Wondering what’s hitting theaters this year? From the next Pixar flick to the second installment of the Transformers saga, there’s something for everyone on screens this year. Here’s a rundown of some of the movies we’re looking forward to.
Watchmen (March 6th) ‘-‘- Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, Watchmen chronicles a group of atypical superheroes as they attempt to avenge one of their murdered brethren while protecting a human society that disapproves of them. Starring Jackie Earle Haley as the masked vigilante Rorschach, accompanied by Patrick Wilson and Billy Crudup, Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder (who subjected us to 300).’ A must-see for fans of the comic book genre.
The Soloist (April 24th) ‘-‘- Originally slated to hit theaters this past November in time for the 2008 Oscar season, the release of The Soloist was pushed back by Paramount for financial reasons. The Soloist is the true story of LA Times journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) who befriends schizophrenic musical genius Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) while Ayers is living in the streets. Director Joe Wright (Atonement) helms the project, and screenwriter Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) adapted the movie from Lopez’s book of the same name.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1st) ‘-‘- Wolverine is the first of the X-Men characters to be featured in the X-Men Origins series (Magneto’s story will be told in 2011). Hugh Jackman returns as the retractable-clawed anti-hero. We become privy to his dark history of murder, revenge, and to his entrance into the Weapon X program. After the mediocre conclusion of the X-Men trilogy in 2006, I’m more than ready for a decent prequel. Plus, the trailer shows Wolverine leaping from an exploding truck to a hovering helicopter’-‘- how bad could it be?
Star Trek (May 8th) ‘-‘- Trekkies rejoice, for the ultimate space voyage is back.’ Captain Kirk and crew are seen from their early days as young trainees being preapred for greatness. Chris Pine (Smokin’ Aces), Zachary Quinto (Heroes), Eric Bana (Troy, Munich) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) co-star as Lost producer J.J. Abrams produces. Your parents will love that Leonard Nimoy, the original Captain Spock, has lived long and prospered enough to appear in yet another Star Trek.
‘ Up (May 29th) ‘-‘- So far, Pixar has done no wrong, and based on the trailer, it seems as if Up will be added to the ever-growing list of animated favorites from the production house. Carl Fredricksen is a grouchy old man who decides to see the world by tying thousands of balloons to his house and simply floating away. Russell, an 8 year-old Boy Scout, is inadvertently taken along for the ride. With experienced director Pete Docter (Monster’s Inc.) and writer Bob Peterson (Finding Nemo), Up is sure to have the same magic that Pixar’s other films have expertly captured.’
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26th) ‘-‘- Director Michael Bay returns with an all-start cast for the sequel to the summer smash hit in 2007. Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturo all return to the world of large, battling robotic aliens. If this is your thing, get ready to start the summer off right.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17th) ‘-‘- Many Harry Potter die-hards believe that you just can’t cram all the details of a J.K. Rowling novel into a two-hour movie, but screenwriter Steve Kloves and director David Yates will give it a try with the sixth installment of the popular franchise. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson return as Harry, Ron and Hermione as the budding wizards and witch discover a mysterious potions textbook, take a trip through Dumbledore’s memory to Lord Voldemort’s past and lose dear friends.
Where the Wild Things Are (October 16th) ‘-‘- Forest Whitaker as the voice of a Wild Thing.’ A Dave Eggers (‘A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius’) screenplay. Spike Jonze (Adaptation) at the directoral’ ‘ 0helm. A blend of live action, animatronics and CGI. The added vocal talents of Paul Dano, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini and Catherine O’Hara. This adaptation of the classic (though potentially terrifying to a 5-year-old) story of Max, a mischievous boy who is sent to his room without supper and escapes into a world where he is the King of the Wild Things, has all the makings of a gorgeous film. Shooting began in 2005, however, so one must wonder if there are certain problems that the filmmakers are having trouble shaking off.
Avatar (December 18th) ‘-‘- The idea for Avatar lived inside James Cameron’s head for over a decade. Finally, the director of Titanic and The Terminator films has decided that filmmaking technology is advanced enough to create his vision. Avatar is the story of Jake Sully (newcomer Sam Worthington), a war veteran who is sent to another planet where he encounters a human-like race, but with an entirely different language and culture. Cameron hoped to create a film that seamlessly combined a full live-action shoot with computer-generated characters and images. The movie will be shown widely in 3-D as well. Here’s hoping the technology doesn’t let him down and the year ends on a good note.
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