A biographical musical on Christmas Day? Who would go see that? Well, considering it’s based on the life of P.T. Barnum, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN may well live up to it’s namesake. If not, then we may need to call into question just what an influence Barnum actually was. Starring Hugh Jackman as the titular “showman” the musical drama attempts to explore the life and influence of what is regarded as, you guessed it, the greatest showman on Earth. Supporting cast, including Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, and Rebecca Ferguson, will belt out some tunes with ol’ Wolverine in this spat, so there’s plenty of voices to go around. Still, even with all that star power, one has to wonder just how much folks will flock to yet another musical. Then again, LA LA LAND is cleaning up on the awards so far, so we won’t say it’s not possible.
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This one’s been long-gestating and we’re still a little leery if it even makes this date, but we’ll trust The Weinstein Company (as far as we can throw ’em anyway) that THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN is hitting its Christmas date. Mark Wahlberg takes on the role of Col. Steve Austin from the 1974 TV series (as portrayed by Lee Majors), who is a crippled test pilot that gets rebuilt with nuclear powered body parts and becomes a kind of government super agent. Just how much (or little) of this concept is translated to the big-screen version is unknown, but what we DO know is that Mark Wahlberg is prepped to take on the classic role with writer/director Damian Szifron in line to direct (although it’s been widely speculated that frequent Wahlberg collaborator Peter Berg may take the reigns). With so many superhero films out there, one has to wonder just how much audiences would warm up to a non-comic “superman” adaptation starring Mark Wahlberg, but we’re game as long as the classic theme is intact with a proper update (warning: no Fall Out Boy, please).
Director Alexander Payne (THE DESCENDANTS, SIDEWAYS) is back in the dramatic action, this time with an odd tale about a man (Matt Damon) who wants to be shrunken down to four inches tall (the size of a G.I. Joe) in order to help save the planet and afford a nice lifestyle with his wife (Kristen Wiig). Man, odd doesn’t begin to cover that shit, eh? Payne is renowned for giving us some great (and funny) human dramas (see ELECTION, ABOUT SCHMIDT, etc.) and this sounds so bonkers that we simply can’t turn away. Throw in Alec Baldwin, Christoph Waltz, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jason Sudeikis and that just sweetens this weird deal even more.
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the boardgame jungle…a remake appears! Okay, so this JUMANJI is more of a sequel that pays tribute to the original adaptation starring Robin Williams, but it’s been 22 years since we’ve last awakened a jungle of creatures into our living room and this looks to be a hell of an upgrage. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black, JUMANJI (not even trying to add anything else at this point) looks to revitalize the magic that was the original, although with a new twist; this time those playing the game are sucked into the JUMANJI world rather than vice versa. What could that mean for those kids? Well, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess danger, excitement, and probably some life lessons to boot. Directed by Jake Kasdan (BAD TEACHER) this is sure to be a tentpole extravaganza that appeals to all ages and brings in the masses for a Christmas time bonding experience and, really, it’s not a bad line-up to spend the holidays with, am I right? Grab a vine and swing on in, I guess. Could be worse.
Now that we’ve gotten that pesky one-off out of the way and given enough time to shoot and edit the next iteration of the series we actually care about, it’s time to get back to the business of the “real” Star Wars. The as-yet-untitled sequel to THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII brings back the new fan favorites of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), and the long-awaited FULL return of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as they face off once again with the New Order, comprised of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his overseer, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). After the death of Han Solo and the progression of Rey learning her true path, the Force is strong with audiences wanting to know where each of these characters fit in the larger paradigm of the latest trilogy. Much hangs in the balance of this film, as we’ll see how strong these characters stand after their initial introduction and just what writer/director Rian Johnson has in store for their continuing saga. Without question our most anticipated of the year, if even just to get the answers to the many mysteries presented in THE FORCE AWAKENS. The Force is with us, we are one with the Force.
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Based on the UK crime novel by Agatha Christie published in 1934, THE MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS has already taken one big-screen bow with the 1974 version starring Albert Finney and Lauren Bacall, directed by Sidney Lumet. Now, a new version is on deck from director Kenneth Branagh and starring the likes of Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Pena,, Penélope Cruz, Josh Gad, and Judi Dench. The only question is: will audiences care? It’s obviously been a long time since both the novel and the previous film, so it could prove more difficult to sway modern audiences to a period piece mystery thriller aboard a train than one might think. While the talent is undeniable, one has to wonder if it’s a waste of their pedigree, rather than a retread of an adaptation that has long since left the station. We’ll leave it to the audiences to decide.
On the surface, this looks a lot like Guillermo del Toro’s THE BOOK OF LIFE, but outside of a few BTS shots we still don’t know much about Disney Pixear’s COCO, other than it “seems” to have some relation to the Day of the Dead and a kid with a guitar. Still, that’s a pretty close connection, so it will definitely need to be significantly different from the Fox animation caper from 2014. We are generally game for whatever Pixar has to throw at us, but there’s definitely a need to know more before we’re completely sold on this venture, which stars the voice talents of Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt from directors Adrian Molina and Lee Unkrich, both graduates of the Pixar animation department and first time directors. Still, we know Pixar can deliver the goods and a new original film (rather than a sequel) is usually a good sign. Let’s just hope it’s more original than ripoff.
