List of my Most Anticipated Movies for 2012

Around this time of year I love to look at coming attractions for the next year.
2012 is going to have some kick-ass movies.

I have a little rating system here to let you know how crazy with anticipation I am over these movies:
Through the roof - This means my highest level of anticipation
Crazy about it - Pretty excited but not the maxed out level
Very interested - Is as it sounds
Let's wait and see - I want to see it but maybe just to make fun of it or see how bad it really is.
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The Dark Knight Rises
My expectations: Through the roof!
Release date: July 20, 2012
Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway
Why I want to see it: Are you kidding me?  The Dark Knight should have won the Oscar for best movie because it simply was the best movie out there that year (2008).  Regardless of it being a superhero movie, (which the Oscar Academy looks down on) the plot was fantastic, writing - flawless, acting - terrific (especially Heath Ledger), soundtrack phenomenal, everything about it was absolutely incredible so it goes without saying that I can't wait to see another one.  IF Nolan follows the comic book, Batman will have his back broken in this film and will not be able to walk ever again, much less fight.  IF Nolan semi-follows the comic book and has this happen, I think he might well just kill Bruce Wayne all together and possibly the Commissioner as well.  Either way, I'm pretty sure I'll be crying at the end of this one for lots of reasons (heavy good drama, sadness of the series ending, the thought of Christian Bale dying).
What may suck about it: Well Anne Hathaway has no range.  All she can do well is play a fresh from college girl who falls in love with the wrong guy, or gets a big job she can't handle.  She has no depth and she cannot play a heavy so I'm really worried about her playing Cat Woman.  I know Christopher Nolan is capable of making mistakes, take Katie Holmes in Batman Begins for example.  She was the worst part of that movie hands down so I was just hoping he wouldn't make a mistake like that again.  At least she was gone for the second one, Maggie Gyllenhaal was so so much better.  It's also the last Batman movie coming out by Nolan and his team of incredibly talented people so I wished he hadn't limited himself to only 3 movies.  They are so awesome!



Mass Effect (This film is in development so details remain undisclosed at present)
My expectations: Crazy about it!
Release date: unknown, 2012
Mankind discovers ancient alien technology that enables faster than light travel. Using stored coordinates, mankind stumbles on a hostile alien race know as the Turians.
Director: unknown
Starring: unknown
Why I want to see it: Mass Effect 2 (the video game) has its own post on my blog here.  It stands alone as my favorite video game I have ever seen and played.  It was an INCREDIBLE game filled with great voice acting, a superb plot, and was cinematic already so making it into a full length feature film is a treat.  I've also heard that they are not going to take the original game story and just translate it for film so I want to see what exactly they're making a film about.
What may suck about it: Well, there's a lot of unknowns about this movie right now.  I have no idea who's going to star in it.  I played the female version of Commander Shepard in the game, but there was also the male version and I'm pretty damn sure they'll go for the male Shepard in the movie, so I can't relate as much there, but it could be ok.  It may completely fall short of my expectations as well, but there's always that risk when this kind of movie comes out.  Stay tuned for updates as I'm sure I'm going to hear a lot about this in the future!


Prometheus
My expectations: Very interested!
Release date: June 8, 2012

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Guy Pearce
Why I want to see it: Ridley Scott is a very good sci-fi director and I look forward to seeing him do something with the Alien franchise.  This is not exactly supposed to be an Alien prequel, but it does reference the movie.  I like space movies in general but I love Charlize, Patrick, and Guy so that combo should be fun to see.
What may suck about it: Well, it may fall very short of my expectations, but I'll have to see some trailers first to get a better idea if it's going to be good or a little less than good.  In the end, it might rely too much on special effects and not enough on story and characters.



The Amazing Spider-Man
My expectations: Let's wait and see.
Release date: July 3, 2012
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone

Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.
Why I want to see it: This is a reboot of the series starting over at Peter Parker's high school years.  I'd like to see how they handle it, but I was a big fan of Tobey Maguire's version so I'm a little bit cautious already.
What may suck about it: The above.  A lot of people have the other series in mind, so I really don't know how I'm going to react to this version.  It could be great, could be bad, we will all find out next summer.

Total Recall
My expectations: Let's wait and see
Release date: August 3, 2012

As the nation states Euromerica and New Shanghai vie for supremacy, a factory worker (Farrell) begins to suspect that he's a spy, though he is unaware which side of the fight he's on.

