First up, as you can see, are the Big Movies of the year. The popcorn flicks. The films the action and the explodey and the (hopefully) fun and crazy times. These are the BIG films; the films the studios earn (or expect to earn) most of their moolah of the year from.
This is my favourite time of year; looking forward to all of the (possibly) great films that are to come. Hopes have not yet been dashed. We can still dream of something amazing somehow making its way through the studio system.
So here, in no particular order, are those films I'm most looking forward to having my eyeballs dazzled by:
Pacific Rim
While the first trailer didn't absolutely blow me away, this is still Guillermo del Toro directing a film about giant robots (Jaegers) punching giant monsters (kaiju). Enough said, really. I'm there.
NZ Release Date: 11 July 2013
Man of Steel
Zach Snyder doesn't have the best track-record in the director's chair. We all know that. I'm not entirely sure where I stand in regards to him - Dawn of the Dead was better than it had any right to be but Watchmen was rather lifeless while Sucker Punch was an exercise in style over substance. And Warner Bros. continue to flail about, unsure what to do with their vast stable of DC characters.
But damn if the trailers haven't been getting me jazzed for this new Superman. Let's hope the film is as big, emotional and exciting as they suggest. One thing's for certain: it'll be more action packed than Superman Returns.
NZ Release Date: 27 June 2013
Iron Man 3
The first of the Marvel films to follow last year's box-office storming Avengers and the beginning of Marvel's Phase 2 (leading to the Avengers 2 in 2015). This time Robert Downey Jr. is joined by his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black and (Sir) Ben Kingsley. There have been all sorts of exciting hints and rumours (that I have attempted to studiously avoid with marginal success) and I can't wait to see what these guys put Tony Stark through.
And, again, what a trailer.
NZ Release Date: 18 April 2013
Thor: The Dark World
I enjoyed the first Thor more than I had any right to. It is, objectively speaking, not a particularly great film. But Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston were such fun (such fun) in the roles of Thor and his scheming brother Loki that it proved to be a lot of fun. I'm also a sucker for insane sci-fi production design (Flash Gordon anyone?).
The sequel has jettisoned K-Bran as director, but picked up Alan Taylor (a veteran TV director of, among other things, Game of Thrones and Mad Men). The Dark World aims to (of course) go bigger with Thor and a merry band travelling to some of the other Nine Realms to battle dark elves and such forth. Should, at the very least, be more crazy sci-fi/fantasy fun.
NZ Release Date: 31 October 2013
Star Trek Into Darkness
This nearly didn't make the cut, despite how much I enjoyed the first Star Trek from JJ Abrams. And why did it almost not make the cut? Because of Abrams' obsession with mystery and obfuscation. Despite a couple of trailers, clips and press there is still no clue as to who Benedict Cumberbatch's villain is. Which is beginning to get more than a little annoying.
But, so long as the script improves on 2009's effort, this could be a welcome return to the bridge of the Enterprise. But then again, the script is from Orci & Kurtzman... so who knows.
NZ Release Date: 16 May 2013
Fast and the Furious 6
I know, right? What the hell is this doing on here? But, if like me, you caught Fast 5 (despite not seeing any of the previous films) then you're hoping this film is just as much vehicular fun as that entry. And that it's once again written by Chris Morgan and directed by Justin Lin (as well as the recent super crazy fun-tastic trailer) seems to back that up.
Look, it's not going to be particularly deep or meaningful and I never thought I'd see the day where I was more keenly anticipating the latest entry in a dumb car franchise over the latest Die Hard film, but here we are. Vroom vroom kaboom.
NZ Release Date: 30 May 2013
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