Wow. Is it summer already?
"No," most of you are probably saying. And, technically, you'd be correct. But then, the first Saturday in May has never technically been part of summer, either, and that hasn't stopped it from marking the start of the blockbuster season for more than fifteen years.
But forget all that, too - the summer movie season is a thing of the past. It took them a decade or two longer that it should have, but the studios have finally realized they do not, in fact, need to wait until May to make money on movies. Deadpool, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Zootopia have demonstrated the point for anyone who forgot about Hunger Games, Winter Soldier, and Furious 7. Make a good movie, and the audience will come. Unless, of course, you're stupid enough to release it in the middle of summer, when there's an even chance it'll be lost among the crowd.
Fortunately for fans of this annual segment, the studios are still stupid enough to do so with a large volume of films. While it's no longer a given that movies released in January and February are being tossed out, the summer remains a season of back-to-back features.
The purpose of this article is not to offer a comprehensive list, but rather to cull the field to a point we can begin making sense of it. With that goal in mind, every year I present the "geek films" on the horizon - science fiction, fantasy, superhero, animation, and occasionally other genres, and take a blind guess as to how the critics will react.
I also toss in some thoughts as to what I'm looking for - a minimum score or other flags that make me more or less likely to actually go see it in the theaters. And what the hell? Let's mix things up a bit and introduce a further random prediction that could encompass anything and will almost certainly be an embarrassment when it winds up being false.
We've got twenty-eight movies to cover, so let's not dawdle. We begin with the start of summer 2016, which Warner Brothers' marketing department has scheduled for March 25th....
3/25
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Projected Tomatometer: 60%
What I'm looking for: NA - Just about the only thing I do know about this is that I'll see it opening weekend.
Random Prediction: Despite performing slightly below expectations in the US, this will make more than 1.5 billion dollars worldwide.
This is perhaps the oddest film of the summer. Or any summer. Or perhaps all of human history.
It's not so much that they're making a Batman/Superman crossover movie - they should have done that in the 90's - it's that it looks like this. The movie is an almost incomprehensible blur of gray drabness, which indicates the producers felt strongly it should evoke the feel of Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. It's clearly the wrong tone for this decade, and Superman looks patently ridiculous.
As for Batman, the scenes we've seen of him in action are fantastic. And the scenes with him standing still are unintentionally hilarious. Seriously, Bruce: put your arms down. They've based this version of the character on The Dark Knight Returns, as if it's somehow fresh or exciting. That comic came out thirty years ago and has been a point of inspiration for the Nolan movies AND the Burton ones. Plus, at least three incarnations of animated Batman series have done a homage to it, and that doesn't even count the surprisingly good direct-to-DVD adaptation from a few years back.
For all the pomp, this is, quite literally, your father's Batman.
More promising is Wonder Woman, who looks incredibly bad-ass. Also, she's the only one besides Lex who seems like she's having fun.
All that said, this is a movie with Batman in it - it'll make money. And, even if it's a narrative mess, it should be entertaining. Whether it's entertaining as a well made picture or as a car crash (presumably after attempting to ram Superman), time will tell, but I can't imagine it will be anything less than fascinating.
I really don't know where The Tomatometer will fall, but with Zach Snyder directing, I'd bet south of 70%. I went with 60%, four percent higher than its predecessor, but - frankly - there's no score this could get between 0% and 100% that would shock me more than the trailers.
4/8
Hardcore Henry
Projected Tomatometer: Currently at 89% - I'd guess it'll fall to around 75%
What I'm looking for: Great word of mouth
Random Prediction: For better or worse, this will spawn a genre.
This movie seems to be generating good word of mouth so far, despite a trailer than looks more dizzying than enjoyable. Heavily inspired by first-person shooter video games, this was shot from the protagonist's POV as he fights his way through a nearly infinite army of bad guys.
It certainly sounds impressive, but I'm not sure it's something I'd enjoy sitting through. However, Deadpool just demonstrated there's a market for unconventional R-rated action, so - whether or not I go see it - I expect this to do fairly well. More than that, I anticipate it establishing a new (well, sort of new - this kind of thing has been done for ages on Youtube, including by these same filmmakers) genre of first-person shooter films.
I wonder how long before we get choose-your-own-adventure DVD versions. Those actually sound like fun.
This is currently at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes with nine reviews. I'm betting those aren't completely indicative of the wider community, however, and expect it to fall closer to 75%, if not lower.
The Jungle Book
Projected Tomatometer: 80%
What I'm looking for: 80% Freshness or strong recommendations
Random Prediction: There's going to be some amazing cosplay of the animal characters at Comic Con
The trailers for this are absolutely beautiful, even if I'm skeptical Bill Murray was actually the best choice for Baloo. The blend of realism and stylized computer animation creates a world that's completely unreal, yet concrete and believable.
If it weren't for the fact the writer attached to it wrote Street Fighter: The Legend of Chung-Li, I'd be projecting a Freshness score ten points higher. As it is, I've still got high hopes. A lot of geeks have given up on Jon Favreau after Iron Man 2 and Cowboys and Aliens, but... hell, I liked both those movies.
This is the man who directed Elf, Zathura, and the first Iron Man, and it really looks like he's poured his heart and soul into this one. I'm excited.
4/22
The Huntsman: Winter's War
Projected Tomatometer: 25%
What I'm looking for: 90% Fresh and good word of mouth, or if everyone who goes to see this gains superpowers (more likely than the 90% thing)
Random Prediction: This will neither be good nor successful.
Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, and this thing's following a piece of crap that was overrated at 48%. Technically, this is a prequel, though it's unclear if that served any purpose beyond allowing the producers to drop their lead (ironic - Stewart was actually the least obnoxious part of Snow White and the Huntsman).
The director's untested, and the writers' resumes are kind of hilarious: 25% might be a generous guess. If this winds up being inexplicably great, I'll gleefully write a retraction in my review, but somehow I suspect I'll be safe. The trailer looks more like a direct-to-DVD knock off of Frozen than anything actually worth seeing.
Projected Tomatometer: Currently 80% Fresh
What I'm looking for: Nothing to contradict the tone of the trailer I just saw
Random Prediction: This will be one of my top three films of the year
This Italian production wasn't really on my radar until a few minutes ago, but after watching the trailer, it's one of my most anticipated films of the summer. The trailer displays dark, yet whimsical fantasy steeped in fairy tale horror: there's not a lot I like more than that. Apparently, it's something of an anthology: three movies, all by the same director making his English language debut.
I'm not actually certain I'll wind up catching it in the theater, since I'm not sure how far I'd have to go to find it (I don't get the impression it's going to be in wide release). But I am really, really intrigued by what I just saw.
Here's a link to the trailer - just be warned it is definitely NSFW.
