After a
strong year in cinema, all eyes are now toward 2011 and its slate of box office
contenders. One trend visible right off the bat is the abundance of sequels,
but instead of focusing on franchises you already know, this list will look at
the most anticipated new movies that could eventually spawn a follow-up or two
of their own.
COWBOYS & ALIENS
Starring: Daniel
Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell,
Adam Beach, Keith
Carradine & Abigail Spencer
Directed by Jon
Favreau for distribution by Universal Studios
The Plot: A stranger (Craig)
with no memory of his past winds up in a small desert town ran by a dictator
(Ford), only to find he’s being tracked by a group of aliens that may hold the
key to his past.
The Final Word: The Western genre has seen it
all…except for this! While stories set in the Wild West have been around for a
while, I can’t think of many that involve aliens. Director Jon Favreau will
lead an all-star cast into uncharted territory this summer and could walk away
with another hit under his belt.
THE GIRL WITH THE
DRAGON TATTOO
Starring: Daniel
Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard,
Robin Wright, Max von
Sydow & Christopher Plummer
Directed by David
Fincher for distribution by Sony
The Plot: A young hacker (Mara)
gets involved in the long unsolved case of a missing heiress and promptly stirs
up trouble.
The Final Word: This is the first book in the American
adaptation of the “Millennium Series” trilogy by the late author Stieg Larsson.
Already a foreign success, Sony quickly jumped at the chance to bring this
popular book series to screens in the USA.
GNOMEO & JULIET
Starring: (voices)
James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham,
Maggie Smith, Ashley
Jensen, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen & Ozzy Osbourne.
Directed by Kelly
Asbury for distribution by Touchstone.
The Plot: The classic tale of
Romeo & Juliet re-invented with garden gnomes.
The Final Word: Seriously despite the way it sounds;
don’t brush this movie off just yet. Yes it sounds a little out there, but with
music legend Elton John as the driving force behind it and a who’s who of
A-listers lending their voices, the movie deserves a chance. Even more
intriguing is that John’s songbook will be front and center throughout the
movie, along with a few new originals.
GREEN LANTERN
Starring: Ryan
Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong,
Angela Bassett, Tim
Robbins & Jon Tenny
Directed by Martin
Campbell for distribution by Warner Brothers
The Plot: A gifted but cocky
test pilot (Reynolds) is entrusted with a ring which gives the person who
wields it unlimited powers.
The Final Word: While Marvel and Paramount have had great success
with the superhero genre, Warner Brothers has not has as much luck. Yes,
they’ve had great success with the “Batman” revamps, but Marvel has upped the
ante by unveiling a full slate of movies all leading up to the multi-hero
action film “The Avengers.” In order to counter, the WB has really put a lot
effort (and money) into making “Green Lantern” a franchise, which it hopes will
pave the way for other adaptations. With a talented director, an rising star in
the title role and a strong fanbase supporting them, the odds are in their
favor.
HOP
Starring: (voices of)
Russell Brand, James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco
Elizabeth Perkins
& Hugh Laurie
Directed by Tim Hill for
distribution by Universal Studios
The Plot: A out of work slacker
(Marsden) accidentally injures the Easter Bunny (Brand) and must take him in
while he recovers.
The Final Word: From the people behind last summer’s
surprise hit “Despicable Me” comes this new animated film. Based on the teaser
trailer alone, Universal looks like it was able to duplicate the early appeal
that made “Despicable Me” popular with the masses prior to its debut. Throw in
an Easter theme and the always enthusiast Brand and this could be another
success.
MARVEL’S:
THOR & CAPTAIN
AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
THOR
Starring: Chris
Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins,
Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings,
Idris Elba, Clark
Gregg & Colm Feore
Directed by Kenneth
Branagh for distribution by Paramount
The Plot: Cast down from the
heavens by his father (Hopkins), the warrior Thor (Hemsworth) must adjust to
life on Earth, but soon finds his past coming back to haunt him with an old
enemy re-emerges bent on world domination.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST
AVENGER
Starring: Chris
Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson,
Dominic Cooper, Tommy
Lee Jones, Stanley
Directed by Joe
Johnston for distribution by Paramount
The Plot: After volunteering
for a secret government experiment, Steve Rogers (Evans) becomes a super
solider known as “Captain America.”