Director: Len Wiseman

Starring: Colin Farrel, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale

Why I want to see it: Both this version and the original are based on the short story by Philip K. Dick called We Can Remember It for you Wholesale.  From the quick synopsis we get for this one, it already sounds different so I'd like to see if it's closer to the original first movie or short story.  I have yet to read the story so I'm a bit behind here.  I'm just really curious about this project.
What may suck about it: Well, to start, I loved the original movie and I remember going to see it in theaters so I'm a bit protective of it.  Second, I hate Colin Farrel.  I can't stand him as a human being and I don't like him as an actor either.  None of his performances are anything special and he could easily be replaced in all his films with someone else.  Plus this is his second remake in a row following, Fright Night released earlier this year.  I kinda' want to see Total Recall to see if it's going to be terrible and then I can rip it to shreds here later : )

The Hunger Games
My expectations: Very interested!
Release date: March 23, 2012
Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.
Director: Gary Ross
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth
Why I want to see it: I just barely learned of this project last night and it looks pretty good.  The child actors don't look too annoying and the story sounds intriguing.  Fighting to the death always makes for good drama, granted that characters actually die and the movie doesn't find some cutesy way around this.  There is a series of books about this which the movie is based on so I might want to read those before I see this one.
What may suck about it:  If the child actors or the story line is too kiddish and not mature, I will not enjoy this premise.  If the directors or the books found a way around people dying and they say that's what it's about, I'll be mad.  There's always the possibility that this may just be a bad movie to begin with, with kid stories, you never know.



World War Z
My expectations: Let's wait and see.
Release date: Doomsday! December 21, 2012 (I hope I can actually see it before the world ends!)
A UN representative, writing a report on the great zombie war interviews survivors
in the wake of World War Z.
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Brad Pitt, David Morse, Matthew Fox
Why I want to see it: I like zombie stories!  I like end of the world stories as well so I'm pretty interested.  I just haven't seen any trailers because they don't exist yet so my judgement may change later on of course.  David Morse is one of my favorite actors and I haven't seen him in a bit so I'm looking forward to him.  He's just so talented! 
What may suck about it:  Brad Pitt is in it and he's nothing special.  I don't understand the hoopla around him.  I think he's good at playing goofball characters like what he did in Ocean's Eleven, but he lacks depth and range as well.  Plus if this is just people talking and they don't show flashbacks of what happened or try to make it too dramatic without enough zombies I'll be very disappointed.



The Avengers
My expectations: Very interested!
Release date: May 4, 2012
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agency brings together a team of superhumans to help save the Earth from annihilation by extraterrestrial invaders.
Director: Joss Whedon
I can't wait for this one, just look who's directing it, plus he co-wrote the screenplay.  You might recognize his name from the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well as Angel.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson
Why I want to see it: I really like Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr.  I love Joss Whedon and think he's very talented so it'll be interesting to see what becomes of this idea.  I think it could be really really entertaining.
What may suck about it:  It may fall into the trap of using too many special effects and not have a good story (but I doubt that Joss Whedon could write a bad story).  It may have too many superheroes in it for the time frame of one movie and just focus on Iron Man since that movie did the best out of the other Avenger characters (Thor, Captain America, The Hulk).  I mean, if you're going to do an ensemble cast spread the time about evenly.



Skyfall
My expectations: Crazy about it!
Release date: November 9, 2012

Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig,  Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes
Why I want to see it: I've never liked James Bond films until Casino Royale.  Daniel Craig is my perfect image of what this character should be mentally, physically, emotionally.  I really think he's the best one I've ever seen so it's exciting to see him back again.  Plus there should be a new Astin Martin in it!  Action, action, action!  I want to see some great fighting and car chases!  Javier Bardem can be simply evil (No Country for Old Men) and he's so good at it.  I can't wait to see him face off against 007!
What may suck about it: Quantum of Solace was not nearly as good as Casino Royale so that movie was already a bit of a disappointment.  Don't get me wrong Quantum was an excellent movie compared to what crap they put out now, by leaps and bounds, but since it followed Casino, it just wasn't up to par.  Hopefully, this movie can avoid the hole that Quantum left us in and return to its former script and storyline glory of Casino.



The Great Gatsby
My expectations: Through the roof!
Release date: December 25, 2012
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Tobey Maguire
Why I want to see it: The Great Gatsby is one of my all time favorite novels!  I love the original movie as well with Robert Redford.  I love the era this story is set in, the drama, plus the symbolism that the writing is rife with.  I want to see what they do with my favorite classic.
What may suck about it: Where do I start?!  Leonardo DiCaprio?  I swear he wants to play every major male character in history, every book and every big memorable role in previously made movies.  This guy is in EVERYTHING lately and I'm just afraid he's spreading himself too thin to take the time that every character needs to be fully developed before he starts acting.  In other words, he's not the actor that he needs to be for this (and several other) role(s).  Baz Luhrmann?  He's the one that did that terrible self-indulgent movie Australia and another over-the-top movie Moulin Rouge.  Although I love Moulin Rouge with a passion, I can understand why other people did not like it.  Luhrmann has a way of taking movies and just going way way overboard.  I worry about how he will treat my Great Gatsby.  Will it be laughably bad? Garish? Outlandish? Ridiculous?  Or just completely re-interpreted into something not at all recognizable?  If this movie is to be any good at all it has to start with a lot of art deco architecture, the original story from the book, and has to have a luxurious feel to the entire movie.  Not to mention, incredible acting.



