It’s a new year and there’s a whole new crop of films to get excited about! Here we’ve picked 12 big-ticket films in 2008–one from each month–and why you need to mark them down on your personal movie calendar.
January: John Rambo
When: Jan. 25
Who: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, James Brolin; directed by Sylvester Stallone
What: Mercenary extraordinaire John Rambo has retreated to northern Thailand, where he lives a solitary life, running a longboat on the Salween River. He has long given up fighting, but that all changes when rescuing a group of human rights missionaries brings him out of retirement.
Brian Says: The trailer may look like unintentional-comedy gold, but males everywhere have been waiting for this Rambo for, well, almost 20 years, and they’ll be taking it as seriously as a heart attack. If Rocky Balboa was any indication, Sly still has a little juice left in the tank–steroid pun not intended–and he still has quite a devoted following. Only now, that following spans several generations.
Kit Says: When I heard Stallone was doing another Rocky AND another Rambo, my first thought was how embarrassing it will be to see him try to regain his youth. But then I saw Rocky Balboa–in which Stallone pokes fun at the fact he’s an old guy getting back in the boxing ring–and it’s given me some hope John Rambo will follow suit. At the very least, stuff will blow up. For the lackluster showing in January, that’ll add some excitement.
Also watch out for:
The “Hey, Don’t Forget About Us!” Sequels
Step Up 2: The Streets
Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Hellboy II
[PAGEBREAK]
February: Fool’s Gold
When: Feb. 8
Who: Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey; directed by Andrew Tennant
What: Ben “Finn” Finnegan (McConaughey) is a surf bum-turned-treasure hunter who is obsessed with finding a legendary treasure lost at sea. In his quest, Finn has sunk everything he has, including his marriage to Tess (Hudson). But certain information resurfaces and against Tess’ better judgment, she rejoins the search–and rekindles the love. Let the treasure hunt begin!
Kit Says: February has always been a good month to release a romantic comedy, and Kate Hudson and McConaughey are just the two to give us an early Valentine’s Day present. Having already proven their worth with their 2003 February hit How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, this time the kids get to spice things up with a little treasure-hunting adventure. Let’s just hope McConaugheyy doesn’t go over the top like he did in Sahara, and Kate Hudson finds her niche again.
Brian Says: Is this the Kate Hudson–McConaughey reunion girls have been waiting for since 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, or is it final confirmation that only McConaughey can do romantic comedy and Kate Hudson cannot (following misfires such as Raising Helen and You, Me and Dupree)? Probably the former, because aside from the two A-listers, Gold has a couple other factors on its side: director Tennant’s rom-com hot streak (Hitch, Sweet Home Alabama) and a release date that falls just before Valentine’s Day.
Also watch out for:
Moms We Can’t Wait to Meet
Baby Mama
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
[PAGEBREAK]
March: Horton Hears a Who
When: Mar. 14
Voices of: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Isla Fisher and a bevy of all-star voices; directed Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino
What: Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss story, Horton (Carrey), the lovable elephant, angers everyone around him as he tries to protect tiny creatures on a speck of dust. “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Brian Says: It’s as if just this once, Hollywood has done away with the notion that animated movies are best suited for the biggest possible movie stars and enlisted comedians instead–whose voices are cartoonish to begin with. Brilliant! You’ve got Carrey, the best animated-voiceover fit this side of Robin Williams, the core Judd Apatow Troupe members (Carell, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill), and a hodgepodge of great supporting jokesters (Fisher, Will Arnett, Dane Cook, Dan Fogler, Amy Poehler). What can possibly go wrong? Famous last words.
Kit Says: Carrey and Dr. Seuss have hit it off before with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, so we know the formula works. Add in Carell as the Mayor of Whoville–plus a bunch of A-list comic actors (see above)–and we’ve got the first splashy animated movie of the year. Kids will be itching to see something, anything, and parents will be thankful for it (like me).
Also watch out for:
What Your ‘Tweeners Won’t Stop Talking About
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (in 3-D)
High School Musical 3
[PAGEBREAK]
April: Leatherheads
When: April 4
Who: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski; directed by George Clooney
What: A romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s football, Dodge Connolly (Clooney) is a charming, brash football coach who is determined to guide his team to stardom. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star (Krasinski) to join his ragtag ranks–and ends up falling for his fiancée (Zellweger).