The Final Word: Fans of Marvel’s iconic superheroes
are in for a double feature this summer as both Thor and Captain America will
make their long awaited premieres. The mighty Thor will bow in May, while “The
First Avenger” Captain America will arrive almost two months later. Both are
expected to ride the success that “Iron Man” had in both 2008 & 2010, but
the question can also be asked if this too much too fast. While “Iron Man” was
a huge box office winner, “The Incredible Hulk” only had a fraction of the
success. Granted Edward Norton, who will be replaced in 2012’s “The Avengers”
movie, was partially blamed for “Hulk’s” less than incredible cume, the overall
brand revival has so far mostly been built around Robert Downey Jr.’s ability
to sell a movie. This pair of movies will be the first true test of the Marvel
viability as two relative unknowns are being given the reins with a strong
arsenal of “A” listers supporting them.
THE MUPPETS
Starring: Jason
Segal, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper,
Kermit The Frog, Miss
Piggy & Fozzie Bear.
Directed by James
Bobin for distribution by Walt Disney Pictures
The Plot: After an evil oil
tycoon (Cooper) makes plans to destroy the legendary Muppet Theatre, the Muppet’s
biggest fan Wally teams with his friends Gary (Segal) and Mary (Adams) to
reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways.
The Final Word: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and
all their friends haven’t been on the big screen since 1999’s “Muppets In
Space.” After over a decade on hiatus, the iconic characters are coming back courtesy
of Disney and Jason Segal, who along with Nicolas Stoller wrote the screenplay.
Segal, a longtime fan, has also recruited a number of top Hollywood
heavyweights such as Billy Crystal, Ricky Gervais and Jack Black and to join
the fun.
THE SMURFS
Starring: Neil
Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara,
Hank Azaria, Anton
Yelchin, Jonathan Winters,
Katy Perry, Alan
Cumming & George Lopez
Directed by Raja
Gosnell for distribution by Columbia Pictures (Sony)
The Plot: Chased out of their
land by the evil Gargamel (Azaria), the Smurfs suddenly finds themselves in New
York City where they cross paths with an expectant couple (Harris, Mays) who
decide to help them out.
The Final Word: Similar to “Alvin & The Chipmunks”
and “Yogi Bear,” the iconic blue “Smurfs” are about to get the big screen
treatment. After years of road blocks, it now appears all systems are go for
Papa Smurf and all his friends to made their to the silver screen (and of
course) in 3D.
SUCKER PUNCH
Starring: Emily
Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish,
Directed by Zach
Snyder for distribution by Warner Brothers
The Plot: A young girl
(Browning) locked away against her will teams up with her fellow captives to
fight against the evil forces surrounding them.
The Final Word: Similar to Snyder’s other films this
one can’t be described in just words. The movie, which is no doubt meant to be
seen in IMAX, is very similar in style to the cult film “Sin City.” It also can
be summed up very succinctly; beautiful women battling darkness. Sold!
SUPER 8
Starring: Kyle
Chandler, Elle Fanning, Ron Eldard & Noah Emmerich
Directed by: J.J
Abrams for distribution by Paramount
The Plot: Yeah, like J.J.
Abrams is going tip his hat this soon…
The Final Word: In 2008, J.J. Abrams unveiled
“Cloverfield,” a sci-fi/disaster /monster movie that took in $46 million,
almost twice what it cost to produce.
After that kind of massive success with nothing more than a grassroots
PR campaign, it is no surprise Paramount was willing to hand over the keys to
the kingdom one more time with little questions asked. So far all that has been
released about the movie is the cast and the above teaser trailer. Get
comfortable readers, it may be awhile until we get any more info.