4/29
Ratchet and Clank
Projected Tomatometer: 25%
What I'm looking for: Freshness rating of 90%
Random Prediction: This will enter and leave theaters without you noticing
The first of three video game adaptations on this list, Ratchet and Clank's trailer doesn't offer a single entertaining moment. The animation is pitifully outdated, the jokes aren't funny, and the premise is tired. The source material has been around for a while, but it's unlikely the movie would have been green lit if not for the success of Guardians of the Galaxy.
The one small ray of hope comes from the fact there are two directors credited, and one worked on Arthur Christmas and Finding Nemo as the choreographer. Unfortunately, the other (who also has a writing credit) was responsible for the 2007 animated TMNT movie you forgot existed.
If this scores higher than 50% Fresh, I'll be shocked.
Keanu
Projected Tomatometer: 80%
What I'm looking for: NA - I probably won't see it in theaters, even if its as good as I'm expecting
Random Prediction: This will made more money in the US than The Huntsman: Winter's War
As a rule of thumb, I don't really pay attention to comedies unless they cross over with another genre I care about, say SF or superheroes. I'm making an exception for this quirky film, however, due to the fact Key and Peele are behind it.
I discovered their show late, and I never followed it consistently, but just about everything I've seen has been incredibly impressive. The show is commonly identified as sketch comedy, but I don't think that's accurate. The vast majority of segments I've seen are short films, comedic in nature, but comprised of character development, narrative arcs, and complex themes, all folded into a four or five minute package. These aren't Saturday Night Live skits - they're short, hilarious stories.
Not everyone who excels in shorter formats can make the jump to feature-length films, but I wouldn't bet against them. Plus, the trailer for Keanu - a comedy of two men trying to infiltrate a gang to recover a beloved kitten - is hilarious.
All that said, given the deluge of movies coming out this year, it's extremely unlikely I'll catch this in the theaters, even if it's fantastic. But I've got a feeling this is going to make an impact, and I wanted that prediction in writing.
5/6
Captain America: Civil War
Projected Tomatometer: 89%
What I'm looking for: A theater that's not sold out
Random Prediction: The cinematic Marvel Universe is going to deviate from the comics and reveal Steve Rogers is gay
Okay, I should probably address that prediction before I go on.
All of these predictions are kind of Hail Mary's, this one included. I'm not so naive to think this is likely the way they'll go. But it would deliver on some promised diversity made by the producers, offer a younger group of fans elements they want included, and it would explain a great deal about the character's portrayal and relationships in the first two films.
No, I haven't forgotten Peggy. But I'm not sure the fans on Tumblr aren't on to something when they read more into Rogers's love for Bucky than the standard friends/brothers-in-arms relationship. There's a real argument there could be more there.
All that's assuming Sharon Carter (whose brief role in Winter Soldier is expanded here) is something of a red herring, of course. And that Disney's really ready to take that kind of risk with one of Marvel's core characters. But it makes a certain amount of sense, doesn't it? And it would definitely get a reaction.
Setting this theory aside, let's focus on the rest of the movie, which is either going to be most complete, large-scale use of the shared Marvel Universe to date or an incomprehensible mess. There's a common narrative floating around that you can't fit more than six or seven characters into a superhero movie without it falling apart. But that's bull: there's no limit to the number of characters you can include... there's a limit to the number of character arcs.
The problem with Age of Ultron wasn't that there were ten Avengers in the movie: the problem is that they tried giving almost everyone their own personal story. The only ones given a smaller part were Falcon and War Machine: both were in a few cool scenes and weren't expected to grow or change. Think of how much better that movie would have been if they'd done the same with Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, and Black Widow. All of them got convoluted story-lines that dragged the movie away from its core. You want to tell a superhero story in a Shakespearean fashion? Cool! Choose a few members of the team and go nuts. For the rest, think less Shakespeare and more Predator.
The relevant question is whether the Russo brothers figured that out in time. My perhaps optimistic guess is that they must have. With the number of characters in this movie, there's no way they could have tried to cram an arc in for each of them. Right? RIGHT?
Assuming that, I'm going to guess this will be received by critics in a similar way to Winter Soldier. The movie could easily fall short of that goal post, even if they avoid the mistakes made on Age of Ultron. Or, hell, maybe it exceeds expectations and scores in the 90's. Honestly, it won't affect whether I show up - I've seen every MCU movie in the theater (actually, I think I've seen them all opening weekend, if not opening day). And, good or bad, that won't change now.
Okay, I should probably address that prediction before I go on.
All of these predictions are kind of Hail Mary's, this one included. I'm not so naive to think this is likely the way they'll go. But it would deliver on some promised diversity made by the producers, offer a younger group of fans elements they want included, and it would explain a great deal about the character's portrayal and relationships in the first two films.
No, I haven't forgotten Peggy. But I'm not sure the fans on Tumblr aren't on to something when they read more into Rogers's love for Bucky than the standard friends/brothers-in-arms relationship. There's a real argument there could be more there.
All that's assuming Sharon Carter (whose brief role in Winter Soldier is expanded here) is something of a red herring, of course. And that Disney's really ready to take that kind of risk with one of Marvel's core characters. But it makes a certain amount of sense, doesn't it? And it would definitely get a reaction.
Setting this theory aside, let's focus on the rest of the movie, which is either going to be most complete, large-scale use of the shared Marvel Universe to date or an incomprehensible mess. There's a common narrative floating around that you can't fit more than six or seven characters into a superhero movie without it falling apart. But that's bull: there's no limit to the number of characters you can include... there's a limit to the number of character arcs.
The problem with Age of Ultron wasn't that there were ten Avengers in the movie: the problem is that they tried giving almost everyone their own personal story. The only ones given a smaller part were Falcon and War Machine: both were in a few cool scenes and weren't expected to grow or change. Think of how much better that movie would have been if they'd done the same with Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, and Black Widow. All of them got convoluted story-lines that dragged the movie away from its core. You want to tell a superhero story in a Shakespearean fashion? Cool! Choose a few members of the team and go nuts. For the rest, think less Shakespeare and more Predator.
The relevant question is whether the Russo brothers figured that out in time. My perhaps optimistic guess is that they must have. With the number of characters in this movie, there's no way they could have tried to cram an arc in for each of them. Right? RIGHT?
Assuming that, I'm going to guess this will be received by critics in a similar way to Winter Soldier. The movie could easily fall short of that goal post, even if they avoid the mistakes made on Age of Ultron. Or, hell, maybe it exceeds expectations and scores in the 90's. Honestly, it won't affect whether I show up - I've seen every MCU movie in the theater (actually, I think I've seen them all opening weekend, if not opening day). And, good or bad, that won't change now.
5/20
Angry Birds
Projected Tomatometer: 22%
What I'm looking for: I will see this movie if and only if I am drugged and kidnapped by the mob, tied to a chair, and forced to sit through it at gunpoint. Also, they better be paying for my ticket.
Random Prediction: The movie, adapted from a video game, will be even worse than its own inevitable video game adaptation
Don't let that generous 22% fool you - there is no movie coming out this summer that looks less appealing to me that this. I barely made it through the trailer without walking out of the movie theater.
