Top 3 below...
A quick shout-out to Alice Through the Looking Glass & Independence Day: Resurgence for almost making the Top 10...
Now, TOP 3:
3. Star Trek Beyond (July 22)
In case you're wondering, yes, I moved the film that was supposed to be third into fourth...check the previous post to see my thoughts on that film...
(Now, why did I move this film up to third? Well, I just saw the trailer for Star Trek Beyond...but its not because the trailer is cool or whatever, no...those kind of excitement don't last long. What the trailer did...is reminded me of what made the Star Trek stories so powerful, i.e. the friendship & relationship between the very distinct characters - the reckless James Kirk, the uptight Spock, the ever-complaining Bones, the light-hearted Scotty, etc. The interactions, and henceforth, the development of the relationship of these distinct characters (especially between Kirk & Spock) is amazing & emotional, and it really has been the core of the Star Trek stories wherever they go and whatever they do.)
Star Trek Into Darkness was one of the best films in recent years, and it was my best film of 2013. So, I was rather disappointed when I found out that JJ Abrams will not be doing Star Trek 3. Not only did he not get to complete a trilogy (after the brilliant Star Trek and the equally spectacular Into Darkness), but also he didn't get to do the film that is to be their 50th anniversary. Instead, he jumped into an entirely new galaxy with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Of course, after seeing all the amazing hype & buzz of The Force Awakens, and being a SW fan myself...I'm glad he jumped ship.
With Star Trek Beyond, it gets even worse to know that writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (who penned both Trek and Into Darkness) also left the project. I mean, seriously, isn't anyone taking this 50th anniversary seriously? But it has to happen anyway, so they scraped what they can and had Simon Pegg to write the script. And then they found a great director in Justin Lin (who did the awesome Furious 6 - the best in the Furious saga for me), and I think they may have just enough to pull off a great film for their monumental landmark. There are still doubts and concerns within this film for me, but I think they should be able to pull off another exciting film.
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25)
The title alone should be reason enough as to why this would be one film not to be missed. Batman & Superman - perhaps two of the most iconic superheroes in the world - set to go head-to-head and share the same screen for the first time in a live-action film. And no matter what others say - for me, Man of Steel was amazing and the best superhero flick of 2013. If there's anyone that can pull off a spectacle as big as Batman taking on Superman, it is Zack Snyder. And all the trailers so far (especially the Comic Con one) have been really amazing. Many have qualms about the latest trailer, understandably...but it doesn't take away the excitement.
There has been a lot of casting concerns from fans, and I admit that I am one of them. Though I am growing in to accept Affleck as Batman, the same could not be said for Wonder Woman and more so, Lex Luthor. I realize I probably shouldn't judge before I see them in the film, but I just have to say this now - I don't see Jesse Eisenberg's character as Lex. He may be a great character, for all we know, but to me, he is not Lex Luthor.
Apart from that, the film looks to be awesome. The trailers have been showing some very epic action sequences and film looks to open the gate wide for the DC Extended Universe to find their way into the hearts of fans and mass audiences alike.
1. Captain America: Civil War (May 6)
If you wonder why this superhero clash tops my list...the answer is in the final line of the first trailer for Civil War. The moment when Tony Stark said "So was I...".
This is something that Batman v Superman doesn't have. A brother vs brother fight always has more depth than a vigilante fighting off an alien. The relationship that Captain America and Iron Man has developed after fighting side-by-side for so long - now looks to reach new depths. And it looks to split The Avengers (and some other heroes) into two opposing sides.
The title shouldn't even be Captain America when the cast is larger than previous Avengers films, but I suppose the heart of the story will remain with Cap. This ensemble becomes the biggest group of superheroes ever seen in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, and Phase 3 just cannot start any bigger than this.
And I'm not just talking about the sheer size of the cast, but the story itself is inspired on one of the most popular events that came out not more than a decade ago. While fans may know the plot, character allegiances, and even the outcome in the comics, I expect to see deviations and changes to suit the events that had come before in the MCU. I feel that even the fans are still to be surprised with what is to come.
