The Shazam family is back for what will be a bigger more entertaining sequel.
Growing up is hard for everyone, even when you’re a superhero. Billy Batson is getting older and his alter ego, Shazam are both feeling the pressures of growing older and not knowing where he belongs. With his family and how to be a proper hero.
Comparing himself to the legends of the DC Universe, Shazam is having a tough time deciding what the best use of his powers are. Trying to hold together the Shazam family, as they appear to all be heading in different directions in life, all he wants is to be part of a family. He’s got abandonment issues so it all makes sense.
It’s not until some Gods show up, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Luci Liu) that Billy realizes it’s up to him to save the world.
This sequel looks like they got more money, so expect a larger movie in terms of scale and scope. More screen time for our heroes and probably twice the laughs.
I’m not entirely sure where the DC universe is heading but as a fan of the first Shazam, I’m excited for the sequel. Zachary Levi does a fantastic job and it would be really cool to see him interact with some of the other DC heroes and most importantly Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam.
The thing about Shazam is, DC once again proves that their solo flicks are all stellar and I could see this becoming one of the most rewatchable comic book movies ever made . Zachary Levi is perfect in this homage to movies like Elf and BIG.
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.
Nowadays it feels too cliche to sit here and write the word “fun” when it comes to a movie review for a DC Comics property. But here’s the thing, Shazam is a ton of fun, and it’s fun in all the right ways. People shake their heads, but this sudden drastic change in tone from the dark and gloomy days of Zack Snyder, which I will admit, at times I find myself missing. It’s this change of pace that makes this feel so refreshing, another word that gets tossed around like a Juul at a college party these days. These are the elements that make this movie so damn loveable, and something I feel like fans that want that change will instantly appreciate.
When the DCEU started and we got our first glimpse at the new Superman and Batman, it would’ve been hard to imagine Shazam getting his first solo flick before The Dark Knight got us, and we got a sequel to the fantastic Man of Steel. But here we are, and Billy Batson is now a household name, and I really couldn’t be happier. He’s such an interesting and unique character with a great story to tell. We all wonder what it would be like to gain superpowers, but what happens when that wish is granted and we’re merely 14 years old? Toss in the fact, your body transforms into a 30 something god-like figure, it could become really complicated for our young hero. How would someone who is not even old enough to drive a car or purchase alcohol handle becoming one of the most powerful superheroes in all of DC comic book lure? Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has been trying to find his mother all of his life. It’s his driving force and what motivates him the most. Bouncing around group homes, he has a hard time letting anyone get close, let alone consider anyone to be family. At the heart of Shazam, and one of the main reasons why the movie works so well is the theme of what it means to be a family. What family means to different people, and how to ultimately let go of the past. When Billy enters his new group home he quickly meets Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) his new foster brother and his new foster parents Rosa (Marta Milans) and Victor (Cooper Andrews). Now Jack Dylan Grazer is becoming one of the best all-around young actors today. His quick-nipped comedy and chemistry with both Zach Levi and Asher Angel is truly a bright spot for the film. Billy has problems staying in group homes and letting people get attached to him, but deep down he has a pure heart and knows what it means to do right by people. So when the old Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) picks him to be his next champion, it’s up to Billy and his newfound powers to help track down the 7 deadly sins. Billy alongside Freddy and the rest of their foster home siblings, Mary, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro help him discover what it means to be the hero the world deserves and what it means to act and be a superhero. The way director David F. Sandberg was able to pace the movie, and blend all these different genres together was quite impressive. Known for his horror movies, Shazam was darker than I thought it would be, and in some parts, you could get a sense of David’s horror background. Transitioning from comedy to horror and mixing in action is a tall task to ask of a director who hasn’t done something like that before, but David really proved his worth to WB here, and I hope they get a sequel out with him attached real soon.
Not all are pure of heart and when Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) was hand-picked when he was a young boy to become the champion, he was turned away due to his evil heart. When he grows into an adult he makes it his purpose to find this wizard again and take the power that he believes is rightfully his. Mark Strong plays a solid villain, it’s very much in his wheelhouse, this is now comic book villain number 3 for him. Another strong outing, no pun intended. One of the things I really liked about Shazam was how grounded it felt. There was no giant laser in the sky, or some wormhole opening up, it was a small story, about a group of people coming together to find out what it means to be a family and what it takes to be a hero. They borrow a ton from movies like Elf and BIG, and there’s even a moment where Shazam and Dr. Sivana are fighting on a giant piano. They weren’t afraid to steer in the direction of the movies they took inspiration from. All the scenes of Shazam and Freddy goofing around, figuring out what sort of powers Shazam possesses was so cute and heartfelt to watch. Zachary Levi captures the spirit and essence of a child to a tee. He was so well cast, I can’t wait to watch him interact with other DC heroes, he certainly will be a worthy addition to the Justice League.