There are two directors credited to this, which is two more than I'd have estimated. Neither have ever directed a movie before, and if there's any justice in the world, neither will again.
Unless... ugh. No one really expected the LEGO Movie to deliver, did they? Occasionally, a bad premise with a bad trailer turns out to be concealing a brilliant concept. But I wouldn't bet on it this time.
Don't let that generous 22% fool you - there is no movie coming out this summer that looks less appealing to me that this. I barely made it through the trailer without walking out of the movie theater.
There are two directors credited to this, which is two more than I'd have estimated. Neither have ever directed a movie before, and if there's any justice in the world, neither will again.
Unless... ugh. No one really expected the LEGO Movie to deliver, did they? Occasionally, a bad premise with a bad trailer turns out to be concealing a brilliant concept. But I wouldn't bet on it this time.
Projected Tomatometer: 85%
What I'm looking for: Good Reviews
Random Prediction: This will show up on quite a few critics' top 10 lists at the end of year
The Nice Guys appears to be a noir action movie set in the 1970's. The reason any of us should care is it's written and directed by Shane Black. It's his first full length feature since Iron Man 3, but it looks closer to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang than a Marvel movie.
The timing of this movie's release is a bit surprising: you'd expect action films like this to come out in the off-season, rather than compete with summer fare. Then again, Civil War will have had a few weeks already, and I don't see anything else on the 13th or 20th likely to be competing with this (aside from Angry Birds, but they might actually complement each other: parents see The Nice Guys, while the kids hopefully sneak into something better than Angry Birds).
Honestly, whether I see this or not probably has more to do with the weather than anything else. That said, Lindsay is a big fan of Black's movies and the genre, so I'll have to get her vote. Regardless, I can't imagine anything betting a Shane Black movie wasn't at least going to be good. I went with the Freshness score for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang rather than the lower rated Iron Man 3 under the assumption that it's a better gauge for his potential when not being tightly managed by a studio.
5/27
X-Men: ApocalypseThe Nice Guys appears to be a noir action movie set in the 1970's. The reason any of us should care is it's written and directed by Shane Black. It's his first full length feature since Iron Man 3, but it looks closer to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang than a Marvel movie.
The timing of this movie's release is a bit surprising: you'd expect action films like this to come out in the off-season, rather than compete with summer fare. Then again, Civil War will have had a few weeks already, and I don't see anything else on the 13th or 20th likely to be competing with this (aside from Angry Birds, but they might actually complement each other: parents see The Nice Guys, while the kids hopefully sneak into something better than Angry Birds).
Honestly, whether I see this or not probably has more to do with the weather than anything else. That said, Lindsay is a big fan of Black's movies and the genre, so I'll have to get her vote. Regardless, I can't imagine anything betting a Shane Black movie wasn't at least going to be good. I went with the Freshness score for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang rather than the lower rated Iron Man 3 under the assumption that it's a better gauge for his potential when not being tightly managed by a studio.
5/27
Projected Tomatometer: 76%
What I'm looking for: Well, I want something with actual payoff, but I'll probably see it regardless
Random Prediction: This will make less money than Deadpool, leading to a recentering of the cinematic X-verse
I don't think there's a superhero movie coming out I have more faith will be good, but - by the same token - I have less faith will be great. Days of Future Past was solid, but it was hamstrung by an outdated sense of self-importance. Singer takes these characters seriously, which is certainly an asset, but he's always pushed them away from their comic roots, rather than embracing the genre.
The Sentinels in the last movie epitomized this disconnect. We waited a long, long time to see these robots on the big screen, and the actual conflict was small and boring. Singer has said several times that he views these as science fiction rather than superhero movies... and that's becoming an issue as the movie-going public discovers something geeks have known for a long, long time:
Superheroes are AWESOME.
I don't want to undersell Bryan Singer's contributions. X-Men 2 remains one of the best works in the genre, and Days of Future Past is good. But I really want him to step up his game, partly on spectacle but more so on wonder. His movies feel like people with powers navigating a world of danger. That was fine for the 90's, but it's time to move on. I'm hoping this is the movie Singer proves me wrong and shows he's capable of that, but the trailers - while decent - don't fill me with confidence.
This is placed in the 80's instead of the 70's, and the story won't mesh quite as cleanly with the themes: that's why I'm expecting a drop in Freshness rating (Days of Future Past is at an astonishing 91%).
None of this is likely to delay me from seeing this in the theaters, of course. But I'm hoping we finally get the huge, exciting superhero mutant movie we've been promised since the beginning. But I'm skeptical that will actually happen until Fox hands the franchise over to someone with an outlook more like Tim Miller's.
I don't think there's a superhero movie coming out I have more faith will be good, but - by the same token - I have less faith will be great. Days of Future Past was solid, but it was hamstrung by an outdated sense of self-importance. Singer takes these characters seriously, which is certainly an asset, but he's always pushed them away from their comic roots, rather than embracing the genre.
The Sentinels in the last movie epitomized this disconnect. We waited a long, long time to see these robots on the big screen, and the actual conflict was small and boring. Singer has said several times that he views these as science fiction rather than superhero movies... and that's becoming an issue as the movie-going public discovers something geeks have known for a long, long time:
Superheroes are AWESOME.
I don't want to undersell Bryan Singer's contributions. X-Men 2 remains one of the best works in the genre, and Days of Future Past is good. But I really want him to step up his game, partly on spectacle but more so on wonder. His movies feel like people with powers navigating a world of danger. That was fine for the 90's, but it's time to move on. I'm hoping this is the movie Singer proves me wrong and shows he's capable of that, but the trailers - while decent - don't fill me with confidence.
This is placed in the 80's instead of the 70's, and the story won't mesh quite as cleanly with the themes: that's why I'm expecting a drop in Freshness rating (Days of Future Past is at an astonishing 91%).
None of this is likely to delay me from seeing this in the theaters, of course. But I'm hoping we finally get the huge, exciting superhero mutant movie we've been promised since the beginning. But I'm skeptical that will actually happen until Fox hands the franchise over to someone with an outlook more like Tim Miller's.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Projected Tomatometer: 60%
What I'm looking for: Freshness 80% and/or strong recommendations
Random Prediction: Disney will pull this and release it later in the year
Take that prediction with a grain of salt - that's a shot in the dark even compared to the other predictions on this page. But, given how crowded late May and early June are, I wouldn't be surprised. Still, I mainly went with it because I have no clue what else to think of this movie.
The first one had a handful of memorable images but was otherwise drivel. However, Tim Burton sat out part two, which allowed them to bring in James Bobin, the director of the Muppet movies. It's less a question of raw talent than engagement - I doubt even Bobin thinks he's the better director, but he seems capable and is more likely to put in some effort.
They brought back the writer, as well, Linda Woolverton, whose name has been attached to some great movies (The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast), as well as some less successful productions (Maleficent and... I just said she was involved with the first installment).
