2015 Film Preview

 Here’s what looks interesting at a glance for the new year. Again, I am basing a lot of my picks on the people involved, familiarity, or an interesting plot description. Keep in mind that most these dates are flexible (some might get pushed into 2016).Here they are, in release date order:

1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (Feb.13) 
Director: Matthew Vaughn [X-Men: First Class]

Colin Firth as a cool spy who recruits a street kid into an exclusive agency.

2. Divergent Series: Insurgent (Mar.20) 
Director: Robert Schwentke [RED]

Tris and Four are on the run from the Erudite. This first one was pretty good.

3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May.1) 
Director: Joss Whedon [Avengers]

Extremely excited to see what Whedon does this time around.

4. Tomorrowland (May.22) 
Director: Brad Bird [The Incredibles]

Hope Bird and George Clooney don’t make a Disneyland promo film.

5. Entourage (Jun.5) 
Director: Doug Ellin [newcomer]

I watched the television series, so let’s see where this goes.

6. Jurassic World (Jun.12) 
Director: Colin Tevorrow [Safety Not Guaranteed]

Scientists stupidly make a dino-hybrid that goes wild. Sounds like fun.

7. Inside Out (Jun.19) 
Director: Pete Docter [Up]

It’s Pixar. It has Amy Poehler, Lewis Black and Mindy Kaling. I’m there.

8. Minions (Jul.10) 
Director: Pierre Coffin [Despicable Me]

A Despicable Me prequel where minions look for evil bosses. Sooo cute.

9. Ant-Man (Jul.17) 
Director: Peyton Reed [Yes Man]

Paul Rudd shrinks in the newest Marvel offering. They haven’t missed yet.

10. Masterminds (Aug.14) 
Director: Jared Hess [Napoleon Dynamite]

Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis steal 17 million and spend it. Okay.

11. Black Mass (Sep.18) 
Director: Scott Cooper [Crazy Heart]

Historical Irish mob film about the Bulgers with Depp and Cumberbatch.

12. The Walk (Oct.2) Director: Robert Zemeckis [Captain Phillips]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt tightropes between the Twin Towers. True story.

13. St. James Place (Oct.16) 
Director: Steven Spielberg [Saving Private Ryan]

A Tom Hanks spy film and look who’s involved. I’m definitely there.

14. Spectre (Nov.6) 
Director: Sam Mendes [Skyfall]

Daniel Craig’s James Bond takes on Spectre. Loved Craig’s stuff so far.

15. Mockingjay, Part II (Nov.20) 
Director: Francis Lawrence [Catching Fire]

Excited to see how they end this series. Hopefully better than the book.

16. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec.18) 
Director: JJ Abrams [Star Trek]

Some obscure film about space and religion and robots. Sure,why not?

17. Inferno (Dec.18) 
Director: Ron Howard [The Da Vinci Code]

Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon. I enjoyed the first two.

18. The Nest (Dec.18) 
Director: Jason Moore [Pitch Perfect]

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey as sisters. Better be better than Baby Mama.

19. Mission: Impossible V (Dec.25) 
Director: Chris McQuarrie [Jack Reacher]

Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt. I love this series (well except for #2).

20. Joy (Dec.25) 
Director: David O Russell [American Hustle]

Jennifer Lawrence and Russell are awesome together. Sign me up.

For those who like to plan ahead (way ahead)

Upcoming in 2016: Batman vs Superman; Captain America: Civil War; X-Man: Apocalypse; Finding Dory; Independence Day 2; Sinister Six; Avatar 2; Assassin’s Creed; Star Trek 3

Upcoming in 2017: Star Wars VIII; Guardians of the Galaxy 2; Toy Story 4; Justice League: Part 1; Despicable Me 3; Pirates of the Caribbean 5; Thor 3; Avatar 3

Upcoming in 2018: Amazing Spiderman 3; Lego Movie 2; Avengers: Infinity War, Part I; Lego Batman; Captain Marvel; Inhumans; Avatar 4