14 DAY TRIAL // Just like when you’re trying to sum up an entire year in a Best or Worst list with 10 or 15 (or even more) entries, it’s equally hard to be definite about which are the most hyped movies of the year to come. However, since 2012 is nearly at an end, we must strive to do just that.
2012 has been a solid year as far as film releases go: it peaked over the summer with the now-usual blockbusters (“The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises” being just two of the biggest) and it ended on a very high note, with the likes of “Les Miserables” and “Django Unchained.”
We’re to expect no less from 2013: though definitely riddled with box office and critical flops, it will also bring a healthy dose of awesome, either in original productions or spinoffs (wherein we include sequels, remakes or reboots).
The following list has been comprised after covering year after year the Lifestyle section on Softpedia, the Movies subcategory in particular, but also after feeling for the pulse of the community on various forums.
It stems from the desire to provide you with some guidelines about which movies are getting the most buzz right now, but doesn’t aim to be a prediction of success.
It’s by no means definite or objective because, it’s a well-known fact, what’s a one man’s pleasure can be another’s pain and vice versa. For this reason, feel free to consider this article as an invitation to dialog and leave your own suggestions in the comments section below.
15. “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”
This film from Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, the sequel to the 2005 “Sin City,” which has long become a cult film, has been years in the making. It’s finally gone into production and, if we’re to believe Rodriguez, it’s going to be just as awesome as the first. We’ll find that out in October when it comes out. 14. “Oblivion”
Tom Cruise’s personal life often overshadows his work as an actor and it’s a shame when that happens. He’s a solid actor star and just as solid a dramatic actor, which should put “Oblivion” on your must-see list. The same goes for having director Joseph Kosinski (“TRON: Legacy”) at the helm. Look for it in theaters in April.
13. “Elysium”
Not much is known about this film except that it comes from director Neil Bloomkamp and stars Matt Damon. This is enough recommendation for it: Bloomkamp’s previous work is “District 9,” while Damon’s ability to carry a movie regardless of genre has been proven countless times. It will be out in August.
12. “Anchorman: The Legend Continues”
Yet another one of those sequels that fans have been praying for for years. When it comes out in December, under the direction of Adam McKay, it will bring back together the old gang, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner and Christina Applegate, and hopefully be just as fun and smart as the first film.
11. “The Wolverine”
Many actually thought this sequel to the “X-Men” spinoff would never happen, not after what happened back when the first film came out (in short: it leaked online in full and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, it was received poorly). Director James Mangold is now in charge and will see that Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) will show the world just what it is that makes this X-Man so awesome – in July.
10. “Pain & Gain”
Michael Bay’s merits as a film director are disputed but that doesn’t change the fact that basically everybody and their mother are looking forward to this passion project of his for which he even put “Transformers” on hold. If that’s not enough to sell you on it, know that it stars Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as two crooked bodybuilders. It drops in April.
9. “Kick-Ass 2”
The original surprised everyone: with Chloe Moretz and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as leads, it proposed a type of superhero that had nothing “super” about him/her, except perhaps an almost unnatural ability to kick… well, you know what. The sequel reunites the original cast and will be out in June.
8. “This Is the End”
If you like your end of the world with a healthy dose of humor, make sure you keep an eye out for this one. Directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, it stars a string of who’s who in comedy (and not only), from Seth Rogen to Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, James Franco and Emma Watson. It’s also scheduled for theatrical release in June.
The first “Thor” movie didn’t perform as expected but it did do well enough to lay the grounds for a new franchise. Thor’s later appearances in other Marvel movies helped build up hype, to the point where “The Dark World” is now one of the most anticipated releases of 2013. Chris Hemsworth will be flying in theaters in November.
Johnny Depp is now a fixture with Disney and, depending on how you like his recent work, that can be either a bad thing or the best thing ever. His next project is “The Lone Ranger,” in which he teams up with Armie Hammer to fight crime. Reaction to the first trailers has been mixed, so it should be interesting to see how this one fares when it comes out in July.
Here’s a movie that’s been getting a lot of buzz since Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego. First, director Guillermo del Toro said he would take a stand and refuse to comply with studio demand to convert it to 3D, but later announced the film would be in 3D because he “changed [his] mind.” The man has a right to do whatever he wants with his project, especially since the first trailer for it showed plenty of promise. It arrives in theaters in July.
4. “Iron Man 3”
Here’s a superhero that needs no introduction. Robert Downey Jr. breathed new life into Tony Stark / Iron Man with the first film but many fans felt the follow-up went a bit off the trails. Hopefully, the threequel will make everything right again in May – with some help from the always exquisite Ben Kingsley.
3. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
In case you thought nothing could beat the original “Hunger Games” novel in a popularity contest, the silver screen adaptations are en route to do just that. The first film was a critical and commercial hit, so fans are dying to see Katniss return for one more adventure. She will do that in November.
Superman has long been in need of a reboot, and director Zack Snyder and leading man Henry Cavill seem to be the perfect team to make that happen. Add to this a stellar cast that also includes Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Michael Shannon, and the promise that this Superman will be more “serious” than ever, and you can understand part of the hype around it. “Man of Steel” flies in theaters in June.
Not since “The Dark Knight Rises” a little over a year ago has hype been so great around a project. Not only will the sequel to the 2009 film see the Enterprise crew come back to the big screen, but it will also have them face a mysterious villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who you’re not to believe is Khan. Directed by J.J. Abrams, “Star Trek Into Darkness” will Star Trek into theaters in May.
So these are our suggestions for the most anticipated movies of 2013. Drop us a line with yours and, in the meantime, here’s to a spectacular year in cinematography!