Batman. Superman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Cyborg. Aquaman. Together for the first time on the big screen. Regardless of how much you may have disliked BVS, SUICIDE SQUAD or MAN OF STEEL, there’s no denying that this is a big f*ckin’ deal and we’re absolutely pumped to see it unfold. Director Zack Snyder returns to directing duties, this time with a lighter tone that the somewhat dour BVS, making a push for a more heroic and rousing superhero feature from the DCEU. Ciaran Hinds steps into the villain role of Steppenwolf, while Jesse Eisenberg returns as Lex Luthor, no doubt providing more than enough of a threat to challenge the newly formed team after BVS. With Superman’s untimely demise in BVS we’re even more anxious to see how his return is handled. We’re ready to cheer for the Blue Boy Scout’s return and hopeful as hell that this one hits the notes that were missing in prior entries. Either way, our excitement is piqued.
While everyone is super stoked to see the GUARDIANS returning with their space puns and SPIDER-MAN swinging around with his bad puns, we’re most excited for THOR: RAGNAROK from team Marvel this year. Why, you ask? Well, quite a few reasons, actually. 1) Taika Waititi (THE HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS) directing 2) Planet Hulk 3) Doctor Strange 4) Cate Blanchett as Hela 5) Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Skurge (Karl Urban) 6) The return of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Odin (Anthony Hopkins) 7) Did I already say Planet Hulk? 8) Okay, well, one more time then: Planet Hulk. In all seriousness, this has the galaxy traversing elements we’ve wanted more of with the franchise and Waititi feels like the perfect director to exploit the strong and comedic talents of Hemsworth and crew, which we’re wagering will be the most fun Marvel movie of the year. Any takers?
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One of the biggest surprise hit comedies of 2016, BAD MOMS struck a good balance of raunchy humor and heartfelt drama, due largely to that talent and chemistry of the leads, Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, and Christina Applegate. Directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore return for this follow up, which will obviously tackle our favorite Bad Mom’s during the holiday season. For those that enjoyed the comedy (I had a surprising blast with it) this will be a welcome present under the tree. Much like the HANGOVER films (of which Lucas and Moore wrote), it’s just great to see another trio bringing their shenanigans to the bigscreen and these ladies have the charisma and crudeness to do it justice. Just keep them away from the egg nog.
Well, like the other two CLOVERFIELD films (CLOVERFIELD and 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE) little is known about this threequel, which was going by the name GOD PARTICLE until it was revealed to be a part of the surprise franchise. So, what do we know? Here goes: It’s once again produced by JJ Abrams, takes place on a space station, and stars Elizabeth Debicki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O’Dowd, David Oyelowo, Daniel Brühl, Ziyi Zhang, and is directed by Julius Onah (THE GIRL IS IN TROUBLE). Outside of that, we can only go by the track record of the previous efforts, both of which were a lot of fun (I’d argue 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE is even better, but that’s me). Here’s to hoping the anthology series can hit those mysterious and thrilling notes again for this burgeoning anthology series.
This one has been on-and-off-again so many times we’ve lost count. After the ho-hum attempt to revitalize this series in 2009, the sharp-object wielding psychopath known as Jason Voorhees is making another attempt at ruining camp and teenage sexual exploits all over again with a new iteration of FRIDAY THE 13th, this time from director Breck Eisner (THE CRAZIES, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER). While many speculative rumors have swirled about this version exploring more of Jason’s parentage, namely his father, there’s still very little known about how this will play out. Another rumor suggested that it would be a found footage affair, but that’s also been debunked, so it’s anyone’s guess how this will play out. If anything, we just hope it’s scary, bloody, cool, and filled with a good balance of homage, while taking it in a new direction that would actually make us want to see more from Team Camp Crystal Lake.
It’s been 35 years since Ridley Scott’s BLADE RUNNER hit theaters, leaving many audiences scratching their heads at what they just saw. Now, decades later it’s a cult classic with multiple cuts and a burning desire to see the world Scott and co. so brilliantly established come to life again. Enter visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (ARRIVAL), who returns to the sci-fi world with BLADE RUNNER 2049, bringing back original star Harrison Ford as Deckard and new blood Ryan Gosling as Officer K, who is on a journey to unravel the truth behind a secret that could plunge society into chaos. Based on that superb teaser, this is top of the list for us. The atmosphere, tone, and music look to recapture what made the first film so special. Hopefully this can bring as much excitement, visceral thrills, and mystery that the first film did. With Villeneuve’s track record so far, though, we’re feeling very confident in what he has in store for us.