Speaking of other Justice League members, I don’t want to spoil anything about this movie, because there is a lot of fun stuff within this movie, that I forgot was going to happen when I was watching. The final scene of Shazam is so much fun and it really is one of the coolest comic book scenes ever, but it could have been pushed over the threshold if DC didn’t wimp out. If you are going to do what they did, you have to go all-in on it. You can’t hold back and you can’t go half-assed with it. That’s just my opinion, you’ll understand what I’m talking about once you see the film. Overall, Shazam is so much fun and the best DC movie since Wonder Woman. At times I even liked it more than Wonder Woman because of how much fun I was having. It was a nice new origin story take, and I just wanted more when I left. Unlike Aquaman, I have seen him interact with other heroes, I just really need to see that with Shazam, sooner rather than later. But the motherload for this franchise is the fact that Dwayne Johnson will be showing up as Black Adam. His arch-nemesis and that will be the best thing to happen for the DCEU in a long time. They need to push this sequel ahead real fast because the world is ready for that showdown now, not 3 or 4 years from now.
Shazam is going to be so much fun. Zachary Levi is so perfectly casted. Further proof that Eminem makes everything better
Been waiting a long time for the second trailer to DC’s new upcoming superhero flick. When are only a month away from the release of Shazam, the 15 year old kid turned into an all-mighty budget Superman. I mean that in the nicest way possible. In fact the highlight of the trailer was Billy trying to leap a tall building in a single bound, only to crash into it, and apologize to everyone. Found that to be hilarious.
They aren’t showing us a ton of action, because either there ain’t going to be a whole lot or they just don’t want to ruin anything for us. I’m okay with either outcome, because we have enough CGI slug-fests coming out this year. I’m looking forward to them telling us the story of how a 15 year old kid would react and behave if he gained extraordinary powers. It’s like the light-hearted Chronicle if you ask me. Toss in some Elf and Big vibes and I think Warner Brothers has a serious hit on their hands. The cast is so flawless, Zach Levi is about to blow people away, with his wittiness and his kid like charm.
After the massive box-office success of Aquaman and all the Batfleck drama I think this is exactly what the DCEU needs right now. Some good old fashioned family fun. Shazam appears to be powerful and will only gain more power, don’t forget that Dwayne Johnson will be his arch-nemesis in Black Adam. Don’t think we will get any appearance from him, but that will soon be on the horizon.
Everything so far looks great and they haven’t even shown us much. Another hit is coming down the pipeline for DC.
After a historic 2018, the largest box-office year ever, I would like to think I helped with that just a little bit. A record 62 trips to the cinema. Well, that record won’t stand for long as 2019 promises to be the biggest year in cinema-going this world has ever seen.
It’s always a treat to go back and read my list for 2018 and see where I was wrong and where I was right. It’s also crazy to see some of my favorite movies of the year not even make it onto the list. What a year in cinema we just had folks! After what I felt was an underwhelming 2017, these last 12 months proved to be quite special. From a decade worth of build up for Avengers: Infinity War, to watching Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga shine together in A Star is Born. We had the best love triangle since Twilight with Yorgos Lanthimos’ TheFavourite. We saw a 30-year reunion with Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago in CREED II, and we dove into the imagination of one of the greatest film-makers ever Steven Speilberg and his Ready Player One sensation. There was so much more to offer, including two massive culturally important flicks in Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians. It was like one giant movie pot-luck, something for everyone, no matter what your taste is cinema was. That’s the wonderful thing about the movies, on any given night there is something different to watch and another world to be transported to. Two years ago I did my 10 most anticipated movies, and last year I did 20. Well, once again, I’m upping the ante and I’m going for the 25 movies I can’t wait to see in 2019. So without further ado, here is number 25. Some of these flicks might not even have plots or release dates yet, so hold tight.
25.) The Last Thing He Wanted. Director/ Dee Rees. (2019)
“A journalist quits her newspaper job and becomes an arms dealer for a covert government agency”
Here’s to hoping this movie officially drops in 2019. Dee Rees coming off her critically acclaimed Mudbound in 2017, which was nominated for 4 Oscars, will star Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway. I can already see all of the tweets, “look it’s Batman and Catwoman together.” Based on Joan Didion’s novel which shares the same name, it will be heading to Netflix sometime in 2019. Look you had me at Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway. Two of the best working people in Hollywood today, and toss in the young and talented Dee Rees. Very little is known about the plot of the film, but it will center around Hathaway leaving her position at the Washington Post during the 1984 election and ultimately taking over her father’s mantle as an international arms dealer. You honestly can’t sleep on Netflix movies anymore, with ROMA in talks to win the best picture at this years Oscars, Netflix is somewhere you just don’t binge watch Friends anymore.
