Ranking All Superhero Movies – Movies Spotlight – March 2015

Empire Magazine put out a feature article called The Greatest Superhero Movies of All Time, which got me thinking – how many superhero movies have I seen? The answer is ninety-five. Here is my ranking from worst to best (broken down into five tiers).

Tier 1: Painfully Bad

These are the superhero films to never see… ever.

95.)        Catwoman (2004), directed by Pitof

94.)        Batman & Robin (1997), directed by Joel Schumacher

93.)        Steel (1997), directed by Kenneth Johnson

92.)        Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), directed by Sidney J. Furie

91.)        Supergirl, (1984), directed by Jeannot Szwarc

90.)        Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), directed by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor

89.)        Captain America (1990), directed by Albert Pyun

88.)        Elektra (2005), directed by Rob Bowman

87.)        The Phantom (1996), directed by Simon Wincer

86.)        Ghost Rider (2007), directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Tier 2: Really, Really Bad

These films are also just bad, but diehard fans may find some redeeming qualities.

85.)        My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), directed by Ivan Reitman

84.)        Zoom (2006), directed by Peter Hewitt

83.)        The Shadow (1994), directed by Russell Mulcahy

82.)        The Meteor Man (1993), directed by Robert Townsend

81.)        Blade: Trinity (2004), directed by David S. Goyer

80.)        Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995), directed by Bryan Spicer

79.)        Blankman (1993), directed by Mike Binder

78.)        Superman III (1983), directed by Richard Lester

77.)        Sky High (2005), directed by Mike Mitchell

76.)        Spawn (1997), directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe

75.)        The Toxic Avenger (1984), directed by Michael Herz & Lloyd Kaufman

74.)        The Specials (2000), directed by Craig Mazin

73.)        Daredevil (2003), directed by Mark Steven Johnson

72.)        The Spirit (2008), directed by Frank Miller

71.)        Jonah Hex (2010), directed by Jimmy Hayward

70.)        The Punisher (1989), directed by Mark Goldblatt

69.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), directed by Jonathan Liebesman

68.)        Mystery Men (1999), directed by Kinka Usher

67.)        Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), directed by Tim Story

66.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), directed by Michael Pressman

65.)        X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), directed by Gavin Hood

64.)        Hulk (2003), directed by Ang Lee

Tier 3: Fun and Entertaining, but Nothing Special

These are the superhero films you kind of like (maybe even secretly love), but they are just not that great.

63.)        X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), directed by Brett Ratner

62.)        Batman Forever (1995), directed by Joel Schumacher

61.)        Green Lantern (2011), directed by Martin Campbell

60.)        The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), directed by Marc Webb

59.)        Fantastic Four (2005), directed by Tim Story

58.)        Hancock (2008), directed by Peter Berg

57.)        The Crow (1994), directed by Alex Proyas

56.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), directed by Stuart Gillard

55.)        Tank Girl (1995), directed by Rachel Talalay

54.)        The Punisher (2004), directed by Jonathan Hensleigh

53.)        Zebraman (2004), directed by Takashi Miike

52.)        Batman: The Movie (1966), directed by Leslie H. Martinson

51.)        Orgazmo (1997), directed by Trey Parker

50.)        Superman Returns (2006), directed by Bryan Singer

49.)        The Green Hornet (2011), directed by Michel Gondry

48.)        Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), directed by Guillermo del Toro

47.)        TMNT (2007), directed by Kevin Munroe

46.)        Iron Man 2 (2010), directed by Jon Favreau

45.)        The Incredible Hulk (2008), directed by Louis Leterrier

44.)        Spider-Man 3 (2007), directed by Sam Raimi

43.)        Blade II (2002), directed by Guillermo del Toro

42.)        Punisher: War Zone (2008), directed by Lexi Alexander

41.)        Push (2009), directed by Paul McGuigan

40.)        Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (1990), directed by Steve Barron

39.)        Hellboy (2004), directed by Guillermo del Toro

38.)        Darkman (1990), directed by Sam Raimi

37.)        Defendor (2009), directed by Peter Stebbings

36.)        The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), directed by Mark Webb

35.)        Megamind (2010), directed by Tom McGrath

34.)        Kick-Ass 2 (2013), directed by Jeff Wadlow

33.)        Constantine (2005), directed by Francis Lawrence

32.)        The Wolverine (2013), directed by James Mangold

31.)        Superman II (1980), directed by Richard Donner & Richard Lester

30.)        The Rocketeer (1991), directed Joe Johnston

29.)        Unbreakable (2000), directed by M. Night Shyamalan

28.)        Batman Returns (1992), directed by Tim Burton

27.)        Big Hero 6 (2014), directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams

Tier 2: Very Good Superhero Films

These are the superhero films you love.

