Welcome to The Movie Bit’s GIGANTIC preview for 2013 when it comes to Movies. Myself, Tom and Ger have compiled this list that’s so big, we’ve had to split it into two parts. Namely Jan-Jun and July-Dec. Where possible, we’ve included as much video clips / trailers to get your pulse racing, otherwise, good old static imagery will have to suffice. On occasion there will be no image or video as nothing is available, and while we would have loved to re-create some stuff out of old ceral boxes and what not, frankly we couldn't be arsed. Anyway, lets get to it.
Movie: The Last Stand
Released: January 18th
Synopsis: The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
Why we’re looking forward to it: I guess purely for Arnie, he’s still doing it and if the Expendables has taught us anything then there’s still a market for these guys.
Movie: Django Unchained
Released: 18th January (U.K./IRE)
Synopsis: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.Why we’re looking forward to it: Without doubt this is set to be one of Tarantino’s finest hours if this lives up to the hype and Tarantino has had a few already. Great casting in Jamie Foxx and Leonardo Di Caprio.
Movie: Broken City
Released: 18th January (U.S.)/ 1st March (U.K./IRL)
Synopsis: When disgraced cop turned private detective Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) is hired by NYC’s mayor (Russell Crowe) to tail his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), he uncovers a city-wide conspiracy of corruption, sex, and murder. With his life threatened at every turn, Billy finds himself faced with an impossible choice, which could have disastrous repercussions for his career and family
Why we’re looking forward to it: Two great actors, Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, who will know doubt play off each other wonderfully, add to this intriguing tale of political scandal.
Movie: Flight
Released: 25th January 2013
Synopsis: Written by John Gatins (“Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story,” “Real Steel”), FLIGHT tells the redemption story of “Whip” (Washington), a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigation that brings into question his behaviour the night before the doomed flight.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Denzel Washington could probably star in just about anything and mould it into a hit, that said this film dealing with true story subject matter will be an interesting one. Finding the line between real life and a Hollywood ending will probably be the biggest problem.
Movie: Zero Dark Thirty
Released: 25th January 2013
Synopsis: Maya is a CIA operative whose first experience is in the interrogation of prisoners following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on the 11th September 2001. She is a reluctant participant in extreme duress applied to the detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she is single-minded in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. But only Maya is confident Bin Laden is where she says he is.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Hit TV show Homeland has demonstrated that there is still a thirst to hear stories regarding the man behind the horrific acts of terrorism before his reported demise. Audiences will be out in big numbers for this one
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Movie: John Dies At The End
Released: 25th January (U.S.) / 22 March (U.K./IRL)
Synopsis: A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?
Why we’re looking forward to it: With Phantasm and Bubba Ho-Tep, director Don Coscarelli has shown he is a dab hand at mixing horror and off beat humour to pleasing effect. An adaption of David Wong's book, featuring giant meat monsters, possession, and alternate dimensions, will suit him down to the ground.
Movie: Stand Up Guys
Released: 1st February
Synopsis: A pair of aging con men try to get the old gang back together for one last hurrah before one of the guys takes his last assignment -- to kill his comrade.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin have never been better, and to have these three greats share the screen will be an absolute pleasure.
Movie: Now You See Me
Released: 1st Feb 2013
Synopsis: FBI agents track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Heist movies usually fare well in the Hollywood stakes, great casting, definitely one to watch.
Movie: Movie 43
Released: 1st February 2013
Synopsis: 'Movie 43' is the outrageous new comedy from the twisted mind of Peter Farrelly and starring some of Hollywood's biggest names. Comprised of hilarious and offensive story lines and featuring tons of familiar faces we love' 'Movie 43' is the first of its kind, putting each actor in crazy and unique scenarios. This isn't spam, it's just celebrities gone wild... or perhaps it's just plain wrong!
Why we’re looking forward to it: Interesting to see if this huge ensemble of Household names will gel sufficiently, having said that the trailers so far look good.
Movie: Wreck-it Ralph
Released: Feb 8th
Synopsis: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Long awaited animation from the director of The Simpsons, this looks to be a hit, great casting in John C. Reilly. This one is for everyone to keep an eye on.
Movie: A Good Day To Die Hard
Released: 14 February 2013
Synopsis: Iconoclastic, take-no-prisoners cop John McClane, for the first time, finds himself on foreign soil after traveling to Moscow to help his wayward son Jack - unaware that Jack is really a highly-trained CIA operative out to stop a nuclear weapons heist. With the Russian underworld in pursuit, and battling a countdown to war, the two McClanes discover that their opposing methods make them unstoppable heroes.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Come on Bruce Willis, guns explosions bad guys, what more do you want?
Movie: This Is 40
Released: Feb 14th 2013
Synopsis: After years of marriage, Pete lives in a house of all females: wife Debbie and their two daughters, eight-year-old Charlotte (Iris Apatow) and 13-year-old Sadie (Maude Apatow). As he struggles to keep his record label afloat, he and Debbie must figure out how to forgive, forget and enjoy the rest of their lives…before they kill each other.
Why we’re looking forward to it: From the Apatow stable comes another fast hitting comedy which will do well judging from the trailers. Paul Rudd can seemingly do no wrong and is great to watch. The usual selection of Apatow favourites appear too.
