Here we go...
BONUS (3):
Release Date: TBAStarring: Alan Bagh, Rick Camp, Eric Swartz
Director & Writer: James Nguyen
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A platoon of eagles and vultures attack Hollywood, California. Why did the eagles and vultures attack? Who will survive?
*Birdemic: Shock and Terror is one of the most singularly entertaining, hilariously awful treats that 2011 had to offer. Almost every frame is pure comic gold, from the touching song “Hanging out with my Family” to the suicide bomber birds to the gorgeous CGI animation. I can barely even begin to imagine what kooky director _ has in store for this sequel, which he’s promised will be just as awesome as the first one.
-GHOST SHARK 2: URBAN JAWS-
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Campbell Cooley, Johnny Hall, Alan Bagh
Directors: Johnny Hall & Andrew Todd / Writer: Andrew Todd
Plot Crunch: When Ghost Shark returns to terrorize Auckland, Mayor Broody calls in an expert ghost shark hunter to protect the citizens and finally defeat the creature.
*I never saw the first “Ghost Shark”, but the name and title alone is kind of epic. Plus, the starring role of the dude from Birdemic is pretty awesome.
-GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE-
Release Date: February 17, 2012
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba
Plot Crunch: As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.
*So, somehow, Nicolas Cage is STILL making movies. And people are STILL watching them. People like me, I suppose. His acting is simply so atrocious that it makes any movie worth watching, and if the trailer for this flick was any indication, we may be in for a real treat. The first Ghost Rider is one of the few Cage movie I actually enjoyed, and the Crank team writing & directing this installment definitely has me interested. Hopefully the non-stop action vibe of both Crank movies will translate well into coloring this comic book character in a new light.
50. THE BIGGEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME 3D
Release Date: TBA
Directors & Writers: Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A spoof of the biggest box-office success to date.
*I’m always a sucker for spoof flicks, and even if they suck, there’s always at least a couple things to laugh at (see: Meet the Spartans). The newest film from directing duo _ (who were behind Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, & Vampires Suck) is sure to be, at the very least, entertaining. Until Scary Movie 5 graces us with its presence, this second-rate spoof flick will just have to do.
49. CARMEL
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Hayden Panettiere, Alfred Molina
Director: Lawrence Roeck / Writer: Carlos De Los Rios
Plot Crunch: A teenager wanders into Carmel, California, where he is soon introduced to the art-forgery community.
*The premise and the cast caught my attention; I’ll pretty much watch anything with Hutcherson and Panettiere. It looks like it’s going to be a great, fun indie flick.
48. CHERRY
Release Date: TBAStarring: James Franco, Heather Graham, Dev Patel
Director: Stephen Elliot / Writers: Stephen Elliot & Lorelei Lee
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A drama centered on a troubled young woman who moves to San Francisco, where she gets involved in pornography and aligns herself with a cocaine-addicted lawyer.
*I love the cast, and the plot is just cool. Plus, I never thought I’d see Skins’s Dev Patel and James Franco in the same movie.
47. WHITE FROG
Release Date: TBA
Director: Quentin Lee / Writers: Ellie Wen & Fabienne Wen
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: High-school freshman, Nick (The Twilight Saga’s Booboo Stewart), is a neglected teen with mild Asperger’s syndrome whose life is challenged and ultimately changed forever when tragedy hits his family. White Frog is a universal story of the power of family, friendship, and love positioned to appeal to a broad audience in the same way as Ordinary People and Stand By Me.
*The plot alone is very depressing, but Tyler Posey hasn’t been on the big screen since Maid in Manhattan way back in the day and BooBoo Stewart has grown into a pretty studly young man. The name is a little odd, but this could easily end up being an indie tearjerker favorite.
Release Date: May 13, 2012
Starring: Rebecca De Mornay, Jaime King, Briana Evigan, Shawn Ashmore
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman / Writer: Scott Milam
Plot Crunch: The sadistic members of a villainous family return to their childhood home to terrorize the new home owners and their guests.
*I’ve been waiting for this remake for what seems like an eternity now, and even though it’s been out for months in the UK, it’s STILL not released here in the US. It was recently picked up for distribution. The trailer is fantastic and edgy, and it looks like De Mornay has gone straight back to her Hand That Rocks the Cradle roots (one of my favorite 90s gems). I’ve heard only good things about Bousman’s redo, which takes the cheesy Troma original and forms it into a fun, tense horror flick.