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One of the bigger surprises of 2014, Matthew Vaugn’s adaptation of Mark Millar’s KINGSMAN is a fine example of a comic-to-film feature that can be fun, cool, and rated R all at once (and likely a good influence in allowing DEADPOOL to skate with that rating). Now, Vaughn is back for the sequel, KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, which brings back next-gen spy Eggsy (Taron Egerton) in another mission to save the world after the Kingsman headquarter is attacked by a new villain named Poppy (Julianne Moore). Eggsy reteams with Merlin (Mark Strong) with the assistance of the U.S. version of the Kingsman, The Statesman (we’re guessing this is where Channing Tatum and Halle Berry come in to play) to combat this new threat and we’re sure that there will be many a fun gadget, bloody engagement, and cheeky pun to follow. Oh, and if the teases are any indication, then we’ll likely be seeing fan-favorite Harry Hart (Colin Firth) back in some form or another. If the sequel follows the style and energy of the first then this is a good bet for a fun time at the movies and could very well open the doors for a long-running franchise. Manners Maketh Man!
Based on the real-life exploits of former TWA pilot turned drug smuggler turned DEA informant Barry Seal, AMERICAN MADE sounds like it could be the BLOW we’ve been missing in our lives. Tom Cruise plays Seal with Doug Liman in the directing chair (his second movie out this year next to THE WALL), making AMERICAN MADE (formerly titled MENA) an even juicier temptation. If there’s one thing we love it’s movies about likeable criminals set in the 20th Century and this one has those blocks checked. Make it based on a true story and our ticket is bought. Really, it’s just nice to see Cruise do something that doesn’t involve him being a badass for once, even if he does that exceptionally well. It’ll be nice to see him stretch out those acting muscles a bit, rather than his actual muscles.
LEGO is not letting you forget about its brick-building sets anytime soon as we’re not only getting a Batman spinoff flick this year, but also an introduction to one of their other themes with THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE, which gives us a new introduction to the characters of the playsets/cartoon show (already in its sixth season), including Sensei Wu (Jackie Chan), Lloyd (Dave Franco), Kai (Michael Pena), Zane (Zach Woods), Cole (Fred Armisen), Jay (Kumail Nanjiani), Koko (Olivia Munn), and Nya (Abbi Jacobson). The cartoon is actually a pretty decent show and based on some early peeks at the big screen version of this it’s a step up in animation with much more of THE LEGO MOVIE style comedy as well as some serious Kaiju action. For LEGO fans this is a no-brainer and kids are sure to flock to it without question. It’s LEGO, man. C’mon.
Two big budget Stephen King pics in a year? How about that, eh? For those that are still harboring nightmares from the 1990 mini-series of IT starring the creepiest version of Tim Curry ever (next to LEGEND, of course), this new version is sure to rekindle that fear. Bill Skarsgard takes over the role of Pennywise and pretty much every single new photo reveal of him in character is like a dagger in the dark. Directed by Andrés Muschietti (MAMA) and starring a group of up-and-comers as The Losers Club, a band of kids out to destroy the clown monster, this is an adaptation of the first half of King’s novel, as the second part deals with the grown-up kids again fighting the returned evil Pennywise. Whether or not we get that second chapter in film form (the book is 1,139 pages long) is up in the air and will likely be determined by the success or failure of this one.
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After the career-rejuvenating role in DEADPOOL last year, Ryan Reynolds is pushing forth with the action and wit with THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD, where he plays a “top protection agent” hired to protect an assassin (Samuel L. Jackson) coming in from the cold to testify at the International Court of Justice. Both seemingly hate one another, but must put their differences aside to get the assassin to court. On the surface it doesn’t sound like an overly stellar premise (although the script was on the 2011 Blacklist), but the combo of Reynolds and Jackson bantering with each other as they dodge bullets and explosions has a fun appeal. Both have a unique level of charm and snark and it could very well be a terrific match up for an action comedy. Patrick Hughes (THE EXPENDABLES 3) directs with ol’ reliable Gary Oldman stepping in as the villain and both Salma Hayek and Elodie Yung adding some spice to the mix.
This is a no-brainer, really. Edgar Wright. That’s all you need. It’s a new Edgar Wright movie. It stars Ansel Egort, Jon Hamm, Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jamie Foxx and Eiza González. It’s basically a heist movie. What else do you need? It’s Edgar Wright. Car chases. Whip-smash editing. Great music. You know you’re in for an awesome time and no we’re not overselling it. It’s Edgar Wright and that’s more than enough for us.
What’s that? This one’s not even on your radar? Okay, let me toss a few things out and see if it blips. Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, Toby Jones, John Goodman, and Eddie Marsan. Still nothing? Okay, how about an undercover MI6 agent investigates the murder of a fellow agent and seeks to recover an agent list in cold-war set Berlin? Still more? Okay, how about the co-director of JOHN WICK and future director of DEADPOOL 2, David Leitch, at the helm? Oh, NOW I’ve got your attention! While this likely won’t be as bombastic as Wick or insane as whatever DEADPOOL 2 turns out to be, the talent involved is impressive and we’re interested to see what Leitch can do on his own, before jumping full-on into the superhero genre. Let the Cold War games begin.