Will we end up with a good movie? I have no idea.
6/3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Projected Tomatometer: 50%
What I'm looking for: I'm more interested in a fun Turtles movie than a critically successful one. I'll be listening to word of mouth for this one.
Random Prediction: It will better than the last Turtles movie. Also, it will be better than eating jagged rocks.
There are better directors you could hire to fix this franchise than Dave Green, but there are worse ones, too. For example, they could have brought back Jonathan Liebesman, the hack who butchered part one.
Green's only other theatrical movie was the decidedly mediocre Earth to Echo. I know "decidedly mediocre" sounds harsh, but I really can't stress how much of an improvement it is over the last installment of the Turtles franchise.
I wouldn't say the trailers for this look good, but the fact they're pouring on elements from the cartoon suggest the potential for fun. I really don't know it'll deliver - I'm not really even all that optimistic - but it feels like it's possible.
The 50% guess is based on Earth to Echo's score. I'm hoping Green surprises us: I'd love to see an unapologetically crazy Turtles adventure, complete with Dimension X, Rocksteady, and Bebop. This is a great property with a lot of potential, even if we haven't gotten a good theatrical movie since 1990.
There are better directors you could hire to fix this franchise than Dave Green, but there are worse ones, too. For example, they could have brought back Jonathan Liebesman, the hack who butchered part one.
Green's only other theatrical movie was the decidedly mediocre Earth to Echo. I know "decidedly mediocre" sounds harsh, but I really can't stress how much of an improvement it is over the last installment of the Turtles franchise.
I wouldn't say the trailers for this look good, but the fact they're pouring on elements from the cartoon suggest the potential for fun. I really don't know it'll deliver - I'm not really even all that optimistic - but it feels like it's possible.
The 50% guess is based on Earth to Echo's score. I'm hoping Green surprises us: I'd love to see an unapologetically crazy Turtles adventure, complete with Dimension X, Rocksteady, and Bebop. This is a great property with a lot of potential, even if we haven't gotten a good theatrical movie since 1990.
6/10
Warcraft
Projected Tomatometer: 55%
What I'm looking for: Freshness score greater than 75% or reviews stating it's so bad it's good
Random Prediction: If you go to a midnight showing opening day, you will be sitting beside at least one person dressed as an orc. Or maybe an orc dressed as a human - it's hard to tell sometimes.
I'm a fantasy writer, and I don't know what to make of the trailer for this. To be fair, I never got into the video games this is based on (always preferred tabletop myself). Tonally, it looks utterly incomprehensible.
However, in the right hands that could mean a nuanced picture. And with a pair of SF movies averaging around 90% positive, there's reason to think Duncan Jones might be the director to finally deliver a good video game movie.
Or not. Again, the trailers are really, really weird. But I will admit I'm excited to see orcs appear in sympathetic roles on the big screen. Plus, bad fantasy can be as much fun as good - I've rarely had as much fun in the theater as I had seeing Dungeons & Dragons the first time.
I'll take either. Give me something hilariously bad or surprisingly good - or pull a Chronicles of Riddick and do both in the same movie - and I'll be there. But if I hear this is at all boring or just mediocre, I'm skipping it.
6/17
Finding Dory
Projected Tomatometer: 80%
What I'm looking for: 80% Freshness should do it
Random Prediction: This will be one of the summer's top 3 highest grossing movies
I'm not sure what to think of this movie. On one fin, the premise seems solid, allowing the filmmakers to put a twist on the concept without losing the driving force that defined the original. On the other flipper, Pixar's track record with sequels is mixed, and the only reason it's not awful is the Toy Story franchise exists.
On top of that, the trailer - while certainly fun - doesn't present anything new. We're simply presented with character moments and jokes more or less indistinguishable from those in Nemo. Sure, we like these characters, and sure, the jokes are funny, but that makes this look like a solid direct-to-video sequel, not a major motion picture.
All that said, Pixar has a track record of under-promising with trailers. They know they'll get us to the theaters without showing us the whole movie, and they know there's merit in not spoiling the best stuff.
The movie is co-directed by Andrew Stanton, who's directed several of the company's best movies, and Angus MacLane, who hasn't (all he's got credited are a couple shorts and a Pixar TV special). It is promising that Stanton came back - he hasn't made a bad movie yet (and no, I didn't forget John Carter - that was a fine film, dammit!).
My guess is this will be solid and fun, but probably not ground-breaking. But if there's one company capable of exceeding my expectations, it's Disney/Pixar. Finding Nemo remains one of their best movies - here's hoping they've done it justice.
I'm not sure what to think of this movie. On one fin, the premise seems solid, allowing the filmmakers to put a twist on the concept without losing the driving force that defined the original. On the other flipper, Pixar's track record with sequels is mixed, and the only reason it's not awful is the Toy Story franchise exists.
On top of that, the trailer - while certainly fun - doesn't present anything new. We're simply presented with character moments and jokes more or less indistinguishable from those in Nemo. Sure, we like these characters, and sure, the jokes are funny, but that makes this look like a solid direct-to-video sequel, not a major motion picture.
All that said, Pixar has a track record of under-promising with trailers. They know they'll get us to the theaters without showing us the whole movie, and they know there's merit in not spoiling the best stuff.
The movie is co-directed by Andrew Stanton, who's directed several of the company's best movies, and Angus MacLane, who hasn't (all he's got credited are a couple shorts and a Pixar TV special). It is promising that Stanton came back - he hasn't made a bad movie yet (and no, I didn't forget John Carter - that was a fine film, dammit!).
My guess is this will be solid and fun, but probably not ground-breaking. But if there's one company capable of exceeding my expectations, it's Disney/Pixar. Finding Nemo remains one of their best movies - here's hoping they've done it justice.
6/24
Independence Day Resurgence
Projected Tomatometer: 45%
What I'm looking for: 85% Fresh and/or great recommendations
Random Prediction: Whatever toys they make for this will be on clearance before September 1st
I'm actually a huge defender of the underrated 1996 original, despite its flaws. However, I'm extremely skeptical Roland Emmerich is still capable of making something at that level of quality. It's been 16 years since he had a movie certified Fresh, and that barely made the cut (The Patriot, with 61%).
The trailer for Resurgence is mixed: the action looks cool, if redundant, but the movie looks to be making some elementary mistakes. Scaling up the already ridiculously huge alien ships simply to try and make us even more shocked at their size comes off as desperate (I wasn't a fan of Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens, either), and it's concerning that they couldn't get Will Smith back.
This movie could well surprise me, but I'm betting against it. Take a look at Emmerich's filmography if you need more information on why.
I'm actually a huge defender of the underrated 1996 original, despite its flaws. However, I'm extremely skeptical Roland Emmerich is still capable of making something at that level of quality. It's been 16 years since he had a movie certified Fresh, and that barely made the cut (The Patriot, with 61%).
