simon Pegg
Director: J.J. Abrams
Release: May 17
In 2009, I decided to start watching the first six Star Trek films starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I made this decision after watching J.J. Abrams' masterpiece, Star Trek. Naturally, I'm super excited to see what they have in store for us this May. A darker tone is coming if the trailers are any indication, which is something that's going to work great for this franchise. Abrams is brilliant behind the camera (see Mission: Impossible 3 and Super 8), and Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are very charismatic is their respective leading roles. This movie was originally slated for a 2012 release, so I've been anticipating this movie for two years now. My anticipation couldn't be greater.
3. Man of Steel
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.
Starring: Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, and Kevin Costner
Director: Zack Snyder
Release: June 14
Christopher Nolan radically changed the way people view comic book movies with his fantastic Dark Knight trilogy. He breathed new life into a beloved character that has never gotten the appropraiet screen adaption. Superman is now in the same position. With Batman over, audiences are looking for the next great thing. Zack Snyder is hoping that that next great thing is Man of Steel, and he's a smart man, hiring Nolan himself to produce. The first few trailers have been nothing short of epic, and the cast around Superman himself, Henry Cavill, is awesome, with Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne joining the ones mentioned above. Nolan has been praising Snyder's work thus far, and, last time I checked, he's pretty knowledgable about these things. If he's impressed, odds are, we'll join him.
2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Synopsis: The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen, which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Elizabeth Banks
Director: Francis Lawrence
Release: November 22
2012's The Hunger Games was one of my favorites of the year, thanks to the electric performance of Jennifer Lawrence, one of the finest young actresses in the business today. Having read the three books, I believe Catching Fire is the best book of the trilogy, so, naturally, I expect the movie adaption to be just as good. While Francis Lawrence wouldn't exactly be my first choice of directors, you could have definitely done worse. Lawrence did direct I Am Legend, a movie based in a dystopian society with violence involved, so his credintials are there. If they follow the mold that the first film set, this will be amazing and one of the best movies of the year.
1. Iron Man 3
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.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Ben Kingsley
Director: Shane Black
Release: May 3
Marvel did the unthinkable in 2012 when they assembled the Avenegers, but that film would never had been possible if 2008's Iron Man wasn't the success it was. Robert Downey Jr. is just fantastic as Tony Stark and absolutely perfect for the role. Marvel is starting what they call "Phase 2," which is the individual superhero movies they will release between The Avengers and The Avengers 2 in 2015. Iron Man 3 has the responsibility of being the first film in Phase 2, which means it will essentially be doing the same thing that Iron Man did in 2008: start creating excitement. They've got the crew to do it. Marvel hasn't failed yet in my book, and I fully expect Iron Man 3 to deliver.
Bring on the new year of movies!
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