45. BEL AMI
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Robert Pattinson
Directors: Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod / Writer: Rachel BennetteTrailer: -
Plot Crunch: A chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women.
*All the early buzz on this has got me super interested, and the smolderingly beautiful photos of Robert Pattinson definitely add to the anticipation. Christina Ricci and Uma Thurman are both in major need of a new hit, so I really hope this ends up being considerably better than both Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star and Motherhood, respectively.
44. THE INNKEEPERSRelease Date: February 3, 2012
Starring: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, George Riddle
Director & Writer: Ti West
Plot Crunch: During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.
*Ti West is one of my favorite modern horror directors, having made House of the Devil, Cabin Fever 2, and The Roost all with a cool 80s throwback vibe. The trailer for The Innkeepers promises more, only this time it’s the ghost genre he’s paying homage to. Sara Paxton looks right at home in this creepy ghost horror flick that looks ridiculously awesome.
43. KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau
Director: Joe Lynch / Writer: Matt Wall & Kevin Dreyfuss
Plot Crunch: Live-action role players conjure up a demon from hell by mistake and must deal with the consequences.
42. 21 JUMP STREETRelease Date: March 16, 2012
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill
Directors: Phil Lord & Chris Miller / Writers: Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill
Plot Crunch: A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.
*Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill could be the best duo since… well, Harold and Kumar. A nice R-rated comedy with plenty of drugs, sex, and needlessly offensive jokes: sounds like a good movie to me.
41. THE WETTEST COUNTY
Release Date: April 20, 2012
Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, Guy PierceDirector: John Hillcoat / Writer: Nick Cave
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.
*I’m so not into Westerns, but Shia can pretty much make me check out anything. It’ll be interesting how he’s received in his first post-Transformers role since abruptly calling it quits for the series (it looks now as if they are planning to continue with or without him, and he’s already said Dark of the Moon would be his final Transformers film).
40. WORLD WAR ZRelease Date: December 21, 2012
Starring: Brad Pitt, Matthew Fox, Eric West, David Morse
Director: Marc Foster / Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A UN representative, writing a report on the great zombie war, interviews survivors in the wake of World War Z.
*Brad Pitt. Zombies. I’m sold. Until Zombieland 2 finally surfaces, this will be it’s substitute.
Release Date: December 25, 2012
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Kurt Russell, Jamie Foxx, James Remar
Director & Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
*Tarantino’s new spagetti-Western has got me interested, and I really don’t enjoy Westerns. For one, the cast is monstrously large and kind of incredible. Early word is that the script is one of Tarantino’s best, and it’s certainly been a dream project of his for years now. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store, as 2009’s Inglourious Basterds remains one of my all-time favorite movies.
38. FRANKENWEENIE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Catherine O’ Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau
Director & Writer: Tim Burton
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.
*Two Tim Burton flicks in the same year? Am I dreaming? After a sad and noticeable lack of Burton in 2011, 2012 is looking to be the year for his comeback. I absolutely loved the short film version of Frankenweenie, so I’m really hoping this longer, feature-length version can capture the same magic. I always thought it would work well as a film, and it’s been rumored for years, so it’s great to see it’s finally materialized.
37. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
Release Date: TBAStarring: Chris Colfer, Allison Janney, Sarah Hyland, Christina Hendricks, Carter Jenkins
Director: Brian Dannelly / Writer: Chris Colfer
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: After being struck and killed by lightning, a young man recounts the way he blackmailed his fellow classmates into contributing to his literary magazine.
*Written by Chris Colfer? Starring Chris Colfer? The hot redhead from Drive? Allison Janney? The sexy guy responsible for the only good scene in Valentine’s Day? I’m in.
36. THE GREAT GATSBY
Release Date:December 25, 2012
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Ward
Director & Writer: Baz Luhrmann
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau rich existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
*I really enjoyed reading the book of the same title in school (it was one of the few I actually liked), and I think this is going to make a spectacular big-screen flick. Probably an Oscar contender, too, with the looks of the cast. I love me some Leo, so I’m pretty anxious to see how this will play out.
35. TED
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale
Director: Seth MacFarlane / Writers: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, Wellesley Wild
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A story centered on a man and his teddy bear, who comes to life as the result of a childhood wish.
*The ridiculous plotline alone is enough to go to the theater as-is, but seeing Mark Wahlberg do comedy (The Other Guys!) seems to always work. Just thinking about him on-screen with an adorable cuddly teddy bear gives me a little giggle.
