Blockbuster movie making has
become the business of sequels, which on one hand is a little sad (because
where is all the great original stuff we use to have?) but on the other hand we
still get awesome stuff we all cannot wait to see – like a new Avengers film, a
new James Bond adventure and a new Star Wars outing. These are the big films to
see in 2015:
Blockbusters:
Release: May 1st
Genre: Action/Adventure
Plot:
In the wake of the events of Iron Man
3, Thor:
The Dark World and Captain
America: The Winter Soldier, Tony Stark tries to restart a dormant
peacekeeping program, using his AI technology. He creates Ultron, a highly
intelligent robotic defender whose purpose is to hopefully replace the Avengers
and protect the Earth from future alien attack or whatever threat the Earth may
face next; however, Stark’s ego blinds him from the fact that he has given
Ultron too much control and intelligence. Ultron, like many other AI systems in
past films, realizes that mankind’s primary threat is from themselves; and
thus, it devises a grand and terrible plan to destroy humanity. It is up to the
Avengers to stop it.
Main Cast: Robert
Downey Jr., Chris
Hemsworth, Chris
Evans, Scarlett
Johansson, Mark
Ruffalo, Jeremy
Renner, James
Spader, Aaron
Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth
Olson, and Samuel
L. Jackson
Editor’s
Thoughts: Joss Whedon did a fantastic job with The
Avengers, creating one of the most fun and best superhero films to date.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is probably 2015’s most anticipated film and likely to
be the year’s Box Office champion. It will be interesting to see how Whedon
gives all the characters their moments while introducing new characters (as it
stands right now, there are fourteen returning MCU characters and six new ones
– this film is jam packed). The trailer certainly sets a darker tone. So far,
Phase II has kept things relatively light, much like Phase I, never going too
dark, preferring humor and fun action. Could Age of Ultron usher in a much
darker Phase III?
Release: May 22nd
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sci-Fi
Plot:
Casey Newton and former boy-genius inventor Frank Walker find themselves
transported to Tomorrowland, a place somewhere in time and space that exists in
their shared memory. Casey’s scientific curiosity leads her on a mission to
find the secrets behind Tomorrowland, dragging Frank with her. He has been
disillusioned by life, but seeing this wondrous place might reignite the spark
within him.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Tomorrowland is Disney’s latest endeavor to take something
from their theme parks and turn it into a film franchise (it worked with Pirates of the
Caribbean, but not so much with The Haunted Mansion).
The creative team behind the film is very well suited. Brad Bird is producing,
directing and co-writing. He has a very strong background in animation
(highlighted by The
Iron Giant, The
Incredibles and Ratatouille)
as well as action films (his first live-action feature was Mission:
Impossible – Ghost Protocol, which was quite entertaining; this is his
second). Damon
Lindelof is producing and co-writing as well. He is one of the more
prolific sci-fi writers working right now in film and television (he is best
known for his work on Lost, Prometheus,
Star
Trek Into Darkness, World
War Z, and the new brilliant HBO drama The Leftovers).
The film looks to be a very fun and entertaining sci-fi adventure.
Release: June 12th
Genre: Action/Adventure
Plot:
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, a new
functioning theme park is thriving on the Island of Isla Nublar. It is known as
Jurassic World. But with attendance dwindling, the owners of the park want
bigger and badder attractions, turning to genetic engineering to create new,
scarier dinosaurs – which of course backfires, leading to dinosaurs once again
rampaging across the island putting human lives in danger.
Main Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard,
Jake Johnson, Judy Greer, Katie McGrath, Vincent D’Onofrio,
and Omar Sy
Editor’s
Thoughts: Writer-director Colin Trevorrow made a great small indie film
with Safety
Not Guaranteed. Now, we will see if he can make Hollywood blockbusters too.
Jurassic World looks and feels a lot like the original Jurassic Park, seemingly
relying a lot on nostalgia for that film. Hopefully, however, the film will try
to be its own thing too and not just a complete rehash. The cast is great and
the teaser promises grand action and visual moments.
Release: June 19th
Genre: Family Comedy
Animation
Plot:
Riley is a young girl who has recently been uprooted from her Midwestern
life, as her father has taken a new job in San Francisco. But, this is a story
about Riley’s emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness). They live in
Headquarters, the control center within Riley’s mind. They guide Riley through
her daily life. The move to San Francisco has sent Headquarters into a state of
turmoil. Joy tries to maintain control, as Riley’s most important emotion,
keeping things positive, but forces try to work against her.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Inside Out is a new original idea from Pixar, which is really
good to see as the studio has started to produce an alarming amount of sequels
recently (three of their last four films have been sequels – additionally, two
of their next four are also sequels) when they have been known for their
wonderful original films. Inside Out has a great creative team with director
Pete Docter and writer Michael
Arndt (Docter also directed Monsters, Inc.
and Up,
while Arndt wrote Toy
Story 3), leading me to believe that Inside Out should see Pixar return to
it standard of high quality films.
Release: July 1st
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sci-Fi
Plot:
In the year 2029, John Connor is engaged in the seemingly never-ending
war against the machines; however, the humans might have the advantage. This
leads SkyNet to try a new plan to kill Connor in the past, once again targeting
his mother Sarah. Connor sends his friend (and father) Kyle Reese back in time
to help protect his mother.
Editor’s
Thoughts: It does feel unnecessary for there to be yet another Terminator film
(coming on the heels of two less than stellar outings); but, Terminator:
Genesys does boast a great cast and a new approach to the material. Director
Alan Taylor is also a strong choice, as he brings a fantastic grasp of epic
visuals (see his work on Game of Thrones or
Thor:
The Dark World) and a gritty realism, both of which should benefit the
series. The film seems to be some sort of sequel/reboot, as it does tell a
similar story to the first Terminator, but in a new way. Hopefully, Taylor and
his fine new cast will return the series to its better days (those under
director James
Cameron) with a film that features great action, characters and sci-fi
themes.