26.)        X-Men (2000), directed by Bryan Singer

25.)        Thor (2011), directed by Kenneth Branagh

24.)        Blade (1998), directed by Stephen Norrington

23.)        Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), directed by Joe Johnston

22.)        Man of Steel (2013), directed by Zack Snyder

21.)        Kick-Ass (2010), directed by Matthew Vaughn

20.)        X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), directed by Bryan Singer

19.)        Thor: The Dark World (2013), directed by Alan Taylor

18.)        X-Men 2 (2003), directed by Bryan Singer

17.)        Watchmen (2009), directed by Zack Snyder

16.)        Batman (1989), directed by Tim Burton

15.)        Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner

14.)        Iron Man (2008), directed by Jon Favreau

13.)        Chronicle (2012), directed by Josh Trank

12.)        X-Men: First Class (2011), directed by Matthew Vaughn

11.)        Spider-Man (2002), directed by Sam Raimi

10.)        Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

With Phase II of their MCU, Marvel has taken their films to a new level of quality, fun and entertainment. Marvel also positioned their solo-hero films to fit character specific genres (Iron Man 3’s 80s/90s style action movie, Thor: The Dark World’s adventure fantasy feel and Guardians of the Galaxy’s space opera vibe). Captain America: The Winter Soldier wonderfully works as an action spy/thriller, feeling just gritty enough while still holding onto the MCU’s overall lighter tone.

9.)           Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), directed by Eric Radomski & Bruce Timm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the feature film incarnation of Batman: The Animated Series. It is just brilliant, bring fans what is probably the best versions of Batman, the Joker and a Batman movie (until Christopher Nolan made his Dark Knight Trilogy).

8.)           Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), directed by James Gunn

First there was Star Wars; next there was Firefly; now there is Guardians of the Galaxy. The film is just plain fun, mixing great sci-fi elements with awesome action, funny writing, maybe the year’s best soundtrack, and a stellar group of characters (and our latest Han Solo/Malcolm Reynold in Star Lord).

7.)           The Incredibes (2004), directed by Brad Bird

Brad Bird’s first Pixar film showcases a family of superheroes in a world of superheroes, but the genius of the film is that he takes these extraordinary characters and makes them first exist in the mundane tediousness of normal, everyday life.

6.)           Iron Man 3 (2013), directed by Shane Black

 Shan Black is known for writing some of Hollywood’s best action films in the 80s and 90s (most famously Lethal Weapon). With Iron Man 3, he gives the Tony Stark adventure the same vibe, while also giving Robert Downey Jr. some of his best dialog to date (recapturing the magic of their Kiss Kiss Bang Bang collaboration).

Tier 1: Simply the Best

These are the films that changed the rules, making superhero films the massive critical and commercial successes they are today.

5.)           The Avengers (2012), directed by Joss Whedon

The first half to two-thirds of The Avengers is a little rocky, but once things finally kick off in New York the film is nothing but pure gleeful joy.

4.)           Batman Begins (2005), directed by Christopher Nolan

Origin stories are the hardest to tell, as so much story is devoted to the how and why. Christopher Nolan, however, set the new standard with Batman Begins, one that has not yet been eclipsed.

3.)           The Dark Knight Rises (2012), directed by Christopher Nolan

Epic is a simple and short way to describe the last chapter of the Dark Knight Trilogy. Nolan’s film feels massive in scale, but everything is rooted in character and emotion.

2.)           Spider-Man 2 (2004), directed by Sam Raimi

Spider-Man 2 is the perfect mix of Sam Raimi’s campy style and great storytelling, creating the best comic book feeling superhero film. It is infinitely watchable, and always enjoyable.

1.)         1.)           The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan

            Brilliantly capturing the essence of Michael Mann, Nolan creates a superhero film that completely transcends the genre (forcing the Oscars to change their rules so they do not look like fool again after they snubbed it in 2009), rewriting the rules of what a superhero film could aspire to be. It is a magnificent piece of entertainment and art (and let us not forget Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of the Joker – it is breathtaking).