The trailer for Resurgence is mixed: the action looks cool, if redundant, but the movie looks to be making some elementary mistakes. Scaling up the already ridiculously huge alien ships simply to try and make us even more shocked at their size comes off as desperate (I wasn't a fan of Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens, either), and it's concerning that they couldn't get Will Smith back.
This movie could well surprise me, but I'm betting against it. Take a look at Emmerich's filmography if you need more information on why.
7/1
The Legend of Tarzan
Projected Tomatometer: 85%
What I'm looking for: 80% Fresh and/or higher than BFG (Assuming the next prediction is wrong)
Random Prediction: Someone flinches, and either this or The BFG gets moved
The trailer for The Legend of Tarzan is certainly intriguing. A retelling of the story using modern effects could pay off, and David Yates - director of the last three Harry Potter films - seems like as good a choice as any.
That said, why would you pit this against The BFG, a fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg? Both look to be going after the same audience, and both appear to mix dark and light elements.
The Fourth of July is a damn good slot, and it's not like there are a lot of free weekends over the summer, but the competition is going to drag down both films' potential.
My guess is I'll probably see one of these two movies that weekend, and it'll be whichever is supposed to be better. If they're both north of 90%, I might make two trips, but that would be a bit surprising. Likewise, if neither does better than 80%, I might just wait for them to show up on Netflix.
The 85% Freshness guess is based on the director's previous releases. Lacking much more to go on, I'll assume consistency, and there's no better indicator of a movie's quality than the person in charge of it.
The BFGThe trailer for The Legend of Tarzan is certainly intriguing. A retelling of the story using modern effects could pay off, and David Yates - director of the last three Harry Potter films - seems like as good a choice as any.
That said, why would you pit this against The BFG, a fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg? Both look to be going after the same audience, and both appear to mix dark and light elements.
The Fourth of July is a damn good slot, and it's not like there are a lot of free weekends over the summer, but the competition is going to drag down both films' potential.
My guess is I'll probably see one of these two movies that weekend, and it'll be whichever is supposed to be better. If they're both north of 90%, I might make two trips, but that would be a bit surprising. Likewise, if neither does better than 80%, I might just wait for them to show up on Netflix.
The 85% Freshness guess is based on the director's previous releases. Lacking much more to go on, I'll assume consistency, and there's no better indicator of a movie's quality than the person in charge of it.
Projected Tomatometer: 85%
What I'm looking for: 80% Fresh and/or higher than The Legend of Tarzan (Assuming the next prediction is wrong)
Random Prediction: Someone flinches, and either this or The Legend of Tarzan gets moved
Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, The BFG should have every chance of being massively successful. It's surprising to see it scheduled for the same day as The Legend of Tarzan (though, if any weekend can sustain two family blockbusters, it's the Fourth of July). Still, I wouldn't be at all surprised if one of the studios pulls their movie for a later (or even earlier) date.
Beyond that, I'm not sure what to make of this. The teaser works well as a short film, but we don't see enough of the movie to know what kind of movie it's attached to. I actually prefer that from a trailer, by the way, but it makes it all that much harder to guess whether the movie will be good or not until reviews start populating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Spielberg used to be a sure bet, but these days he's hit or miss. I'm going with 85% to match The Legend of Tarzan: it just feels right that they should be starting at the same place if they'll be competing for my cash.
7/8
The Secret Life of Pets
Projected Tomatometer: 60%
What I'm looking for: 95% Fresh
Random Prediction: This will be out on DVD before the end of September
Is there a new law that states every CG animated movie must be directed by two people, one veteran and one amateur? And, if so, is this based on that bullshit Sith rule from the prequels? Because not only does that seem strategically stupid, it's dull from a narrative standpoint and it artificially limits your world-building potential. The more villains with lightsabers, the better.
Sorry - what was I talking about? Oh, yeah - The Secret Life of Pets, directed by two people I've never heard of, only one of whom has directed anything I have heard of. Unfortunately, the Master in this partnership was responsible for The Lorax, which looked even worse than this does.
To be fair, he also directed the Despicable Me films, which were supposed to be solidly mediocre. And, were it not for the second trailer, I might have been convinced this, too, could reach such lofty heights. Unfortunately, the trailer which set up the plot clarified this was too much of a stretch.
There's just enough interesting design work in this to keep me from trimming my projection lower than 60%, but - based on the derivative plot (think Toy Story with more poop jokes) and weak attempts at humor, I don't expect it to go much higher.
Is there a new law that states every CG animated movie must be directed by two people, one veteran and one amateur? And, if so, is this based on that bullshit Sith rule from the prequels? Because not only does that seem strategically stupid, it's dull from a narrative standpoint and it artificially limits your world-building potential. The more villains with lightsabers, the better.
Sorry - what was I talking about? Oh, yeah - The Secret Life of Pets, directed by two people I've never heard of, only one of whom has directed anything I have heard of. Unfortunately, the Master in this partnership was responsible for The Lorax, which looked even worse than this does.
To be fair, he also directed the Despicable Me films, which were supposed to be solidly mediocre. And, were it not for the second trailer, I might have been convinced this, too, could reach such lofty heights. Unfortunately, the trailer which set up the plot clarified this was too much of a stretch.
There's just enough interesting design work in this to keep me from trimming my projection lower than 60%, but - based on the derivative plot (think Toy Story with more poop jokes) and weak attempts at humor, I don't expect it to go much higher.
7/15
Ghostbusters
Projected Tomatometer: 90%
What I'm looking for: Positive word-of-mouth
Random Prediction: The original Ghostbusters cameos will be as ghosts, and they'll digitally include the late Harold Ramis, so all four appear
I'm not sure what to make of the quasi-cartoonish vibe I get from the trailers we've seen, but there's no denying the talent behind this thing. Besides, I'm told Feig's movies are better than their trailers.
While there are some odd tonal choices, the cast looks awesome, especially Kate McKinnon, who honestly might elbow Bill Murray out of his spot as the top fan-favorite character in the franchise. I know there are people out there who object to gender-flipping the cast, but I honestly can't wrap my head around their position. If they just remade this movie with four new men, I honestly think it would be oppressively boring. This has to be dramatically different than the original to be worth making, and casting four women is a great start.
I'm not sure what to make of the quasi-cartoonish vibe I get from the trailers we've seen, but there's no denying the talent behind this thing. Besides, I'm told Feig's movies are better than their trailers.
While there are some odd tonal choices, the cast looks awesome, especially Kate McKinnon, who honestly might elbow Bill Murray out of his spot as the top fan-favorite character in the franchise. I know there are people out there who object to gender-flipping the cast, but I honestly can't wrap my head around their position. If they just remade this movie with four new men, I honestly think it would be oppressively boring. This has to be dramatically different than the original to be worth making, and casting four women is a great start.
7/22
Star Trek Beyond
Projected Tomatometer: 75%
What I'm looking for: 85% Fresh
Random Prediction: This will be the last Star Trek movie made with this cast.
