Movies are as important to me as books.
I know. Blasphemy, right?
I think storytelling is what I love, and that can be done in several different mediums. The last few years have seen an explosion of sci-fi/fantasy films, most of which are based on previous book or comic book material. 2010 is no exception. It will see a diverse range of movies we here on Suvudu will undoubtedly be reviewing and talking about at length.
The question is, what will be great and what will flop?
There are some strong contenders for both. I felt 2009 had too many of the latter, unfortunately. Hollywood has a lot to make up for but it just might pull it off in 2010. There are thirteen or fourteen movies I truly want to see and at least five I want to see on opening weekend.
Similar to my post two days ago, Top 10 2010 Books I Am Already Thankful For, here are the movies of 2010 I am most looking forward to:
10. The Book of Eli
After The Road, I doubt I really need to see another post-apocalyptic movie any time soon. The Book of Eli intrigues me, however, for reasons I can’t really express. I am not a huge fan of Denzel Washington; he rarely challenges himself as an actor anymore. Movies with Gary Oldman are hit or miss, generally. The setting of The Book of Eli mimics The Road in color and tone. But there is something different about this movie that has me wanting to see it—might be the emphasis on a book being the savior of humanity.
9. Daybreakers
I am not a horror fan. I believe the best horror movies starred Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney, and Price. Take old tales and twist them, though, and I am usually interested. Such is the case here. Daybreakers stars Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, and Willem Dafoe where the world has fallen to the vampires and the bloodsuckers are dying because—you guessed it—they have a dwindling blood source. It looks like a fun movie and, unlike the teenage emo lovie dovie vampire movies out there now, approaches the vampire myth with new fangs.
8. Legion
I am a sucker for religion-infused stories. Like His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, my own writing bears religious subtexts and I am most entertained when someone pushes those boundaries to make us all think instead of follow. Legion seems to do that very thing. The Christian God, who has lost faith in humanity, decides to end it. Instead of a flood this time, however, he sends his angels to wipe us out. The archangel Michael is our only hope, believing humanity is worth saving. This could be the Matrix of 2010 or it could be a terrible movie. Time will tell.
7. Kick-Ass
Ahh, a fun movie finally! Remember Mystery Men? Kick-Ass is that movie done right. A high school kid who is bored with his life decides to one day become a superhero—despite lacking powers and training. The trailer for this looks absolutely hilarious. Kick-Ass will be one of those movies I invite all of my friends to for a fun night out.
6. The Last Airbender
M. Night. The man is clearly hit or miss. Everyone seems to love The Sixth Sense but I generally hate movies that don't hold up after the first viewing. Unbreakable, on the other hand, is a fantastic movie and is in my top 5 superhero movies of all time. Despite M. Night's last few movies being stinkers, I am looking forward to The Last Airbender; it is not his property and he is merely adapting it for the big screen. And in a biased way, I am hoping the movie is a good one and does well, because then maybe I'll finally get my sequel to Unbreakable!
5. Alice In Wonderland
I know what you are thinking. "Shawn, why isn't Alice In Wonderland higher in your list?" My only response is, "I have grown weary of Burton and Depp." They have done many a movie together. I am still interested in seeing this movie though, as I am a huge fan of the Victorian era tale. Most people don't know, but that story is dark and twisted and a great commentary on society of the time. I believe Burton to be the right person to bring this story to life, and Depp looks like an insane Hatter. Alice In Wonderland will be extremely entertaining, even though I can already sense I will be walking out of the movie with a headache.
4. Inception
Not much is known about this movie. We know it is a sci-fi thriller. We know that it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine—quite the cast! What has me sold on it is simple: It is a Christopher Nolan movie. He wrote it; he is directing it. This is the movie he took a break from the Batman franchise for, and I have a feeling it will be great. Looking forward to it!
3. Jonah Hex
I can hear what you are thinking. Jonah Hex? Really?? Yes, really. Josh Brolin, coming off of his success with No Country For Old Men, dons the cowboy hat again but this time for the scarred comic book bounty hunter, Jonah Hex. Throw in Megan Fox as a gun-toting hottie sidekick and John Malkovitch as a voodoo practitioner bent on raising an army of Confederate undead to liberate the South, and my ass is in the movie theater seat!
2. Robin Hood
Ridley Scott. Russell Crowe. It is already known the combination is dynamite, particularly when the word 'epic movie' is used. Throw in Cate Blanchett and how could anyone say this movie doesn't look promising? Still, the story of Robin Hood has been done so many times in the past, can Ridley Scott make thise one special? I am willing to be yes!
1. Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is of course the juggernaught in the room and I'm sure it is at the top of most geek lists. It will be interesting if Jon Favreau and company can top that first movie but they have gathered together a great cast, that's for sure, and I have no doubt the special effects will be even more impressive. The question in my mind is, "Does the movie have a great storyline?" Will this be a sequel like The Dark Knight? Or will it be Spider-Man 3? I still don't know but I am willing to find out, especially with Scarlett Johansson donning the tight leather pants of Black Widow!
Honorable mentions: The Wolfman, The Expendables Toy Story 3, Shutter Island, Tron Legacy, Predators
Movies I won't see: Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia, Season of the Witch, Highlander, Beastly, Red Dawn
There you have it. The 2010 movies I am really looking forward to! It's going to be an exciting year.
What movies are you most looking forward to?
Or not?
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