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – Review

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy is simply an extremely fun and entertaining sci-fi adventure film.

The film is about Peter Quill. His mother died when he was still a young boy and he was kidnapped by space marauders, taken from Earth to a far-off galaxy, growing up among them. Now, as an adult, Quill is himself an outlaw bandit. His latest score is a mysterious orb. Finding the orb, Quill quickly discovers that dangerous people are after its contents, including an assassin named Gamora. She is working for Ronan the Accuser, a powerful being who wants to rain genocide upon the peaceful Xandarians. As Gamora and Quill fight over the Orb, bounty hunters Rocket and Groot also join the mix, as they are after Quill to collect a bounty out on him. All four are captured by the Xandarian police and put in prison. There they meet Drax the Destroyer, a man who only seeks revenge for the murder of his family by Ronan. In prison, an unlikely friendship forms between the five as they plot their escape and agree that the orb must not fall into Ronan’s hands (Gamora, secretly planning on betraying him the whole time).

Marvel started its cinematic universe with a few decent superhero films (most notably Iron Man) but nothing on par with the genre’s best; however, that has all changed. Phase II has been fantastic – even the weakest film of Phase II (Thor: The Dark World) is funny, action-packed, and very entertaining. Since the sheer joyful gallivanting of The Avengers and with its writer-director Joss Whedon at their creative center, Marvel Studios has found a formula that fits their brand perfectly – and they have been able to get the right people (mostly) to work on their projects. These films are incredibly fun, but also feature strong, likable characters and some emotional depth (to varying degrees). Guardians of the Galaxy might be their best standalone adventure yet (though, I could easily also say the same thing about Iron Man 3 or Captain America: The Winter Soldier too, which speaks to the quality of Phase II).

There are a ton of things to really like about Guardians of the Galaxy. It is in many ways a grand space adventure in the vein of Star Wars, mixing great characters with action and adventure in a visually spectacular/engrossing sci-fi setting; but, Guardians of the Galaxy has one additional key element: it is wonderfully funny and features superb witty dialog (making a comparison to Serenity maybe a more accurate one – not that Star Wars does not also have its comedy moments). The film’s sense of humor is juvenile to some extent, but also smart and poignant (it is not crude and lazy like say Transformers). Writer-director James Gunn does a fabulous job putting everything together, creating the perfect tone.

Gunn embraces the weird, allowing characters like Rocket and Groot to not only feel real but succeed as fan favorites. All five of the Guardians feel developed with stories, wants, needs, and emotions that the audience can recognize, take stock in, and care about. If nothing else, Gunn introduces five new Marvel characters for the audience to love, each with their own unique voice and persona (not simply just turning out generic caricatures of classic sci-fi troupes). All five are great, which allows the film in many ways to play like The Avengers (or the anti-Avengers) – a group of individuals who come together as a team. These characters are not heroes, however. They are not gods, super geniuses or morally incorruptible. They are outcasts – a ragtag group of misfits, which in many ways makes them more relatable. They do not set out to save the galaxy initially; they are in it for personal gain, but they discover a special courage inside themselves – a morality – and become heroes. It is a classic tale that we all know, like and want to get behind. Gunn understands this, setting up the film to take full advantage of its strongest assets.

Peter Quill is similar to Han Solo in some ways and Luke Skywalker in other ways (much like Malcolm Reynolds). He is an outlaw at heart, but there is something inside him that aspires to greatness. Rocket and Groot are also similar to Han Solo and Chewbacca (though, much more mischievous and rambunctious). Gamora, however, more resembles Black Widow than any Star Wars characters. She is an assassin who betrays her past to become a heroine. Drax is the muscle, but with a good heart and extremely loyal. In these characters there is something for everyone – classic sci-fi/western heroes, a strong female character, and characters who generate tons of great comedic material.

Conversely, though, I would say that Guardians of the Galaxy is a bit weak in terms of its villains, keeping it from being truly great (or it is one of the things that holds it back – I will get to the other main one later). Ronan the Accuser is a fairly bland genocidal maniac. He has some flair, but he is mostly uninteresting. Far more interesting is his chief assassin Nebula (have a similar background to Gamora, but choosing a different path), but it seems as though she is being saved for a later film to explore in a more meaningful way – here, she is just a badass but not much more is revealed. The same goes for Thanos; he is being saved for another film (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 or The Avengers 3). Guardians of the Galaxy is made to focus its attention on introducing the Guardians, that is its primary goal and concern, and in this regard it does its job wonderfully, but again the villains are a casualty of there being only so much screen time. There are a few good side characters, however, most notably Yondu – Quill’s sort of adoptive father figure and chief marauder.

