2013 Film Preview

Last year, I ranked the top twenty films I was most looking forward to in 2012. While I saw a good number of them, some of them failed to impress in the light of day (especially Eddie Murphy’s A Thousand Words). This year I thought I would divide the 2013 film between sequels and non-sequels. Again, most of these are based purely on promotion materials available, previous films, people involved and basic concepts. Here we go again:

SEQUELS TO WATCH FOR IN 2013

1. A Good Day to Die Hard (Feb.14)
John McClane is now in Russia saving his son. Explosions ensue.
2. Iron Man 3 (May.3)
Tony Stark gets everything taken away from him from a mad man.
3. Star Trek: Into Darkness (May.17)
The Enterprise is called back to Earth to help save it.
4. The Hangover, Part III (May.24)
The Wolfpack are back and hopefully not stuck on repeat.
5. Despicable Me 2 (Jul.3)
Gru, the girls and the minions are back for more.
6. 300: Rise of an Empire (Aug.2)
The abs return as Greeks fight the Persians.
7. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (Oct.4)
Rodriguez returns to direct some more Frank Miller graphic novels
8. Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Nov.22)
Katniss is on the Victor’s Tour and is in the All-Star Hunger Games.
9. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Dec.13)
The story continues as the gang journey to Lonely Mountain
10. Anchorman: The Legend Continues (Dec.20)
Ron Burgundy and his pal reunite for this highly-anticipated sequel

NON-SEQUEL FILMS TO WATCH FOR IN 2013

1. A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (Feb.8)
A Wes Anderson collaborator casts Charlie Sheen with Bill Murray.
2. Oz The Great and Powerful (Mar.8)
Sam Raimi (Spiderman) presents a prequel to the popular story.
3. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (Mar.15)
Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi & Jim Carrey are rival Vegas magicians.
4. The Great Gatsby (May.10)
Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) directs Leo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby
5. Much Ado About Nothing (Jun.7)
Joss Whedon directs Shakespeare featuring Whedonverse alums.
6. Now You See Me (Jun.7)
A group of four illusionists elude the FBI while robbing banks
7. Man of Steel (Jun.14)
New Superman Henry Cavill squares off against General Zod
8. This Is the End (Jun.14)
Seth Rogen directs his friends (as themselves) facing the apocalypse
9. The World’s End (Oct.25)
Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz) directs Pegg & Frost on an epic pub crawl
10. Monuments Men (Dec.20)
Clooney, Craig and Bill Murray prevent Nazis from destroying art

Here are ten more films that caught my eye and may be watched if the trailers are good and the rotten tomato score is decent: Gangster Squad (Jan.11), Identity Thief (Feb.8), 42 (Apr.12), Monsters University (Jun.21), World War Z (Jun.21), The Lone Ranger (Jul.3), Reds 2 (Aug.2), Ender’s Game (Nov.1), Thor: The Dark World (Nov.8), Saving Mr. Banks (Dec.21).

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Oscar/Golden Globe Predictions