With a stellar cast unlike any other, trusted directors (the Russo brothers) and the marvelous Kevin Feige at the head of this project, Marvel is set to begin Phase 3 with more than a bang!
Other Movies:
-Kung Fu Panda 3
-Deadpool
-Gods of Egypt
-London Has Fallen
-Zootopia
-The Divergent Series: Allegiant
-The Jungle Book
-The Huntsman: Winter's War
-Alice Through the Looking Glass
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
-Now You See Me 2
-Warcraft
-Finding Dory
-Independence Day: Resurgence
-The Legend of Tarzan
-Ice Age: Collision Course
-Suicide Squad
-Gambit
-Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
-Moana
Part 2...
7. Doctor Strange (November 4)
The next Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero to be introduced in his own full film is the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Stephen Strange - my favourite hero in the MCU, yet. With powers relating to mystics and magics, the introduction of Strange will probably also open up a vast array of other dimensions to the MCU. And perhaps, still regarding to his powers, the one thing I'm looking most forward to in this film - is the action sequences, and how the battle of magics & mystics will be portrayed in this film. Let's hope the visual effects team can get it right. Because if they do, it may come out with one of the coolest action sequences in the MCU so far.
The director and the writer is unfamiliar to me, but Marvel does have that knack on recruiting less well known individuals - but I trust their judgment. Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular hero is just a dream come true, for me. And with other exciting casts like Tilda Swinton and Chiweter Ejiofor, I'm expecting yet another brilliant entry in the MCU.
6. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (November 18)
The magical universe of Harry Potter and Hogwarts returns to the big screen. Only, this is way before the time of Harry Potter, and it is set in New York, across the pond from Hogwarts & London. So, while the Harry Potter saga has ended in the films, the vastness of the world allows for such spin-off stories to be told. Of course, with the success of the main saga, this spin-off sounds like a good proposition. JK Rowling wrote the screenplay herself - for the whole trilogy, it will seem. Director David Yates returns to direct, and Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne will take on the lead role. He does have that look of a wizard, doesn't he? The only thing I'm wondering is what will the story be about. But it looks to be an exciting adventure, and I'm intrigued to see how this film will expand the Harry Potter universe that we know.
5. X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27)
The next superhero flick on the list. A few months ago, this would have been higher on the list. But since then, the film have come under some scrutiny, especially regarding the looks of some of the characters. And then there's me - hard to be convinced when most of the cast are relatively new and unknown.
But I was just pointing out my concerns and not trying be miserable or anything. Director Bryan Singer is perhaps my biggest hope with this film. He gets all his X-Men films right, where others don't. And the main cast - some superstars J-Law, McAvoy, Fassbender, Hoult and even Oscar Isaac - is an ensemble you'd pay to see on film.
But it still looks to be a very great film, and if anything, the battle sequences should be bigger and better than any X-Men film before. Some minor bits and aspects concerns me, but the film has all the potential to prove me wrong.
[UPDATED...]
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16)
While The Force Awakens isn't even out yet, the buzz and anticipation surrounding it is so overwhelmingly positive. All the signs are looking very good indeed for the film to kick start a whole new era of the Star Wars universe in films. Personally, right now, there is nothing I anticipate more than The Force Awakens. It is already breaking records and it may yet break more and be one of the biggest films ever!
So the film that follows it - the spin-off story Rogue One - will have the most difficult of tasks to keep up the momentum. In this film, we follow this Rogue Squadron in a desperate attempt to steal the Death Star plans. A very familiar setting, but the take is from a very unique angle. And the characters we follow is an interesting group, too - a wayward band of fighters. Director Gareth Edwards have proven himself with Godzilla, so I have no qualms there. The cast looks exciting, and Felicity Jones' character looks particularly badass, too. I'm so excited to see this brand new take of a different kind of film in the Star Wars universe.
(For those of you who have read, you may realize the film at number 4 was initially Star Trek Beyond...for the reason why I moved it up over Rogue One is found at the next post)
[...UPDATED]
Note: I have this feeling that one or the other will budge (move their release date) with both X-Men: Apocalypse and Alice Through the Looking Glass set to release on May 27...
