Looking Ahead to 2016 Movies

2015 was a solid year for mainstream movies. The Marvel machine kept on rolling. Avengers: Age of Ultron hit the big screens and the superhero team continued to rake in the money. Some thought that Ant-Man would be the film that stopped the momentum but it was surprisingly fun and different. The Hunger Games concluded. Two legendary franchises, Jurassic Park and Star Wars, made their returns and broke box office records. In terms of artistic quality, The Martian was probably the best movie I saw in 2016. I still want to see Spotlight, The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, The Revenant, and Brooklyn which have all been nominated for Best Picture. However, those type of films generally do not get as much fanfare or hype before they are released. As a result, I will be focusing on the mainstream movies that are set to be released in 2016.

1. Deadpool (February 12)

I am going to start with the first movie I saw this year. I thought this film had a chance to be really good but had serious reservations. The X-Men Origins: Wolverine version of Deadpool exceeded all expectations on how bad he could be. The trailers for the reboot were promising. On the other hand, good movies are usually not dropped in February so I remained skeptical and did not plan to watch the film unless I saw good reviews. As a character, Deadpool has a dedicated fan following. Ryan Reynolds had the indignity of playing the first awful rendition. However, he is one of the real fans of the character and pushed hard over the years to give us a quality interpretation of the character. He delivered.

I would not say it is an amazing film. It is very solid. Hardcore Deadpool fans are sure to be happy. It is faithful to the source material for his origin and fun. It is R-rated and not at all safe for children. It contains nudity, sex, inappropriate language, and very gory violence. Deadpool is an interesting character because he is not a superhero and despises the thought of being one. In the film, he describes himself well as a “bad guy that kills worse guys”. Compared with the R-rated rating, it is a comic book movie for adults and a fresh film that is different from the flood of superhero films over recent years. Deadpool is also known for breaking the fourth wall. He is aware he is a comic book character and talks directly to the audience. The film definitely gets that aspect of the character accurate and utilizes it to differentiate itself. In addition, it is filled with a countless number of jokes. It starts with the opening credits which are fake credits that are very sarcastically funny. Some references went over my head. Nevertheless, the jokes come early and often. There is something for everyone. In particular, I loved all the jokes about the comic book universe. The film pokes fun of and makes references to Deadpool’s appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the X-Men universe in general, Ryan Reynolds’s role as the Green Lantern, the Avengers, other movies (e.g. Taken), etc. Colossus and a new X-Men, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, also join Deadpool on this adventure. I loved the new version of Colossus. He is more consistent with character as presented in the comics and the animated series in the 1990s. On the other hand, the tone of Deadpool does not fit in with the main X-Men Universe. From my perspective, it exists in an alternate X-Men universe. Nevertheless, I recommend it to comic book fans because it is the Deadpool movie we needed and wanted.

2. London Has Fallen (March 4)

The first film, Olympus Has Fallen, is an entertaining action film. On the other hand, the plot is completely ridiculous and not believable at all. The North Koreans launch a coordinated air and ground attack on Washington D.C. and capture the White House. They somehow even have confidential information about a secret machine gun turret on the top of the White House that they reprogram to repel a Navy Seal team that tries to retake it. Even if I am able to accept all those premises, I then cannot also believe that Gerard Butler is able to defeat all of them singlehandedly with a handgun. One film is enough. A second is really pushing it.

3. 10 Cloverfield Lane (March 11)

J.J. Abrams loves secrecy. He knows how to utilize it for marketing too. In Cloverfield, he teased a monster attack on New York City in trailers but kept the look of the beast and the plot a mystery. The film gives a unique perspective of a monster attack than other movies, from the point of view of regular civilians. It is also shot first person from their perspective. I did not like the film but I can see why others did. 10 Cloverfield Lane came out of nowhere. Abrams made the film under a different name and only recently changed it to its real name. Again, he is using secrecy to help with the marketing. He is not even saying it is a sequel to Cloverfield. He describes it as a “blood relative”. From the trailer, John Goodman’s character appears to be saving a couple of young people from the horrors outside or crazy and keeping them hostage in his underground bunker. It could be an interesting movie, especially if he connects to the first Cloverfield film. I will certainly check to see what the reviews say about it. However, I will probably not go to see it. I might Wikipedia the plot after it is released to satisfy my curiosity about the plot.

4. The Divergent Series: Allegiant (March 18)

In my opinion, The Divergent Series is a poor man’s Hunger Games. It has a similar dystopian future story but is not even close to being as good. I saw the first film of the Divergent Series and hated it. I was informed by a fan of the book series that the second film was worse. They also decided to split the final book into two parts like the Hunger Games. In terms of quality, it did not turn out well for the Hunger Games and it is much more highly critically acclaimed. I have no interest in watching another minute of this series. However, it has a strong, young adult fan base of the books who will definitely go to see it.

5. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25)

I have a strong feeling this movie is going to be mediocre. DC Entertainment is obviously trying to catch up to Marvel’s success with the Avengers franchise.  As a result, it is trying to pull together the Justice League way too fast. Marvel built its universe over time. They had solid individual films that led to the first Avengers movie, aka as Phase 1. They carefully plan out their films. Phase 2 culminated in Avengers: Age of Ulton. They are currently in Phase 3. DC is trying to skip the critical step of individual films that are needed to set up the DC universe. The only film to date is Man of Steel. I really enjoyed the modern, darker take of Superman. However, it only garnered an average reception. For this reason, going straight to Batman v Superman is definitely jumping the gun. I understand that the story of Batman is well known and DC is relying on that fact. On the other hand, The Dark Knight trilogy is still fresh in everyone’s minds. It portrayed a different, realistic Batman. Moreover, there have been many variations of Batman over the years. For this reason, I think DC needs to first establish the version of Batman it wants to have in the Justice League film series. I also have my reservations with the choice as Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader although his work has significantly improved recently. In addition, DC is just throwing as many of its superheroes into a movie as soon as possible. In addition to Batman and Superman, Wonder Woman appears to have a significant role in the film. There are also rumors that more of the main lineup of the Justice League will enter stage by the end of the film. With every superhero that is added to Batman v Superman, I become more certain that it will be a sloppy mess. I have already read some rumors that it is so bad that the studio is considering pushing back the first Justice League film and slating more individual movies to regain the faith of the fans. Not good.

6. The Jungle Book (April 15)

When I was a kid, I loved the animated film. Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, and King Louie are great children’s characters. What kid does not want to see a boy roam the jungle and have animal friends? The special effects in the trailers for the live action movie look awesome. Disney has mapped out its plans for live action, fairy tale films. None of them have been good so far. I enjoy Once Upon a Time’s twists on the stories better. The television series is also better adaptions for adults. Of course, I am not a kid anymore. I will probably pass on the live action versions until they release a really good one.

7. Captain America: Civil War (May 6)

Civil War is the movie I am most looking forward to in 2016. The Civil War storyline is one of the best comic book story arcs. In my opinion, the Captain America films has been the best in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They have a lot of substance with great plots and Chris Evans has been an awesome Captain America. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is my favorite Marvel film. It hits on very relevant, current issues about balancing security and freedom and combines those themes with superhero action. Similarly, the next film will touch upon the important question about how much oversight superheroes should have from the government. Despite their heroism, they have also left a path of destruction throughout all the films. Like the comics, the Avengers will take different sides on the issue with Captain America leading one group and Iron Man leading the other. The two heroes have conflicting styles and almost came to blows in the first Avengers movie. The situation is only amplified by the presence of the Winter Soldier, who is really Captain America’s best friend. The world will most likely want to hold him accountable for the crimes he committed while he was brainwashed by Hydra. It is going to be an epic brawl between the Avengers. I am also looking forward to seeing a couple of new members, Black Panther and the much anticipated new Spiderman. I cannot wait.

8. X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27)

I have been waiting for Apocalypse to show up in the X-Men cinematic universe for a long time. He is the biggest bad and my favorite X-Men villain. He is the most powerful and first mutant who dates back to the times of ancient Egypt. He is a Machiavellian figure who only believes in the survival of the fittest. Apocalypse is pure evil and has no redeeming qualities. He will assemble his Four Horsemen and there will definitely be an epic battle with the X-Men. I also love the casting for new characters. Sophie Turner is known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. She plays a young Jean Grey. Olivia Munn looks phenomenal as Psylocke. At first, I was upset with the images I saw of Apocalypse. He was purple. Like everyone else who saw the pictures, I thought he looked like Ivan Ooze from Power Rangers. Ooze is a goofy villain. Apocalypse means business and needs the build and appearance to support it. However, those still images are before the CGI. He looks much more imposing and consistent with the comic books now in the trailers. Moreover, I feel comfortable with Oscar Issac playing Apocalypse after I saw his performance as Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The X-Men: First Class prequel trilogy has been stellar through the first two films. I expect Bryan Singer to provide an epic conclusion before stepping away from the X-Men franchise for good.

9. Warcraft (June 10)

Warcraft is one of the most popular, influential video game franchises ever. I have watched plenty of friends and family play World of Warcraft. I am always skeptical of video game movies. However, there is plenty of good source material to make a quality movie. I will probably not go to see it. However, I will reserve my opinion until I see reviews. The special effects look awesome so I would go if I see a great reception for the movie.

10. Independence Day Resurgence (June 24)

This movie can totally suck and I will still go see it for nostalgia. The first Independence Day is one of my favorite B movie, action films ever. In my opinion, it is the best alien invasion movie. It has a great cast and an epic finale with an air battle between fighter jets and alien fighters. Who can forget President Whitmore’s (Bill Pullman) speech inspiring his pilots to victory? The special effects for the sequel look incredible. They also brought most of the gang back with the notable exception of Will Smith. Of course, I would have loved to see Smith return. Unfortunately, he is either too expensive or too busy depending on who you ask. Nevertheless, I am definitely looking forward to the return of the aliens.

11. The Legend of Tarzan (July 1)

I like the story of Tarzan. I do not love it. The last live action Tarzan movie I saw was bad. However, this reboot has a great cast with Aleksander Skarsgard as Tarzan, Margot Robbie as Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz. Margot Robbie is as hot as any actress in show business right now. I would put my money on her performance as Jane as the main draw for this film. Nevertheless, I do not have too many expectations for it.