What is maybe the film’s best asset, in addition to its main characters, is its tone and pacing. Gunn has created a film that is just plain entertaining and smile inducing. It is a pleasure to watch, blending laughs with great action to a very satisfying degree. The film is very tightly structured, always moving forward (which I think is an important attribute of successful lighter-toned blockbusters). Gunn devises all his scenes to support the tone – one of humor, adventure and sci-fi aesthetics. The weak villains do not really matter in the end because Gunn already has five other great characters and he keeps the plot moving and the film very funny and entertaining (or at least, they do not seem to matter as much, because the viewer is just having some much fun experiencing the film).

All that said, however, I think that Guardians of the Galaxy does lack emotional depth. Gunn does a fantastic job with almost every aspect of the film, but nothing really resonates on a deeper emotional level. There are big emotions and tragedy in the lives of all the Guardians, but it all feels a bit superficial because the tone is incredibly fun and energetic. Even seeing Quill’s mother die in the opening scene does not seem to have its full intended impact – probably because he seems to have completely moved on emotionally the next time we see him. The loss of his mother does not feel like a defining character trait, even though it probably should be or was intended to be. We want to see the Guardians win the day, not because we care about them on an emotional level, but because we like them and they are a lot of fun, which is again much more superficial. The great films connect with their audiences on an emotional level. The death of Luke Skywalker’s family (his aunt and uncle and earlier his father) at the hands of the Empire (and Darth Vader) has a real palpable impact both on him and the audience. There is nothing that meaningful in this film, leaving it as something that plays more as pure entertainment than as a full cinematic experience, engaging its audience on many levels. Marvel has their formula down for making fantastically entertaining films, but they still struggle with deeper emotional resonance (though, I would argue there are moments that work well in The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, engaging their audience in a more impactful manner). As fun as Guardians of the Galaxy is, it is still not quite on the same level as the uppermost films in the genre (both superhero and entertainment-oriented sci-fi). I say this having thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Yes, Guardians of the Galaxy may have been a seemingly huge risk for Marvel because it is a bit weirder than their past films and deals in unlikely heroes; but due to James Gunn’s clear love of and vision for the characters and world, the film is marvelously entertaining and incredibly fun. I am not sure if it is the best Marvel Studios film so far – it very well might be – but it certainly solidifies that with Phase II Marvel Studios is on top of the superhero genre right now, churning out great stories and characters that are very funny, thrilling, and adventurous. I, for one, cannot wait to see what is next (Avengers: Age of Ultron looks like it is going to be amazing).

Technical, aesthetic & acting achievements: James Gunn deals in superb and dark comedy, writing and directing films like Slither and Super, but Guardians of the Galaxy is by far his best effort to date. It exemplifies his great subversive wit (but it is not nearly as dark as his past work). I am even more interested to see what he will do with Guardians of the Galaxy 2, now that the cumbersome origin story is over with (unlike with most cinema, superhero sequels are often better as they allow filmmakers to tell more complete stories with already established characters).

In the review portion of this, I completely skipped over just how great the film looks aesthetically. Cinematographer Ben Davis and production designer Charles Wood (who are both working on Age of Ultron by the way) do excellent work creating a world that is gritty and realistic yet grand and full of brilliant sci-fi awesomeness (much like The Collector’s showroom). Davis lights the film to be appropriately dark and ominous in moments/places and bright and clean in others, giving the visuals a nice dichotomy, juxtaposing the villainy of Ronan against the innocence/morality of Xandar. Wood’s sets and design are rich with detail and depth. Ronan’s ship, The Collector’s showroom (again), the Xandarian prison, and especially the interior of Quill’s ship (the Milano) are fantastic. Tyler Bates provides a good score that matches the tone well, but it is the film’s soundtrack that takes center stage musically. The mix of great 1970s pop songs seems to perfectly capture the spirit of the film and its characters.