Anyway...Top 3 to come in the last post!
Another year, another bunch of big, fun blockbusters to look forward to...and let me tell you something about 2016 - it feels like the year for comic book films!! And yet there's still many other exciting films as well...
Note: I've considered putting in Top 15 or even 20 for this list due to the number of films I'm interested in...but I felt it might be overkill, and those films from 11-20 are those I would definitely watch, but ultimately, NOT the ones I'm super excited about. So I'm going to keep it at ten...
As usual, release dates are subject to change in the future...
10. Assassin's Creed (December 21)
While I'm not the biggest fan of this video game series, I am quite familiar with the franchise, despite only ever completing one of the games - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. But in that game alone, I see all the potential it has to be adapted into a film. Black Flag itself has a thrilling plot and a very likeable main character. I wouldn't mind seeing it directly adapted into film as it is. But this film is going to be an entirely new story - separate from any of the games, it seems.
A probable key aspect to its success would be its style & action. There are several iconic moves and kill strikes that should be a joy to behold in the big screen. If they can bring this kind of style & action to life - with a great plot and equally great characters, it could well be the rare success of a video game adaptation.
9. Bourne 5 (July 29)
Let us welcome the return of both Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass to this iconic action franchise! The Bourne Supremacy & The Bourne Ultimatum was the best in the series so far, providing thrills & action with a strong performance from the actors. It's also a rare feat with those two films such that they defy the norm where sequels tend to be less superior than their predecessors. The latest instalment, The Bourne Legacy, was nowhere near exciting nor thrilling as Ultimatum was. So, to see Damon & Greengrass back in this franchise is a welcome one - for both fans and (maybe) newcomers to the series.
8. Inferno (October 14)
And now, the return of both Tom Hanks and Ron Howard to the Robert Langdon stories, this time, adapting the book: Inferno. For reasons unbeknownst to me, they skipped the third book's adaptation - The Lost Symbol. But I never read the books anyway, so for me, its always nice to see another chapter after The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. While both received less than stellar reviews and brings about clouds of controversies with the depiction of some religious themes & concepts, I enjoyed them as a mystery thriller that seriously thrilled me with fear & suspense alike. Recalling back those feelings, I'm quite looking forward to Inferno this time around.
More to come in Parts 2 & 3...
"As I live and breath...he's mine"
Certainly not Ron Howard's finest film, but still a good one, nonetheless. I find the first half superbly entertaining...with some excellent build-up, great introduction to characters & some cool action in the sea. In the second half, the pace slowed down and the tone gets dark & depressing - which is still okay, because that was the intended tone. The problem is that the plot lacks depth & meaning, and things seem to just happen without reason or meaning, towards the end.
There are some very good aspects with this film. To me, most notably, is the characterization. From the get go, you can feel the strain and conflict between Chris Hemsworth's Owen Chase and the Captain of the ship, George Pollard. This relationship develops throughout the film quite naturally, and it was great. There are some other very distinct characters, too, and it was easy to know who to like, who to root for. It was great for us, and for the film, too.
There are cool action sequences in the first half of the film, accompanied by an excellent soundtrack - I thoroughly enjoyed them. Although not standing out, there is the occasional humour as well. The second half took a dark & depressing tone after the catastrophe, but it should have been okay. The tone is how it should be, but what comes after mostly happens without reason or meaning. Essentially, there is no depth in the plot.
This is what's so different with Ron Howard's previous film, Rush. Rush was an extremely good film, in case you never caught me saying that in my review two years ago. One of the reason is because in the core of the plot, is the rivalry between two men, and how far their commitment & their passion is to the sport. Both men have distinct personality, but equally strong passion to their cause, and it became the recurring theme from start to end. That's why its great to see the plot develop for these two, and by the end, there is a strong meaning that audiences take home.