I love the Trek reboot and even think Into Darkness gets unfairly maligned. It definitely should have done better with its female characters, but that's true of the industry as a whole. I'm glad Abrams took that criticism to heart, though - I doubt he'd have done quite as good of a job with The Force Awakens otherwise.
But this incarnation of Trek has a serious problem. The 2009 reboot was as much an unofficial Star Wars movie as it was a Trek installment. That was perfect at the time, but now that its auteur has gone on to make the Star Wars movie he wanted in the first place, Star Trek's vision needs to shift dramatically.
Its most obvious direction would be to change gears and go back to the franchise's roots with an intelligent science fiction story built around cultural concepts, which seems like where this is headed. But then you get the problem that killed the franchise a decade earlier: that doesn't equate to blockbuster entertainment. Conflating the issue is the fact this cast is full of stars who can now demand sizable paychecks. Unless Beyond is hugely successful, I can't image the economics justifying a fourth movie.
In addition, there's a new television series starting up, which could open the door to movie spin-offs, assuming it does well. And maybe that's for the best - the characters of the original series were revolutionary in the 1960's, but a cast of space explorers that are almost entirely straight men feels a bit regressive now. If Star Trek wants to live up to its progressive premise and not just treat its characters as icons, it might be a good time to move on.
In the meantime, I'm excited to see at least one more outing with this group. It's also good to see Simon Pegg worked on the script: he's a good writer who absolutely understands the property. The director, Justin Lin, is something of a wildcard, though. His movies are all over the map in terms of reviews, which makes it difficult to guess where this will end up. Since it seems to be a labor of love, at least for the writers, I'm betting it'll be pretty good, at the very least.
Even so, I suspect that will equate to the series going out on a high note, as opposed to breathing new life into it.
Ice Age: Collision CourseI love the Trek reboot and even think Into Darkness gets unfairly maligned. It definitely should have done better with its female characters, but that's true of the industry as a whole. I'm glad Abrams took that criticism to heart, though - I doubt he'd have done quite as good of a job with The Force Awakens otherwise.
But this incarnation of Trek has a serious problem. The 2009 reboot was as much an unofficial Star Wars movie as it was a Trek installment. That was perfect at the time, but now that its auteur has gone on to make the Star Wars movie he wanted in the first place, Star Trek's vision needs to shift dramatically.
Its most obvious direction would be to change gears and go back to the franchise's roots with an intelligent science fiction story built around cultural concepts, which seems like where this is headed. But then you get the problem that killed the franchise a decade earlier: that doesn't equate to blockbuster entertainment. Conflating the issue is the fact this cast is full of stars who can now demand sizable paychecks. Unless Beyond is hugely successful, I can't image the economics justifying a fourth movie.
In addition, there's a new television series starting up, which could open the door to movie spin-offs, assuming it does well. And maybe that's for the best - the characters of the original series were revolutionary in the 1960's, but a cast of space explorers that are almost entirely straight men feels a bit regressive now. If Star Trek wants to live up to its progressive premise and not just treat its characters as icons, it might be a good time to move on.
In the meantime, I'm excited to see at least one more outing with this group. It's also good to see Simon Pegg worked on the script: he's a good writer who absolutely understands the property. The director, Justin Lin, is something of a wildcard, though. His movies are all over the map in terms of reviews, which makes it difficult to guess where this will end up. Since it seems to be a labor of love, at least for the writers, I'm betting it'll be pretty good, at the very least.
Even so, I suspect that will equate to the series going out on a high note, as opposed to breathing new life into it.
Projected Tomatometer: 30%
What I'm looking for: I just really, really want them to stop making these
Random Prediction: They will never stop making these
Yet another CG movie with two directors, a master and an apprentice. And by "master," I mean hack, since we're taking about the person responsible for the series's two worst reviewed installments.
I should probably mention that's I've only actually seen the original, which - despite receiving a 77% Freshness rating - was lifeless and dull. Good lord - that came out fourteen years, ago, too: this franchise is going to be around longer than its namesake.
I will grudgingly admit to finding the teaser for this a little amusing. I'm not actually a fan of Scrat, but the sequence where he wound up in an alien spaceship was kind of fun. Unfortunately, the movie is going to focus on the series's regulars, who bore the hell out of me. Not just in the first movie: I can barely keep my eyes open when they're in trailers.
7/29Yet another CG movie with two directors, a master and an apprentice. And by "master," I mean hack, since we're taking about the person responsible for the series's two worst reviewed installments.
I should probably mention that's I've only actually seen the original, which - despite receiving a 77% Freshness rating - was lifeless and dull. Good lord - that came out fourteen years, ago, too: this franchise is going to be around longer than its namesake.
I will grudgingly admit to finding the teaser for this a little amusing. I'm not actually a fan of Scrat, but the sequence where he wound up in an alien spaceship was kind of fun. Unfortunately, the movie is going to focus on the series's regulars, who bore the hell out of me. Not just in the first movie: I can barely keep my eyes open when they're in trailers.
Jason Bourne
Projected Tomatometer: 85%
What I'm looking for: 98% Fresh or I honestly don't care
Random Prediction: This will not be the #1 movie of the week it opens (or any other week for that matter)
So... this is the fifth Jason Bourne movie? The sixth? I don't even care enough to look it up. Frankly, I've seen either the first two or first three movies in the series, and the mere fact I'm not sure which should be a good indication for my level of investment.
The funny thing, I know these are good. Really good, even. But I don't recall the plot of the series moving ahead at all in a meaningful way. Just random spy stuff, well executed, sure, but without any real core or point.
The reason the Bond movies have worked for as decades has less to do with Bond than the villains. 007 fights over-the-top comic book supervillains. Jason Bourne fights... analysts in suits? The occasional agent like him? I barely even remember. You can make that compelling for a movie, but a franchise? Forget it.
That said, if these weren't expertly filmed, there wouldn't be more than one. The movies are good and they're influential. I'd be surprised if critics didn't enjoy this; fans, too. But - unless this is one of the greatest spy movies ever made - I've got no interest in it.
So... this is the fifth Jason Bourne movie? The sixth? I don't even care enough to look it up. Frankly, I've seen either the first two or first three movies in the series, and the mere fact I'm not sure which should be a good indication for my level of investment.
The funny thing, I know these are good. Really good, even. But I don't recall the plot of the series moving ahead at all in a meaningful way. Just random spy stuff, well executed, sure, but without any real core or point.
The reason the Bond movies have worked for as decades has less to do with Bond than the villains. 007 fights over-the-top comic book supervillains. Jason Bourne fights... analysts in suits? The occasional agent like him? I barely even remember. You can make that compelling for a movie, but a franchise? Forget it.
That said, if these weren't expertly filmed, there wouldn't be more than one. The movies are good and they're influential. I'd be surprised if critics didn't enjoy this; fans, too. But - unless this is one of the greatest spy movies ever made - I've got no interest in it.