The long-awaited adaptation of Stephen King’s epic series is finally here and it’s…rather different than what you’d expect. Taking place in a different timeline than we’ve seen in the books before, the series finds hero Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) still on his quest to find the titular Dark Tower, while evading the evil Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey). As someone who hasn’t read the books, there’s very little at stake for me, but it certainly looks like a hell of a ride and something different, which can sometimes be exactly what we need in a summer flick. Plus, hey, it’s Stephen King. Director Ron Howard is guiding this one with Katheryn Winnick and Jackie Earle Haley along for the ride. Will this be the adaptation fans of the books have been waiting for or a too-little-too-late attempt? We’ll be along for the ride to find out.
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It’s been twenty years since Luc Besson wowed us with the odd, cool, and crazy THE FIFTH ELEMENT and we’ve been waiting for something similar ever since. We just…never got it. Besson found a career in high-concept actioners and rode that wave for a long time, but now he’s back where we’ve always wanted him to be; sci-fi. After the fascinatingly weird LUCY, Besson seemed ready to jump back into the genre and he’s chosen a hell of a launching off point with VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, based on the French graphic novel series. Starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as a pair of human agents maintaining order in the universe, while fending all manner of species, planets, and more. If the trailer is any indication it’s that Besson is doing something he hasn’t done in a long time with VALERIAN, namely to have fun. And that’s exactly what VALERIAN looks like. With the amazing visuals, odd designs, and intergalactic action, we’re stoked to see what he has up his sleeve now that he’s back where he belongs.
Director Christopher Nolan has become a filmmaker that doesn’t just deliver a new film, but rather an event. After delivering a now-classic trilogy with THE DARK KNIGHT series, a mind-bending trip with INCEPTION, and a tricky, yet engaging space journey with INTERSTELLAR, Nolan is bringing it back to Earth with DUNKIRK, a retelling of one of the fiercest battles of World War II. With cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema, another score by Hans Zimmer, and a cast that includes Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, and…Harry Styles?? Wait a sec. From One Direction? Okaaaay, Nolan. We’ll trust you, but…I don’t know, man. Anyway, with Nolan being Nolan, we certainly anticipate some kind of spectacle, as that seems to be his style, and when he’s hot, he’s on fire. Here’s to hoping DUNKIRK will ignite as many of his past films have.
It’s the origin story that can’t story origin-ing! With a smashing debut of RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, followed by DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, the next entry, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES takes us directly into what the title suggests: War. Andy Serkis once again lends his talents to the lead ape role of Caesar with Steve Zahn adding a whole new level to the series with his “bad ape” and Woody Harrelson lending his devilish presence as a military Colonel who Caesar desperately wants to track down. By far the most intense looking of the advancing series, we’re excited to see it all go down, but certainly anxious to see it get to what we’re all hoping for; a proper re-imagining of PLANET OF THE APES. Let’s hope this is a big step in that direction.
After a mostly successful run with Sam Raimi and two ho-hum entries of a reboot, Sony finally relented and decided to share the Spider-Man property with the studio that’s lighting up the box office with superheroes: Marvel Studios. After making his initial appearance last year in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man won the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere, making it very easy to welcoming him back to where he belongs with his own film, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. Of course, the MCU connections are all there, including some generous appearances from Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man, but the story ultimately reaches back to the roots of Peter Parker, which starts in the high school years. Holland has a great balance of charm, humor, and athletics to embody the ol’ webhead and with Michael Keaton taking on the first big-screen appearance of The Vulture this should make for a fun, if not excellent, new iteration of Spidey, which will hopefully carry on the torch for a long time before another reboot is needed.
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Cue the haters who loathe the franchise and hate the Bayformers with a passion. Okay, now cue those who love the spectacle and Bayhem of Michael Bay’s robot car-nage. So, we’re all in agreement to disagree. Fair enough. Like it or not the TRANSFORMERS series is a cash cow (especially overseas), so it’s no surprise that TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT is upon us, this time with a bonkers time-traveling story that involves King Arthur, Cybertron, Marky Mark, and, of course, Bayhem. Lots and lots of Bayhem. While the story and dialogue in these films can be grating, there’s no doubt that the effects, action, and spectacle are all up on the big screen and this time out we even get the ultimate cheat of Anthony Hopkins smooth voice and presence to add some weight to the proceedings. All in all, it’s a summer flick with transforming robots. We could complain, but who can hear anything over the explosions?
Pixar goes dark! Okay, probably not, but that initial teaser for CARS 3 doesn’t exactly look like a light and fluffy tale with Randy Newman songs hopping us along with glee. Lightning McQueen in a devastating crash? “Everything Changes” part of the tagline? Man, if they could just put this in the MAD MAX universe then CARS might be our new favorite franchise! Okay, that’s likely not going to happen, but it does appear to be growing up a bit as McQueen attempts to get back in the game after younger “racers” are passing him by. While the franchise has been pretty harmless overall, the sequel was a bit abysmal as the spy angle just didn’t seem to work (hey, I’m not being hyperbolic, my four year old walked out of it!). So, really, you can only go up from there. Here’s hoping CARS 3 can cross the finish line.