The same could not be said for In the Heart of the Sea. In this film, the things that happen towards the end seemed like something that would normally happen, but there is no meaning for audiences. It just...happens. I would have thought that there would be one moment of realization or revelation, which would then end the plot with a meaningful change. Unfortunately, that's the problem with this film. Owen Chase is the same guy at the start of the film and at the end of the film. The encounter with the whale and all doesn't seem to change these characters prominently. From this, I hope it is implied to you that the ending is, in essence, unsatisfactory.
The film is still good, with a spectacular first half followed by a watchable second. There are some cool action, and more importantly, great characters. But, the plot has no meaning. The things that happen has particularly no meaning and doesn't change the characters in a significant way. The ending is unsatisfactory. But overall, it's an okay film to watch.
VERDICT: 6.5
"Nothing good is safe while he's alive..."
A solid enough finale for the much loved Hunger Games films, but is nowhere near a spectacular or memorable conclusion. It has some good moments and some great action sequences, but there is little left to explore with these characters. Most of the film just feels like a slow march towards the Capitol.
There are some great action sequences, something sorely missing in Part 1 of this concluding chapter. Well...a finale without some would suck bad. There's also some suspenseful scenes as we follow our heroes towards the Capitol.
In terms of plot, there isn't much left happening until near the end. Towards the end, we have some very powerful and intense moments of plot. Nothing surprising or shocking, but they are powerful character moments. The twists, while easily predictable, is still nice. Until then, however, there isn't much happening in terms of plot, as we simply follow our heroes finding their way to killing President Snow.
Unfortunately there isn't any room left for characterization at this point. They've been through all and we know them all, so all we're seeing is the culmination of what has happened in the past three films. There isn't any more of character development, apart from some powerful scenes between the major characters.
The film is dark, but not too dark. It has some emotional moments for sure, and it has great action. The plot is good enough, though there's nothing particularly spectacular in it - as is the other aspects of this film. Most notably it lacks characterization, apart from some powerful character moments.
Like I said before, by this time, the film just felt like a slow march towards the Capitol, and in the end, for me, its more relief than awe. The theme between this film and the previous ones are too similar, and I've had enough of it - so its a relief that the saga has come to an end. Nevertheless, its a good enough and solid finale for those who follow the series but it is nowhere near memorable or spectacular.
VERDICT: 6.5
In my review for Spectre two weeks earlier, I had mentioned that there are some problems within the details of the narrative...and here's why...
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"Tempus Fugit..."
The Connections...
Spectre aims to be the film that finally connects the story arc since Daniel Craig's first Bond film - Casino Royale. The problem is...there is no connection! Bond fans (me included) may squeal initially at the mere mention of Le Chiffre, Silva, and all. But that's all there is...mere mentions. The film tries to make us believe that all those villains of the past is connected to...Blofeld, somehow...but there really is no concrete connection. Nothing that happens in the previous films actually impacts anything here. There isn't even the slightest of notions that suggests that all those people were linked to Blofeld in any way. And to me, this ends up looking like a shallow & weak attempt at making this Blofeld and his organization feel big & powerful. A poor narrative detail on the writer's part.
Ernst Stavro Blofeld...
Yepp, it's him, alright. People have been speculating about this for a while, and now, it's confirmed. The twist didn't feel particularly satisfying, not because of how it unfolds in the film, but more because of...I think...the title. I mean, you can't blame the fans for quickly associating Spectre with Blofeld...so this film kind of already loses this battle even before it begins. But this is not a problem for me, it works, and I like the character, anyway. And his introduction is rather marvelous for me - with his first scene in the "Meeting", and then with his torture theatrics that also explains his connection to Bond. The problem, is how it ends for him in the film.
Up until we see Blofeld with the scar on his eye, its still fine. From then onwards, it spirals down for his character. Firstly, a man like Blofeld should ideally have more resources and henchmen than what he unleashes at Bond in the final act. Bond had a relatively easy escape, easy chase, and several shots is all it takes to take him down. Secondly, the look of fear in his face when the helicopter is falling. I mean, yes, anyone would look scared in the face of death, but surely a character like Blofeld could do better than that. If he had looked more angry or something, surely we'll (or at least, I'd) still see him as a badass villain.