12. Ghostbusters (July 15)

The original Ghostbusters is an iconic film and won critical acclaim in 1984. Ghostbusters II did not do nearly as well. The 2016 reboot will feature an all-female lineup of Ghostbusters, led by Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. For me, I would just rewatch the old films if I wanted a Ghostbuster fix. I am not sure how much mainstream appeal the reboot will have. However, it has a dedicated fanbase and the original cast is making cameos.

13. Star Trek Beyond (July 22)

I loved Star Trek Into Darkness and did not really like Star Trek (2009). However, I do appreciate the first film a lot more after watching it again. J.J. Abrams has done a good job rebooting the franchise. While he is producing Star Trek Beyond, he is no longer directing. He is turning the reins over to Justin Lin, who directed four of the Fast and Furious films. I have a bad feeling about this sequel. I will probably only watch it if the reviews are great.

14. Jason Bourne (July 29)

The Jason Bourne films are usually quality. I have only seen one of them and really liked it. I got my spy fix with Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Spectre in 2015. If I have an urge to see one this year, this film will probably be my choice.

15. Suicide Squad (August 5)

A team comprised of supervillains is a unique film idea. It has potential to be really good. DC Entertainment did well to cast Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Will Smith as Deadshot. Jared Leto has the most difficult task of being the Joker. Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger has set the bar impossibly high. Villains are where DC has a significant advantage over Marvel. DC supervillains are much more compelling than the typical, generic comic bad guys that Marvel normally strolls out. As such, Suicide Squad is a good idea for DC. However, they are rushing their characters onto the big screen in a Hail Mary attempt to catch up to Marvel. I think it is going to blow up in their face and they will have to reset their universe again.

16. Underworld: Next Generation (October 14)

The first Underworld is a solid film. The first sequel is not that good. I actually liked the prequel. The second sequel and fourth film in the franchise is terrible. It completely relies on the beautiful Kate Beckinsale in spandex to draw an audience. As a result, I am surprised there will now be a fifth film in the franchise. It should have stopped a long time ago.

17. Doctor Strange (November 4)

Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme is finally hitting the big screen. It will be a different kind of movie with magic and other dimensions. I am really looking forward to see how Marvel will handle and portray these elements. Benedict Cumbertach is a brilliant actor. He is the perfect choice to play Doctor Strange. Rachel McAdams is an amazing actress and I am also excited to see her in the movie. Some critics thought that Marvel would trip over Ant-Man. I thought so too. Instead, Marvel delivered another quality and pleasantly different movie. Eventually, it will whiff on a film. It could be Doctor Strange but I have faith.

18. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (November 18)

Did anyone really think they would stop making Harry Potter movies? I did not think so. Like Marvel and Star Wars, the Harry Potter universe has a cult like following. I have not seen a single one of the films or read any of the books. Nevertheless, I am sure this film and the next book will keep on raking in the money.

19. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16)

When Disney paid George Lucas $4 billion for Star Wars, we knew it would use its Marvel blueprint to release a bunch of films to recoup and make money. Rogue One will be the first film in the Star Wars Anthology which will also feature a standalone young Han Solo and Boba Fett movie. In terms of the main episodic films, I love them and I need to see them as soon as I can. I was one of the people trying to get through for hours on Fandango to purchase tickets on the first night The Force Awaken tickets were available and the site crashed due to the extraordinary traffic. I will not be doing the same or Rogue One. If I consider all of the Star Wars films as one, I have them ranked as my favorite movie ever. In terms of these Anthology films, I have a wait and see approach. I will go see them if I hear they are really good. Rogue One is set before Episode IV, A New Hope, and focuses on the plot to steal the plans for the first Death Star. It does not immediately pique my interest. Entire movies dedicated to Han Solo and Boba Fett do not make me excited either. Like everyone else, Han Solo is one of my favorites. However, I am not sure I really want to see him if he is not played by Harrison Ford. Besides the episodic movies, I would actually like the story to go way back in time. The video games, The Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic, go way back in time [thousands of years]. The plot for those games are awesome. I would be really excited to see movies based on them. I am sure we will eventually see them. Disney will absolutely oversaturate the market with Star Wars films and material.

20. Assassin’s Creed (December 21)

Video game movies have yet to gain a lot of traction. Can Warcraft break through the barrier? Can Assassin’s Creed? It is another great video game. The film features a great cast. Michael Fassbender, best known for Magneto, stars. Marion Cotillard (Inception and the Dark Knight Rises) and Jeremy Irons are also in the movie. Assassin’s Creed is another film I have as wait and see for the reviews.

21. Passengers (December 21)

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt? You have my attention. The plot is unique and interesting too. The premise is that a spacecraft is transporting hibernating passengers to a distant space colony. Unfortunately, equipment malfunctions and wakes up Chris Pratt’s character. Facing aging and dying alone while the other passengers sleep and retain their youth, he wakes up Jennifer Lawrence’s character for human interaction. It is selfish but very human and understandable. It is another movie I will definitely go see if I see strong reviews.

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