This one may surprise you, but let’s take a look at a few of the attributes before we dismiss it outright. First up, Scarlett Johansson. That’s a hell of a sell right there because, well, we love her. Okay, but let’s dig a little deeper. The film involves a male stripper dying at a bachelorette party. Still nothing? Okay, so what if I tossed in Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Demi Moore, and Jillian Bell? Interested yet? Okay, so there’s still a lot unclear, but there’s also enough to get us curious, mostly to see if this is going to be a hard-R romp a la THE HANGOVER, which we’ve been kind of missing. After the not-so-great all-female GHOSTBUSTERS last year, we’re ready for a female-driven comedy that’s funny, raunchy, and hopefully very f*cked up. If that happens, we’ll certainly be game to ROCK THAT BODY at the box office.
Without a superhero franchise to help line their pockets, Universal is going back to their Monsters Universe well to once again try and build a new kind of cinematic universe. After the trip-and-fall of DRACULA UNTOLD, they’re giving it a fresh start with THE MUMMY, hiring DOCTOR STRANGE screenwriter John Spaihts and putting Alex Kurtzman in the director’s chair. Oh, and they got this guy, what’s-his-name…Tom something…uh, Cruise. Right, Tom Cruise. That guy. Yeah, he’s the lead. Not sure why they think he’ll make a difference or anything. Okay, so it’s obvious they’re putting all their chips on this one, as well as bringing in Sofia Boutella as the titular villain, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, and Courtney B. Vance as support, and none other than Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll. If anything, it’s obvious that Universal REALLY wants/needs this one to take off and while excitement after the announcement of the project was low, the newly released trailer shows some real promise that has us very intrigued to see where they take this. It’s certainly enough to get us to the theater.
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After a rocky, yet financially successful year in 2016 for the DCEU with BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE and SUICIDE SQUAD, WB is looking to make a go of the first female-led superhero film since the genre really took off in the last decade. Hard to believe it’s taken that long, but if any character deserves to lead that charge it’s WONDER WOMAN, once again played by the stunning Gal Gadot. Directed by Patty Jenkins and co-starring Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, and Saïd Taghmaoui, the Amazon Princess will spend most of her time in the past, namely WWI, where she ventures from her isolated island to rejoin with man and help in his fight to save humanity. While many are looking for this film to venture away from the darker roots that have been planted in the DCEU so far, it appears that they’re striking a balance, which should bode well in bringing back those disillusioned with the burgeoning universe, while appeasing those that are happy with where it’s headed. One thing is for sure, though: All eyes will be on this film both as an atonement for BVS and SUICIDE SQUAD, as well as a “new hope” for JUSTICE LEAGUE later in the year.
Or, as the rest of us are calling it, 21 Baywatch Street. Based on the popular TV show starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson that made us want to hit the gym more frequently and genuinely appreciate the generous use of slow motion when people in bathing suits were running on the beach, BAYWATCH looks to be part homage, part comedy, and part action pic. So, yeah, 21 JUMP STREET. Of course, that’s not really a bad thing at all, as that formula DOES seem to work. We’re just hoping it’s not too copy/paste to not establish it’s own identity. Certainly having Dwayne Johnson take the lead with support from other hard-bodied stars like Zac Efron, Kelly Rohrbach, Alexandra Daddario, and Priyanka Chopra (and surely an army of bathing-suit clad extras) should make for some good eye candy, but if the laughs and action fall short this could end up being a franchise that drowns at the box office.
The franchise that just won’t sail away, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES is the fifth entry in Disney’s hugely popular series based on the theme park ride and starring Johnny Depp in the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, for which he’s become so famous playing that it’s almost become a parody. Still, there’s treasure to be found at the box office with these films and there’s a few aces up the sleeve of this one, namely Javier Bardem as the lead villain, Captain Salazar, and directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, who have shown some tremendous style and skill with their work on Kon-Tiki and the Netflix series Marco Polo. Perhaps that will be enough to help this franchise make some new waves at the box office or perhaps it won’t be enough to escape the redundancy. We’ll be pouring some rum in our Coke just to be sure.
After the successful yet controversial PROMETHEUS, a prequel to the ALIEN series brought to us by director Ridley Scott and screenwriter Damon Lindelof, the fire was once again lit in audiences for more of the “good” stuff from that film; namely the xenomorph teased at the end. Now, Scott has returned with a follow up to that prequel with ALIEN: COVENANT, which follows a group of colonists attempting to start over on a new world, but stumbling upon a dangerous planet full of, you guessed it, xenomorphs. Of course, there’s much more to it than that, as characters from PROMETHEUS (namely Michael Fassbenders’s David and Noomi Rapace’s Dr. Elizabeth Shaw) will intertwine eventually with these newcomers, who include Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, as well as James Franco in a mysterious role. Based on the footage we saw in December at the Fox showcase we know a few things for sure: there’s plenty of xenomorphs and plenty of gore. Beyond that, we can’t say, but perhaps those two things alone will bring out the masses? Just remember to run.
