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Who’s looking forward to sci-fi cinema in 2013? It certainly seems like we have a promising selection of films on the horizon and we’ve been treated to a lot of great trailers in December. Sure, there were films we were all already looking forward to, films that SFX has been reporting about; you know – the ones with the epic advertising funds. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised by a few trailers, trailers for films I hadn’t heard much about, films that are now firmly on my go and see list.
There are always films you know lots about. You’re aware of their development and it’s often a countdown to the release of a trailer. But occasionally, and ever more rarely, the trailer is the first you know about a film; the Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman-starring Oblivion comes to mind. And, as I said, often those trailers are a very pleasant surprise. This last month or so has been a good mix of the two.
The trailers for the films we’d heard loads about such as Iron Man 3 , Man Of Steel or Pacific Rim didn’t disappoint. Neither did the trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness . I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trailer generate so much speculation or be subject to so much analysis as the one for JJ Abrams’ second bite at the Trek apple.
Having heard about – and not thinking very much of – zombie love story Warm Bodies , the trailer for that made me completely rethink my opinions, and this too is firmly now on my go and see list. On the whole I’ve had my appetite thoroughly whetted by almost all of the trailers I’ve seen so far.
On the superhero front there’s Iron Man 3 in April, Man Of Steel flying in for June, Kick Ass 2 also in June, Wolverine in July and Thor: The Dark World hitting the multiplexes in November. There’s also super-soldiers as GI Joe: Retaliation finally gets its release in March.
On the apocalypse front we have two films: Oblivion arriving in April and M Night Shyamalan’s After Earth in June – both set on a long-abandoned desolate Earth. Then there’s the Brad Pitt-starring World War Z adaptation – which looks nothing like the book – coming to cinemas in June. We also have giant robots fighting giant monsters in Guillermo Del Toro’s terrific looking Pacific Rim due in July. The Matt Damon starring Elysium heads our way in August
From the lands of fantasy we have both Bryan Singer’s Jack The Giant Slayer and Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful coming in March, Percy Jackson faces The Sea Of Monsters in August and the 300 prequel Rise Of An Empire hits cinemas in August too. And don’t forget Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters which arrives in January.
If adventures in outer space is your thing then there’s the much touted Star Trek Into Darkness warping along in May and the long-awaited cinematic outing for Orson Scott Card’s Enders Game arrives in November.
Animated films due this coming year include Escape From Earth in February, Pixar’s Monsters Inc prequel Monsters University in June and more from those lovable minions with Despicable Me 2 on its way in July. ( Don’t forget Wreck-It Ralph – it's been out on the US but doesn’t hit cinemas in the UK until February – ed. )
The latest book-series-to-film sensation The Hunger Games , gets its second outing in September with Catching Fire and Riddick arrives in the same month.
On the comedy front there’s Warm Bodies , which I mentioned above, that’s due in February and the third of Pegg, Frost and Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy”, The Worlds End, hits cinemas in August.
And to round it all off we have the second of The Hobbit films; The Desolation Of Smaug arriving in December. Only a year to go till we finally get a look at that dragon.
The only real disappointment is just how many of the films mentioned will be coming in 3D. Here’s hoping the 2D/3D ratio improves and we don’t’ find our selves being forced to wear crappy glasses to watch our sci-fi cinema in the coming year. Saying that we will be treated to Star Wars episodes II and III and Jurassic Park in 3D as all three films get converted into the third dimension this coming year – Jurassic Park in April, Attack Of The Clones in September and Revenge Of The Sith in October. With the first two 3D ain’t going to improve them and the last film doesn’t need it. But hey, I have no idea what goes on I the minds of the 3D pimpers anyhow.
However you look at it, that’s quite a list of films to look forward too. I know I’m having trouble picking which I’m most excited about although seeing what they do with Ender’s Game is certainly up there.
So, which of these films are you excited about? What are you really forward to seeing the most? Did I miss any of my list? Which do you think will be the biggest hits and which will end up being next year’s stinkers?
