The Trailers to the Latest Batch of Films I'm Eager to See

At the start of the year, I listed a few films that I was pumped to see.  There were several other movies I was anticipating, but I wanted to hold back until I saw some trailers.  Well, I can officially add a new batch of pictures that give me hope 2013 will still turn out to be a pretty fun year at the movies.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Nov. 22)



I passed on last year's The Hunger Games because I wanted to catch up with the book series first.  This trailer is the final motivation to do some serious summer reading and then track down the original film.  This looks incredible with amazing special effects, top notch performers (Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland all in one freaking film!), a dark dystopian world with some political flavourings, a healthy dose of action with a purpose, and a lot of conflicted character drama.  This seems like a smart mainstream sci-fi picture that will be a great late birthday gift to myself.  I'm very geeked for this, and more than happy to contribute to the hundred millions and millions of dollars this film will haul in on dump trucks.

R.I.P.D. (July 19)



I admit the first thing I think when I see this trailer is Men in Black, and I just got that craving fulfilled last summer.  But MIB doesn't have Jeff Bridges, and movie law is that Jeff Bridges is awesome thus causing all the films he is in to be awesome.  He looks to be having a blast with his crazy gunslinger from the dead character.  I also got a kick out of Mary-Louise Parker's monotone speaking recruiter with a dry wit, and I have hope she'll get a chance to steal a few scenes.  I laughed a few times, and even caught a bit of a Ghostbusters vibe (by the way Hollywood, please leave that franchise alone).  This looks like it could be bundles of fun and a surprise hit of the summer.

Man of Steel (June 14)



I know, I know, I included Man of Steel in my last list.  This new trailer has now convinced me that we are in store for the picture that will completely transform the super powered hero genre.  I haven't been a huge fan of Zach Snyder's previous works, but he has proven to be a massive comic book fan.  The series of trailers have shown he knows how to do Superman, and the memories of Superman Returns will officially be erased.  The special effects look phenomenal and there is promise of lots of great comic book action, plus General Zod -- the main villain of the previously best Superman film,  The part I'm especially excited about is the story of Superman struggling to find his place on Earth and wrestling over if he should reveal his superpowers or not.  There looks to be a lot of intriguing character relationships and a depth to the storytelling that is still pretty rare in many comic book films.  Christopher Nolan's name being attached as both a writer and producer heightens my expectations that this will be a genre defining film.

Only God Forgives (May 24) (NSFW)



Ryan Gosling is becoming the king of dark, gritty, independent films.  He already has me salivating with his other recent release The Place Beyond the Pines, which I literally danced in my office from jubilation when its limited release success increased its number of theatres to include Brantford.  A review of that movie will be showing up here in the next week, but now, I've got another limited release film starring Ryan Gosling that I must do a ritual sacrifice for, in order to ensure it releases near me.  This time around Gosling is reteaming with Director Nicolas Winding Refn who together amazed a lot of people with Drive. This has a very similar vibe and has a good chance of continuing to cement Gosling as one of the cooler players in modern cinema.  If it is in your area go see it, so that I don't need to travel far to track this down, please. 

Hangover Part III (May 24)



I skipped out on Hangover Part II, because it just looked like the original remade in a different location.  This time around I couldn't stop laughing through this entire trailer, and it looks like it is offering some new and very funny stuff.  Plus it is bringing back a lot of the characters from the original, which will provide some fun closure to the series.  There is also a strong chance that John Goodman will repeat in 2013 as the king of awesome supporting characters.  And there is Melissa McCarthy, and I love Melissa McCarthy.  I wanted to dismiss this film, but I'm now counting down the weeks until it is released -- can it be May 24 now?

How about now?

2 Guns (August 2)



You want to instantly sell me on a movie?  Denzel Washington.  It looks like a pretty typical "two agents fight each other but then uncover a conspiracy and must unite to put down the great evil" action picture that has made the rounds over the past decade or so.  Washington and Mark Wahlberg are a pretty appealing combo, and the picture seems to have the right mix of action, humour, and charisma.  This looks like the right kind of buddy shooter picture to get me through the typically slower August movie month.  This will be good, trust me.

This is the End (June 12) (NSFW)



The trailer is the answer to the question, "What will be the greatest and most profound cautionary tale about actors drinking far too close to a gigantic hole in the Earth?"  Now, I can't wait for June 12 -- hurry please.

