As with every year, the most interesting movies coming out in 2014 will be those based on video games, fantasy book series, remakes of fantasy of sci-fi classics, sequels in a running comic book movie series or even something completely original.
The LEGO Movie, February 7
An ordinary something named Emmett is mistaken for being the Special – someone who’ll save the LEGO universe, and he goes on, along with the help of Batman and others from the LEGO DC heroes, to try and defeat the evil tyrant Lord Business, bent on destroying the nature of LEGO universe and recreating it as he sees fit by gluing it together. Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern will also appear.
RoboCop, February 12
It’s been 21 years since the previous RoboCop film (RoboCop 3), and it’s time to reboot the franchise, with something of a remake of the first film in the series. OmniCorp is the company that makes robots and takes advantage of officer Alex Murphy critically injured, turning him into something of a cyborg who fights crime, with money on their mind. One mistake in my opinion is making this movie a PG-13 one instead of going back to the R rating that fits the story.
Need for Speed, March 14
Video game movies rarely turn out well, but no one is going to stop trying. Aaron Paul begins his post-Breaking Bad career with a movie about a guy who gets out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit and sets off on a cross-country race and to avenge the death of his friend Pete.
Muppets Most Wanted, March 21
The Muppets fighting crime, or something like that, as they travel across Europe and meet Kermit’s Doppelgänger, Constantine. He just happens to be the number one criminal in the world. Mayhem follows, with Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell also in the film.
Noah, March 28
Hollywood is going back to bible stories because they don’t have to buy the rights from anyone. The intriguing Darren Aronofsky gets his first shot at a big budget film with Russell Crowe as Noah, captain of the ark. There are going to be a lot of filler material considering the actual, minimized story in the bible, and there have been rumors of Aronofsky and Paramount getting into some sort of fight over the final cut of the film.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, April 4
The film takes place two years after the events of the Avengers as Marvel’s next phase of films takes place. Steve Rogers is struggling adapting to life in modern times. He and the Black Widow become entangled in a mystery they attempt to uncover, eventually encountering the Winter Soldier.
Transcendence, April 17
A science fiction thriller by Wally Pfister, making his directorial debut after being the long time cinematographer of Nolan in some excellent films. Johnny Depp protrays Dr. Will Caster, an AI researcher working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions, while a lot of people are trying to stop him.
Godzilla, May 16
A remake of the 1998 and 1954 films about the Kaiju wrecking havoc in Japan. The director, Gareth Edwards, is probably aiming at a darker, more somber version, closer to Toho’s original. His choice of actors, with Bryan Cranston involved, backs up that claim.
X-Men: Days of Future Past, May 23
Bryan Singer is directing the X-Men films again, and that’s pretty good news. This will be combination of the folks from his films) and the First Class cast, as a Kitty Pryde from the future arrives to warn the present X-Men of a future that isn’t kind to mutants, as the two teams go on to fight for the survival of their species across different points in time.
How to Train Your Dragon 2, June 13
Finally, the sequel of the beautiful first film (an adaptation of the books series) comes out, taking place five years after the events of the previous film. This time, Hiccup, Toothless and their friends, while exploring new uncharted territories, stumble upon a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, leading to a massive battle between the vikings and the new dragons.
How to Catch a Monster, June 19
Ryan Gosling makes his debut on the Director’s seat in a film starring Christina Hendricks, Matt Smith, Saoirse Ronan and Eva Mendes about a single mother that enters into a dark lifestyle, while her son uncovers a road leading to an underwater utopia. It’s billed as a fantasy-neo-noir film.
Jupiter Ascending, July 18
The best way to describe the next film by the Wachowski brothers is it being a science fiction fairy tale about a Russian toilet cleaner (Mila Kunis) whose DNA threatens the reign the Queen of the Universe, who has sent an assassin to kill her. Seems to be an interplanetary Snow White with a touch of Cinderella.
Guardians of the Galaxy, August 1
The Marvel universe expands into the cosmos. It’s a huge gamble, because the story and characters aren’t really known to the mass audience, but they believe in their product and its quality. Pretty much a space adventure that was referenced to at the end of the latest Thor film, as Peter Quill and his ragtag bunch try to save the Galaxy from evil forces.
Interstellar, November 7
The latest film by Christopher Nolan, which means the expectations are through the roof, and there isn’t a lot to go on, just like before Inception. What do we know? A team of explorers and scientists embark on a voyage through a wormhole, which means we’ll probably see time travel and alternative dimensions involved somehow. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain are starring.
The Hobbit: There and Back Again
Not much to tell. If you know the story and read the book, you know what happens to Bilbo, Thorin and the others. If you don’t, you’re probably wondering what Legolas will do, will the Dragon ever be stopped and who goes home with the treasure.