The cast is tremendous and perfectly suited to their roles and the overall tone. Peter Serafinowicz, Benicio Del Toro, John C. Reilly, and Djimon Hounsou are all great in small supporting roles. Karen Gillan is fantastic as Nebula with almost a frolicsomely evil menace (I hope there is much more of her in the future). Michael Rooker is one of the James Gunn troupe who make appearances in the film (others include Sean Gunn, Greg Henry, and Nathan Fillion). Rooker is great as space pirate Yondu, a role that is right in his wheelhouse. Lee Pace brings a lot of Shakespearian energy to Ronan, always gravely monologing; it works well. Bradley Cooper voices Rocket (who was played live for the actors during filming by Sean Gunn), the character who might just steal the film. Cooper has a manic energy – jubilantly rude and playful, yet with a heart (in there somewhere). Vin Diesel voices Groot, who may very well be the film’s best character. (Like with his voice role in The Iron Giant) Diesel does a lot with very little, displaying a vicious loyalty to his friends. Dave Bautista is good as Drax, definitely displaying the physicality, but also Bautista shows a knack for comedy too, playing a warrior who takes everything literally. Zoe Saldana does everything well in this. She certainly has the physicality to make a convincing assassin as Gamora, but she also displays a sympathetic heart, allowing the audience to believe that she would fight to save the galaxy despite her past allegiances. It is also nice to see that she is not just relegated to ‘romantic interest’. Chris Pratt was always going to make a great Han Solo type as Peter Quill. He has brilliant comedic timing and delivery, but also the confidence and swagger that typify the archetype.

Summary & score: Guardians of the Galaxy is the sci-fi saga general moviegoers have been waiting for since Star Wars’ original trilogy ended in 1983 (or for those who found Firefly/Serenity: it is the sci-fi saga fans have been waiting for since Fox cancelled Firefly). It is spectacularly fun. 8/10

At the Movies – August 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

Guardians of the Galaxy – Action/Adventure Sci-Fi – Aug 1

Plot Summary: In deep space, an American pilot turned thief, Peter Quill, finds himself mixed up in a war for control of the galaxy. He steals a magical orb from Ronan the Accuser not knowing that the orb is a key element in Ronan’s plan to seize control. Now, Quill must join with a few other misfits to form the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop Ronan. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director James Gunn, producer Kevin Feige, and cinematographer Ben Davis. Actors Involved: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio Del Toro. Quality Potential: High. James Gunn, with past projects such as Slither and Super, is a great fit for Guardians of the Galaxy. He will bring the right mix of weird, action, and comedy to the film. And, he has a great working relationship with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe overseer Joss Whedon. Gunn has also assembled a great cast, especially for this film. Having already opened in the U.K., the film is playing to fantastic reactions from critics and fans alike. Marvel’s entire Phase II has been strong so far. There is every reason to believe that this film will follow suit. Many are comparing it to Star Wars in terms of it being a very entertaining sci-fi adventure. Trailer: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Calvary – Drama – Aug 1

Plot Summary: Farther James Lavelle is an innocent priest in a small Irish town; however, one day he is threatened during confession – told that he will be killed at some point in the near future. Now, he must sort things out as the man or men who conspire against him close in. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director John Michael McDonagh and cinematographer Larry Smith. Actors Involved: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankole, M. Emmet Walsh, Marie-Josee Croze, and Domhnall Gleeson. Quality Potential: High. Calvary looks like a wickedly entertaining drama, with a sly dark comedy element. It has a phenomenal cast (of mostly Irish actors) and John Michael McDonagh is a great talent emerging out of Europe’s independent cinema. His first feature, The Guard, is quite good. I am very much looking forward to seeing this one. Trailer: Here.

Most Anticipated Films of 2014 – Part 1: Blockbusters

Title: Noah

Release: March 28

Genre: Action/Adventure Epic

Plot: Noah is inundated with apocalyptic visions of the world ending – a sign from God that a massive flood is coming to cleanse the Earth. It is up to him to take measures to protect his family (and the many species of animals).

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone

Editor’s Thoughts: I have a feeling that Noah is going to be a somewhat polarizing film, because it comes loaded with religious implications/expectations. Will the film live up to what Christians believe it should be? Personally, however, I am more interested to see what Darren Aronofsky does with his first Hollywood big budget, special effects-driven film. He is a very talented writer-director, who has made a career making films that feature wonderful performances and have a great edgy tone (I particularly liked Black Swan). Aronofsky has a very good cast (including the reuniting of A Beautiful Mind’s Crowe and Connelly) and crew; thus aesthetically and performance wise, the film should be very good, which leaves only Aronofsky’s interpretation of the Biblical story in question. I think it is going to be a fantastically visual and visceral event film (that is likely to anger some in the religious community).

