2015 is set to be a very exciting year for movies. We are witnessing the anticipated return of "Star Wars", with J.J. Abrams at the helm, and the much hyped "Avengers" sequel. "Jurassic Park" is also being re-opened, making casual movie goers and cinema buffs drool. This year has the potential to be truly special, but also very disappointing, because with all the hype, there are bound to be disappointments. And if you think about it, the majority of the films people are looking forward to this year are sequels, reboots, remakes, and overall rehashed stories. Bond is back with "Spectre" and Mad Max is experiencing a makeover this year with the arrival of "Mad-Max: Fury Road". But these stories have proven to be winning formulas, guaranteed sell-outs, and sometimes even critical darlings. Would I like to see something more, new? Yes, but that doesn't mean I won't go see "Avengers: Age of Ultron" or "Stars-Wars: The Force Awakens" and enjoy them. 2015 is one of the most anticipated years for movies in recent memory, and maybe a little too anticipated, but still a lock to be a very interesting and fun year.
"Terminator Genisys":
This movie does not look very interesting. They can't even spell genesis* correctly and it "boasts" a cast that seems out of place, and doesn't seem to have a very original script. They are bringing back old characters and one-liners from its superior predecessors, and if its trailer is any indication, the movie will be more of a nostalgia trip than a step forward for the franchise. Die-hard fans of the franchise will likely be content with the movie, but nothing I've seen so far indicates it will be anything special. But maybe I'm wrong and The Governor has one last fight in him, but I see this one as being a FLOP.
"Tomorrowland"
The upcoming Brad Bird film oozes with mystery and ambiguity, making for a much hyped and anticipated movie. "Tomorrowland" is starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie and is tabbed as a science fiction, fantasy adventure flick. Brad Bird is a proven commodity in the adventure filmmaking genre, with his smash hits "The Incredibles" and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" leaving nothing to be desired. With the names behind this movie being a huge draw, and Disney being the studio behind it, "Tomorrowland" will likely be a huge hit and a very fun adventure. SMASH HIT.
"Ted 2":
The raunchy, foul-mouthed, lovable teddy bear is back. Seth Macfarlane's "Ted" was a surprisingly funny and successful buddy comedy that proved he is as competent a filmmaker as he is a television mogul. But his disastrous Oscar hosting job combined with his most recent film effort "A Million Ways to Die in the West" have given me a reason to be skeptical. "Ted" stands alone as a funny and crass comedy, one that perhaps is better off without a sequel. If the "Hangover", "Scary Movie", and "Beverly Hills Cop" sequels are any indication, this won't end well. My prediction is that the jokes will be tired and the concept will be less fresh, resulting in a disappointing comedy sequel, again. FLOP.
"Ant-man":
If you are skeptical of how this movie will play-out, you are not alone. The concept is honestly kind of stupid and tabbing Paul Rudd as a superhero lead will definitely raise some eyebrows. But in all this uncertainty and doubt, it is easy to forget the studio behind this flick, and that is the perennial powerhouse Marvel. They have been on a flaming hot streak as of late, with last year's entry the unconventional and unorthodox action comedy "Guardians of the Galaxy" being a smash hit. And I admit I was just as skeptical and qualm about "Guardians of the Galaxy" as I am now about "Ant-man", and wow is it hard to imagine Paul Rudd being a superhero. I mean, I thought this movie was like a joke or something, when I saw it on IMDb I chuckled. But I kept reminding myself, "Marvel can pull this off", unless we're talking about "The Amazing Spiderman 2", in which case they can't. Speaking of Spiderman, this wouldn't be the first time Marvel has taken an insect based superhero, make a weird casting decision, and ultimately have it payoff in dividends. I am referring to Tobey Maguire's spiderman franchise, not Andrew Garfield's disaster. "Ant-man" can go either way, so I honestly have no clue how this will go. Will it make money? Absolutely. Will it actually be good? I have no idea.
"Fantastic 4" :
Staying on the subject of superheroes, this franchise has had a turbulent past, with its last installments being very underwhelming. But it his headed in an exciting new direction, with a cast of young and proven actors and a bran new director at the helm. The young gang of superheroes definitely have the potential to make an awesome movie, even though the plot is still relatively unknown at this point. The Fantastic Four is a popular comic that has yet to translate into a decent movie, and letting future stars like Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Michael B. Jordan, all of whom have legitimate acting merits at a young age, attempt to rescue it seems like a very good idea. The Comic's past failed exploits and the lack of a household name, sorry Miles Teller, may stop this movie from being a smash-hit, but it will definitely be a hit. Then again anything with Marvel's name slapped on it has potential to be very, very successful.
"Jurassic World":
One of the heavy weights of 2015, "Jurassic World" will provide a welcome return to the famous park created by Steven Spielberg over 20 years ago. The original "Jurassic Park" was followed by two lackluster sequels that were void of the magic that made the first installment so special, lets hope we don't have another "Jurassic Park III" on our hands. I am on the side confident that "Jurassic World", with the help of new leading man Chris Pratt, will be a very successful and entertaining movie, brining back the luster of the original film. The trailer however was heavy in its use of cgi and was less practical effects oriented, something that made the first film so great. It is also worth noting that Steven Spielberg isn't pulling the strings of the latest installment, but here's hoping that new director Colin Trevorrow does right by the legendary filmmaker. I personally am rooting for this film to be great, but it also seems as if the plot was written by a toddler. I mean the plot consists of scientists creating one mega dinosaur that is threatening the inhabitants of the island. Sound Familiar? It's basically the same as the original minus the genetic enhancements of the dinosaur and Chris Pratt. I don't think the critics will love this movie, but boy will it make a ton of money.