8/5
Suicide Squad
Projected Tomatometer: 75%
What I'm looking for: 70% Fresh or 10% glowing
Random Prediction: Regardless of how good this is, it will be the lowest grossing Marvel or DC property of 2016
Suicide Squad is highly anticipated by geeks, but not by the general population. It's a relatively obscure group of characters who are driven more by self-interest than by altruism. If the movie sticks to this premise and doesn't turn Deadshot into a hero, I'll be shocked.
I am excited to see this on the big screen, not least because I want a fully realized, fleshed out DC Cinematic Universe to complement the two Marvel ones available. While I have a laundry list of complaints (why is DC pretending they're dark and edgy?), I'm thrilled they're including characters with a variety of different origins and abilities. Hell, they're introducing more magic now than Marvel's been willing to put out in twelve films (though that should be changing this fall with Doctor Strange).
My expectation is this movie will, at the very least, be either good or fun (possibly both, but I don't want to get my hopes up). I expect I'll see this unless it gets abysmally bad reviews, but even then I'll be looking closely. If 10% of critics love this, I'll check it out, even if the rest despise it. But if its only defenders offer lukewarm feedback, I might skip it entirely.
Suicide Squad is highly anticipated by geeks, but not by the general population. It's a relatively obscure group of characters who are driven more by self-interest than by altruism. If the movie sticks to this premise and doesn't turn Deadshot into a hero, I'll be shocked.
I am excited to see this on the big screen, not least because I want a fully realized, fleshed out DC Cinematic Universe to complement the two Marvel ones available. While I have a laundry list of complaints (why is DC pretending they're dark and edgy?), I'm thrilled they're including characters with a variety of different origins and abilities. Hell, they're introducing more magic now than Marvel's been willing to put out in twelve films (though that should be changing this fall with Doctor Strange).
My expectation is this movie will, at the very least, be either good or fun (possibly both, but I don't want to get my hopes up). I expect I'll see this unless it gets abysmally bad reviews, but even then I'll be looking closely. If 10% of critics love this, I'll check it out, even if the rest despise it. But if its only defenders offer lukewarm feedback, I might skip it entirely.
8/12
Pete's Dragon
Projected Tomatometer: 80%
What I'm looking for: Freshness of 85% or Glowing Recommendations
Random Prediction: This will be pulled and released next spring.
A boy, orphaned in the wilderness, has little chance to survive alone. But in reality, he isn't alone: he's taken in and protected by something in the woods. Something old, wise, and powerful. He's taught to survive as a feral creature, but eventually, he will also need to learn how to be human.
But enough about The Jungle Book.
Actually, no it isn't. I love the trailer for the re-imagined Pete's Dragon, but it's eerily similar to the trailer for the Jungle Book. I think I understand why Disney made both of these movies, but I can't figure out why they made them both the same year.
All that said, this looks hauntingly beautiful. If it falls short of my expectations, I'll skip it, but if it's what I think it is, I'll gladly go check it out in the theater. Even if it feels like a repeat.
Sausage Party [updated 3/16]A boy, orphaned in the wilderness, has little chance to survive alone. But in reality, he isn't alone: he's taken in and protected by something in the woods. Something old, wise, and powerful. He's taught to survive as a feral creature, but eventually, he will also need to learn how to be human.
But enough about The Jungle Book.
Actually, no it isn't. I love the trailer for the re-imagined Pete's Dragon, but it's eerily similar to the trailer for the Jungle Book. I think I understand why Disney made both of these movies, but I can't figure out why they made them both the same year.
All that said, this looks hauntingly beautiful. If it falls short of my expectations, I'll skip it, but if it's what I think it is, I'll gladly go check it out in the theater. Even if it feels like a repeat.
Projected Tomatometer: 55% (originally: 25%)
What I'm looking for: EXTREMELY good reviews (originally: I honestly can't imagine a scenario in which I'll go see this movie)
Random Prediction: Seth MacFarlane will begin production on his own R-rated CG animated movie the week after this opens, if not sooner
UPDATE (3/16): The trailer appeared online a few days after I posted this, so I'm allowing myself the rare adjustment. While I'm still skeptical this is going to be revolutionary, I was pleasantly surprised to find the trailer was more interesting than I'd expected. I'm sure there'll be a ton of dick and drug jokes in the film, but the trailer focused more on dystopian horror, a much more appealing genre. I'm increasing my guess for the movie's Tomatometer and retracting the implication there's no way I'd possibly consider seeing this. It's still a hell of a long shot, but the trailer was just off-kilter enough to peak my curiosity.
Original: I'm having a real problem here divorcing my own dislike of this premise from whether I think there's a chance it will be objectively good. It's tempting to dismiss this out of hand: it's an R-rated Seth Rogen movie about sausages going on an adventure in a grocery store. If you're not stoned right now, that likely sounds as awful to you as it does to me.
However, setting aside the idiotic sex jokes and "smoked sausage" pot puns that will inevitably permeate this thing, it's worth considering this is also going to serve as a parody of both Pixar movies and VeggieTales. There could be some material to mine there, assuming the writers are at the top of their game.
Also, like every other damn CG movie coming out this summer, this is co-directed by someone with experience handling blockbuster animation and someone apparently trying to break into the game. In this case, the expert made Monsters Vs. Aliens (not awful, but pretty mediocre), while his partner has a long list of credits connected to Thomas & Friends. I'm honestly not sure what to make of that.
Ben-Hur
Projected Tomatometer: 55% (Originally 70%)
What I'm looking for: 90% Fresh
8/19UPDATE (3/16): The trailer appeared online a few days after I posted this, so I'm allowing myself the rare adjustment. While I'm still skeptical this is going to be revolutionary, I was pleasantly surprised to find the trailer was more interesting than I'd expected. I'm sure there'll be a ton of dick and drug jokes in the film, but the trailer focused more on dystopian horror, a much more appealing genre. I'm increasing my guess for the movie's Tomatometer and retracting the implication there's no way I'd possibly consider seeing this. It's still a hell of a long shot, but the trailer was just off-kilter enough to peak my curiosity.
Original: I'm having a real problem here divorcing my own dislike of this premise from whether I think there's a chance it will be objectively good. It's tempting to dismiss this out of hand: it's an R-rated Seth Rogen movie about sausages going on an adventure in a grocery store. If you're not stoned right now, that likely sounds as awful to you as it does to me.
However, setting aside the idiotic sex jokes and "smoked sausage" pot puns that will inevitably permeate this thing, it's worth considering this is also going to serve as a parody of both Pixar movies and VeggieTales. There could be some material to mine there, assuming the writers are at the top of their game.
Also, like every other damn CG movie coming out this summer, this is co-directed by someone with experience handling blockbuster animation and someone apparently trying to break into the game. In this case, the expert made Monsters Vs. Aliens (not awful, but pretty mediocre), while his partner has a long list of credits connected to Thomas & Friends. I'm honestly not sure what to make of that.
