Bring On 2016

Most Anticipated of 2016

Hello everyone, I hope that you all had a very safe and happy New Year. Of course with 2015 turning into 2016 we all need to look forward and what better things to look forward to than movies? Looking back at last year’s list (here), I can honestly say that I was only mildly disappointed. With Terminator: Genisys and Crimson Peak being the only major let downs, I am anxious to see how my 2016 list will turn out. Come with me (again) down this semi-tortuous path.

Honorable Mentions:

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice: Warner Bros. and DC Comics are trying to desperately catch up to the magic train that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a few movies of their own. First up on that list is Zach Snyder’s comic film follow up to Man of Steel. Let’s just pray that this is successful, DC has A LOT riding on this.

The Jungle Book: Jon Favreau’s live adaptation of a Walt Disney animated classic is sure going to draw a lot of families. Though as much as I love Favreau, I believe Disney tried this already in 1994 and it crashed and burned horribly.

Finding Dory: So I know that Pixar sequels are very hit or miss, but who doesn’t love the ever hilarious Dory from Finding Nemo? Plus with Pixar’s luck lately I’m sure this will bring a few smiles to kids and adults alike.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi: Hey, remember when Michael Bay made Bad Boys and The Rock? Do you also remember that they were amazing action films? Yeah, so do I. 13 Hours should bring back that nostalgia.

Bourne 5: Jason Bourne is back in a highly secretive sequel. What is better than Matt Damon (The Martian) and Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum) reteaming on a Bourne flick?

6 Most Anticipated Films of 2016:

#6—Midnight Special (March 16)

As obscure as this film might be to you, please watch the trailer (click here) to see how this under the radar film is going to generate a lot of buzz when March comes around. The story focuses on a father (Michael Shannon Man of Steel) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher St. Vincent), who happens to have special powers. Shannon must take his son on the run from Government agents who want to capture the boy. Directed by indie master Jeff Nichols (Mud), Midnight Special looks to be an instant family classic.

#5—Captain America: Civil War (May 6)

Excitement only has recently amounted due to the amazing trailer that the Russo Brothers (Captain America: Winter Soldier) gave the world in December. I am a huge fan of this Marvel Comic story arc, but due to the lack of major characters (like…*cough*…the X-Men) I was very hesitant to learn they wanted to put this arch on screen. However with the official synopsis released I see that the directors are trying really hard to make up for the short comings to the actual story. Questions about the future of the MCU arise when people talk about this film. How much of Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman 42)? Will we get to see the newest Spider-Man (Tom Holland In the Heart of the Sea).I just hope that the film version doesn’t end the same as the comic version.

#4—X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27)

Speaking of the X-Men, Bryan Singer(X-Men: Days of Future Past) and company are back with another outing in the X-Universe. This time instead of taking on Magneto (Michael Fassbender Steve Jobs), yet again, the X-Men take on one of the greatest villains of Marvel Comics…Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac Ex Machina). With what filmmakers can do with CGI, I am extremely excited (biasedly said as a huge X-fan) to see what they can do with this character. Singer is merging his fist set of X-films with the last two by bringing in familiar characters (albeit different actors) to bridge the gap. I am stoked to see Psylocke (Olivia Munn Deliver Us from Evil) done right this time and the return of Nightcrawler (this time played by Kodi Smit-McPhee Slow West). Singer, don’t fail me now!

#3—The Nice Guys (May 20)

With films like Lethal Weapon and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang on his resume, it is hard not to get excited about a new film by Shane Black (Iron Man 3). The film centers around two private investigators (Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling) that are hired to find the missing daughter of a Department of Justice worker (Kim Basinger). With Shane Black you get a great mixture of action, comedy, and drama that makes movies great.  After watching the red band trailer (click here), I knew that this will be pure gold.

#2—Assassin’s Creed (December 21)

Not all of the movies I am excited for are in May, however I have to wait extra-long for my top two. Now I know that a video game adaption can go horribly wrong ( thank you Super Mario Bros.), but with the stellar crew that is working on this film, I am quite excited. I am a huge fan of this game series, so I was wondering who they were going to follow with the first of, hopefully, many sequels. Nerves set at ease again when I found out that the film will follow someone completely different from the games and revolve around a completely different time period than any of the games. Michael Fassbender dons the Assassin hood from the newly praised director Justin Kurzel (most recent Macbeth).

#1—Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16)

You all might want to just get used to Star Wars films being my #1 most anticipated of the foreseeable future. With the purchase of Lucasfilms by the ever growing Walt Disney Company, there is going to be a Star Wars movie until the milk runs dry from that cash-cow (which in my estimates will be never). The Force Awakens has been released and is the next episode in the Skywalker sage, however this new Star Wars movie will have nothing to do with the Skywalkers or Jedi for that matter. Rogue One will tell the story of how the Rebels came into possession of the blueprints to the Death Star. Directed by the amazing Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla) and led by Oscar nominated Felicity Jones (Theory of Everything), Rogue One has a huge hurdle to overcome this December…Can the Star Wars franchise survive without the Skywalker lineage. Setup to be more like Saving Private Ryan within the Star Wars universe, this film just needs to add to the great feelings that The Force Awakens arose.

Crossing my fingers that I have the same results as I did last year! Happy viewing everyone!