24.) The Tax Collector. Director/ David Ayer. (2019)
“The plot is unknown at this time”
You can’t look at this photo of Shia LaBeouf and not be just a little bit intrigued. I’m sorry but not only is Shia one of the most underrated talents out there, but he has also really cleaned up his act and has been in some truly impressive roles. Director David Ayer is the wildcard here, simply because of the fact that he is very capable of making a great film like End of Watch or Fury. Or he can make one big pile of crap like Bright or Suicide Squad. He makes hard-hitting films, he doesn’t shy away from violence on the big screen, and you can bet that Shia will be someone you don’t want to come across in this movie. I will always support my boy Shia, and I hope this doesn’t end up being one of the worst movies of 2019, a little part of me screams less than 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Five former Special Forces operatives reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers these unsung heroes…”
Could 2019 be Affleck’s comeback? Not appearing in a single movie in 2018, which is crazy to think. We all know that Ben has been battling some inner demons and he is getting better day-by-day, and everyone just wants him to be happy and most importantly be back behind the camera. Look at that, another Netflix original dropping in 2019 that has people talking. Joining Affleck is Issac, Hunnam, Pascal and Hedlund, all actors that I love watching and am really looking forward to seeing on the screen together. The trailer had the internet is a tissy when it dropped a few months back, and since then it been quiet. Again with this being a Netflix film, it leaves you a little nervous, and with all this star power, it’s crazy to think this shouldn’t be a theatrical release. This has a man for everyone, a ton of hunk to go around. That’s why I’m not fully on board with TripleFrontier and have it ranked to low on my list. I hope this kicks all sorts of ass, it’s a heist film starring a ton of people I would love to see die in a movie. Sometimes it’s cool to watch actors that never die in their movies finally bite the dust.
22.) Ford v. Ferrari. Director/ James Mangold. (28/6/19)
“The true story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari to win Le Mans in 1966.”
Vroom Vroom. Remember those old car commercials? Let me get this straight. We get James Mangold coming off his tremendous work with Logan. We also get Matt Damon and Christian Bale starring in a movie together? Something us moviegoers haven’t seen before, what a treat this will be in 2019. Seeing how this is so far out and not even a trailer has dropped, it’s obviously hard to get a read on this thing. Will it be sort of a cat and mouse type movie, where Ford and Ferrari are stealing one another’s ideas? Will it pit Damon and Bale against one another? I am so intrigued by this film and I don’t know a single thing about it. I trust the director and it has two of the biggest stars in the world. An intense sports drama, that should have its two leads behind the wheel of insanely fast race cars? A June release scares me a bit, this seems more of a summer blockbuster than a potential Oscar movie, but none the less, I’m in.
“Plot unknown. Described as a modern murder mystery in a classic whodunit style.”
This sounds like a party! I can only guess that this will be some sort of murder mystery party type thing. Maybe a new take on the game CLUE, who really knows. What I do know is Rian Johnson doesn’t let me down, The Last Jedi and Looper. The cast is a smorgasbord of talent. Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans, and Jamie Lee Curtis. I’ve left out almost a half dozen names as well. Again, it’s so early into the new year, there is legit no information on the movie. What I know for a fact though is all this talent, we could have something really special on our hands, and I won’t be surprised if done correctly could be a really good time at the movies this year.
20.) Ad Astra. Director/ James Grey. (24/5/19)
“Astronaut Roy McBride travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet.”
It’s Brad Pitt in space, need I say more? I repeat it’s Brad Pitt in space. Serious question though, we all know Pitt is a big-time movie snacker, so how is he going to snack while he is wearing a giant space helmet? Going into space to find your lost father, so it’s going to be a father/son story that literally stretches the length of outer space, that’s some heavy stuff man. Who doesn’t love a good old fashion space movie, we had the fantastic First Man in 2018, and now it’s time for another Hollywood hunk to travel up into the great abyss. James Grey’s Lost City of Z went really unnoticed for being a great film, and now this being his follow-up makes it very intriguing. The reason why space movies are so damn cool is that we don’t know anything about space, and they are always so beautiful to look at. Really curious about this, we haven’t had a stellar Brad Pitt performance since Moneyball. He will have two attempts at that this year, more on that later though.
19.) Men In Black: International. Dir/ F. Gary Gray (14/6/19)
“The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.”
Here come the men in black, the galaxy defenders. Man, that song was an absolute banger. One of the first questions I have about the Men in Black spinoff is will we see either Tommy Lee Jones or Will Smith make a nice little cameo? After their success in Thor Ragnorok, Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth will be running the show from here on out. I love this idea, their chemistry together was undoubtedly the best part of the movie. Two of Hollywoods best young stars, this could lead to some serious box-office success. That will be the most important thing for this movie come June if it makes a shit load of money at the box-office. These movies have a decent track record making money, but sometimes the more franchise movies you pump out, the harder it becomes to make a profit. Tessa Thompson is my favorite young actress working today, she had one hell of a 2018. I would love to see Thompson and Smith together on screen, I believe they could shine with one another. I don’t know if she will potentially be related to Smith’s character, but the possibilities could be endless. F. Gary Gray also makes a great summer blockbuster, I expect this one to be a ton of fun.
“Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family”
It’s been 10 years, sheesh, about time. Zombieland one of the most enjoyable films of 2009. Back then Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone were mere pups in the world of Hollywood. Now, a whole decade later, we are getting a sequel to one of the best zombie movies ever made. Coming off the insanely his massive Venom success, Ruben Fleischer will have a whole lot of money to play with. Not only that, there are rumblings that a Ghostbusters reunion with Bill Murray who was in Zombieland and Dan Aykroyd is in the works, and that brings a smile to my face. Toss in the ever so pleasant Zoey Deutch who might be part of the rival family in the sequel, this cast was already stacked. I’m so curious to see how much has changed in these last 10 years for this universe, and they all had such terrific chemistry, it will be nice to get the band back together. The creativity and originality of Zombieland are what made it stand out, and I hope they bring a ton more of that flare this time around. It has been 10 years, so they should have a bunch of ideas in their think-tank. Watching people kill zombies is one of my favorite things to watch, and with the massive success of The Walking Dead, after Zombieland arrived in theatres, I can see this being a huge fall hit.
17.) Sonic The Hedgehog. Dir/ Jeff Fowler. (8/11/19)
“A cop in a rural town of Green Hills will help Sonic escape from the government who is looking to capture him.”
Nostalgia, it can be a very powerful thing. It means the pain of an old wound, and playing Sonic growing up did cause me a lot of pain and frustration. Call me crazy, but I’m actually excited about this thing. There is so much going against this film. The god-awful history with video game movies, the fact that this is a first time director. Especially this video game franchise, as much as I love the title character, Sonic is such a kooky, over the top cartoon. How this will translate onto the big screen is messing with my brain. One of the huge positives that come with a franchise like Sonic are the endless possibilities and tie-ins. He has such a great group of characters and friends, those future sequels could be a ton of fun. A while back, a potential casting list was leaked for the movie. Any leading man that is a little over 30 years old was tied to this thing or wanted for this project at some point in time. What we ended up with isn’t so bad. Jim Carry will be Doctor Robotnik and Ben Schwartz will be our voicing our leading man. I think he is going to have so much fun providing the voice of Sonic, I don’t see a more perfect fit. Who knows how loyal and faithful they will be to the games because they are so far out there, but I honestly want a crazy Sonic movie, I want to see Robotnik in some awesome mech suits, and I really want to see Super Sonic.
16.) Fast & Furious presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Dir/ David Leitch (2/8/19)
“A spinoff of The Fate of the Furious, focusing on Johnson’s US Diplomatic Security Agent Luke Hobbs forming an unlikely alliance with Statham’s Deckard Shaw.”
Such a bold move to be friends with the man who killed one of your own. But we all know that the relationship and friendship that was formed between Luke Hobbs (Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Statham) in the last Fast & Furious entry was a highlight of the movie. Fans loved them so much, they are branching off and creating their own movie series, something no one could have imagined all those years ago when the first Fast & Furious came out. Expanding the universe is such a crazy thought, but if you were going to do it, there is no better leading man for the job than Dwayne Jonhson. Here’s the thing, this isn’t going to just be some low budget spin-off, this is going to kick so much ass. They got themselves an ensemble. Vanessa Kirby who will play Hattie Shaw, Eiza Gonzalez and Idris Elba who my guess will be playing the villains. If Idris and Eiza are the two main villains of this flick, my god, that is going to be just incredible. A ton of sex appeal here, and the director brought us Atomic Blonde and Deadpool so expect some fantastic action and hard-hitting fight scenes. Could this be the best in the franchise? Could that be the tipping point for Vin Diseal, who I’m sure will have his finger in this pie somehow because he can’t be left out? But I’m sure if this is a massive success, old Dom Torreto will feel a little salty and sour.
15.) Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. Dir/ Rob Letterman (10/5/19)
“In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective.”
The nostalgia tour rolls on! This time it’s something that was so near and dear to my heart, that when I watched this trailer I couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. The card game – which I was amazing at, the video games, and the cartoon, all played a role in my life. Pokemon is a cultural phenomenon. It’s a global success, everyone knows who Pikachu is. Perhaps this generation Who Framed Roger Rabbit, mixing live action with the Pokemon world. When it was first announced, it was such a weird idea, even more so with Ryan Reynolds being tied into the lead role. When the trailer arrived, it was a match made in heaven, him doing the voice for everyone’s favorite Pokemon. I’ve been out of the Pokemon game for so long, but I was surprised to see a bunch of my old favorites. I’m glad they are going with the older generation rather than a bunch of the newer Pokemon. This will be a grand slam, and I think it’s a shoo-in for the billion-dollar club. Could end up being China’s biggest movie ever. Even more so if this turns out to be well reviewed, which I have a feeling it will be. Need one more trailer to get the full experience on what we can expect. Pikachu just looks so darn cute, with all his fur and Reynolds is the cherry on top of the sundae. Just remember gotta catch em all. It will be so cool if Ash Catchem makes an appearance, that will be so so so sweet.
14.) Aladdin. Dir/ Guy Ritchie (24/5/19)
“A live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney film of the same name.”