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Guy Ritchie can be hit-or-miss for some, but there’s little doubt that he brings style and attitude to his films. After kicking things off with the rough-and-tumble LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH, Ritchie has slowly graduated to bigger budget fare, including the successful SHERLOCK HOLMES films and last summer’s highly underrated THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Now, Ritchie is bringing Sons of Anarchy alum Charlie Hunnam into his world, but this time it’s a mixture of his street-level characters with an age-old fantasy tale in KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD. Hunnam is flanked by co-stars Eric Bana, Aidan Gillen, Annabelle Wallis, Katie McGrath, and Jude Law as the main bad in what looks like a medieval version of one of Ritchie’s modern flicks. That’s not a knock, either. That said, his style doesn’t suit everyone and if this one doesn’t win over folks the way SHERLOCK HOLMES did then it may turn out that the sword would’ve been best left in the stone.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, one of the most unexpectedly great entries thus far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now has a sequel, aptly titled GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. Director James Gunn returns to the series with what looks like another off-the-wall, action-packed, wacky-cool space adventure with our favorite little-bit-bad-little-bit-good heroes, including Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), and new member Mantis (Pom Klementieff). Sprinkle in some Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone, and Elizabeth Debicki and you’ve got yourself an awesome cast that will be doing awesome stuff no doubt set to an awesome soundtrack. So, yeah. Awesome.
The franchise that just won’t quit is back again, this time with more cars, more gear, more stunts and more, you guessed it, family. What started as POINT BREAK on wheels and quickly morphed into one of the biggest action franchises ever is back again with THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS, which finds lead Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) leading his ragtag group of ex-car thieves on yet another-wait a minute. Did he just make out with Charlize Theron? Furiosa is the villain? The Fast and The Furiosa? How did they miss that opportunity. Ah, no matter. We’re not digging into this too deep to get to some golden truth (hint: it’s family), we’re just here for the cheesy, over-the-top spectacle and this franchise has it in spades. Certainly director F. Gary Gray knows a thing or two about that and with a cast that includes The Rock, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Ludacris, Lucas Black, Scott Eastwood, and…Helen Mirren?? Well, shit, you just can’t go wrong, can you?
Scarlett Johansson continues her rise to action heroine fame with this adaptation of the popular anime GHOST IN THE SHELL, playing (controversially, to some) the lead character known as The Major and most likely hoping to spawn a new franchise. Director Rupert Sanders continues to promise a faithful adaptation of the original anime and based on the trailer alone it appears that he’s nailed quite a bit of the look and feel of it. However, that’s just a small tease, so there’s always the possibility that it can’t live up to the hype. Of course, it could always surpass it, too. Either way, it’s a bold venture and one that could very well pay off for fans hungry for summer-level sci-fi/action while in the midst of spring. If anything, GHOST IN THE SHELL is nicely situated for an audience. Now, it just needs to live up to the hype.
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Saban is making a hell of a push with one of their longest-running properties that could mean that it continues to be long-running or fizzles off the big screen for a long time. Say long one more time. Yes, of course I’m talking about POWER RANGERS, the teenage martial arts laden superhero show that’s spawned a number of spinoffs (and prior theatrical ventures), merchandise, and a nostalgic stamp on every kid that grew up in the ’90’s. Now, the Dean Israelite directed feature is attempting to go all in with a more straightforward iteration of the franchise that will be (hopefully) a lot less goofball antics and more straitlaced superhero action. The first images and teaser have displayed what looks like a proper balance of homage and upgrade for the current crop of superfilms out there. With stars like Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Banks, and Bill Hader stepping in to legitimize the flick, along with a crop of rising young stars, POWER RANGERS could be the refined version we always wanted or another reason why it belongs on TV. Either way, I’m ready to Go-Go and see for myself.
Hey, remember that TV show CHiPs with Ponch and Baker? No? Well, that’s okay, I don’t really either. I was more of a Dukes of Hazzard kinda kid, but I did appreciate the bulky motorcycles and mirror sunglasses. Writer-director Dax Shepard is bringing the 70’s (and ’80’s) show to the big screen for a new generation, taking on the role of Baker as well. Michael Pena carries the torch of Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello, an undercover FBI Agent who infiltrates the CHP in order to bring down some dirty cops. Shepard touts this as a BAD BOYS style, R-rated romp that features motorcycle action, a cast you love, and California. With the actual BAD BOYS films taking so damn long to come out and the LETHAL WEAPON void still left open, I’m willing to give CHiPs a chance.