And finally, his fall from grace and his capture looks way to easy. I would wager that the intention with this film was to re-introduce Blofeld and maybe put him into play for at least the next few movies. Unfortunately, because of how this film ended for him, he will no longer look a powerful or menacing figure. If he had ended with an escape instead of a capture, at least it would show us that this person has his resources and tricks, hence allowing us to still hold to the fear that his character brings when he shows up again. But, being captured and already in the mercy of Bond, that charisma or fear that Blofeld brings initially, is gone.
As usual, Decembers have just a few big budget blockbusters...but this December, it seems that we're up for a record-breaking one...
In the Heart of the Sea (Dec 11-USA, Dec 26-UK, Dec 3-Singapore)
A Ron Howard film, so, yeah, why not?? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure where the focus of the plot is. The trailers seem to show a lot of the action (& drama) in the sea but the synopsis I read seem to suggest an emphasis on the shipwrecked & stranded part. I'm not entirely sure what to expect with this film. It doesn't look like my kind of popcorn film, but I'm intrigued about the film.
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULev6TxsEZY (Teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_n2CAhgPiA (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRrbLeWoG5g (Trailer #2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyZ_jkFR1UQ (Trailer #3)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec 18-USA, Dec 17-UK, Dec 17-Singapore)
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation moved to July 2015, Kung Fu Panda 3 moved to January 2016, Warcraft pushed back to June 2016 - Why?? Because they're scared of this film, that's why.
Record-breaking, you say? It already has - in ticket sales and in trailer views and probably some other stuffs. This film is breaking records even before its release. Yeah, so far its probably just a reflection of the anticipation & the excitement of awaiting the return of the biggest science-fiction fantasy franchise. But if you look at the trailers, it looks great and promises great things.
Do you remember JJ Abrams' last two science fiction space action film - the ones with starships and aliens? Yeah, those earned a spectacular rating of 95% and 87% in Rotten Tomatoes respectively. Surely that gives you confidence about the quality of this film. And already, just seeing the trailers, the shots look great - the angles were brilliant - and the visuals & settings look beautiful.
More than that, The Force Awakens sees the return of our original heroes, the introduction of great new characters, and a plot still very much shrouded but carries on the core plots of the saga. I'm rather amazed how this film managed to keep a lot of things under wraps and still garner this much excitement and anticipation. And the trailers show a lot of cool stuffs but very minimal on the plot - which is terrific. I've always wanted to go into a film knowing as little as possible, while having just as much anticipation as ever.
And finally, I admit that a lot of my excitement comes from being a lifelong Star Wars fan. Yeah, we SW fans tend to squeal just hearing the hum of a Lightsaber or the roar of a TIE Fighter. But even for those general moviegoers, just go see the trailer (the final one) and you should be hooked in. If you're not, please go and see the film anyway - I promise you'll have a great time.
SW fans, The Force...its calling to you.
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE (Teaser #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCc2v7izk8w (Teaser #2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAUxw4umkdY (Full Trailer) (Must See!!!)
Point Break (Dec 25-USA, Feb 12-UK, Dec 3-Singapore)
The only reason I'm moderately excited for this film is because of the trailers. While I am aware of the existence of the original movie which stars Keanu Reeves, and I am well aware of how good, or at least, how popular the film is...no, I have not seen it and I don't really intend to. Nevertheless, all it takes is for me to see the first trailer for this modern reboot. It looks so exciting & quite promising in both action & character, so, yepp, I'm on board (board...surfboard...get it??). Anyway, check out the trailers below...
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYIALBtQJlE (Trailer #1) (Must See!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJMRIQcGhY (Trailer #2)
Other Movies:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (December 18)
-Singing chipmunks...no...not for me, thank you very much...
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA6cOSEZhzM)
Note that The Hateful Eight and The Revenant only has a limited release in December, but will have a wide release in January...so I'll bring those up then..
