This is a promotional post in association with Cineworld.
The summer blockbuster season has been with us for many years now. The cinematic landscape is now being populated by super franchises and 2016 has some of the biggest films so far on the horizon.
As we stand on the precipice of another summer we’re taking a look at what’s in store for cinema-goers in just a few months time. We’ve teamed up with Cineworld cinemas to take a look at the biggest films coming our way. Check out their Unlimited card for a great deal on your film going night out.
Captain America: Civil War (29th April)
It seems the tension building between old Caps and Tony Stark has finally reached boiling point. It’s an obvious play for Marvel as their continuing saga of good vs. evil was getting rather stale. It’s far more interesting to have the Avengers implode as opposed to creating yet another group of villains.
This film will have serious repercussions for the Avengers and for Marvel beyond. It may well be the first steps to a whole new (Marvel Cinematic) Universe…
Further Reading:
Why Captain America’s Anthony Mackie thinks Civil War deserves an Oscar
10 Things to Note in the First Trailer for Captain America: Civil War
10 Civil War Moments which need to be in Captain America 3
Money Monster (27th May)
George Clooney is worth watching in anything – check out 1988’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes if you don’t believe me – and teaming up with director Jodie Foster and Julia Roberts is a solid move.
This on-air hostage drama will certainly benefit from the vilifying of the big money makers whose nefarious schemes will be laid bare as the crisis evolves. It might get lost in amongst the more bombastic film being released but this one should be worth your time.
The Angry Birds Movie (13th May)
A touch late perhaps, the inevitable Angry Birds movie looks to move tablet physics timewaste into new territory. The success of Illumination’s Minions and the thousand other CG-treated creations will have Rovio looking rather like the bird above at the box office figures.
As always a snazzy voice cast will add a lot to this proceedings but only a solid script and decent story will sell this one long term – The Lego Movie is the most recent example of how important this is.
Alice Through the Looking Glass (27th May)
Back to multicoloured Burtonia, only this time with all round legend and Muppet man James Bobin behind the camera. Taking further walks in Lewis Carroll’s world with Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska and the rest might seem like a good idea, but the first film didn’t rattle many critical bones but made a ton of cash. This way sequels lie.
With some new blood building on Burton’s take on Wonderland this sequel should provide us with some beautiful scenery, and hopefully they’ll be some cutting, dark humour to give us something special.
Further Reading:
The Top 10 Best Johnny Depp Performances (Not Directed By Tim Burton)
X-Men: Apocalypse (19th May)
There’s a new band of mutants in the mix for this third film in Bryan Singer’s return to the X-Men saga. Casting Oscar Isaac as the almighty Apocalypse seems like a very good idea – the man has yet to turn in a bad performance – but as with X-Men: The Last Stand is there enough steam to get this new age of X-Men going?
Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner is present as a young Jean Grey and as with the brilliant 60s & 70s aesthetic of the previous two films having a dose of 80s nostalgia won’t hurt Singer’s chances of continuing audience interest in the mutants.
Further Reading:
10 Things We Want To See In X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
The lowdown on X-Men: Apocalypse from director Bryan Singer
The X-Men Spin-Offs We’d Like to See After X-Men Apocalypse
Warcraft (3rd June)
Duncan Jones has served us up some of the most exciting and challenging sci-fi films of the 21st century. His debut Moon won the director a BAFTA and is destined to become a classic in years to come. Likewise Source Code gave time travel a kick up the paradoxes and while we’re waiting for his long-awaited Mute we have the gaming behemoth Warcraft to enjoy.
The film, based on the hugely popular video game World of Warcraft, looks very much like it’ll continue the Lord of the Rings tradition with huge orcs, sprawling vistas and some epic battles. If there’s one director who can bring this enormous project into shape it’s Mr. Jones.
Further Reading:
10 Video Games which should be brought to the Big Screen
The Video Game Movies We Need To See
Finding Dory (29th July)
Be honest – you were pretty much sold when the first strains of Thomas Newman’s beautiful theme began playing at the start of the trailer.
And why not? With their Cars and Monsters franchises losing steam Pixar’s continued search for sequel gold can find no firmer ground than with the underwater wonders of Nemo and Friends.
Focusing on Dory, undoubtedly the standout character from the 2003 classic, is a smart move – and with the core team at Pixar behind this it’s sure to be another generation-spanning pleaser.
Further Reading:
It’s Been Emotional – Pixar’s Most Touching Movie Moments
Ten of our Favourite Pixar Characters
Independence Day: Resurgence (24th June)
It’s the end of the world all over again, and much has happened in the twenty years since the sight of The White House being destroyed hit our screens.
Jeff Goldblum returns to face the far-bigger menace, Will Smith does not – his character has been killed off screen – and Liam Hemsworth has also stepped up.
The trailer for the film shows off the massive, MASSIVE destruction which is being served up – the advances of computer graphics as well as audience expectation are pushing this film. Fingers crossed it’ll deliver.
Further Reading:
Cinemapocalypse Now – Top Ten Disaster Movies
The Independence Day story so far…
The BFG (22nd July)
Steven Spielberg and Roald Dahl? Sold.
After the relative failure of Titntin (which, incidentally, makes no sense – it’s great! Check it out again) it’s good to see Spielberg train his sights on the younger generation again. Of course The BFG is a much-loved classic which will ignite the nostalgic fires in hearts of all ages, and having Mark Rylance as the titular big man is a stroke of genius.
Further Reading:
Six Of The Best – Steven Spielberg
Ghostbusters (15th July)
We can’t wait for this one.
After years of rumours, reports of Dan Aykroyd and Co. writing and (maybe) appearing in a third film (and the sad death of original team member Harold Ramis) Paul Feig has lined up a fearsome foursome for the next chapter in the spook central tale.
Ignore the nonsenical controversy, and look at the talent on offer here. Also – expect sequels, spin offs and much more – Sony are looking to build a whole new universe around this one, so it needs to be good.
Star Trek Beyond (22nd July)
With an increasingly busy cast, and a new TV show on the way, this may well be the end of big screen Star Trek for a while.
The new cast have survived an uneven sequel and there’s still some excitement for a third voyage with the crew of the Enterprise. Fast and Furious man Justin Lin is behind this one and Idris Elba has been cast as the film’s main villain.
With a good script (Starfleet’s own Simon Pegg is on those duties) the film should be a fitting end to this Next-Next-Generation.
Watch Simon Pegg’s tempered reaction to the controversial first trailer for Star Trek Beyond.
Trailer
Suicide Squad (5th August)
With Deadpool doing very, very well for itself and the Marvel Cinematic Universe turning in on itself this year it’s clear that comic book movies are changing.
Along with DC’s Batman v Superman film, also out this year but before the summer hits, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad is setting up a larger world. Focusing on the bad guys for a change will no doubt be seen as a bold move by some (and Marvel have their own, similar, Sinister Six film in development hell right now), and having Will Smith and Margot Robbie heading up the rogue’s gallery is a smart move.
While Batman is rumoured to make an appearance, and Jared Leto’s Joker making his mark before moving onto bigger things to come, this could be the comic book movie of the year.
Further Reading:
Just how crazy was Jared Leto whilst filming Suicide Squad?