34. THE LORAX
Release Date: March 2, 2012
Starring: Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Directors: Chris Renaud & Kyle Balda / Writer: Ken Daurio
Plot Crunch: A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
*This new Dr. Seuss adaption looks to capture the magic of his illustrations and all the wondrousness of his prose. Efron’s voice seems a perfect fit for the lead character, and DeVito looks to be a hysterical Lorax. If this ends up anything like Horton Hears a Who!, it’s going to be an instant-Seuss classic. Animation is the perfect medium for the Seuss world.
33. THE DIVIDE
Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Biehn, Lauren German
Director: Xavier Gens / Writers: Karl Mueller & Eron Sheean
Plot Crunch: Survivors of a nuclear attack are grouped together for days in the basement of their apartment building, where fear and dwindling supplies wear away at their dynamic.
*A slow-burn horror flick from the incredible director of Frontiere(s), starring one of my favorite actors, Milo Ventimiglia. Can’t. Wait.
32. GANGSTER SQUAD
Release Date: October 19, 2012
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte
Director: Ruben Fleischer / Writer: Will BeallTrailer: -
Plot Crunch: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
*Another movie starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone? And it’s a mobster flick set in the 40’s? The image of Gosling in that attire is practically mouth-watering. Lets hope this is better than that crappy gangster flick Public Enemies, and closer to The Departed. Maybe a mix of that, and the video game L.A. Noire. I’d be okay with that combo.
31. WRECK-IT RALPH
Release Date: November 12, 2012
Starring: Jane Lynch, John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer
Director & Writer: Rich Moore
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: The bad-guy character in a classic game who longs to be a hero brings trouble to his entire arcade after sneaking into a new first-person shooter game and unleashing a deadly enemy.*Disney continues to impress with almost every foray into the world of CGI entertainment, and their newest feature is no exception. A hugely original concept, a fun voice cast, and some promising first artwork only serve to solidify the fact that Wreck-It Ralph is going to be an absolutely kick-ass animated film.
30. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING
Release Date: January 12, 2012
Starring: Kate Beckinsale
Directors: Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein / Writer: Len Wiseman
Plot Crunch: When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.
*I’ve always been a fan of the Underworld films, and even though part 3 was sadly lacking the good ol’ Kate, she’s back in action and ready to kick some ass in this new flick. It’s down a few notches due to the noticeable absence of Scott Speedman, who I found to be a remarkable love interest for Selene in the first two flicks and who really should have been in this movie. After all, the entire first movie was centered around Selene falling in love with him. Nevertheless, January can’t come soon enough.
29. THE APOCALYPSERelease Date: TBA
Starring: Jonah Hill, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson
Director & Writer: Seth Rogen
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Two guys take on the end of the world.
*This group of actors? An end of the world flick? ‘Nuff said.
28. IMOGENE
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Darren Criss, Kristen Wiig, Matt Dillon, Annette Benning, Natasha LyonneDirectors: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini / Writer: Michelle Morgan
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A playwright stages a suicide in an attempt to win back her ex, only to wind up in the custody of her gambling-addict mother.
*I love Kristen Wiig’s humor and I love Darren Criss’s everything. Put the two of them together in a movie, and I don’t even need to read the plotline to know I’m totally down for whatever they’re gonna throw my way.
27. THIS IS FORTY
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, Leslie Mann, Melissa McCarthy, John Lithgow, Charylne YiDirector & Writer: Judd Apatow
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People) brings audiences an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit Knocked Up as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life.
*A semi-sequel to Knocked Up, starring the always-loveable Paul Rudd sounds too awesome for words. The fact that it’s by Apatow and company and has many of his signature actors in front of the camera makes it even more kinds of awesome.
Release Date: August 10, 2012
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton
Director & Writer: Jonathan Levine
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.
*A zombie love story with Nicholas Hoult in the lead? That’s without a doubt one of the year’s best concepts. If the script by 50/50 and All the Boys Love Mandy Lane director Levine is good enough, this will probably be an instant classic along the lines of Shaun of the Dead. I smell a sleeper hit.
Release Date: May 25, 2012
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Josh Brolin, Bill Hader, Rip Torn, Jemaine Clement
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld / Writers: David Koepp, Jeff Nathanson, Michael Soccio
Plot Crunch: Agent J time-jumps back to the 1960s, where an alien with its sights on the younger version of Agent K poses a threat to the future of the MIB organization -- and humankind's very existence.