Director Ben Wheatley has given us some interesting, if not somewhat dour work of late, including A FIELD IN ENGLAND and HIGH-RISE, but his latest, FREE FIRE, looks completely opposite of that. Starring Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Cillian Murphy, Sam Riley, and Jack Reynor, this 70’s-set action flick takes place entirely in a warehouse where two gangs shoot it out and battle. Judging by the trailer and reviews, this one looks like a complete blast and a breath of fresh air from the usual action thrillers we get served up. Funny, cool, stylistic and sporting an outstanding cast, FREE FIRE could very well be the sleeper hit of 2017 (a la JOHN WICK).
And here you thought cubicle life was boring, eh? Enter THE BELKO EXPERIMENT, which has 80 office workers locked in a high rise unwillingly compete in a deadly game of kill or be killed. Director James Gunn supplied the script for this BATTLE ROYALE style thriller with WOLF CREEK’s Greg McLean taking on the directing duties. Not a bad combo. Add in Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, John C. McGinley, Sean Gunn, Josh Brener (Big Head from Silicon Valley), Adria Arjona, and John Gallagher Jr. and you’ve got yourself a bloody good round-up for a sick and twisted thriller.
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Disney continues its successful run of live-action adaptations of existing animated films with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Josh Gad, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Stanley Tucci. Directed by Bill Condon this one looks to print money like nobody’s business as everyone that grew up with the animated tale in the ’90’s seems ready to Be Disney’s Guest all over again.
This little thriller seemed to come out of nowhere. Directed by EDGE OF TOMORROW’s Doug Liman, THE WALL is a military thriller set in the Middle East that follows an Army sniper team pinned down by an Iraqi sniper with no cover but a nearby wall to protect them during the standoff. These types of single location flicks can work well (LOCKE, BURIED) or not so much (PHONE BOOTH), so it’s hard to say where this one will fall. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena (with real-life sniper Nicholas “The Reaper” Irving on board as technical advisor) the trailer looks compelling, but much of it will hinge on how much we like or dislike these two guys. Let’s hope Taylor-Johnson is more NOCTURNAL ANIMALS than GODZILLA here.
While there’s some understandable trepidation of a sequel to Danny Boyle’s TRAINSPOTTING, the trailer alone for the follow-up, T2 Trainspotting, has certainly got the vibe, tone, and energy of the first. But, is that a good or bad thing? Only time will tell, but we like what we see so far. Plus, having the original crew of Renton (Ewan McGregor), Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), and Spud (Ewan Bremner) back after a twenty-year gap should make for a hell of a show. I mean, I figured they’d all be dead by now, so I’m hip to see what kind of shit they’ve gotten into in that time frame. Let’s see if Boyle can recapture the lighting in a bottle-or swim through the toilet-as it were, again.
We haven’t seen our favorite building-smashing, dinosaur-wrecking, blonde-loving ape since Peter Jackson’s KING KONG in 2005, so it’ll be nice to see him return to his aerial-vehicle-smashing ways this year in KONG: SKULL ISLAND. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (THE KINGS OF SUMMER) takes the helm with Tom Hiddleston taking charge as the leading man “action guy”, Brie Larson the requisite blonde idealist, Samuel L. Jackson as Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly as a stranded pilot, and John Goodman as the expository guy who seems to know more than he’s letting on. We also have a STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON reunion with Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell. If anything, Kong will have some fun contenders to smash into the ground with this cast. Based on the trailers this looks like a bonkers good time; from the ’70’s setting, the various island creatures, and general explosive chaos, this is looking like prime popcorn-munching fun.
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Wolverine is back, only this time he’s old, grumpier, and downright vicious, as star Hugh Jackman makes a bid to close out the claw-popping cinematic journey he’s had with the character. Director James Mangold returns to direct after 2013’s THE WOLVERINE, this time touting a hard-R rating and a futuristic, western-like vibe. Also in tow is X-MEN alum Patrick Stewart as a foggy-minded Professor X, Boyd Holbrook as the villainous leader of The Reavers, Donald Pierce, and newcomer Dafne Keen as Laura/X-23, who I’m predicting will be on her way to stardom after this. Having seen the first 40 minutes of the film, I can confirm that it’s the bloody, violent, and rage-fueled Wolverine film we’ve been waiting for. Those that have their doubts about X-23 need not worry. She will enter the halls of badassery by March 3rd. Snikt!
Director Gore Verbinski ventures back into the dark and macabre that he so gleefully captured with 2002’s THE RING in A CURE FOR WELLNESS starring Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, and Mia Goth. Hoping to do to wellness spas what JAWS did for beaches, Verbinski has crafted an exceptionally unique looking horror-thriller that’s filled with his refined sense of vision. Based on the 35 minutes we saw last month it’s most definitely got the makings of a spooky mind-bending journey and we’re happy to take it, even if it ruins massages for us forever.