Trailer: Here

Title: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Release: April 4

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Following the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers struggles to assume his leadership role within S.H.I.E.L.D. He still finds his place in the modern world difficult. But when S.H.I.E.L.D. faces a major new threat from the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier, Rogers must fully embrace his role, as well as face past demons.

Director: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

Main Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Redford

Editor’s Thoughts: Marvel’s phase II films have been very good so far, both Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World are better than any of the phase I individual superhero films. Marvel’s cinematic universe has a great combination of action, adventure, comedy, and drama. Yet each film feels like its own thing too. The Winter Soldier looks like it going to be a great spy thriller style action film. The only question that I have regarding the film is the choice of directors, being that the Russo Brothers are primarily known for their work directing TV comedies (like Community and Happy Endings) and this is much different project. Marvel, however, is very pleased with their work and has already hired them to direct Captain America 3. Based on what I have seen, this looks like it very well could be 2014’s best superhero film.

Trailer: Here

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Release: May 2

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Peter Parker continues to live it up as Spider-Man, enjoy his relationship with Gwen Stacy, and digging deeper into the mystery involved in the disappearance of his parents with everything pointing at Oscorp. His life is thrown into turmoil, however, when suddenly faced with multiple supervillains, including Electro and The Rhino.

Director: Marc Webb

Main Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, and Paul Giamatti

Editor’s Thoughts: While The Amazing Spider-Man served as a decent introduction to the rebooted world of Spider-Man, it was not a great overall film (especially when compared to Sam Raimi’s first two Spider-Man films). That said, I do really like Garfield as Parker and Stone as Stacy. They are a great place to build from. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 looks like it potentially will be really good and entertaining. There has been a lot of complaining that it is overstuffed with villains (something many see as the downfall of Spider-Man 3), but the plan is for the series to stretch four films. Thus, if the character development is done right, it could be very satisfying to see Spider-Man exist in a bigger world, rather than just the typical new big bad of each film (which makes them all rather generic structurally). I am very excited to see if this lives up to its potential, as I am ready to enjoy good Spider-Man films again.

Trailer: Here

Title: Godzilla

Release: May 16

Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: Civilization trembles as a giant radioactive monster called Godzilla wreaks havoc and destruction upon mankind.

Director: Gareth Edwards

Main Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, and Ken Watanabe

Editor’s Thoughts: For those who have seen Monsters, there is a particular excitement for Gareth Edwards directing of this new Godzilla film – one of gleeful anticipation, as Monsters is a great Godzilla-like thriller. Edwards also has a fantastic cast as well (including The Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch). A new Godzilla is not really a film that we really thought we needed, especially in the wake of the character’s terrible last iteration, but this film looks like it is going to be awfully good.

Trailer: Here

Title: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Release: May 23

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: The future is doomed. Both humans and mutants find themselves dwindling in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In an effort to change the future, the remaining X-Men send Wolverine back to the past to find the younger versions of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr and avert the events that lead to this nightmarish future.

Director: Bryan Singer

Main Cast: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart

Editor’s Thoughts: The X-Men franchise is all a bit of a mess. X-Men: First Class (easily my favorite of the series) probably should have just existed as a reboot instead of part of the same continuing series (a series in which the timeline makes no sense). But this is not the case. It is also too bad that Matthew Vaughn did not return, as he did a great job with First Class. Instead, Bryan Singer assumes the role as director again (having directed the first two films in the series – both very overrated). It is also too bad that Fox and Singer have decided to once again make this a Wolverine-centric film (when in the comics it is Kitty Pryde that goes back in time, a character I and many really like, and would have been a nice change, plus they have Ellen Page playing her). I am sick of Wolverine and Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of him (even though I did enjoy The Wolverine) in this series. But, all that said, there are some cool things about this too. The First Class cast is fantastic and mostly all returning, plus it will be brilliant to see the interaction between the old and new versions of the X-Men (if there are any). Also, Peter Dinklage as Boliver Trask will likely be wonderfully fun. The film features a ton of characters, but Singer has done a decent job in the past with large ensembles; so I am not as worried about that as I am about him as the director in general (being that he has never made a truly good film – The Usual Suspects does not hold up upon multiple viewings and is maybe the most overrated film of all time). Yes, there is a lot of potential for this to be fantastic and I hope it is; but like the X-Men franchise itself, there is just as much potential for it to be a big disappointing mess.