Interesting, very interesting. One of the greatest animated stories ever told by Disney is getting the live-action treatment this year. In fact, this is one of two massive Disney hits getting that treatment, and this is without a doubt the more difficult one to pull off. First of all, no one in this universe can replace the great Robin Williams and the voice work he did as the zany Genie. In my opinion, I think they should have just used every line of dialogue from the original for this remake. But in comes Will Smith, who will bring his own brand of style and humor to the role, and it’s the most important thing for this movie. If he bombs this, the movie will be an absolute train wreck. New pictures came out, and we saw Will Smith in his “human form” for when he wants to blend in and talk to Aladdin in public. I didn’t mind the little teaser trailer we got, I just want to travel back to this magical land of Agrabah. The other three major players, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), Jasmine (Naomi Scott) and one of the best Disney baddies Jafar (Marwan Kanzari) are passable. Out of the three, I think the most pressure lands on Marwan and his portrayal of Jafar. Growing up all these Disney classics had tremendous villains and it’s what made them so special. Hammering down the villain should be the most important thing for this film, not making Will Smith and his Genie the focal point. Yes, he’s the biggest star in play here, but the movie needs a great performance from him, not making him the whole song and dance.
13.) John Wick: Chapter 3. Dir/ Chad Stahelski (17/5/19)
“The third installment of the ‘John Wick’ series.”
Pew Pew! This franchise took the world by storm in 2014. It kind of resurrected Keanu Reeves career. Not that he needed it, he’s one of the greatest action heroes ever. John Wick has been slaying bodies in masses and he’s not stopping. Coming off the spectacular sequel which not only upped the ante in dead bodies but in terms of box-office success and overall greatness. We haven’t seen much, just a few stills here and there, but we have John Wick riding on horses shooting bad guys in the head. That’s all you need to see in order to be fully on board with this film. Chad Stahelski has already come out and said that the third installment will have the highest body count yet, so don’t blink or you might miss a few kills. They added some serious female power with additions of Halle Berry and Anjelica Houston, in roles that are up in the air. I’m not sure if they will be hunting with or hunted by Wick. The always hilarious Jason Mantzoukas is playing “Tick Tock Man” and I’m praying we get to see a new side of this man. It could really push this movie over the edge if he can be a menacing villain because it will be a complete 180 of what we have grown accustomed to. They are 2-for-2 so far, and I have a great feeling this could be an all-time trilogy come May. It couldn’t crack my top ten, but it could end up being one of my favorite movies of the year. Keanu has such a special place in my heart.
12.) Spider-Man Far From Home. Dir/ Jon Watts (5/7/19)
“Peter Parker and his friends go on summer vacation to Europe, where Peter finds himself trying to save his friends against a villain known as Mysterio.”
From dusk to dawn, more like dust. I know that’s not the saying. Poor Peter, being blown away like a fart in the wind at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. For those who think he’s gone forever, well aren’t you a gullible bunch. He will be back and he will be getting plenty more solo flicks, starting with Far From Home this summer. After the financial and critical success of Spider-Man Homecoming, the third rendition of the character in just under 15 years, Marvel had finally found their friendly neighborhood web-slinger. There have been 6 stand-alone Spider-Man films, they are running out of villains to put in these things. Luckily they haven’t used up them all, because we are getting one of the more unique rouges in his gallery this time around. The all mighty Jake Gyllenhaal is suiting up in the MCU, which is a MASSIVE deal, as Quentin Beck also known as Mysterio. The disappearing act, known for his abilities of great illusions and more importantly known for wearing a giant fishbowl on his head. If anyone else was playing this man maybe I wouldn’t be excited, but this is Jake Gyllenhaal we are talking about. Marvel always knows how to pick em, and how to make their movies stand out. What fantastic casting and it really has people talking. With the whole MCU future uncertain, this will be the starting point, the launching pad for the brand new MCU after it’s all settled.
11.) Star Wars IX. Dir/ J.J Abrams (20/12/19)
“The monumental finale of the Skywalker Saga.”
I am excited about this, but I’m telling you, 2019 is such a stacked year. Star Wars, one of the greatest franchises ever, can’t even crack Nate’s top ten. Two years ago, Episode XIII was number 2 on my most anticipated list, crazy how times can change. The Last Jedi was one of the most polarizing blockbuster films ever made. Some say it ruined the Star Wars legacy and some fans wanted blood. I was on the other side of the fence and believe that it was the greatest Star Wars movie we have ever gotten. Now, this is it, don’t get scared now. The whole thing is coming to a close, 9 movies later. They are bringing back J.J Abrams to finish what he started all those years ago when he brought these characters back to the forefront of popular culture and geek fandom with The ForceAwakens. This is so secretive, nothing has come out yet, no trailer, no stills, not even a title for the movie. I’m still all in, I don’t need anything really, I know I will be there opening night wondering how one of the best stories in the history of cinema will unfold. Just give me plenty of Kylo Ren and I’m a happy guy, seeing how I think he’s been the best aspect of these two new movies, and I hope that he gets a happy ending. I just want Kylo to be a good guy, in the end, I think that is the perfect way to end is character arc. Just one of the four or five movies that will no doubt crack a billion dollars at the box-office.
10.) Toy Story 4. Dir/ Josh Cooley (21/6/19)
“When a new toy called “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.”