*I’ve seen the first Men in Black about a billion times, and though the sequel wasn’t as strong, I still loved it in its own right. Now it’s 2012, and there’s another sequel coming… and it looks incredible. The new take brings Agent J back in time, and the idea alone holds a smorgasbord of possibilities. Plus, Will Smith is seriously in need of a good flick. He hasn’t made one since 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness. As long as there’s the same kooky humor and tongue-in-cheek one-liners, I’m so there.
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Warwick Davis, Bill Nighy, Ian McShane, John Kassir
Director: Bryan Singer / Writers: Christopher McQuarrie & Dan Studney
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1opzWmr8NSU
Plot Crunch: A modern day fairy tale in which the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened, as a young farmer leads an expedition into the giants' kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess.
*Nicholas Hoult in a leading role? One of my favorite fairy tales, Jack and the Beanstalk, getting a modern-day retelling? If there’s one thing to thank Alice in Wonderland for, it’s revamping the fairy tale and making it the hot new thing. I’m sure by year’s end audiences will be wiped out of fairy tales all together, but I’m really excited to see how this plays out, especially with X-Men director Singer at the helm.
Release Date: August 17, 2012
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leslie Mann, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Goodman, Casey Affleck
Directors: Chris Butler & Sam Fell / Writer: Chris Butler
Plot Crunch: A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
*An ode to horror/Evil Dead/zombie flicks by the makers of Coraline? If that’s not an incredible idea, then I don’t know what is. I’m not so sure it will catch on with younger kids, but I’m sure the Nightmare Before Xmas generation is going to love this stop-motion masterclass. The music in the trailer is enough to send shivers down your spine, and that’s not even mentioning the tongue-in-cheek zombie moan Norman does towards its end.
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, Malcolm McDowell, Carie Ann-Moss, Kit Harington
Director & Writer: Michael J. Bassett
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn't fully understand, Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever.
*I’ve been waiting years for this sequel, and if it’s in line with the first one like I’m expecting, it’s going to have all the mood and atmosphere necessary to craft a solid video game film. The creatures this time around will be magnificent, I’m sure; lets just hope it has half the blood, heart, and balls of the first flick.
21. LORDS OF SALEMRelease Date: TBA
Starring: Sheri Moon Zombie, Clint Howard, Lisa Marie, Udo Kier, Dee Wallace, Sid Haid, Patricia Quinn, Ken Foree
Director & Writer: Rob Zombie
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Residents of Salem, Massachusetts are visited by a 300-year-old coven of witches.
*Rob Zombie is one of the best filmmakers out there, and he keeps making some of the most original, visually rewarding horror films thanks in large part to his experience behind the camera with music videos. If early photos and such are any indication, Lords of Salem is going to be a total badass (and brutal) witch flick with Zombie’s signature brand of murder and mayhem.
Release Date: Fall 2012
Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde, Thom Barry, Scott Eastwood, Bill Moseley, Trey Songz, Gunnar Hansen
Director: John Luessenhop / Writer: Stephen Susco
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A young woman travels to Texas to collect an inheritance; little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-yielding killer is part of the reward.
*I have loved almost every incarnation of our loveable psychopath Leatherface (yes, even 1994’s disastrous The Next Generation), so I can’t wait to see what this new 3D installment is going to bring to the table. It’s been described as a direct sequel to the original, and while I’m not sure how I feel about that (especially with the odd continuity in this series as it is), the poster promises that it’s going to be hella awesome.
19. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Release Date: June 1, 2012Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth
Director: Rupert Sanders / Writers: Hossein Amini, Evan Daugherty, Evan Spiliotopoulos
Plot Crunch: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
*While I must admit I was initially sold on the concept of Mirror, Mirror and not this flick, my opinion changed drastically once I actually saw the trailer for each film. A dark, gritty retelling of the SNOW WHITE tale with just the right actors cast and a more than spectacular first trailer has me convinced I’m going to LOVE this movie.
Release Date: May 11, 2012
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Johnny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jackie Earl Haley, Helena Bonham Carter
Director: Tim Burton / Writer: Seth Grahama-Smith
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: A gothic-horror tale centering on the life of vampire Barnabas Collins and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. Based on the cult TV series.
*After seeing the promo photos for Entertainment Weekly, I was almost completely sold on this vampire/supernatural flick. And that’s not even including the fact that it’s directed by the impeccable Tim Burton, who’s yet to make a bad film. Here’s to hoping this harkens back to a similar old-style flick Ed Wood, which is one of my favorite Burton flicks, and certainly one of Johnny’s best performances.
