You may remember that last year when writing this post for last years films, I stated (more like implied) that 2013 was going to be rubbish compared to 2014. Well, since then the world has sort of changed a bit. Jurassic Park 4 (Jurassic World) has been pushed back to 2015, but at least it looks like it is finally going to happen at long last and Seventh Son which was due for release last year has now been pushed back to 2015 despite the fact that the trailer has already been released (which means the film is probably finished). When looking at the films due for release this year, I came to the point of realisation that there is only about 10 in total which look exciting (at least to me). While there is the upcoming Divergent which may apply to my interest, I don’t know much about it other than it being based on a book, which I got a mini supplement of when I went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which I still have to read (the supplement not The Hunger Games: Catching Fire). I am also not planning on watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier or the next Amazing Spider-man film either. Even the bottom two at the time of compiling the list, I was unsure about, however the top 8 films look promising. So while the selection of films due for release is relatively short, the quality of the top lot, looks fantastic and so this could be one of those few years where quality takes over quantity.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Muppets Most Wanted – These are the bottom two films I mentioned in the above paragraph. They share this spot due to me being very unsure about them. Firstly, The Muppets. This is the sequel to The Muppets from 2012. Quite a good film all in all and very enjoyable and so when the sequel was announced I was already excited. This all changed though when I found out who was in the film; Ricky Gervais. The problem I have with him being in this film in particular is that I don’t think he can act all that well. My opinion on him being in it has lowered my expectations for the film overall. I did though see a trailer for the film a few weeks ago, and his position in the film is more clear, however, I am still very unsure.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles though sounded promising. My hope was that it was going to be like TMNT back in 2007. Brilliant piece of Animation and a generally fun film. I had hopes of this happening again, then I found on-set pictures; its live action. This has me in a nervous position. Either it could be, and probably will be CGI creatures, which would be a good thing, or if they are suits, it could be a bad thing. My opinion is still split, but who knows, it might work, or it might be the silliest film of the year, but on the bright side of all this, Michael Bay is producing it, and he did do a Great Job with Transformers.
9. Edge of Tomorrow – Another film I am also not so sure about, but at the moment appears to have more legs than the above two films. I don’t know much about this other than from what I have read and saw in the trailer. The film stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and is based on the Japanese Novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka and appears to be set in the not too distant future where Man appears to be at war with some alien race known as Mimics. However, Mr. Cruise is constantly caught in a time loop and keeps returning to battle all the while dying. From my first impressions, it does sound silly, but after watching the trailer, it brought me to think about Battle Los Angeles, and in particular the trailer for it. It got my interest just enough, to be excited about it. While I still don’t know all that much about the film, it does show a little promise, and who knows, it may be a great film after all.
8. Transcendence – The directorial debut of Christopher Nolan‘s long time Cinematographer; Wally Pfister. Not much is yet known about this film other than a basic plot line. Basically Johnny Depp is an Artificial Intelligence researcher who is targeted by technology terrorists but this pushes him in his research, which as he continues makes him want to be a part of it. Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara and Morgan Freeman will also be staring and Christopher Nolan will be producing the film. Pfister is a great Cinematographer, as shown with his work alongside Nolan, but what is he going to be like as a Director. Well, it is more than likely that Nolan will be helping him along the way. Transcendence does look promising on all counts, but it is still a mystery and only time will tell if Pfister will be any good as a Director (especially seeing as I am getting the feeling that this is a sort of Black Sheep of all the films being released this year).
7. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan returns with a brand new film starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. Details of the film are being kept under wraps. The basic plot revolves around the opening of a wormhole allowing the human race to travel large distances and explore space. Sounds like a good version of Star Trek. While Details are currently sketchy, the simple fact that Nolan is Directing a new film is enough to get me excited.