Kit Says: I don’t know about you, but Clooney draws me in, every time. Although he may not generate as much box office gold as some of his contemporaries, the actor/director knows what works for him and never apologizes for his choices. Leatherheads obviously speaks to him on several levels, since he’s also at its helm, and that’s all I need to know. Plus, I also have a mad crush on Krasinski from The Office. A win-win situation.
Brian Says: The last time Clooney stepped behind the camera–and then in front of it, like he does here–was on 2005’s Good Night, And Good Luck. That was the year he became President of Hollywood, and he hasn’t had a misstep since (fine, The Good German!). The man can pretty much do no wrong, and when he directs, it’s safe to assume that he takes extra-special care to deliver perfection.
Also watch out for:
The Indie-Licious of ’08
Cassandra’s Dream
Teeth
Paranoid Park
Be Kind Rewind
My Blueberry Nights
Funny Games
Then She Found Me
Son of Rambow
The Foot Fist Way
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
[PAGEBREAK]
May: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
When: May 22
Who: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen; directed by Steven Spielberg
What: Apparently, the plot is still being kept under wraps, but it looks like Indy travels to the lost city of Atlantis. His entourage includes newcomer Mutt Williams (LaBeouf) and old girlfriend Marion Ravenwood (Allen).
Brian Says: What about the 19-year layoff? What about Harrison’s age? What about this LaBeouf kid? What about the story line? How will they make it all work? Oh, they’ll make it work! Indy is no The Terminal for director Spielberg, and it’s no Firewall for star Ford; this is the real deal. These two, as well as producer George Lucas, are decades-old icons in their fields, and it’s not just because they know how to set box office records. They all, in fact, know–nay, helped invent–the formula that makes movies exciting and successful. No matter your cinematic tastes, no matter your skepticism, no matter what you (don’t) hear, this is one of the most exciting film-going events in many years. Want proof? LaBeouf’s announcement of the mere title at September’s MTV VMAs caused a huge stir.
Kit Says: Who in their right mind ISN’T excited about this movie? Of course, with Ford once again donning the fedora and whip, I may have had a moment of the same trepidation: too old to play the part. I think Ford may have had the similar thoughts, since this fourth Indiana Jones installment took awhile to get on its feet. But I’ve now fully embraced Indy’s return, knowing that Ford and Steven Spielberg rarely ever disappoint when they sink their teeth into a good action-adventure. Also having “it” boy Shia LaBeouf and actress de jour Blanchett in the film doesn’t hurt either.
Also watch out for:
Blockbusters That Should Live Up to the Hype
Sex and the City
The Dark Knight
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Bond 22
[PAGEBREAK]
June: Get Smart
When: June 20
Who: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin; directed by Peter Segal
What: Maxwell Smart (Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. The Chief (Arkin) has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field alongside stalwart superstar Agent 23 (Johnson). Smart is partnered instead with the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99 (Hathaway).
Kit Says: Sure, the studios can’t think of anything original anymore, but reimagining the 1960s hit TV series Get Smart for the big screen, with Carell as the bumbling Control Agent Maxwell Smart, is just plain old good thinking. Of course, I could be wrong; it’s been known to happen. But I do know the trailer makes me laugh out loud.
Brian Says: The trailer is hilarious and Carell, in his second potential blockbuster of ‘08’s first half, is a great fit as the bumbling Maxwell. It’s such broad comedy and so tailor-made for Carell’s versatility that even though the vast majority of viewers won’t know Get Smart was a ‘60s TV show created by Mel Brooks until they Google it after they see the movie, it won’t matter.
Also watch out for:
Most Eclectic Cast
Iron Man
Star Trek
He’s Just Not That Into You
[PAGEBREAK]
July: The Dark Knight
When: July 18
Who: Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart; directed Christopher Nolan
What: Bale once again embodies the man behind the Batsuit. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart), Batman has been making headway against local crime–until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Ledger) unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City.