Release Date: April 20, 2012
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
Director: Scott Hicks / Writer: Will Fetters
Plot Crunch: A Marine travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.
*Nicholas Sparks + Zac Efron = match made in movie heaven? I certainly think so. If the trailer was any indication, there’s no shortage of shirtless Zefron, which is always a good thing. I’m expecting to cry at least twice, and probably be completely blown away by the ending. I’m looking at you, THE NOTEBOOK.
Release Date: May 11, 2012
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Farris, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly, Ben Kingsley, B.J. Novak
Director: Larry Charles / Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer
Plot Crunch: The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.
*Bruno is one of my all-time favorite comedies, and I adored Borat, so to say I’m pumped for Cohen’s next foray into the outrageous would be a massive understatement. His films are so kooky and ridiculous that there’s never a dull moment. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store.
15. DOWNERS GROVE
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Nikki Reed, Lucy Hale
Director: Nelson McCormick / Writer: Bret Easton EllisTrailer: -
Plot Crunch: A thriller set at a high school gripped by an apparent curse that claims the life of one student every year, and the student who thinks she's the next victim.
*I’m always down for a good eerie horror flick, but this promises to have the snappy dialogue and wit of some of my favorite scary flicks. The script is by Bret Easton Ellis, whose books American Psycho and Rules of Attraction inspired two of my favorite films, although director McCormick’s one film credit I enjoyed was the 2009 remake of The Stepfather. I’m also intrigued by the casting of Hayden Panettiere, who I’ve adored in everything since Heroes.
Release Date: TBA
Starring: Christopher Llyod, Ving Rhames, Katrina Bowden, Danielle Panabaker, Chris Zylka, Gary Busey, David Hasselhoff,
Director: John Gulager / Writers: Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton
Plot Crunch: After the events at Lake Victoria, the pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark.
*The crew behind some of the best Saw films, The Collector, and the Feast series comes to claim their bloody vengeance on Piranha! What could possibly be more epic? I sure loved Aja’s take on Piranha 3D, but this one promises to be bigger, badder, and nastier than ever. There is nothing quite like a cheesy fun ode to the 80s.
Release Date: September 14, 2012
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Bingbing Li
Director & Writer: Paul W. S. Anderson
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Alice fights alongside a resistance movement in the continuing battle against the Umbrella Corporation and the undead.
*The fourth Resident Evil film, Afterlife, was a huge hit with the fans, and for a good reason: it was finally the perfect blend of game mythology with solid horror/action. I’ve loved every film in the series thus far, but Afterlife showed you really can draw so much from the source material. Judging from early word and set pics, this one is shaping up to be the best yet; sometimes listening to the fans can be a good thing, and it looks like that’s just what this team has done.
Release Date: November 16, 2012
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Dakota Fanning, Anna Kendrick
Director: Bill Condon / Writer: Melissa Rosenberg
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
*The main reason this pic isn’t higher up on my list is mostly due to how much I absolutely detested the last book in the series, especially the second half of it. Since the first half was so brilliant, I’m struggling to find any discernible way they can make this one tolerable without completely changing it in its entirety. Here’s hoping they make a better mess than the one Stephanie Meyer made when she wrote the book. They sure improved on the sex scene in the first half anyway.
11. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman
Director & Writer: Chris Nolan
Plot Crunch: The terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, and pushes its hero Batman to breaking point and beyond.
*The conclusion “to the dark knight legend” is sure to be a huge hit, and I’m uber excited for what Chris Nolan has in store for his final Batman film. I’m sure there’s going to be some death and destruction, and something that harkens back to the beginning of this near-perfect trilogy. I’m especially excited to see Anne Hathaway donning the Catwoman gear, even if I’m still not completely sold on Bane as the main villain.
10. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Release Date: December 14, 2012
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Orlando Blood, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellenDirector: Peter Jackson / Writers: Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.
*The Hobbit was by far my favorite book in the series by J. R. R. Tolkien, so I’m quite pumped for this big-screen retelling that’s been years in the making. It’s delightful to see all the same team and cast and everything returning from the Lord of the Rings series, which I always loved cinematically. We’re in for a real treat, although I’m guessing they must have added some meaty stuff to split it into two movies.