TOY STORY IS MY JAM! This teaser trailer was exactly my reaction. It was the best teaser trailer in the year 2018. Adding the voices of Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele is the best addition to any existing movie franchise that I can think of. Their back and forth is so incredible and their voice work is even better. Now, I don’t expect them to be fully like this in the movie, and I’m guessing they won’t be in the film long, but my god, these two characters already need their own flick. Pixar loves playing with our heartstrings people, they want to make us cry, that’s their goal of every movie they pump out. You can’t sit there and tell me to my face that the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3 wasn’t one of the all-time gut punches you have ever felt. They gang is all back, I’m so curious to see where they take this story, and how they kind of “expand’ the Toy Story universe. By the looks of the trailer adding straws and other things to a plastic fork makes it a toy, and that whole concept is so compelling. No one in their right mind can say that this won’t be good, that Pixar won’t tell us another incredible tale, and that the second they walk out of this thing, they will be counting down the days until Toy Story 5.
9.) Shazam. Dir/ David F. Sandberg (5/4/19)
“We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.”
FUN! That word is surely going to pop up more times than you can count when the reviews come pouring in for DC’s upcoming Superhero flick. Still licking their fingers from the sweet box-office success of Aquaman, the train just keeps on rolling for the DCEU. Paying clear homage to BIG and Elf, it’s a story of a kid who suddenly becomes an all-mighty Superhero. He looks just like Superman but has a 14-year-old kid living inside his head. Here’s the thing about Shazam, he is such an unknown commodity and he isn’t that well known to the general movie audience. Little do they know that he is awesome, and David Sandberg’s take looks up to par. When he got reintroduced into the New 52 Comics, it was met with the highest of praise. There’s a new trailer coming later this month and it will give us a better understanding of what we can expect, and hopefully, we see a little more action. Warner Brothers are about to have another hit on their hands, I think this will be met with critical praise and make a killing at the box-office. Zachary Levi is again perfect casting for DC, they have nailed all their Justice League members to a tee. Mark Strong in a villain role is always a great thing for any film, and Jack Dylan Grazer rounding out the cast, who is such a talented young actor. The world is about to find out just how powerful Shazam really is, and I can’t wait to watch it happen. SHAZAM!
8.) Joker. Dir/ Todd Phillips (4/10/19)
“A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer.”
“Why so serious?” “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” “I’m not going to kill ya, I’m just going to hurt you, really really bad.” Three different quotes, by three different Jokers. All respected in their own way, some more than others. Now we are getting our very own Joker origin story, involving one of the best actors of the 21st century. Joaquin Phoenix is set to play the Clown Prince of Crime, and by the looks of it, he’s going to smash it out of the park. Now, I’ve been so back and forth with this whole process. It feels like a movie that we do not need at all, but something I want to see so badly. Here’s the other thing, this movie will have no Batman or Bruce Wayne. I can’t decide how I truly feel about a Joker movie without him going toe-to-toe with his arch nemesis is oddly weird. Mr. J just needs to be punched in the face at least once by Batman, and we only got a small sample size with Leto and Affleck in Suicide Squad. I won’t sit here and say he can’t live up to Heath Ledger and all that jazz, because there is no point. This will be his own story, something so different, and I hate doing that. We are going to get a special performance out of Phoenix, I’m not worried about that. I’m more worried about the movie as a whole. Todd Phillips who has directed such films as; Oldschool, the Hangover trilogy and War Dogs, he doesn’t have a distinctive style to him, something that a Joker film should have. Hopefully, Joaquin, Robert De Niro, and Zazie Beetz can hold the fort down. Three exceptional performers that given the right material can make wonders occur. Maybe this will be 2019’s Venom, a hotly contested film, that makes a killing at the box-office, but it met with sub-par reviews. WB just wants financial success right now, the other stuff comes after.
7.) The Lion King. Dir/ Jon Favreau (19/7/19)
“CGI re-imagining of the 1994 Disney classic.”
The entire world is simply not ready to watch that asshole Scar toss Mufasa off that damn cliff. Just thinking about it gets me emotional. Children all around the globe are in for a rude awakening soon enough. Kids these days might not have witnessed the biggest animated blood bath to ever grace the Disney screen. Boy, are they in for a treat. Growing up it was between this and Aladdin for my favorite Disney movie, and both are being reimagined this up-coming year in the form of live action. If I had to choose one, The Lion King takes the cake. Sadly they can’t bring back Robin Williams for Aladdin, but they are bringing back James Earl Jones and his god-like voice. Here’s the thing, Disney are smart people. This voice cast is so insane, and it’s going to bring so many people to the theatres. It’s so diverse, and there is so much talent, they crushed it. Donald Glover, Seth Rogan, Billy Eichner, Chitwetel Ejiofor, and lord have mercy Beyonce. I can only imagine what the musical numbers are going to be like with Glover and Beyonce, and just how high Timone and Pumba will be getting. They are remaking arguably the best Disney film ever made, how can you not be so excited. Jon Favreau’s TheJungle Book was mind-blowing. It exceeded all expectations and I think he’s the right man for the job. Just sing it with me, Oh, I just can’t wait to be King!
6.) Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Dir/ Quentin Tarantino (9/8/19)
“In 1969 Los Angeles, around the time of the Charles Manson murders, a TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry.”
