A new year of new flicks to see! 2017 was a boldly refreshing year for cinema with historic successes. Here’s to keeping the momentum going in 2018 🍾.
This list might be added to as the year goes on 👍🏼.
THE NEW MUTANTS
Release date: April 13th
“Magik, Wolfsbane and other teenage mutants try to come to grips with their superpowers while staying at a secret facility” (IMDB).
Horror movies are one of my favorite things so duh this is on the list. A sinisterly spooky tone and design with young adult mutants that include a lycanthrope, a telepath that can deep dive into your mind to control you and an Indian ie. Native American who can manifest peoples dreams and nightmares? Yes please!
BLACK PANTHER
Release date: February 16th
“T’Challa, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king” (IMDB).
If 2017’s Coco maybe hopefully oh-God please taught studios that charting new cultural paths doesn’t require tricking audiences – shock! awe! there’s a steadily growing appetite for significantly new viewing experiences – then here’s to Black Panther cementing that lesson. Black Panther’s already setting records, having the most early ticket sales of any Marvel Studios production in the nearly ten years of releases thus far. So why the hype? Casting is one reason personally. The list includes Daniel Kaluuya whose superb lead performance in Get Out communicated so much to me a ‘white’ American male (Get Out’s a 2017 top 10 favorite and a winner at this year’s Critics Choice Awards) as well as Lupita Nyong’o whose lead performance in Queen of Katwe ♥️ endeared her to me. Another reason is everything design wise looks set to transport me to a whole new world of the Marvel-verse.
MORTAL ENGINES
Release date: December 14th
One of two movies whose overall concept, in addition to world-building in this, is what’s drawing me in.
I’ll let this teaser trailer (lookee at that length – only 1 min 30 👏🏼) do the talking: https://youtu.be/fupYIggOq38
WIDOWS
Release date: November 16th
“Set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms” (IMDB).
Intrigued by what sounds to me like maybe probably characters that have very different lives needing to band together, the clash of worlds so to speak as the lives of these characters intersect.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
Release date: November 16th
“In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe” (IMDB).
What sounds like some truly bonkers action springing from such a ho-hum idea as telemarketing – perhaps some/a truckload of satirical zing there? – with a cast that includes Tessa Thompson who stared in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnorak as the Valkyrie as well as Lakeith Stanfield of Get Out and Short Term 12 acclaim has me waay intrigued.
Isle of Dogs
Release date: March 23rd
“Set in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy’s odyssey in search of his dog” (IMDB).
I’m not a fan of Wes Anderson admittedly; of the flicks he’s helmed that I’ve watched none have resonated strongly or at all personally. That said this being set in Japan did get my eyebrows raised. So that’s where I’m at – cautiously intrigued. We shall see. I imagine the cinematography will be interesting, that at least is usually the case for me with his projects.
READY PLAYER ONE
Release date: March 30th
“When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. Wade Watts finds the first clue and starts a race for the Egg” (IMDB).
Yes I want a Gundam cameo (they’re a Japanese war machine). Yes x 100%. So I’m down for this with it’s virtual reality Willy Wonka-esque conceit that has a seeming dystopic vibe and some nostalgic treats.
VENOM
Release date: October 5th
I had a Venom action figure – my only one? as the heart and soul of my playtime belonged to Legos – with a tongue that flicked in and out. Venom was and probably still is the most badass of comic book baddies to me. Venom’s a hulking beast with a direct connection to Spidey who showed up in 2007’s Spider-Man 3 but looked in that like leg day (and everything else for that matter) hadn’t happened in years.
Tom Hardy will play Venom? Let’s do this.
#VenomDeservesBetter
ACRIMONY
Release date: March 30th
“A faithful wife (Taraji P. Henson) tired of standing by her devious husband (Lyriq Bent) is enraged when it becomes clear she has been betrayed” (IMDB).
This is a sweet poster first off! Love it. The Tyler Perry directed/written dramatic comedy I Can Do Bad All By Myself which featured Madea I remember enjoying so I’m cautiously confident about this one. Plus the lead is Taraji P. Henson who was one of the leading women in Hidden Figures? Well alright then – take my money Mr. Perry.
AVENGER: INFINITY WAR
Release date: May 4
“The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe” (IMDB).
Do I need to say much about why this made my list? While sure it’ll be some measure of formulaic I ain’t got no issue with that seeing as the formula has mostly served me at worst fun often visually spectacular romps. Going off of the news so far about this what maybe excites me most is – gonna get morbid here – it seems there’ll be an actual body count and no reset button hit, the ingredient missing to me from Captain America: Civil War.
Here’s a 2 min + trailer: https://youtu.be/6ZfuNTqbHE8
And there ya go. What are you most looking forward to? Feel free to comment below and thanks for stopping by!
Silver Screen Musing 