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Watson, Martin Sheen, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field
Director: Marc Webb / Writers: Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves, James Vanderbilt
Plot Crunch: Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.
*I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more excited for this Spidey reboot than the conclusion of the Batman saga. It’s obvious which will make more money, but (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb behind the camera plus a gleefully well-cast Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey easily place this flick in my top 10. Let’s hope the gritty look of the trailer and the poster translate well into making a more comic-faithful adaption.
Release Date: February 3, 2012
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe
Director: James Watkins / Writer: Jane Goldman
Plot Crunch: A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.
*One of the most atmospheric, creepy trailers I’ve seen in theaters since the White Noise trailer a long while back, this departure from Harry Potter roots for D-Rad looks like an awesomely grim gothic horror flick.
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters
Directors: Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman / Writers: Brenda Chapman & Irene Mecchi
Plot Crunch: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.
*I’m absolutely obsessed with anything Disney/Pixar, and while this film is a noted departure from their usual crop, it’s going to be incredibly intriguing to see a full-length picture about humans, and in such stunning depth with the awesome Scottish background.
Release Date: June 29, 2012
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello
Director: Steven Soderbergh / Writer: Reid Carolin
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: An upstart male stripper is taken under the wing of a more experienced colleague.
*A movie detailing Channing Tatum’s stripper days that’s sure to have tons of male nudity and hot guys? Count me in. Not to mention it’s directed by Steven Soderbergh, who made hits like Erin Brokovich, Contagion, and the Oceans films. I was already sold at Channing Tatum on a stripper pole.
5. DETENTIONRelease Date: TBA
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Aaron Perilo, Spencer Locke
Director: Joseph Kahn / Writers: Joseph Kahn & Mark Palermo
Plot Crunch: A slasher-movie killer frightens a group of teens during their senior year of high school.
*The similarities to my favorite film ever (Scream) aside, Detention looks like fun, fun, fun. It looks like an awesome new role for Josh Hutcherson, and the trailer shows plenty of the twists and turns the movie is going to take, plus an awesomely retro look. It’s like Mean Girls meets Scream meets Juno. Super epic.
Release Date: April 6, 2012
Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Sean William Scott, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Eugene Levy
Directors & Writers: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg
Plot Crunch: Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.
*Not only are the American Pie films some of my favorite staples of late 90s and early 00s entertainment, but I’m also a huge fan of all three Harold & Kumar movies. This big-screen return was much-needed, and will likely be a big career rejuvenation for all involved. Kudos to them for getting back the entire cast from the first movie. I’m more than confident the H&K writers were able to handle the content with plenty of heart, and let’s hope there is at least a nod or two to the fun (but less good) direct-to-video installments.
Release Date: April 13, 2012
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Amy Acker
Director: Drew Goddard / Writers: Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard
Plot Crunch: A group of friends at a cabin retreat scratch the surface of something so massive and horrific that they can only begin to fathom it as time quickly runs out. If you think you know this story, think again. 'Cabin in the Woods' is a mind-blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.
*I’m in love with Joss Whedon. I’m in love with Buffy. And I’m in love with Lost. Put the two geniuses involved in both shows (plus Cloverfield) and it makes one of the most interesting horror creations in quite some time. The trailer gave me goosebumps and it sounds genre-bending. Maybe it will do for cabin flicks what Scream did for slasher pictures: completely revolutionize them. Can’t. Flippin’. Wait.
2. SCARY MOVIE 5Release Date: April 20, 2012
Starring: Anna Farris, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson
Director: - / Writers: John Aboud, Michael Colton, Stephen Leff
Trailer: -
Plot Crunch: -
*Since the Scary Movie series started back in 2000, I’ve been absolutely in love with the series as a whole. Spoof movies are just awesome, although many modern ones haven’t quite captured the same magic. Here’s hoping the entire old cast returns and that this movie is as awesome as it should be, although I honestly don’t see that April release date sticking since filming hasn’t even started yet. I’m praying their main spoof will be Scream 4, harkening back to the very first Scary Movie. More Ghostface is always welcome!
1. THE HUNGER GAMES
Release Date: March 23, 2012
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks
Director & Writer: Gary Ross
Plot Crunch: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.*I couldn’t possibly be more excited for the film adaption of one of my favorite books of all-time. From the perfect casting choices to the phenomenal first trailer, there is no doubt in my mind that this movie is going to be absolutely fantastic. The look is absolute perfection and the posters and early photos have been mind-blowing. March can’t come soon enough.
