2012 is over and done with, as we usher in the year of 2013 - Thankfully, it looks like it will be another amazing year for movies. The Avengers break up and continue their separate lives in Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, while DC bring Superman back to the big screen as one final attempt to make the Man of Steel popular again. Outside the world of super-heroes we have the continuation of The Hunger Games story, a new take on a classic fairytale and much more on the horizon.
We've picked 13 of the most promising movies and ranked them in order of our anticipation. Join us as we take a look at 13 movies that will make 2013 great. (And if you like this feature it would really help us out if you'd like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter. Your support really helps!).
Now it's hard to know whether we should be excited about The Wolverine or not- after all, all we've seen is a few pictures. However, the fact that the movie takes place after X-Men 3, and the promise that the people at Fox have learned a thing or two since X-Men Origins leaves me cautiously optimistic for this one. Another reason to keep an open mind is because this movie sees Wolverine make his way to Japan - a country the character has a very close relationship with in the comics. This jump to a more faithful adaptation of Wolverine could be the push this franchise needs to get back on its feet.
The first Hunger Games movie came out last year and, while it wasn't perfect, it was better than many people expected. Plus, it proved that adaptations of teen books aren't always absolutely awful. The second instalment in this series is seeing the original cast reprise their roles, but this time with a new director. Now whilst Gary Ross (director of the first film) did a good job kicking off the franchise, there were numerous things that critics and fans wanted improved the second time round - this new director (Francis Lawrence, who directed I Am Legend) could do that with a fresh vision for the series. We'll see if this movie delivers when it's released at the end of the year.
When JJ Abrams' Star Trek hit cinemas a few years back it catapulted the waning franchise back to the top of the Sci-Fi tree. This sequel looks like it's going to do nothing to harm that new status, because from what we've seen it may well beat its predecessor. With the origin story of this group out of the way we can now focus on a foe for them to fight, and Benedict Cumberbatch's mysterious character looks more than worthy to fill that role. Plus, it will be a treat to see the entirety of the last film's cast return to their roles, as they showed some great chemistry together in the previous movie. This is a serious contender for sci-fi movie of the year.
Robots. Monsters. GLaDOS. Surely you should be sold by now? The latest movie from acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro looks like it could one of his best yet. While the trailer did feel a little light on plot, I have faith that Del Toro - director of awesome films like Hellboy 1&2 and Pans Labyrinth - can pull this off if anyone can. Set in a world where giant beasts have emerged from a portal in the pacific ocean, Pacific Rim tells the story of humanities last stand against the beasts that are ravaging the world. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!
After the success of The Avengers, it's hard not to be excited about anything coming from Marvel at the moment, and while we're yet to have a trailer for Thor's latest adventure anticipation is already steadily building. What we know so far is that Loki features in the sequel however is not the main antagonist, that role goes to former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston who is to play Malekith the Accursed: Ruler of the Dark Elves. We also know that Natalie Portman will be back for the sequel, implying that we'll see the next stage in her relationship with Thor. The Marvel Cinematic Universe deepens this November, and I can't wait to see how!
It's no secret that Pixar haven't been on form in recent years, with their last two films - Cars 2 and Brave - being met with a resounding "Meh." So, now I'm hoping a return to the companies roots will bring out the best in them. Monsters Inc. is one of my favourite Pixar films and so I can't wait for this prequel which focuses on the University years of Mike, Sully and the gang. With the original cast of Billy Crystal, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi returning, along with the fact that Pixar have already proved with Toy Story 3 that they're capable of bringing a dormant franchise out of retirement and restoring it to its former glory - this could be one of Pixar's best films yet.
Let's face it: Superman hasn't been "cool" for years. After 2006's Superman Returns turned out to be a surprise dud at the box office, Warner has been thinking of ways to refresh the oldest super-hero still doing the rounds. The result is Man of Steel starring a lot of big talent such as Henry Cavill (Immortals) as Superman himself, Amy Adams (The Fighter) as the new Lois Lane, as well as Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe and Laurence Fishburne also with starring roles. My only worry with this move is the director - Zack Snyder. You either love him or hate him. Known for his stylish films like Watchmen, 300, and Suckerpunch he's yet to release a film that doesn't leave his audience divided. However, the first trailer was awesome, and the rumours that this film could have hints of the upcoming Justice League movie makes it a must-see even more.
Django Unchained comes from the somewhat insane mind of Quentin Tarantino and is at it's core a tongue in-cheek western movie with A LOT of violence - and I can't wait to see it. Set in the time when black people were used as slaves by the whites, Django (Jamie Foxx) has to rescue his wife, Broomhilda who has been sold to a rather unpleasant Calvin Candie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). It's easy to get caught up in the controversy surrounding this movie - particularly its action figures - but word from the US (who got the movie in December) is it's another Tarantino classic.
The original Kick-Ass is still one of my favourite films of all time. It was funny, but also had some emotional moments, along with some great action and brilliant acting from the likes of Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage and the rising star that is Chloe Moretz. After a while though I was convinced that we wouldn't be seeing a sequel to what is one of the most under-appreciated comic book movies of the last few years - but here we are, just months away. Following the same story of the Kick-Ass 2 comic, this sequel has the original cast reprise their roles (along with series newcomers like Jim Carrey!) for a darker story with a grander scope. My only worry is the choice of director/screenplay writer in Jeff Wadlow who is relatively unknown and has produced a fair amount of bad movies. However, Matthew Vaughn (the first film's director) has assured us that he's more than capable of the job. We'll see when the film is released this Summer.
This is the big one for me this year. The first movie in Marvel's "Phase 2" plans and the return of Robert Downey Jr. in the role he was born to play. The first trailer was amazing, and Ben Kingsley's Mandarin is a mysterious, new kind of villain for Tony Stark to go up against. Following the "Extremis" storyline that sees Tony Stark become one with his suit, as well as the promise that the events will tear Tony Stark's world apart, this looks to be 2013's first unmissable film. If you haven't seen it already, then watch the trailer below:
