I hope you’re prepared to fork over a lot of cash to Hollywood, because 2012 is going to be a kick-ass year for movies. Our first year of Life After Harry Potter™ will be one filled with promise. New trilogies will begin, beloved trilogies will end, and some of the biggest and best directors are expected to unveil masterpieces. If the world’s going to end on December 21st, at least we’ll die satisfied knowing we’ve finally seen The Hobbit.
Here are the 2012 movies I’m most looking forward to:
(ordered by release date)
The Woman in Black
Release Date: February 3, 2012
Director: James Watkins
Based on the 1983 novel by Susan Hill, The Woman in Black is the woeful tale of a young businessman, Arthur Kipps (Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe), who is summoned to the English countryside to set in order a deceased elderly woman’s affairs and estate when he soon becomes haunted by a menacing presence. I love atmospheric horror films, especially when they take place in big, secluded old mansions. If you’ve never seen it, I also highly recommend the original British made-for-TV film version from 1989, which oozes atmosphere and dread. I have high expectations for this modern remake.
The Hunger Games
Release Date: March 23, 2012
Director: Gary Ross
Finally, a hugely popular young adult fiction film adaptation that isn’t Twilight (without candy-ass vampires, and better writing)! Set in the future dystopian North America (now a nation called ‘Panem’), The Hunger Games is an annual televised battle between young boys and girls from each of Panem’s twelve districts. These 24 “tributes” must fight to the death until only one remains standing. The story centers on Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), and her struggle to survive. I practically devoured these books at the beach last summer, and I’m hoping this first film does the series justice.
The Raven
Release Date: April 27, 2012
Director: James McTeigue
Being a horror fan from Baltimore means you can’t not love Edgar Allen Poe. The Raven is a fictionalized account of the last days of the writer’s life, in which Poe (John Cusack) tries to track down a serial killer whose murders are eerily similar to the ones he wrote in his stories. Will the film also portray Poe’s raging alcoholism?
Dark Shadows
Release Date: May 11, 2012
Director: Tim Burton
Another love child between Tim Burton and his go-to leading man, Johnny Depp. The three or four people who read this blog already know I’ve been looking forward to Dark Shadows since I first heard about it. Other than centering around Baranabas Collins (Depp), the plot description on IMDB is disappointingly vague. But I’m sure we can expect a delightfully Burton-esque mix of characters and storylines borrowed from Dark Shadows’ many incarnations. Hope I can finish my Dark Shadows marathon project before then!
Prometheus
Release Date: June 8, 2012
Director: Ridley Scott
Prometheus might turn out to be the film everybody’s been hoping Ridley Scott would make since Alien. It looks dark, unsettling, full of alien creatures, and obviously, set in space (although Scott has confirmed this isn’t a prequel, and is only loosely based on his previous Alien films). A team of explorers set out to unearth the origins of mankind, but instead unknowingly unleash our potential destruction.
Brave
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Pixar does fairy tales. Set in the mythical highlands of Scotland, Brave is the story of a courageous young princess named Merida (Kelly MacDonald). Determined to carve her own path in life, she defies an age-old sacred custom, resulting in a curse that unleashes chaos and fury upon her kingdom.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
There are two movies about Lincoln coming out this year, but this one’s bound to be the most fun. Adapted from the bestselling novel, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a mélange of history and horror in which our beloved 16th president leads a secret double life as vanquisher of the supernatural. It’s as nutty as it sounds, but the book was great. And at least it’s not another god damn remake/sequel/prequel/reboot/etc.
The Dark Knight Rises
Release Date: July 20, 2012
Director: Christopher Nolan
The end of Christian Bale’s reign as Batman, and the final chapter in Nolan’s trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events of the last movie. Batman resurfaces when the terrorist Bane arrives in Gotham City after taking the fall for Harvey Dent’s crimes. Even though I’m definitely looking forward to it, I don’t know if any new Batman movie will be able to top The Dark Knight.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Release Date: December 14, 2012
Director: Peter Jackson
It’s The Hobbit! It’s the prequel to The Lord of the Rings! It’s directed by Peter Jackson! What more is there to say?
Lincoln
Release Date: TBA, December 2012
Director: Stephen Spielberg
Never mind that Lincoln is being directed by Stephen Spielberg. Anything starring Daniel Day Lewis is fucking win.