Ben-Hur
Projected Tomatometer: 55% (Originally 70%)
What I'm looking for: 90% Fresh
Random Prediction: This movie will feature a CG chariot race that makes the Episode I pod race look restrained in comparison
Update (3/16): Like Sausage Party, the trailer for Ben-Hur is up, so I think it's only fair I'm able to tweak my guess. Unlike with Sausage Party, this was more or less what I'd expected. I didn't see anything I hated in the trailer, but I didn't see anything that suggested the filmmakers had an inspired reason for making it. This looks like a pretty unremarkable CG-filled remake. I'm dropping my guess to a more modest 55%. As for the random prediction - I think that was just proven true (not that I should brag - it was pretty obvious).
You know what would make this easier? A goddamn trailer. I honestly know nothing about this remake beside the people involved. It's directed by Timur Bekmambetov, which could be a good or bad omen. I have issues with the liberties Wanted took with its source material, but that has more to do with the script than the direction. It was competently filmed, which bodes well for this project. The writers are even more promising - one worked on 12 Years a Slave. I haven't seen that, but I've heard it's an amazing film.
Honestly, there's nothing about this that looks bad, aside from the fact it exists. Does anyone really want a remake of Ben-Hur?
It's always an open question with things like this: is this being remade because someone had a brilliant vision, or is this a cheap cash grab? Until we see a trailer, it's hard to even speculate. Honestly, I'm hoping for cash grab - this is going to be a busy summer as it is, and I'd love to cross this off my list.
Update (3/16): Like Sausage Party, the trailer for Ben-Hur is up, so I think it's only fair I'm able to tweak my guess. Unlike with Sausage Party, this was more or less what I'd expected. I didn't see anything I hated in the trailer, but I didn't see anything that suggested the filmmakers had an inspired reason for making it. This looks like a pretty unremarkable CG-filled remake. I'm dropping my guess to a more modest 55%. As for the random prediction - I think that was just proven true (not that I should brag - it was pretty obvious).
You know what would make this easier? A goddamn trailer. I honestly know nothing about this remake beside the people involved. It's directed by Timur Bekmambetov, which could be a good or bad omen. I have issues with the liberties Wanted took with its source material, but that has more to do with the script than the direction. It was competently filmed, which bodes well for this project. The writers are even more promising - one worked on 12 Years a Slave. I haven't seen that, but I've heard it's an amazing film.
Honestly, there's nothing about this that looks bad, aside from the fact it exists. Does anyone really want a remake of Ben-Hur?
It's always an open question with things like this: is this being remade because someone had a brilliant vision, or is this a cheap cash grab? Until we see a trailer, it's hard to even speculate. Honestly, I'm hoping for cash grab - this is going to be a busy summer as it is, and I'd love to cross this off my list.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Projected Tomatometer: 85%
What I'm looking for: 85% Fresh and/or great recommendations
Random Prediction: That amazing cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps won't even be in the movie
LAIKA is one of the most intriguing film companies out there. They're not quite as consistent as I'd like, but even when their movies are disappointing (anyone else watch Boxtrolls on Netflix?), they're ambitious and beautifully animated.
Kubo and the Two Strings breaks the streak of animated movies having multiple directors, but then it's stop-motion. This appears to be Travis Knight's first time directing, though he's worked on several of the company's films before.
All we really have to go on for this is the trailer, which is achingly beautiful. There's a very good chance this will exceed expectations and land in the mid 90's, but I'm going play this safe. LAIKA has only pulled off 90% once, and that was Coraline, which was co-directed by the legendary Henry Selick.
Conclusion
When the two biggest movies on the horizon share a common theme, it's difficult to avoid falling into the trap of equating the season with that idea. But while Batman will be v'ing on Superman and Marvel's having their Civil War, I'm more interested in the other trends at play.
The most interesting theme I'm seeing is the dominance of Fantasy. I count a whopping seven releases in the genre: Winter's War, Tale of Tales, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Warcraft, The BFG, Pete's Dragon, and Kubo and the Two Strings. That's on top of borderline fantasy productions like the Ghostbusters remake, Ben-Hur, The Legend of Tarzan, and The Jungle Book (all of which are remakes - I smell a conspiracy). In addition, we've got fantasy elements being introduced in Suicide Squad and possibly even in Civil War. I'm thrilled to see this genre making a resurgence - it's one of my favorites.
We also have seven animated movies scheduled, not including animated films masquerading as live action (The Jungle Book being the most obvious example, but I doubt more than 25% of Alice Through the Looking Glass will be live-action). The downside is that most of these look awful. I'm excited by Kubo, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory, but I plan on skipping the others.
This is a crowded summer for genre film: five superhero movies, seven fantasies, seven animated, three space-based science fiction.... that's a lot. Honestly, it's almost certainly more than is healthy for the industry. I doubt we're going to see more than a year or two more like this before studios start dialing back their productions or - in a few cases - shutting down entirely.
Enjoy it while it lasts, geeks. Enjoy it while it lasts.
LAIKA is one of the most intriguing film companies out there. They're not quite as consistent as I'd like, but even when their movies are disappointing (anyone else watch Boxtrolls on Netflix?), they're ambitious and beautifully animated.
Kubo and the Two Strings breaks the streak of animated movies having multiple directors, but then it's stop-motion. This appears to be Travis Knight's first time directing, though he's worked on several of the company's films before.
All we really have to go on for this is the trailer, which is achingly beautiful. There's a very good chance this will exceed expectations and land in the mid 90's, but I'm going play this safe. LAIKA has only pulled off 90% once, and that was Coraline, which was co-directed by the legendary Henry Selick.
Conclusion
When the two biggest movies on the horizon share a common theme, it's difficult to avoid falling into the trap of equating the season with that idea. But while Batman will be v'ing on Superman and Marvel's having their Civil War, I'm more interested in the other trends at play.
The most interesting theme I'm seeing is the dominance of Fantasy. I count a whopping seven releases in the genre: Winter's War, Tale of Tales, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Warcraft, The BFG, Pete's Dragon, and Kubo and the Two Strings. That's on top of borderline fantasy productions like the Ghostbusters remake, Ben-Hur, The Legend of Tarzan, and The Jungle Book (all of which are remakes - I smell a conspiracy). In addition, we've got fantasy elements being introduced in Suicide Squad and possibly even in Civil War. I'm thrilled to see this genre making a resurgence - it's one of my favorites.
We also have seven animated movies scheduled, not including animated films masquerading as live action (The Jungle Book being the most obvious example, but I doubt more than 25% of Alice Through the Looking Glass will be live-action). The downside is that most of these look awful. I'm excited by Kubo, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory, but I plan on skipping the others.
This is a crowded summer for genre film: five superhero movies, seven fantasies, seven animated, three space-based science fiction.... that's a lot. Honestly, it's almost certainly more than is healthy for the industry. I doubt we're going to see more than a year or two more like this before studios start dialing back their productions or - in a few cases - shutting down entirely.
Enjoy it while it lasts, geeks. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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