Trailer: Here

Title: Jupiter Ascending

Release: July 18

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

Plot: Jupiter Jones is just an average human woman (a janitor in fact), or so she thinks. Then one day she is targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe. Jones is rescued by an alien man named Caine who helps her begin her destiny to end the Queen’s reign.

Director: The Wachowskis

Main Cast: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, and Eddie Redmayne

Editor’s Thoughts: Jupiter Ascending is the first chapter of The Wachowskis’ new Star Wars-like trilogy. It looks potentially really cool and ambitious. We have not had a good sci-fi series in cinemas for a while and it is a void that this can hopefully fill in a satisfying way. I really liked Cloud Atlas, a crazily ambitious film, and thus I have high expectations for this new project from the Wachowskis.

Trailer: Here

Title: Guardians of the Galaxy

Release: August 1

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: American pilot Peter Quill finds himself lost in the far reaches of Space. And even worst, he is the object of a galactic manhunt after he steals an orb greatly coveted by Ronan the Accuser. But Quill soon finds the aid of a group of warriors, who band together in an effort to stop Ronan from recapturing the orb.

Director: James Gunn

Main Cast: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, John C. Reilly, and Benicio Del Toro

Editor’s Thoughts: Guardians of the Galaxy is a big move for Marvel’s cinematic universe. Firstly, it expands it greatly by introducing many new characters and worlds. Secondly, it tests the box office waters for non-Avengers’ movies. And lastly, it introduces an element of weird into the universe – something that could be fantastic if done right. James Gunn (the director of things like Slither and Super) seems like a great fit to bring a bit of weird to Marvel’s films. And, he has a really great cast with him. I am unfamiliar with the comics; but based on what I have read and seen, Guardians of the Galaxy has a lot of potentially to be something wonderfully entertaining and different – something very much needed in Summer blockbusters.

Trailer: Here 

Title: Interstellar

Release: November 7

Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi

Plot: A recently discovered wormhole allows a group of explorers to surpass the limitations of what is available to humans in their knowledge of the universe and travel vast distances through Space and discover new worlds.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Main Cast: Mathew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, and Casey Affleck

Editor’s Thoughts: There is not a lot known about Interstellar at the moment, and the teaser trailer is vague on the plot as well. What we do know is that it is a new film by Christopher Nolan, and really that is enough. For me, this is probably the film I am most looking forward to in 2014 (although, The Grand Budapest Hotel is right there too). Nolan’s last original film was Inception, a theist-thriller that succeeded on every level of grand filmmaking. The expectations for Interstellar are thusly the same.

Trailer: Here

Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Release: November 21

Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: Though reluctant, Katniss Everdeen becomes the symbol of rebellion against the Capitol (building on the events of the first two films).

Director: Francis Lawrence

Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, and Julianne Moore

Editor’s Thoughts: Let me first start by saying how sad I am at the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman, a wonderfully talented actor whose work I really enjoyed. He will be missed. I am excited to finally see a Hunger Games movie in which something interesting happens (or presumably happens, I have not read the books). In The Hunger Games, Katniss is let off the hook on having to make any truly difficult choices; and in Catching Fire, Katniss is left out of the loop (and so too are the audience by narrative design) and thus sidelined from the more interesting narrative going on behind the scenes, while we are left to watch what is basically the same movie as the first again. It feels like the audience, through Katniss, is finally being allowed to really get at the meat of the story – one that feels fitting in today’s times of social rife and staggering wealth inequality in large portions of the world. It will be interesting to see (at least for me) if Katniss actually becomes the real protagonist of her story for once and takes charge.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: The Hobbit: There and Back Again

Release: December 17

Genre: Action/Adventure/Epic

Plot: Though Thorin and his company of dwarves have reached Smaug’s lair, can they defeat the dragon and reclaim their home? Will Bilbo, Gandalf, and the elves, men, and dwarves thwart the armies of orcs that come to face them in battle?

Director: Peter Jackson

Main Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, and Benedict Cumberbatch

Editor’s Thoughts: I enjoyed both An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, but it feels like There and Back Again will probably be the most satisfying of the three films (as it will provide closure, when the other two end just as things pick up). With only seventy pages left in The Hobbit, it will be interesting to see how Peter Jackson fills what is likely another long film, and how he connects it further with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Plus, the big battles that take place in this should be great.

Trailer: Here (if available)