I can't believe it's the penultimate installment already! These films are all highly anticipated by me, and I think they'll all be worth seeing in the cinema... do you agree?
20. The Chronicles Of Narnia:Prince Caspian
dir: Andrew Adamson / 16 May
The second film based on the beloved C.S Lewis novels, with the quartet of children returning to Narnia, but finding it has changed beyond all recognition. Stars Liam Neeson, Ben Barnes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Peter Dinklage and Warwick Davis. Hopefully this will be a more grownup affair, as the first film came across as Lord Of The Rings for toddlers. The new trailer looks quite promising.
19. The Spiderwick Chroniclesdir: Mark Waters / 15 February
A mother and her three children are pulled into an alternate world of magical creatures after moving into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate. Fantasy adventure based on the popular novels by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. Starring Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland), Sarah Bolger, Seth Rogen and Mary-Louise Parker. Watch the trailer here.
18. Rambodir: Sylvester Stallone / summer
Violent action sequel starring Sylvester Stallone as the aging Vietnam veteran, living alone in Burma, who gets the call to action when a group of Christian missionaries are captured. I was never a die-hard Rambo fan, but the hardcore trailer spoke to the part of me that misses the uberviolence of Stallone/Schwarzenegger-stle 80s mayhem. Plus, I just can't underestimate Stallone after he resuscitated Rocky so magnificently in 2005 -- and that was a far trickier film to get right. Co-stars the gorgeous Julie Benz (Dexter). See the carnage one man can do here.
17. The Happening
dir: M. Night Shyamalan / 13 June
dir: M. Night Shyamalan / 13 June
Ecological disaster movie about a family who go on the run when the environment releases a deadly toxin to wipe out mankind – by compelling people to commit suicide. This is Shyamalan's response to growing criticism after The Village and Lady In The Water belly-flopped at the box-office, and nearly didn't get made when silly studio execs turned their noses up. But, having read the leaked script myself, it's a slick and interesting enviro-disaster flick – on the page, anyway. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.
16. Hellboy II: The Golden Armydir: Guillermo Del Toro / 11 June
Sequel to the cult superhero fantasy, this time focusing on a rebellion by the mythical world against humanity. Can grouchy demon Hellboy, amphibious Abe Sapien and firestarter Liz save the world? Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor and Selma Blair all return, with Luke Goss as the villain again (having performed likewise in Del Toro's Blade II.) Take a peek here.
15. Jumperdir: Doug Liman / 15 February
Film adaptation of the novels by Steven Gould, about a boy (Star Wars' Hayden Christensen) who can teleport himself anywhere in the world instantaneously, who discovers he's far from unique and part of a war that has raged for years between "jumpers" and their hunters. Co-starring Jamie Bell, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane and Rachel Bilson. The talented Liman is an underrated filmmaker, having started the vogue for back-to-basics espionage flicks (Bourne Identity), but can he do the same for sci-fi actioners? For the trailer, jump here.
14. Synecdoche, New York
dir: Charlie Kaufman / spring
dir: Charlie Kaufman / spring
Directorial debut for acclaimed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine...) about a theatre director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who puts on a play using a life-size replica of New York. Co-stars Kaufman regular Catherine Kenner and Samantha Morton. This will undoubtedly be delightfully weird -- while the prospect of unfiltered Kaufman brilliance, with Hoffman in the lead role, has me giddy...
13. Hancockdir: Peter Berg / 2 July
Will Smith stars as an alcoholic superhero that nobody likes, who has an affair with his publicist's wife (Charlize Theron). Co-starring Jason Bateman. Smith is charisma personified and it's always intriguing to see him tackle left-field material. Can he do grouchy and make this the Bad Santa of the superhero genre? Check out the excellent trailer. I like what I see.
12. The Curious Case Of
Benjamin Button
dir: David Fincher / 26 November
Benjamin Button
dir: David Fincher / 26 November
Fantasy drama about Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who is born as an elderly man and proceeds to age in reverse, which proves to be a strain when he falls in love with a 30-year-old woman (Cate Blanchett). Based on a 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I can't wait to see what Fincher does with something more fantastical, having made his name with grittier flicks like Se7en and Fight Club. Co-stars Tilda Swinton, Elle Fanning, Jason Flemyng and Elias Koteas.
11. Speed Racerdir: Larry & Andy Wachowski / 9 May
The creators of The Matrix trilogy focus their attention on this adaptation of a 1960s Japanese cartoon, about a young race car driver who struggles for glory with the help of his family and advanced super-car, the Mach 5.
I'm not a fan of the cartoon (which isn't well-known outside of the US and Japan), but I'm still interested in this because the Wachowski Brothers take risks, make brave choices and like to push the envelope. Judging from the zany trailer, this could be a retina-burning disaster… but it could also be pure bubblegum fun. Stars Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox (Lost), Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Scott Porter. The bonkers trailer is here.
Tomorrow: in the final part we have... well, that'd be telling...
