Ladies and Gentlemen,
Congratulations on making it this far into the new year. I knows its early yet for such celebration but I consider the 15 day mark an achievement. For those of you unfamiliar with either this site or my personal proclivities, allow me to notify you as to my film obsessed nature. Easy way to do this? Why to tell you what I’m looking forward too this year. Though in no particular order I will probably try to keep my comments fairly clear as to the level of anticipation.
Brave:
Oh Pixar you wonderful lovable thing you. If this works we will consider Cars 2 something of a pimple on your glorious brow which emerged as nothing but a required stage of prepubescence. Look at you now, growing up so fast and trying new ground. Pixar seems to at last have done what we all have been quietly hoping for, embracing daddies finer qualities and giving us the love child that only Pixar and Disney could make. Whereas Pixar films have limited themselves mostly too a modern setting or a at least a setting in our general time period as understood and interpreted by rebellious male characters, Disney made their trade by reinterpreting fantasy settings of old lore through the eyes of strong willed and empowered heroines. So at last we get Brave the story of a hot tempered celtic tom boy princess (disney) in ancient and mythical Scotland (also disney) who will be rendered by use of the most modern CGI animation, true artisans, and some of the best writers goat sacrifices and the power of love can summon (Pixar). And it features Billy Connolly, excuse me as I go be fan boy.
Batman 3:
This is more of a mixed bag and yet find myself very engaged. The truth is that of the few films that blew my expectations right out of the water, The Dark Knight pretty much holds the bar a way up there. Having never really gotten the fuss about Heath Ledger or been a huge fan of sequels, I was prepared to be entertained but underwhelmed. I was however laid on the ground and given the ride of a life time, for which I will continue to adore Mr. Nolan. And this is the reason for my anticipation, the signs so far are very mixed. The buzz is equally mixed. Cat-woman doesn’t look all that promising and Bane a touch silly. However I doubted before and as such will now remain optimistic, this could be another hole-in-one and man oh man am I hoping it is. Don’t let me down Chris.
The Hobbit:
Peter Jackson is making a two film rendition of The Hobbit. This could be quiet possibly some of the happiest words I have ever put in print all my life. Why am I excited? Well let me think now…
Peter Fucking Jackson
The Fucking Hobbit
Ian Fucking McKellen
I FUCKING LOVE!!!!!
John Carter:
This is one that has me somewhat concerned and as yet very hopeful. Edger Rice Burroughs is pretty much the mighty granddaddy of the sci-fi fantasy sub genre. His works are some of the most influential for nerd culture you will ever find. I also have never read or really heard of them before I started doing a little research on this film. As such my only real knowledge going in is that this is to be Lord of the Rings as interpreted by that good writer George Lucas had locked in his basement who died about 1981. Am I excited? Why yes. Am I worried that this being held under the banner of Disney may strangle it much as it did with Alice in Wonderland? Also yes. Am I really just rooting for it to work so that it doesn’t hurt Andrew Stanton’s career because he directed Wall-E one of my favorite movies of all time? This is also quiet possible.
Prometheus:
Ridley Scott is making a massively budgeted sci-fi horror prequel to Alien. And now I have a new happiest set of words committed to print. Folks I could not be more excited, this looks so damn good. The story is still under wraps (which I really like), but it is a confirmed prequel to Alien (which I really really like) and it is going to be a return to roots for the man who wrote the book on the subject ( which I fucking love). Please Ridely, don’t screw this up. Oh and it has Noomi Rapace and Michael Fastbender, which would seem to indicate that so far Ridely really hasn’t lost his touch.
Django Unchained:
Tarantino is making a black slavery revenge movie. Somebody call the controversy train, cause this is gonna be a full station. Talk about lighting the fuse here folks, Tarantino made this magic happen with Inglorious Basterds which I ironically cannot describe as anything but glorious. Why did it work? Well it was the Nazi’s, and almost no one with access to a film screen can admit to not hating the Nazi’s. Now however he is going after the black slave owners of early era America AKA well to do white people. Will a lot of people really not like that? Probably. Do I adore the man all the more for it? Oh yes. Almost nothing is known of the project except that its Tarantino being Tarantino and that the cast list looks amazing. This for me is enough to start quoting Pulp Fiction and getting really really psyched.
And of Course
The Avengers Movie:
This is for me a turning point film because its about as audacious in its reach as the Harry Potter franchise but for me personally hitting a lot closer to home. Now I’ve never been one for comic books unless they featured Dead Pool or Donald Duck, however I do love the Idea of a continuity driven universe of super hero’s. For me also this is so exciting because its been such an amazing journey and build up to this point as well as the very real chance that this could fail miserably. Most of the above list has built in safety features of the cast and directing combination which will save them from being anything less than normal good. This however is such an ambitions move and leap that it could fall very flat. For this reason among the many more positive others, makes this the one I’m really, really looking forward too.
The year to be as written in red.