Brian Says: So, Katie Holmes and Liam Neeson are out, and Ledger, Gyllenhaal (playing Holmes’ character) and Aaron Eckhart are in. Not a bad deal, but TThe Dark Knight is all about returns–and not just the box office variety. Bale’s back as maybe the best Caped Crusader we’ve ever seen; Nolan is back and could potentially wind up being a better Batman director than Tim Burton; and The Joker is back, 19 years after Jack Nicholson immortalized him in the villain annals. There’s no getting around it–Ledger is an odd fit on paper to play Joker, but then again, he didn’t exactly make sense on paper as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, and that performance earned him an Oscar nod. Above all, faith in Nolan prevails. Couple his genius with the reintroduction of The Joker, and you’ve likely got a brilliant, downright scary sequel to look forward to.
Kit Says: While I certainly appreciated director Nolan’s darker than dark vision and Bale’s quietly intense performance in Batman Begins, did the franchise really need to be revamped? Maybe so, since we needed to get the bad taste of the campy 1997 Batman and Robin out of our mouths, especially for those hardcore comic-book followers who want The Dark Knight to be precisely that: dark. It’ll be hard to top Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker, though. From the looks of it, Ledger is handling the part with much more malice, which is a good start if Nolan is keeping things ever-so gloomy. Oh, who I am kidding? This sequel should be just as successful as its predecessor.
Also watch our for:
Comic-Con Attendees’ Must-Sees
Star Trek
Iron Man
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
X-Files Sequel
Incredible Hulk
Wanted
Speed Racer
Cloverfield
George Romero’s Diary of the Dead
[PAGEBREAK]
August: The Pineapple Express
When: Aug. 8
Who: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Bill Hader; directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Judd Apatow
What: A stoner (Rogen) and his dealer (Franco) are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder.
Kit Says: Don’t worry. Although the latest production from the Judd Apatow comedy factory may sound a little darker than his usual fare, there will be plenty of laughs, rest assured. Stoner movies are always a blast (also watch out for Harold and Kumar 2 this year) and coming from Superbad writers Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Pineapple should be another unique comedy experience. The real surprise is the usually oh-so-serious Franco from the Spider-Man franchise, who is reconnecting with his comedy roots (he was in Apatow’s TV series Freaks and Geeks). Can’t wait to see how he handles a bong!
Brian Says: With Pineapple, Rogen tries to do for marijuana movies what he did for coming-of-age movies in 2007: make them real and hilarious. And if you’ve seen the movie’s much-buzzed-about clip on the Internet or in the bonus features of the Superbad DVD, you’ll agree that it looks VERY real. It also looks damn riotous, which is what we’ve come to expect from Rogen. And Franco, an original member of the Judd Apatow gang along with Rogen from their Freaks and Geeks days, appears uncharacteristically loose. Maybe it was all that, er, research for the movie…
Also watch out for:
Releases from and/or Starring the Judd Apatow Pack
Fanboys
Horton Hears a Who
Drillbit Taylor
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Step Brothers
Tropic Thunder
[PAGEBREAK]
September: Nowhereland
When: Sept. 26
Who: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker; directed by Karey Kirkpatrick
What: A man (Murphy) figures out the solution to his troubles at work by consulting his 6-year-old daughter and the imaginary world she has created.
Brian Says: NowhereLand should at least fall somewhere between the quality we saw in Dreamgirls and the total abandonment thereof in Norbit–a middle ground that, by Eddie Murphy-movie standards, would equal greatness. Murphy obviously knows how to sell children’s movies (Daddy Day Care, anyone?), and his latest, although a little Liar, Liar-esque in concept, appears to be his most noble foray yet into the genre. Noted kiddie fare screenwriter (James and the Giant Peach, Chicken Run) and director (Over the Hedge) Kirkpatrick certainly helps to reaffirm confidence in NowhereLand.
Kit Says: All I care about is that Murphy will not, I repeat, will NOT be in a fat suit. Enough said.