Charles Manson murders, that’s all you need to know. This movie needs no trailers, no set photos, nothing. All it needs is this photo above. Its got Leo and Brad, together at last. We will get all those things, but see what I’m saying? This movie is going to be bananas. Poor Margot Robbie, I can only imagine how she will be going out in this. Sharon Tate – do some research on the famous women Robbie will be playing, that shit will make your blood curdle. As per usual, this being a Quentin Tarantino film he’s put together quite the ensemble cast. There are too many darn people to name, but the stars will be aligning. We have waited 4 long years since his last outing and whenever he released a film it’s a spectacle. One of the most important filmmakers since I have been alive, all he does is turn out terrific films. Leo and Brad have played ICONIC characters for Quentin, some of his best ones, and now we get them together on screen as best friends? Brad Pitt has a massive 2019 on his hands, we haven’t seen Leo in a movie since 2015. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Saying that out loud makes it even crazier. This movie will bring all the girls to the yard, again when Leo makes a movie, it’s an event. Last time he did a movie he won an Oscar, his first Oscar, how is he going to follow that up? Reuniting with Margot Robbie also, I just want to see something from this. I wonder if this will have the usual Tarantino flare and all his blood and gore that comes with him. A mystery crime drama, that is a new frontier for Quentin, this has so many Oscars written all over it.
5.) Glass. Dir/ M. Night Shyamalan (18/1/19)
“Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.”
I don’t budge for anyone! This doesn’t drop for another week, but reviews have been pouring in and well, yikes. Regardless, I’m still more than excited to see how this trilogy will come to an end. Does it sadden me just a little bit that this movie didn’t burst out of the gate with great reviews? Yes, it does. Throughout his whole career, M. Night has felt the wrath of critics. He’s also been praised as a genius. So much work went into building this universe and you know how important all these characters are to him, it’s a shame he might have fallen flat on his face moments before the finish line. M. Night took the world by storm when The Sixth Sense blew all our minds. Ever since I feel like he has been chasing that same high, and the world won’t let him rest until he does. When you come out the swinging and get a first round knock out, it’s hard to fill those shoes. Bad reviews and all, this won’t discourage me at all, I don’t dislike Shyamalan whatsoever. Glass is the first popcorn flick of 2019, and I just hope it doesn’t bomb.
4.) Us. Dir/ Jordan Peele (22/3/19)
‘A mother and father take their kids to their beach house, expecting to enjoy time with friends, but their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some visitors arrive uninvited.”
Kind of ironic how I follow up Glass with Jordan Peele’s Us. Much like M. Night, Jordan Peele also took the world by storm, when the critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning, cultural phenomenon Get Out introduced all of us to a world filled with pure imagination. Of course, that imagination dealt with racial issues and all sorts of white folks getting murdered. Now only 2 years later, Jordan Peele is gracing us with what could be another phenomenon. That man must feel like he has the weight of the entire world on his shoulders, I can’t even describe how that must feel. He seems destined for greatness and we might have the next great horror director on our hands. Actors and actresses must have been flocking to the casting room for his next film, my god what a cast. Elizabeth Moss, in which will kind of be her big on-screen debut, she’s one of the most talented actresses working in TV today. Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Yayah Abdul-Mateen will kill or be killed very soon. Get Out was one of my favorite films in 2017, and the big question with Us – is this tied into the “Get Out Universe?” Fans have been scouring the trailer for clues that could weave these two movies together. I don’t know what I want. Everyone wants a big cinematic universe nowadays, and sometimes I just want an original story to be told. Would it be kind of cool for these to be tied together? Sure it would. I want it to happen organically and not cause disruption within his next movie. Clearly, Jordan Peele knows what he’s doing, and I don’t think he would sacrifice something special to please some fans, by tying these movies together.
3.) IT Chapter 2. Dir/ Andy Mushchietti (6/9/19)
“Twenty-seven years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.”
In was only two short years ago, I wrote my first ever blog post, and the first movie I ever wrote about was IT. My Top Ten Most Anticipated List of 2017 and IT came in at number 10. So much can change in a few short years. Now coming in at number 3 in one of the most stacked movie years ever. The success of Chapter 1 was monumental, grossing over 700 million dollars with a budget of only 35 million. Every actor over the age of 30 wanted a crack at being the in the sequel. Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader are the main stars they rounded up to fill three spots for the adult Losers Club. The rest of the Losers is nice, they even got the Old Spice guy Isaiah Mustafa. He will be an integral part, his character is what brings all the Losers back to Derry to take down Pennywise one last time. They are doing it! One of the most iconic scenes in Stephen King’s novel, the Paul Bunyan Statue is coming to life! This could end up being the scariest scene in the whole movie. Here’s the thing, Pennywise doesn’t need to go all out in order to scare some little kids, now the Losers are grown, adults. I want Muschietti to up the ante in scares, a task I think he is up too. The seven kids that stole our hearts will all return as well, and it will be very interesting to see how they handle the time jumps throughout the film. The reason why IT worked so well, the bond between the Losers. If the adults can bring that same energy and the same passion to their respected adult roles, this movie will be a massive success. I’m shocked we haven’t gotten any sort of marketing for this film yet, even a little teaser trailer. Bill Skarsgard returns as the dancing clown, which was a perfect match. This could have easily been number one on my list, I just haven’t seen anything yet, unlike the next two films, and by now, you should know exactly which movies they are. BEEP BEEP!
