Pop Culture for Fun

Assuming studios don’t mess with the announced release dates (which will happen), next year promises to offer a lot of (would-be) blockbusters. There’s everything for everyone: Deja Vu with Jake Gyllenhaal as Denzel Washington (Source Code), The Three Musketeers in Paul W.S. “Resident Evil” Anderson’s vision, an uninspired Wes Craven attempt to resurrect the Scream franchise, a prequel to the Planet of the Apes, Michael Bay’s Blow It Up 3 Transformers: Dark of the Moon, J.J. Abrams’ next Cloverfield (Super 8),the two superhero movies that will determine The Avengers’ ultimate(ha!) fate (Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger), Red Riding Hood : A Twilight Story, Paul Bettany is post apocalyptic again with Priest, the Smurfs come to life, and there’s a myriad of remakes: The Thing, Conan, Footloose and plenty others.

Now, among the big budget extravaganzas there are a couple of films that might prove to be worthy of your money, here’s 10 of them, in chronological order (as of the date of this article):

The Green Hornet

Personally I would have loved Stephen Chow to make this (mostly because I think the movie would have been great done in Kung Fu Hustle style). But Michel Gondry can make pretty thoughtful movies and can handle some humor (as more or less evidenced in Be Kind, Rewind) so I am more than interested to see how this superhero movie will turn out. Seth Rogen might get to come out of his comedic cocoon too, though the by the looks of the trailer he’s not playing outside his comfortable area. The best part of the movie: Christoph Waltz.

The Adjustment Bureau

Despite what might be a good Sci-Fi thriller, this should be one to look out because of the on screen pairing of Emily Blunt(a ballerina) and Matt Damon(a politician). Look for Damon to mix up his The Good Shepherd act with a bit of Jason Bourne. The movie is directed by The Bourne Ultimatum co-writer George Nolfi, and it should at least feature plenty of Bourne style tension coupled with some Sci-Fi elements, which is all I need to see a movie.

Sucker Punch

Zack Snyder’s first original story is like a geek teenager’s fantasy: 5 pretty girls, one mental institution, a fantasy world filled with robot samurais, battlefields, mechs, blimps, sword fighting, I think I even saw a dragon. If not anything else, Snyder’s visuals are sure to be breathtaking. I expect this 300 on steroids with girls to be a big hit.

Super

A movie about a guy who turn into a wannabe superhero because his wife left him for a suave drug dealer played by Kevin Bacon – need I say more?. Put in some dark humor coupled with extreme violence, Ellen Page as a psychopath and Liv Tyler for eye candy and you have what might be next year’s Kick Ass with a more adult theme and less stylized direction from the director that gave us the deliciously gory Slither.

Your Highness

If you would ask me which of the movies on this list I look forward to most, it would be this fantasy-comedy featuring Danny McBride, James Franco, Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman. I expect the Pineapple Express trio (David Gordon Green as director, McBride and Franco) to bring their genius and for Natalie Portman to steal the show in what would be her comedic Ying to her Black Swan artistic Yang.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

There are good news and (possibly) bad news for the 4th installment of the franchise. Verbinski and Depp are back, but the director seat it now Rob Marshall’s, which can go either way, since this is one director with little experience in the action department, though he can handle a star studded cast, and musicals (now, a Pirates of the Caribbean musical sounds great). Ian McShane, Penelope Cruz and Judi Dench are also appearing, which is good news, and more good news – no more Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan. If this is less complex, and more humorous, the franchise might be revived (even though given its box office business the last film was a hit, even if it was panned by critics).

The Hangover Part II

The biggest comedy in years gets its sequel, and heads to Thailand. Mel Gibson was in and out, I say Liam Neeson is better, now that he’s subbing. The original cast is back, minus Heather Graham, and will likely bring its A-game, but it might not be enough for the huge expectations everyone will have. I expect this one to be less of a success than the previous one and reviews to be mixed – some will hate it, and others will love it (I’ll probably be in the latter category).

X-Men: First Class

It’s the young X-Men on screen. I don’t think this will be ground breaking or great, but I look forward to seeing Matthew Vaughn lend his style to the Marvel Universe and breathe some life into the slowly dying franchise. Two other key elements: Michael Fassbender as Magneto and James McAvoy as Professor X. As far as I am concerned, it’s perfect casting.

Green Lantern

Two time Bond and Zorro director Martin Campbell takes the helm of a DC Comics adaptation that can do for DC what X-Men did for Marvel, and pave the road for future adaptations, not related to Batman, and maybe spark hope for a future Superman movie. Ryan Reynolds stars as the superhero in what should be the performance to put him on the A-list (it feels like he should have been there already). Other noteworthy fact: Mark Strong as a villain (again).

Cowboys and Aliens

“Imagine you’re watching Unforgiven, and the aliens from Alien land.” That there is a quote from Alex Kurtzman, part of the Roberto Orci/Alex Kurtzman duo of screen writers, that wrote the movie together with Lost’s Damon Lindelof. That should be plenty fuel for hype. But there’s also Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown and Olivia Wilde in a sci-fi/western directed by Jon Favreau. This should be the most interesting high-profile blockbuster of the year, and a possible hit with the critics as well.