Also watch out for:
Movie That Makes Us Want to Lose Weight
Run, Fat Boy, Run
[PAGEBREAK]
October: Valkyrie
When: Oct. 3
Who: Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten; directed by Bryan Singer
What: The “July 20th Plot” on Hitler’s life is one of the most heroic but least known episodes of World War II history. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) helps create Operation Valkyrie, the complex plan that will allow a shadow government to replace Hitler’s once he is dead. But fate and circumstance conspire to thrust Stauffenberg from one of many in the plot to a double-edged central role. Not only must he lead the coup and seize control of his nation’s government–he must kill Hitler himself.
Kit Says: Besides a true story filled with political intrigue, a high-powered cast and top-notch director, Valkyrie is also the movie the Germans didn’t want Cruise to make. As the new head of United Artists (with partner Paula Wagner), this is Cruise’s first major production–and when it came time to shoot it on location, the German government balked, citing Cruise’s Scientology beliefs, among other things. They didn’t think the actor/producer would take the story seriously. Of course, they finally came round to Cruise’s side, but all the negative publicity has only fueled our interest in the film more.
Brian Says: So this is the movie that’s been causing all that hullabaloo–well over a year before its release! Negative press aside–for everything from Cruise’s Scientology beliefs to his casting–Valkyrie actually has the makings for a damn good movie version of a story that needs to be told. In fact, the real headlines should be positive and about the re-teaming of director Singer with his Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie.
Also watch out for:
Michael Moore Wannabes of 2008
Bill Maher (Religulous)
Morgan Spurlock (Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?)
[PAGEBREAK]
November: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
When: Nov. 21
Who: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent; directed by David Yates
What: As Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, war is brewing. But then Harry discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.
Brian Says: As one of the universe’s few remaining non-Potterphiles, I’m really only excited for Half-Blood Prince vicariously–for and through other people’s excitement. And to see whether Radcliffe, Watson and Grint can stay out of rehab once the series ends, what with big-screen success at a young age and all.
Kit Says: As one of the universe’s top Potterphiles, on the other hand, I’m beyond excited–and a little sad. Excited because the movies have not yet disappointed me as a fan of the books. Yates proved he could handle the material, having helmed the most wordy of the Potter books The Order of the Phoenix, so my faith in him for Half-Blood Prince is tantamount. I’m sad because it’s almost over. Even though I’ve read the seventh and final book last summer and know what happens to the characters, I still cherish the movies. There’s only one more to go after Half-Blood Prince and then–nothing. Just the collection of DVDs I have to pull out every so often and re-watch over a weekend. Sigh.
Also watch out for:
More Magical Kid Lit Adaptations
Spiderwick Chronicles
Inkheart
[PAGEBREAK]
December: Star Trek
When: Dec. 25
Who: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy; directed by J.J. Abrams
What: The early days of James T. Kirk (Pine), Mr. Spock (Quinto) and all the rest, their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.
Kit Says: As a self-proclaimed Trekkie, it’s about time they did a prequel. The casting choices of the younger are mostly spot-on: Hot Fuzz‘s Simon Pegg as Scotty; Heroes Quinto as Spock, Harold and Kumar‘s John Cho as Sulu; Guess Who‘s Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Alpha Dog‘s Anton Yelchin as Chekov. Only Just My Luck‘s Pine as Kirk is a little dubious as is Lord of the Rings Karl Urban as Dr. “Bones” McCoy. But with Munich‘s Eric Bana as the bad guy and Abrams at the helm, this should be just the eye candy us Trekkies have been salivating for!
Brian Says: Talk about buzz! In an age when the biggest movies are seemingly made for geeks and by geeks, Comic-Con god Abrams could have a massive hit on his hands with this 11th installment. Ever since the Lost co-creator confirmed he would be directing, way back in late 2006, every casting decision has been met with headlines. But it’s Abrams’ finger on the mainstream pulse that may also garner a wider appeal than ever for this Star Trek. Nobody is less of a Trekkie than yours truly, and I’m mildly intrigued.
Also watch for:
Best Costumes from the Tudor Period
The Other Boleyn Girl
Most Pins in Head
Clive Barker Presents: Hellraiser
Three Too Many Christmases
Four Christmases
The Oldest Title
10,000 B.C.
The Youngest Title
21
The Only Kind of Sex to Have
Sex and the City