2.) Avengers: Endgame. Dir/ The Russo Brothers (26/4/19)
“The plot is unknown.”
This trailer above isn’t the real thing, but it’s an emotional journey that encapsulates what everyone will be feeling when we finally sit down to watch Endgame. So Infinity War did not disappoint, like at all. It left the entire world kind of shaken, watching all of our beloved heroes fade away. That Spider-Man scene still gets me every time, “I’m sorry.” Now, it’s all coming to an end, quite literally. So many answers, so little time. We are possibly looking at 3 hours run time. I still don’t think that will be enough time to wrap this whole thing up. It won’t be the end of the MCU, but this will be the official swan song for so many of our favorite heroes. Are we all really ready to say goodbye to these larger than life characters that we have been watching for over a decade now? Love or hate the MCU, what they have accomplished since Iron Man is one of the most ambitious and successful endeavors Hollywood has ever seen. Thanos lived up to all his hype and kicked so much Avengers ass, I can’t wait to see what he has in store for his encore. Captain Marvel who will be making her MCU debut in March is the key to all of this come Endgame. The next face of the Avengers and the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, if she isn’t met with the highest appraise in her solo flick, Endgame could run into an early snag. Hoping to join Infinity War in the 2 billion dollar club, Endgame has some big financial shoes to fill. With all the crop dusting that went on at the end of Infinity War, it will be interesting to see the marketing strategy they use. They can’t possibly show any of the heroes that died, and they all won’t be gone for long. Endgame doesn’t need to throw up these big loud trailers, we all know that we will be there opening weekend.
1.) Godzilla: King of The Monsters. Dir/ Michael Doughetry (31/5/19)
“The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.”
The only thing bigger than the Avengers, is the King of the monsters himself, Godzilla. I can’t believe this is taking my top spot of 2019, but the two trailers that have been released for this movie are some of the best I’ve ever seen. When they rebooted Godzilla back in 2014, attached Bryan Cranston to the project, expectations were sky-high. I personally loved it, while others felt that they were a little let down with the amount of the monster shown. Well this time around, it’s an all-out slugfest. It’s a monster mash happening and I don’t think we are quite ready for something like this. It looks so damn beautiful, and the variety of monsters appearing on screen is enough to please anyone. With all these monsters you wouldn’t expect a star-studded cast. Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Sally Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson, Charles Dance, and good old Ken Watanabe. So much talent in a movie like this, it only gives me more hope that this will turn out to be one of the greatest monster movies ever made. A wide range of different people, a diverse cast, which will help drive people to the theatre. We all know that King Kong is next up in the fight for the most dominant species on the planet, but Godzilla will have his hands full with King Ghidorah, a monster I have waited my entire life to see on the big screen. Having most of these as toys growing up, I imagined huge battles, larger than life scale of destruction and my bedroom would turn into a blood bath. The same can be said for this movie, stakes will be very high. Michael Dougherty coming off Krampus, a movie in which I didn’t like at first but has grown on me considerably. I haven’t felt this way about an upcoming movie since Batman v. Superman, and that was a huge letdown. My expectations were too damn high and it backfired, but I have the best feeling towards Godzilla, I simply cannot wait.
If you just read all of this, thank you. If you skimmed it, thank you. I can’t wait to eat so much popcorn and sour patch kids, while drinking the biggest root beer the theatre can give me. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE ALL THESE MOVIES!!!!
This looks like a laugh a minute. Tons of heart. With the right bit of edge. DC crushed it.
What happens when a 10 year old becomes a Superhero? Well Shazam wants to tell that story the world.
David F. Sandberg is about the tell the story of Billy Batson. The unexpected kid who happens to become a real life Superhero. Shazam is a great story and a terrific character, and I’m so glad that DC is telling it to the world. A lesser known DC hero, when compared to Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman he is considered second tier.
When DC comics reinvented themselves with the New 52, Geoff Johns tackled Shazam’s origin and it blew up. He reintroduced this character in a way that no one had seen before. DC jumped on the opportunity to make this movie and he’s know a frequent member of the Justice League. He’s a hero, with the heart of a child. And what better person to play and represent this than Zachary Levi himself. Talk about a home-run.
Being part of the Justice League means we will see him interact with Batman and Superman at some point. And from what we just saw in this trailer, that is shaping up to be something unique. I’m really hoping Superman makes a cameo in this, maybe to teach Billy how to use his powers.
There’s one last thing. Shazam’s arch-nemesis is Black Adam and that role is being filled by none other than Dwayne Johnson. You heard it right. He’s joining the DCEU and first up will be Shazam.
This trailer blew my expectations out of the water. They nailed the tone and style down perfectly. Congrats to Zachary Levi, because no one thought this was possible.
What happens when a 10 year old becomes a Superhero? Well Shazam wants to tell that story the world.