The Woman in Black
My expectations: Crazy about it!
Release date: February 3, 2012

A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.

Director: James Watkins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe
Why I want to see it: This is Daniel Radcliffe's first movie released since his 8th and final Harry Potter film.  Now that everyone knows he can act perfectly as Potter can he do anything else just as good?  I'm curious to see if I can forget he's boy wizard Harry Potter, and believe he is truly someone else.  Plus I'm always up for a good scary film.  There haven't been too many in recent years that were worth a damn.
What may suck about it: It may be the case that no one can take Radcliffe seriously as anyone else but Harry.  It would be an incredible distraction to this movie while watching it.  Think of it, me sitting there watching this movie thinking, "Harry would never do that!"  It could also turn out that this ends up being another crappy non-scary "scary" movie.


Spaceless
My expectations: Let's wait and see.
Release date: unknown, 2012

A man wakes up inside a spacesuit tumbling helplessly through space, with a computer designed to keep him company until his air runs out, trying to solve the mystery of his death.

Director: Cary Fukunaga
Starring: Unknown
Why I want to see it: Well, it sounds interesting as a premise.  Of course, a lot of movies sound good on paper.  There's not too much info on this movie yet so my idea of it could easily change with a preview.
What may suck about it:  Too many unknowns.  Another case of something that sounds good in theory, but the execution could be terrible.


Wettest Country
My expectations: Through the roof!
Release date: April 20, 2012
Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.
Director: John Hillcoat
Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce
Why I want to see it: Ha!  I have an incredibly crude pun for this title and who's in it, but I will leave it to your imagination.  I don't even care what this movie is about I only want to see it for the extremely HOT men in it.  Shia and Guy will be constant eye candy throughout!  Yum!
What may suck about it: It may be a bit of a rip-off of the strong success of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.  Although there has always been gangster movies and shows, Boardwalk Empire is specifically showing gangsters during the 20's and 30's, prohibition, crime bosses, violence, and themes that sound similar to this title.  I'm not familiar with the director, and it could be a very dull (storywise) film.  But like I said, there's always the eye candy to look at, and that's really my main reason for the excitement. 



Snow White and the Huntsman
My expectations: Let's wait and see.
Release date: June 1, 2012

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, and unfortunately Kristen Stewart
Why I want to see it: Really because of Charlize Theron.  I think she could be a great Evil Queen and she's super talented and uber beautiful so I'd like to see her character in this.  Um, Chris Hemsworth, HOT in a word.  He has one of the most exquisite body's in Hollywood and I would like to just look at him while he's on screen.
What may suck about it: Kristen (stupid, no talent) Stewart.  I cannot stand this girl.  I think she's constantly a droopy and depressed character, no matter what role she has given to her.  She is one sided, lacking any sort of depth, and is as interesting to watch as paint dry.  Couldn't they have hired someone else (besides Katie Holmes or Anne Hathaway of course)?  Maybe Rachel Weisz, Gabrielle Union, Evangeline Lilly, or maybe Sonya Walger (she was fantastic as Penny in the tv show Lost).  They needed a woman who could be strong and innocent at the same time, not dowdy and lifeless girl like Stewart.


Red Lights
My expectations: Very interested!
Release date: unknown, 2012

Psychologist Margaret Matheson and her assistant study paranormal activity, which leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic.

Director: Rodrigo Cortes
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver
Why I want to see it: This could be a good sci-fi crime drama.  Cillian Murphy is an exceptional actor as well as Sigourney Weaver so their performances could be very memorable.  It sounds like a new idea and Hollywood for the last decade or so has really been lacking those.  I'm tired of vampire movies or rom com's that are neither funny nor romantic.
What may suck about it: Despite a great cast, I do not know the director and that could be the scariest thing about this film.  Without a good director good movies can be terrible to watch.  That's about the worst I can say about this one.  I'm hoping it's really good though.

So that's the list.  I'm really very excited about some of the flicks coming our way next year.  What are you looking forward to at the theaters?  Did I leave something out?  Let me know!