12. Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim, a Mech vs Monsters throw down, is packed with stunning CGI effects, fantastic costumes and very detailed sets. My one concern with this movies potential is that it appears from the trailer to offer very little aside from its brilliant visuals, with a pretty standard plot (Monsters arise to destroy earth, mankind need to save the world) it will be interesting to see if the screenwriters can still make the story and characters involving and engaging by perhaps throwing some new sci fi concepts in the mix; this is certainly going to be one to watch in i max.
11. Oblivion (12th April)
Jack Harper (Tom cruise) is sent on a drone repairing mission in which he has to make a return to his home of earth after an attack from alien life left the planet asunder. On his quest Jack is abruptly taken in by Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman) who lets him in on a truth that changes Jacks allegiances and puts him on a new mission to save mankind from a currently unknown danger. All the sci fi kit on display is looking crazy and with the director of TRON and producer for Planet of the Apes I think this will turn out to be rather special.
10. Gangster Squad (11th January)
This is a mobster film with a twist – the cops are fighting back and boy are they doing it in style. Based on true events, Set in 1949 Los Angeles, The mob boss Micky Cohen (Sean Penn) has come into town intent on breaking every law you could imagine and he can do so because it’s not just his henchmen he has on his payroll but corrupt law enforcers and politicians who will happily turn a blind eye to his destructive antics. However there is yet hope for the city as a small squad of bad ass and pissed off LAPD officers: Sergent John O’mara (Josh Brolin), Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie), Conwell Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi) and Max Kennard (Robert Patrick) are ready and willing to throw Micky Cohen from his throne and restore order as once was. Definitely shaping up to be the best film of January!
9. Kick-Ass 2 (July 19th)
The hilarious crime fighting duo Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the now retired Hit girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) are making their return to the big screen this summer and this time Kick-Ass has to join with the ‘Justice Forever’ superhero team run by colonel stars-and-stripes (Jim Carey) to deal with the menace red mist returning and reborn as ‘The Mother Fucker’ who is on a mission to exact revenge. Meanwhile Hit Girl will be forced to go solo dealing with the everyday struggles of high school and the inevitable bitchiness of the other girls. Seeing Jim Carey’s addition to the film is what is getting me hyped the most, I’m sure his eccentrics and pure craziness will be a match made in heaven with the Kick-Ass story as many of you will surely agree, I personally cannot wait to see the trailer no doubt coming in a month or twos time.
8. This is the End (28th June)
‘Have you ever actually met a fuckin’ Mayan?’ With it’s stellar casting and from the trailer the chances of This is the end not being funny couldn’t possibly be any smaller; this is the end follows the fight for survival of six friends after apocalyptic and unnatural occurrences in L.A and how their friendships begin to whittle under all the added pressure. All the cast are playing versions of themselves so this is undoubtedly going to be an incredibly funny self aware comedy with plenty of references to their careers and abilities as actors while in the mean time making a mock of the trending apocalypse drama genre that has begun to grate on me at the very least. Don’t confuse this with the world’s end starring Simon Pegg and Nick frost!
7. Anchorman: The Legend Continues (20th December)
After the hysterical ‘Legend of Ron Burgundy’ in 2004 the San Diego news team adventures are making a long awaited comeback. Although information is scarce being that there is nothing more than a teaser currently ‘The Legend Continues’ will probably be this years biggest comedy hit if its prequel is to go by, with a vastly talented cast featuring the likes of Will Ferrell and ‘Fourty year old Virgins’ Steve Carrell there is bound to be laughs to have.
6. Star Trek: Into Darkness (17th May)
I feel I have to admit to never having watched or followed the star trek franchise before now so I’m not familiar with characters and such, you’ll have to forgive me for any slip ups I make. Directed by J.J.Abrams (produced of super 8) ,who recently gave a dying fan a screening of the movie, Into Darkness just looks terrific and this is coming from someone that has never taken an interest in the franchise before; with legendary Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch playing the vengeful villain Khan, plenty of incredible CGI effects, exhilarating explosions and what sounds like an epic soundtrack it is almost impossible to find a reason not to go and see this movie. This is another one I would recommend seeing in i max if possible.
5. Side Effects (15th March)
Side effects follows the story of Emily (Rooney Mara) a women who turns to medication for anxiety after the return of her beloved husband Martin (Channing Tatum – perhaps his last performance before his announced hiatus!) from her doctor Jonathan Banks (Jude law), begins to act extremely peculiar which gradually becomes a huge cause of concern for both her husband and doctor. Mystery dramas and thrillers are two favourites of mine which is likely why I’m personally looking forward to the movie so much. If mystery has never really appealed to you I still believe this film will hold up very well considering its cast, crew and nevertheless engaging plot line which is rather fresh should all be enough to entertain.
4. ‘Now You See Me’ (21st June)
A troupe of magicians pull of the most unexpected bank heist dishing out all gains to their ill-fortune viewers as an act of good will, needless to say the FBI weren’t chill with that and begin tracking where by the see some interesting developments on something else the magicians may have been getting up to. Starring Morgan Freeman and Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg this should be a must watch for those looking to have their mind boggled this summer, scratch that I think this is going to be a must watch for most people this summer, really hoping this will meet my already high expectations.
3. Man of Steel (14th June)
A Superman movie that doesn’t look like shit ! Henry Cavill is put into the shoes of Superman in this seemingly darker take on a superman tale in which he goes toe to toe with fellow surviving kryptonians General Zod and Faora who certainly value the idea of justice far less than superman, wreaking havoc that Superman needs to end. It’s good to see Superman coming into the trend of slightly darker superhero movies if the trailer such as the recent Batman trilogy – if the trailer is anything to go by; personally I find those types of superhero movies far more engaging, emotive and interesting to watch than something like The Amazing Spiderman. Another promising summer blockbuster that’s going to leave my wallet empty!
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (13th December)
After I giving An Unexpected Journey such a raving review (https://picturesquedetails.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-review/) it’s probably to no surprise that I’m unbelievably excited for the sequel coming this winter. Will Radagast’s problem with the necromancer be solved? Does Thorin get his long sought after revenge on The White Orc? Will Bombur get any fatter? Hopefully at least one of those sub plots will be concluded in the second in a trilogy of movies based on ‘The Hobbit’ novel which I sadly have yet to read. I should be reviewing The Desolation of Smaug around its launch so keep an eye out for that!
1. The Great Gatsby (17th May)
The long awaited film adaptation of what is widely known as ‘The Great American Novel’ and certainly a contender as being one of the best novels of all time, another book which I have recently been intending to read yet sadly have never got round too doing. For those who don’t know The Great Gatsby is a telling, set in the 1920’s, (the film has taken on a modern soundtrack – an interesting choice) of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) and his befriending of his neighbor Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) after which he is lured into a world of partying, flagrance and elegance but as things progress he sees Jay Gatsby in essence doesn’t truly have such a lavish time of things . Romance, heartache, action and drama and a powerful representation regarding ‘The American dream’ can be expected by the bucket load from this film and I sincerely hope Baz Luhrmann can do the novels story justice in his adaptation – a review can also be expected of this around its UK release date, hope you look forward to it.
The Picture Post 