6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – After the success of the wonderful Rise of the Planet of the Apes back in 2011, it is nice to see that they are going ahead with this series, and that it has nothing in common with the Tim Burton Planet of the Apes about 13 years ago. Andy Serkis returns as the role of Caesar with a whole new male cast including Gary Oldman and Keri Russell and new Director in the form of Matt Reeves. Eight years have passed by since a deadly virus emerged and Caesar and his race of genetically altered Apes have reached a truce with a band of human survivors, however war is on the horizon to determine the new dominant species. With a great first film in a potentially new series, this film shows a lot of hope, and while it is very different to most of the films being released in 2014, that doesn’t mean it is an outsider in any shape or form, it actually has great potential in becoming one of the hit films of 2014.
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction – I am a big fan of the Transformers series. Since watching the first one in 2007, I have been a loyal fan of the series. While I do prefer Megan Fox’s character over that of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s, to me, the main part of these films are the machines themselves. This time around though, it is a brand new cast (except for Peter Cullen of course), but thankfully not a reboot. It is Mark Wahlberg who takes the centre stage this time around with Michael Bay returning to direct. Not much is known about the plot so far and there is yet to be a trailer, but the title sounds interesting.
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past – The Sequel to one of the best Marvel films to date. X-Men Days of Future Past brings together the cast of X-Men: First Class with that of the original X-Men Trilogy plus some new characters to the film series including Bishop (but sadly no sign of Gambit). The film appears to take the point of view in three dimensions, that of the original trilogy, the future and the past. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender return alongside their older counterparts, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen for the parts of Professor X and Magneto. Hugh Jackman and Ellen Page return as Wolverine and Kitty Pryde (sadly Anna Paquin‘s scene has apparently been cut) along with Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique. This time The X-Men are facing potential extinction from the human race and must travel back in time to prevent the future from happening. The cast is great and it deals with one of the best known stories in comic books. Days of Future Past, looks to be the best Comic Book film of the year, I am really excited about this one.
3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – The series continues as Katniss Everdeen played by the terrific Jennifer Lawrence returns as the unlikely symbol of the suppressed regions of Panem and lead them into battle in the hope of bringing down the Capitol. Alongside Jennifer Lawrence, series regulars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson return alongside the Legendary Donald Sutherland as well as new cast members including Julianne Moore. While I don’t like the idea of two films being made for the final book for the basis of money, I do like the fact that it is going to be in two parts……….because it prolongs the series. I have yet to read the third book, but the films and books are working in tandem quite well producing a great experience and from what the series has produced so far, I can’t wait for more.
2. The Host 2 – Here we are again. Talk of a sequel to the magnificent 2006 South Korean Monster Movie directed by Bong Joon-ho; The Host (or Gwoemul as it is sometimes known) have been going round since 2007. It is very hard to find information on the sequel, mostly due to a film released in 2013 under the same name but shares no similarities with the far better South Korean film. But on the odd occasion where I am able to find information on the film, the release date for it points to this year. So with some hope, we should finally see the sequel/prequel to one of the best films of the last decade. It is likely of course to be released in South Korea first of course, but with hope there should at least a limited release due to the film’s popularity overseas. While I can’t provide definite information other than the plan for the film to actually happen, I really do hope this film comes out sooner rather than later. If you have not seen the first film, I recommend you do.
1. Godzilla – After long last, the Legendary Pictures Godzilla film is finally going to be released this year. After about 4 years of waiting, when the announcement came that Legendary had been given permission to do it, Godzilla is set to return to the big screen. This film (thankfully) has no relation to the 1998 film and is related to that of the original Japanese Monster. So far details of the plot have yet to be announced but it is stated that Godzilla will be fighting two other monsters and that the Big Lizard himself will look like the original Toho Monster. Just a couple of months ago, the first trailer was released, and it looks Fantastic, only a silhouette of Godzilla can be spotted in it, but it looks like he should. Along side the King of the Monsters, the film stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe and apparently a cameo appearance from Akira Takarada (who appeared in the original film Sixty years ago). Providing that Gareth Edwards brings the film together, Godzilla will no longer have his name tarnished by a film in the late 1990’s, and possibly, a great film to celebrate his 60th Anniversary. 2014 is the year of The King of the Monsters.
GENEPOOL
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