Movie: Dead Man Down
Released: 8th March
Synopsis: In New York City, a crime lord's right-hand man is seduced by one of his boss's victims, a woman seeking retribution.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Director Niels Arden Oplev knocked it out of the park with the Swedish version of The Girl With Dragon Tattoo. That, and re-teaming with Noomi Repace, makes his English language debut one to watch out for.
Movie: Welcome To The Punch
Released: 15th March
Synopsis: When a notorious criminal is forced to return to London, it gives a detective one last chance to take down the man he's always been after.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Nothing beats a gritty, London set cop thriller. That goes double when you add James McAvoy and Mark Strong to the mix.
Movie: Trance
Released: March 27th
Synopsis: An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Danny Boyle returns with a thriller that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. Child's play to a director of his talent.
Movie: Cloud Atlas
Released: 22nd March
Synopsis: An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Great premise, an interesting cast with many familiar names. A good scatter of British actors also including Jim Broadbent and Ben Whishaw who we recently saw as the new “Q” in Skyfall. Oh and there’s also Tom Hanks and Hugo Weaving, enough said.
Movie: The Host
Released: March 29th
Synopsis: A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.
Why we're looking forward to it: Saoirse Ronan’s star on the rise in a somewhat unusual role for her. Will be interesting to see how she is growing as an actor after previous successful outings
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Movie: The Place Beyond The Pines
Released: 12th April 2013
Synopsis: A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Ryan Gosling is very hot property in Hollywood right now and rightly so. A very versatile actor who I enjoy watching, decent cast could spur this on as a surprise hit.
Movie: Pain and Gain
Released: 26th April (U.S.)/ 3rd May (U.K./IRL)Synopsis: A pair of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.
Why we’re looking forward to it: A passion project of Michael Bay's, the teaming up of Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg, not to mention the promise of something a little different from the director, makes this one to keep an eye on.
Movie: Oblivion
Released: 12th April (U.K./IRL)/ 19th April (U.S.)
Synopsis: Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.
Why we’re looking forward to it: The ever likable Tom Cruise is on an absolute roll lately. Couple that with what promises to be a visual threat, he has another hit on his hands.
Movie: Great Gatsby
Released: May 10th USA / May 17th IRE & UK
Synopsis: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Visually it looks amazing and it’s got a pretty awesome cast including Leondardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. And that’s even before we drop in Baz Luhrmann’s name in the directors chair. And it certainly looks like it could do a crossover from the book fans to the neanderthals who have never heard of the book.
Movie: Star Trek Into Darkness
Released: May 17th USA / IRL / UK
Synopsis: When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Why we’re looking forward to it: After what J.J. Abrams did with Star Trek, how could we NOT be looking forward to this. The trailer is awesomely dark, Chris Pine has really matured in Captain Kirk and visually this is as hot as an ion engine. Abrams has a great eye for detail and a story. This cannot go wrong, and that’s coming from a Star Wars fan!
Movie: Fast And Furious Six
Released: 24th May
Synopsis: Dominic Toretto and his gang relocate to Europe, still on the run from the authorities.
Why we’re looking forward to it: When you want over the top action, you can't go wrong with the Fast And Furious franchise. Promising more high-octane action than previous installments, this shouldn't disappoint.
Movie: The Hangover Part III
Released: 24th MaySynopsis: This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.
Why we’re looking forward to it: A farewell to The Wolfpack, and the much loved comedy franchise, we can't wait for what is in store for us this time around.
Movie: Iron Man 3
Released: 26th May (U.K./IRL)/ 3rd May (U.S.)
Synopsis: Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin.
Why we’re looking forward to it: A darker take, but still retaining the fun of the originals, we can't wait to see where new director Shane Black takes the Armoured Avenger.
Movie: After Earth
Released: 7th June
Synopsis: After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet that was evacuated by humans 1,000 years earlier.
Why we’re looking forward to it: M. Knight Shyamalan may have stumbled in recent years, but he still has the makings of a great director, and this tale of survival on a savage future Earth shows a lot of promise.
Movie: Man Of Steel
Released: June 14th USA / IRL / UK
Synopsis: An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world.
Why we’re looking forward to it: It’s Superman, what more do you need. Ok..Snyder is one the most visually accomplished directors on the planet and while he may have been criticised in the past for style over substance, the trailer is nothing short of amazing. We’re getting a very different Snyder for Man Of Steel I feel and the trailer certainly looks like he will deliver big time. It’s a different tone for Supes and something that will hopefully be a refreshing change. Granted, I still miss his red underpants!
Movie: World War Z Released: June 21st USA / IRE / UK
Synopsis: A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Seriously...Brad Pitt and Zombies!!!! Need we say more?
Released: June 21st USA / July 12th IRE & UK
Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at the University of Fear -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
Why we’re looking forward to it: Mike and Sully are rather awesome. The original movie was full of heart and pure hilarity. We’re expecting the hilarity to continue with the sequel and it’s about time Pixar’s second favourite duo get another outing on the big screen.
Pheeewww..that concludes Part One. Onwards to part two!