An epic monster mash-up action flick from Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon, Andy Lau, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, and Tian Jing? You have my attention. THE GREAT WALL has already fielded the “whitewashing” controversy and is now ready to get down to the business of entertaining the masses. The most expensive Chinese film ever made, the English-language pic is a bold venture. Bringing the Chinese epic brand straight to American audiences is risky enough (usually it’s the other way around) and the likely hope is that it will catch and spawn more joint productions of this nature. But first, it simply needs to be a good film and one that audiences will actually pay to see. Judging from what we’ve seen so far it’s certainly got the making of something cool. Let’s hope it delivers.
“Somebody get this man…a gun.” Yeah, I mean, we’re all ready for this. Who doesn’t want more JOHN WICK? Raise your hand. Okay, thought so. Keanu Reeves is back as, I daresay, the most lethal assassin ever put on film (or maybe the fastest? You decide), who just can’t seem to stay retired, no matter how hard he tries. Surviving cast from the first film are back, including Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, David Patrick Kelly, and Lance Reddick with new fodder Common, Ruby Rose (there she is again), Peter Stormare, and THE MATRIX alum Laurence Fishburne joining the fray. Co-director of the first film, Chad Stahelski, takes the full directing reins on this one (while the other co-director, David Leitch, moves on to DEADPOOL 2) and it looks every bit the well-choreographed gun-fu extravaganza that was the first film. We’re locked and loaded for more Wick.
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I just can’t imagine a world where people don’t go see THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. I mean, maybe there’s a few that didn’t like THE LEGO MOVIE or don’t particularly dig the comedy aspect, but in the end I feel like just about everyone needs more LEGO in their life. Unless your kid has them dumped all over the floor, in which I feel your pain. Will Arnett returns to voice the LEGO Caped Crusader, with a fun line-up of co-stars including Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Michael Cera as Robin, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn, and Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face (finally!). Will this be as fun and fresh as THE LEGO MOVIE? Robot Chicken director Chris McKay certainly has the potential to pull it off and thus far the trailers have teased another bricktastic (I had to do it. I’m sorry) animated blockbuster from team LEGO/WB.
No, for real, this is the last one. It says so in the title. The RESIDENT EVIL series has been knocking out sequels ever since prepubescent video game players fell in love with the action, monsters, and bottomless Milla Jovovich in 2002. Now, fifteen years later and five sequels deep, the sixth entry, RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER will close out Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich’s long run on the series, which may not have been a critical darling, but certainly has held the appeal for those who were won over at the start. If anything, you have to admire the commitment of Jovovich, who has owned the role of Alice through each entry and been dedicated to the brand and the fans that support it. Returning stars Ali Larter and Iain Glen are back as well as new addition Ruby Rose, who is guest starring in everything now.
The origin movie you’ve been waiting for! The origin of McDonalds! Michael Keaton stars in THE FOUNDER as Ray Kroc, the businessman who turned a burger restaurant owned by two brothers (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch) in California into the biggest fast food franchise in the world. Directed by John Lee Hancock (THE BLIND SIDE, SAVING MR. BANKS), the film has already seen some solid reviews and may or may not affect your desire for a Big Mac by the time it’s over. Just don’t ask for Morgan Spurlock’s advice.
The fifth entry in the Vampires vs. Lycans franchise, UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS has resident Death Dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) back in leather-and-latex kicking ass and taking names, all in the name of finally ending the long-standing war between the two races. Returning for this entry are Theo James and Charles Dance with Tobias Menzies playing the main bad. At this point, you’re either down for this series or out for the count, but it’s appeal is certainly still there, even if just to ogle Beckinsale in her shiny, skintight outfits for 90 minutes.
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A sequel to 2011’s hard-hitting (literally) GOON, writer Jay Baruchel takes on the directing duties for GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS, which once again brings back Sean William Scott’s Doug Glatt to once again bring his special level of beatdowns to the ice. The film brings back all the old favorites (and some new ones) as well, including Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill, Kim Coates, Wyatt Russell, T.J. Miller, and Elisha Cuthbert. With the promise of upping the ante in just about everything, we’re certainly looking forward to more blood on the ice from Barachul and co. (and look for our set visit report later this year).
Guillermo Del Toro steps into the cold war era with this fantasy adventure film about a janitor (Sally Hawkins) in a government facility who falls in love with an “aquatic man” (Doug Jones) who is trapped there for testing. Sounds like Del Toro to us! The flick also stars Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Richard Jenkins. This one could potentially be pushed to 2018, but there’s certainly a good possibility it hits late this year. Either way, a new Del Toro film is on the way!
Based on the first of a long series of books by author Vince Flynn, American Assassin focuses on CIA agent Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien), a CIA black ops recruit who is grief stricken after the loss of his girlfriend to a terrorist attack. He is taken under the wing of a seasoned vet (Michael Keaton) and trained to hunt down those responsible for the attack, including a mysterious operative (Taylor Kitsch) who continues to conduct a number of follow-on attacks. Directed by TV director Michael Cuesta (Homeland, Elementary) and also starring Scott Adkins and Sanaa Lathan, this one seems like it could be a solid action series if it all comes together. O’Brien could use the franchise boost and seeing Keaton in a badass mentor role sounds like good fun.