Release: July 17th
Genre: Action/Adventure
Plot:
Scott Lang is a con-man who is taken under the wing of scientist Dr.
Hank Pym. Lang is asked to become a hero when he and Pym must plan and pull off
a heist that will save the world. Pym gives Lang a super-suit that gives him
the ability to shrink and increase in strength.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Ant-Man is the final film in Marvel’s MCU Phase II. Initially,
writer-director Edgar
Wright was in place to make the film, but he fell out with Marvel over the
creative direction of the film, leading Marvel to pursue other options,
including hiring Peyton Reed to direct and Adam McKay to
work on the screenplay. It is a shame because Wright makes great films (while
Reed makes mediocre films, generally). That said, Marvel has a history of
creative differences with their directors (Alan Taylor,
director of Thor:
The Dark World, for one), because they have a very clear idea of what they
want and where they are going with their films. What has made Phase II so great,
though, is that Marvel brought in fantastic people to helm their films (Joss
Whedon, Shane
Black, the Russo
Brothers, and James
Gunn to name a few). It would be sad to see Marvel go backwards creatively
(as Phase II has been so much better than Phase I). Ant-Man, however, still has
a great cast, led by Paul Rudd, and looks really fun.
Release: November 6th
Genre: Action Spy
Mystery/Thriller
Plot:
A mysterious message from James Bond’s past sends him back on the trail
of the organization he uncovered in Quantum of
Solace. Meanwhile, M battles in the political arena to keep MI6 alive after
their recent security breaches. As Bond digs deeper into the organization
(known as Spectre), he uncovers a terrible truth.
Main Cast: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Monica Bellucci, Lea Leydoux, David Bautista, Andrew Scott, and Christoph Waltz
Editor’s
Thoughts: Sam Mendes has many of his Skyfall
filmmaking collaborators as well as the main cast returning for Spectre; plus,
the new additions are all fantastic (I am particularly excited about Christoph
Waltz being the main villain, the addition of Andrew Scott, who is just
wonderfully villainous in Sherlock,
and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema
– though he is replacing the equally brilliant Roger
Deakins). There is speculation that Waltz is playing Ernst Blofeld despite
being credited with the character name Oberhauser (we shall see). The James
Bond films have been very good since Daniel Craig took over (even Quantum of
Solace works well when taken as part two of Casino
Royale). Spectre certainly has all the piece to continue that trend.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: November 20th
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sci-Fi
Plot:
Following the events of Mockingjay – Part 1, Katniss Everdeen and
District 13 rebel in full against the Capitol.
Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence,
Josh Hutcherson,
Liam Hemsworth,
Woody Harrelson,
Elizabeth Banks,
Julianne Moore,
Philip Seymour
Hoffman, and Donald
Sutherland
Editor’s
Thoughts: Splitting The Hunger Games: Mockingjay into two films makes
financial sense for Lionsgate (especially after the Box Office success of similarly
splitting Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Twilight: Breaking
Dawn into two films), but as a consequence Part 1 has little bite. Part 2
looks to be a much more entertaining and satisfying film (at least from an
action standpoint) as it is the culmination of the series and the character
journeys. It is also likely to be the second biggest moneymaker of the year
behind Avengers:
Age of Ultron. The
Hunger Games made Jennifer Lawrence a star, but I bet she is probably ready
to move on to other things (more David O. Russell
films?). Mockingjay – Part 2 is all set to be the best film in the series and
the most impactful, finally giving Katniss something of real substance to do
(not letting her off the hook emotionally, dramatically and narratively like
the other films do), or at least we can hope so.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: December 18th
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sci-Fi
Plot:
The continuation of the Star Wars saga, following the events of The
Return of the Jedi (presumably taking place quite a few years later).
Main Cast: Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie,
Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o, Max von Sydow, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley
and many of the series’ original stars
Editor’s
Thoughts: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is yet another
hugely anticipated franchise film. Expectations are also very high, especially
after the very lackluster prequel trilogy (which is practically unwatchable). George Lucas sold
Lucasfilm to Disney a few years ago. Disney has put together a great creative
team for the new Star Wars trilogy, including writer-director-producer J.J.
Abrams (he is only directing the first film, but producing the whole trilogy), writer
Lawrence Kasdan
(who was a big part of the original trilogy) and writer-director Rian Johnson (who
is directing Episodes VIII and IX). John Williams
is also returning to score the films (which is awesome). Disney is hoping
Abrams can reinvigorate Star Wars
the same way he revitalized Star
Trek with his reboot. So far, Abrams has put together a phenomenal cast of
new actors joining many of the returning stars of the original trilogy (like Harrison Ford,
Mark Hamill
and Carrie
Fisher among others). Story details are being kept under wraps, but
everything seems to be moving in the right direction.
Release: December 25th - Now July 31
Genre: Action Thriller
Plot:
The plot is unknown at present, but it probably involves action, grand
stunts and face changing.
Main Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris, and Ving Rhames
Editor’s
Thoughts: I am a huge fan of J.J.
Abrams’s Mission:
Impossible III. It is one of the best action films of the last decade (and
it completely made up for the utter disaster that is Mission: Impossible
II – a truly awful film). Brad Bird, making
his live-action directorial debut, did a good job with Mission:
Impossible – Ghost Protocol as well (even if the villain was pretty weak
from a character perspective). The Mission: Impossible
films are fun, action-packed and feature brilliant stunts. Christopher
McQuarrie and Tom Cruise collaborated earlier on Jack
Reacher, which is an underrated action film. This will most likely be a fun
and very entertaining blockbuster.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
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