HONORABLE MENTIONS: Kingsman: The Secret Service, Child 44, Minions, Ant-Man, Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass. These six films are films that I am excited for but not just enough to make it onto this list, Kingsman because it's coming out in the next month, Child 44 because we have no trailer and the April release date worries me as it looks more like an Oscar season movie. Minions looks good but I think it may suffer with the lack of Gru and his daughters, Ant-Man's trailer was mildly underwhelming yet I'll still see it. Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass are movies with interesting plots and good actors but without a trailer for either or even an official movie poster for either, I couldn't put them on my list.
10. In the Heart of the Sea - This film is based on the book of the same name by author Nathaniel Philbrick about the true story that inspired the infamous tale Moby Dick. I'm currently in the middle of the book and so far it's fantastic, if director Ron Howard who I have massive faith in can translate this book into film then I have no doubts that it will be a great movie. Outside of Chris Hemsworth (Thor), there isn't much star power in terms of acting but with Ron Howard at the helm, I don't think that will matter much.
Release Date: December 11
9. Chappie - My excitement for this film is my faith in director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium). Chappie is a film about artificial intelligence in robots and stars Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel (The Newsroom) and looks to continue Blomkamp's films dealing with high levels of social commentary. If he was not the one directing this, I can't say my level of excitement would be this high but he and the trailer restored my faith.
Release Date: March 6
8. Mad Max: Fury Road - This movie is the prime example of an extremely effective trailer; I had zero interest in this movie when it was announced, despite Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Warrior) being cast in the main role. Fury Road is the fourth film in the Mad Max series all directed by George Miller just as this installment is. This film has the potential to be the Guardians of the Galaxy of 2015 for me, a fun, don't take it so seriously film. Go watch the trailer, it'll pump you up.
Release Date: May 15
7. The Hateful Eight - The biggest reason this film isn't higher on this list is because not much is known about it outside of it's basic plot, director and a few cast members. The eighth film by Quentin Tarantino stars Channing Tatum (22 Jump Street), Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained) and quite a few frequent collaborators of Tarantino. The plot seems similar to that of his last film, Django Unchained with it revolving around post-Civil War bounty hunters in Wyoming. If we had a trailer or anything else to go on, this would be higher up on the list, but we don't.
Release Date: November 13
6. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part II - Even though third books in trilogies being split into two movies are the bane of my existence, I can't deny that I'm incredibly excited for the conclusion of this series. While The Hunger Games series doesn't mean as much to me as the Harry Potter series, I am anxiously awaiting its end. Each film in the series has been better than the one before it and I'm sure once we get a trailer for the film I'll want to re-watch Mockingjay, Part I, if not the entire series.
Release Date: November 20
5. Spectre - Spectre is the 24th James Bond movie and fourth to with star Daniel Craig. What truly excites me about this installment is the villain being played by none other than Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds, Horrible Bosses 2). Waltz has quickly become one of my favorite actors in Hollywood and is at the point where I'm up to see anything that he's in. Spectre is being directed by Sam Mendes, director of Skyfall; so like The Hateful Eight, we don't have a trailer for the film yet but all of the pieces are here for another great Bond film.
Release Date: November 6
4. Jurassic World - While many are skeptical about this movie, and maybe rightfully so, I am very excited for this movie. I loved dinosaurs as a kid and the Jurassic Park series is a definite favorite of mine and with the addition of Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) in a starring role, this movie has the potential to be one of the best of 2015. Director Colin Trevorrow has only one feature length film to his credit (this being the 2012 romantic comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed) Jurassic World is near the top of my anticipated list but it also has a reasonably high possibility of being a disappointment; with only one trailer out, it's hard to tell how this movie truly will turn out.
Release Date: June 12
3. Inside Out - Our first Pixar film since 2013's Monster's University has the potential to be Toy Story or Finding Nemo good; don't believe me? Watch the trailer, preferably the teaser first and then the full trailer to get the best idea of the story. The film deals with the five emotions in our heads and how the interact with each other, similar to 2001's Osmosis Jones, a film who's title I never thought I'd say again. The film has a pretty impressive voice cast and is being done by a team who's previous credits include Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo and Up. The amount of faith I have in this film is outrageous and could possible steal my spot for favorite movie of 2015 by the end of next year.
Release Date: June 19
2. Avengers: Age of Ultron - The sequel to the record shattering The Avengers sets the stakes even higher with one of the more destructive trailers I've seen in a while; imagine almost a cross between the 2014 Godzilla and Iron Man 3 trailers. Ultron, voiced by James Spader (The Blacklist) has the possibility of being the next Loki in terms of a villain being adored by fans. Watch the trailer and tell me you don't get goosebumps, this will be a fantastic movie and a worthy sequel to one of the greatest superhero movies ever made.
Release Date: May 1
1. Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Raise your hand if you were surprised at this being at the top spot, no one? Didn't think so. If anyone tells you that this is the most anticipated movie of 2015, they're lying, everyone wants a new Star Wars movie, with or without George Lucas. J.J. Abrams taking over at director may be the best thing for the franchise after the mostly bad prequel trilogy. All that's known about the plot is that it takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi and even with a short trailer, still no more than that is known. I'm hopeful for a full length trailer after Age of Ultron has been released as Disney wouldn't want to step on their own shoes because even if you get a Star Wars trailer in the previews during Age of Ultron, the world and internet will explode about the trailer and not the film. I could know literally nothing about this movie and it would still take my top spot and I will most likely be doing a full Star Wars marathon right before the movie comes out, partially to pump me up more for Episode VII and partially because I'll take any reason to watch six movies consecutively.
Release Date: December 18
FINAL THOUGHTS: These 10 films are the 10 films that all have the potential to be on my top 10 films of 2015 and I for my sake I hope they do. I also hope that there's a movie that I overlooked that I end up seeing that is a real surprise and knocks one of these 10 off. Since it's only January, not all of the films of 2015 have been announced yet, most Christmas Day and Oscar season movies don't get announced until later in the year and those are always films to consider once the year picks up steam.
So here's to 2015, hopefully we'll get great films, good ones and hopefully not too many stinkers, the latter is inevitable though.
No comments:
Post a Comment