Elysium (August 9)



Wait a second, did I earlier try to allude that August was a dull movie month?  It appears 2013 aims to make me a liar.  This film is obviously attempting to be an action oriented sci-fi allegory of the Occupy Wall Street movement.  Neill Blomkamp impressed many critics with his sci-fi allegory of the apartheid, District 9.  If this picture can properly balance the mind blowing action with the deeper drama then we've got the provocative sci-fi epic that I was hoping from Oblivion.  Matt Damon has proven to be an actor who can bring the action star cred along with deeper nuanced emotions.  Jodie Foster is the type of brilliant actor that can elevate any film just by being in it.  There is a lot of potential for this to be an exciting and thought provoking piece of great sci-fi.

Carrie (October 18)



I had absolutely no interest in re-entering the world of Carrie after seeing the initial teaser trailer.  Now we've been able to see some great performance by talented actors in Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore.  The trailer makes it look like it'll be more a remake of the 1976 film rather than a closer adaption to the classic Stephen King novel.  I'm intrigued by this film based off the promise it is going to delve much deeper into the dark and disturbing relationship between Carrie and her mother.  I've always felt the real horror was the religious nut, Margaret White and her mistreatment of her daughter rather than Carrie's telekinetic powers.  We may finally have a film that understands what makes a horror great rather than overcompensating with gore or jump scares.

The Way, Way Back (July 5)



By the time July rolls around, most of us will be worn out from all the big budget special effects extravaganzas.  The Way, Way Back will be exactly what the movie doctors will be prescribing.  They rarely make sweet, coming of age wide release picture like this anymore, and this one looks like it could be in the running for modern classic.  It has a ridiculously amazing cast with great comedians and performers like Steve Carrell, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Peet, Jim Rash, Rod Corddry, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney, Nat Faxon, and okay fine, I am revealing the entire closing credits here.  This movie is likely to be hilarious but also sweet, and I bet I'll also cry at least once.  It may even make me a little nostalgic for a period in life when summer actually meant free time and dreaming about that first kiss.  This may turn out to be far more memorable than most of the blockbusters this summer, and will be way more endearing.

A Single Shot (TBA)



Now, Sam Rockwell is in a drastically different role and film.  It shows his great talents and diversity to be able to pull each off believably.  Of course, I can only base this off the trailer, but this looks like a very captivating film.  It gives off a very A Simple Plan vibe, which is a massive compliment considering that film is one of my favourite of the '90s.  The trailer doesn't really give away the plot (though it is easy enough to find, since it is based off a 1996 novel by Matthew F. Jones), but it is packed with emotion and the cinematography expertly creates a mood.  The cast is really strong, and everyone seems ready to exude power and emotion based off the little snippet of scenes we get teased.  I really hope this ends up wide release, but I'd be shocked, though I wonder if we've got an Oscar contender brewing here.

The Kings of Summer (May 31)



Could it actually be true; do we really have two smartly written and well-acted coming of age films with heart in the same summer?  This feels like some classic novel from the '60s, but my very lazy research points to this being a completely original idea.  This film does seem really fresh, but seems packed with a lot of sly humour and oodles of sweetness.  This is yet another film that I hope ends up going wide at some point or released relatively close to my dwelling place.  It is another film with a pretty awesome cast too, and I'm looking forward to see Nick Offerman channel a Ron Swanson with a son.  The trailer has several quotable lines and I'm sure it will be even more wonderful in full length feature form.

Mud (April 26)



Matthew McConaughey has had a career renaissance in the last year.  He hit a bit of a speed bump with a bunch of forgettable romantic comedies for a stretch, but he has proven to be a heavyweight character actor with some really dark roles such as in last year's intriguing Killer Joe.  Mud follows that dark and mysterious path with an almost Cape Fear meets Stand By Me type of vibe.  I think there is a lot more to this film than the trailer gives away, and McConaughey is going to deliver another very nuanced but disturbed individual.  Plus this is the third feature directed by Jeff Nichols who is becoming one to watch after his previously raved about and equally dark, psychological film, Take Shelter.

Lumpy (TBA)



Justin Long is one of those talented and diverse actors that I didn't give a chance when he broke on the scene.  It probably helps him greatly that he has moved away from mainstream fare and is taking chances on some independent pictures.  This one looks really sweet, but also should have an ample amount of quirk.  Quirk is rather helpful in stopping a work of fiction from getting too sentimental, just look at the brilliant sitcom, Suburgatory.  I'm expecting a really touching picture that will also cause dust to fly into my eyes a few times.

Stuck in Love (June 14)



This reminds of Crazy, Stupid, Love, which is a large part of the appeal for me.  Romantic comedies work best when the characters are broken and try to hide their pain through certain personality traits but then through a strong relationship start to heal and figure themselves out.  This appears to be following that path while also being stuffed with a really strong and appealing cast.  Kristen Bell has really proven to be a force in comedies especially as the other woman type, and I'm thinking may steal the film in her supporting role.  I may also cry in this movie, because as you have all guessed by now, I'm a bit of a sap.