Movies I Wanna See Most: 2012

Let me start off by saying that there are more films in 2012 that I want to see than I could fit onto this list. I tried to look over the entire year rather than just the first few months and the summer blockbusters. It was tough to do as a lot of films coming out in the first half of the year had to be knocked from the list. The earliest movie I have on here doesn't come out until the end of March. I even added an honorable mention section at the end and there were still movies I wanted to add like Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" adaptation and the Kristen Stewart/Chris Hemsworth re-telling of "Snow White and the Huntsmen". All in all though I am pretty happy with the list. I know many people will agree with at least one choice that I didn't include in my top 10, but let's just say that as much as I look forward to this particular film, I don't have the investment in "Alien" or "Blade Runner" that some die hard sci-fi fans do. I enjoyed the films very much, but there were just so many other ones I personally am looking forward to. That is the key to this list; this is more of a personal one rather than an objective list, but I believe most will agree with the majority of my picks. If not, let me know your thoughts in the comments section and lets cross our fingers for a great new year at the movies.



10. The Hunger Games (March 23)

Director: Gary Ross
Writers: Suzanne Collins (novel), Gary Ross (screenplay).
Stars:Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.

At this point I am about midway through the novel on which this is based and though so far the hype surrounding it might have built it up a bit too much for me, I am still anxious to see how this adaptation turns out. Check out the trailer for it here.






9. Men In Black III (May 25)

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writers: Lowell Cunningham (comic), David Koepp (screenplay)
Stars:Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin

Agent J time-jumps back to the 1960s, where an alien with its sights on the younger version of Agent K poses a threat to the future of the MIB organization and humankind's very existence.

Even though it has been ten years since the disappointing sequel, I am still just as much a fan of the first film as ever. There is nothing that compares to the combined sci-fi action and storyline as well as the comedy brought by the pairing of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Here's hoping this one overcomes the script issues and turns out to be a highlight of Summer 2012. Check out the trailer here.

8. Neighborhood Watch (July 27th)

Director: Akiva Schaffer
Writers: Seth Rogen (screenplay), Evan Goldberg (screenplay)
Stars:Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill

Suburban dads form a neighborhood watch group to get time away from their families, only to discover a plot to destroy Earth.

It has been too long since a major Frat Pack collaboration has taken place on screen. With this Shawn Levy produced and Lonely Island member Akiva Shaeffer directed comedy re-teaming "Dodgeball" co-stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn with Jonah Hill as a bonus I couldn't be more excited about a comedy this year.



7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 14) 

Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: J.R.R. Tolkien (based on a story), Fran Walsh
Stars:Luke Evans, Elijah Wood and Cate Blanchett

Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.

As much as I enjoyed The original trilogy I have never been the biggest fan of "Lord of the Rings". It is the accomplishments of Peter Jackson that seemed to stand out as a filmmaker for me. With his return to the characters and stories that made him a force to be reckoned with this is one of the most anticipated films of the year. Check out the teaser trailer here.

6. Lincoln (December 2012)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Doris Kearns Goodwin (biography), John Logan (original screenplay)
Stars:Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones

The sixteenth President of the United States guides the North to victory during the Civil War.

The simple fact that Steven Spielberg is directing Daniel Day-Lewis is enough to entice anybody, the fact Day-Lewis is playing one of the most notable figures in history only makes it a plus. With a killer supporting cast as well, what we have here is sure to be a contender for best picture in 2013 and a sure fire win for Day-Lewis in the best actor department.

5. Skyfall (November 9)

Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Ian Fleming (characters), John Logan (screenplay)
Stars:Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory and Javier Bardem

Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

I didn't really get into James Bond until after seeing Daniel Craig's first go around as the iconic character in "Casino Royale". With him finally returning to the role after a four-year hiatus and with director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road) at the helm and Javier Bardem tapped for the villain this could be the best Bond yet.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3)

Director: Marc Webb
Writers: Alvin Sargent (screenplay), Steve Kloves (screenplay)
Stars:Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans

Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.

While at first this seemed like a terrible idea, ever since things started coming out this has looked better and better. Andrew Garfield is a more than capable up and comer  to fill Spidey's suit while casting Emma Stone was nothing short of genius. It should also be interesting to see what 500 Days of Summer director Marc Webb does with this type of film. Check out the first trailer here.

3. Django Unchained (December 25)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Stars:Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sacha Baron Cohen

With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.

With Tarantino coming off of his "Inglorious Basterds" masterpiece and with a cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christoph Waltz, Kurt Russell and Jamie Foxx this is sure to be one of the most amazing films of 2012. Too bad we have to wait until the end of the year for it to come out.

2. The Avengers (May 4)

Director: Joss Whedon
Writers: Zak Penn, Joss Whedon
Stars:Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Mark Ruffalo

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agency brings together a team of superhumans to help save the Earth from annihilation by extraterrestrial invaders.

If this were any other year this would be the number one movie on my list, but what makes it number two makes it even better. In 2012 two of the biggest super hero films of all time will come out and despite this showing my nerd side big time I can't deny the fact that "The Avengers" will certainly be one of the most ambitious films we see all year. Check out the first trailer here.

1. The Dark Knight Rises (July 20)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay)
Stars:Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy

The terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, and pushes its hero Batman to breaking point and beyond.

I mean, was there any question? I have been waiting for this film since the moment the credits on "The Dark Knight" rolled. In what we have seen and heard from director Christopher Nolan so far this looks to be the worthy successor to the greatest comic book film of all time and possibly even better. The latest trailer gives us a short glimpse into just how epic this will be. July 20th can't come soon enough. Check out the trailer here.






That Can't be All of Them...

For films 11-15 I have picked (in no particular order) Ridley Scott's much anticipated return to the sci-fi genre with "Prometheus", Judd Apatow's spin off of Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's characters from "Knocked Up" titled "This is Forty", Sacha Baron Cohen's return to what he does best in "The Dictator", the first original Disney/Pixar film in two years "Brave", and the Brad Pitt vehicle "World war Z" that is an adaptation of the Max Brooks (son of Mel) novel that is a collection of individual accounts in the form of first-person anecdotes in a post-apocalyptic world of zombies. While I had a hard time not putting any of these five films in my top 10 I would have to say they still have levels of excitement and expectation around them that are worthy of anyones top five. It is just due to the strength of the top 10 that this year they fell just outside it. Below you can find brief descriptions of each...

Prometheus: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe.

Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof
Stars: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron

This is Forty: A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.

Director: Judd Apatow
Writer: Judd Apatow (screenplay)
Stars: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Jason Segel

Brave: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Writers: Brenda Chapman (screenplay), Irene Mecchi (screenplay)
Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson

World War Z: A UN representative, writing a report on the great zombie war, interviews survivors in the wake of World War Z.

Director: Marc Forster
Writers: Max Brooks (novel), J. Michael Straczynski (screenplay
Stars: Brad Pitt, Eric West and Matthew Fox

The Dictator: The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Director: Larry Charles
Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen (screenplay), Alec Berg (screenplay)
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and John C. Reilly