While the year is over halfway done, and the time for summer blockbusters has passed, there are still several promising films coming out.
The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (Sept. 18)
Last year, The Maze Runner turned out to be a surprisingly thrilling young adult sci-fi film, almost like an updated Lord of the Flies.
The main issue with The Maze Runner was that the ending was set up only for future installments in the series. Now that those future installments are coming, it will be interesting to see how The Scorch Trials continues the franchise. Hopefully this will be a Hunger Games scenario, where each installment is better than the last.
Everest (Sept. 18)
Taking the subject matter from the title, Everest is supposed to detail a crew of climbers stuck on the world’s tallest mountain in the middle of a storm. Not much is known beyond the premise, but speaking personally, I was sold after watching the trailer in IMAX 3D before a showing of Ant-Man based on the sheer visual effects alone.
With a talented cast including Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, and Jake Gyllenhaal, Everest may well prove to be the next great survival film, following in the steps of Gravity and Castaway.
The Martian (Oct. 2)
Ridley Scott has not exactly had a great track record, considering last year’s Exodus: Gods and Kings being one of the most boring films I have ever seen.
However, Ridley Scott is at his best when he is in the sci-fi genre, delivering great hits like Alien, Blade Runner, and Prometheus. Also, The Martian has one of the most talented casts I have ever heard of. Oscar class actors include Matt Damon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Jessica Chastain, and Sebastian Stan will all play a part in this sci-fi epic. Hopefully The Martian will follow the trend of excellent space movies, with Gravity and Interstellar which graced the screens in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Bridge of Spies (Oct. 16)
The Cold War is one of the most fascinating time periods, with neighbor selling out neighbor and the Red Scare taking hold of everyone. Bridge of Spies will be about the Cold War at the forefront, with an American hostage negotiator sent into East Berlin to work out a deal to get an American pilot back. The premise alone is intriguing. Top that off with the fact that Tom Hanks, one of the world’s best thespians, is playing the negotiator.
Furthermore, Bridge of Spies is being directed by Steven Spielberg, who is arguably the greatest director of all time.
The Peanuts Movie (Nov. 6)
A bit different in subject matter, but the Peanuts characters are some of the most beloved of all time, capturing the hearts of kids and adults all around the world. The Peanuts Movie is sure to be a nostalgic, charming cinematic rendition. The animation style seems to mix the traditional Peanuts 2D animation with CGI elements, which is sure to prove to be a visually charming film that appeases all ages.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (Nov. 20)
Alas, the epic conclusion to the biggest young adult film series since Harry Potter is upon us. Not much to say here, as The Hunger Games series has encapsulated our culture since the bestselling novels and box office hit movies came out a few years ago. The finale installment in the film series, if following in the trend of improving upon the previous installment, will be a satisfying and fulfilling conclusion to a great film series.
In the Heart of the Sea (Dec. 11)
Originally set to come out in March, In the Heart of the Sea looks excellent from the trailer. Inspired by the novelization of the true story of a whaleship sunk by a whale in the South Pacific in 1819, In the Heart of the Sea seems to be an excellent upcoming film, directed by Apollo 13’s Ron Howard and starring Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth. When the March release date changed to December, it came as bittersweet news.
While I would have to wait another nine months to see this nautical period piece, the release date change showed studio confidence, as December is when Oscar bait films are released. If the movie is anything like the book, then In the Heart of the Sea is sure to be one of the best films of the year.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Dec. 18)
There is not much to say here. Never has public anticipation for a film been this noticeably high. Everyone seems to be ready to move on from the mediocre prequels and revisit the galaxy far, far away.
With details being kept top secret by Lucasfilm, everyone and their mother will see The Force Awakens on Dec. 18 regardless, so we shall just have to wait for the experience ourselves.
The Revenant (Dec. 25)
Similar to In the Heart of the Sea, The Revenant is about Hugh Glass, a frontiersman fur trapper left for dead by his companions after being mauled by a bear in the barren Dakota Territory. Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, crawled twenty miles through the wilderness barely alive after his bear attack. Glass then seeks out vengeance on the men who left him.
Directed by Academy Award winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, The Revenant trailer features beautiful cinematography. While Birdman was a bit overhyped, the cinematography was excellent, with the vast majority of the film shot as one continuous frame.
This style, while a little out of place in a small independent drama film, can be excellent in a period survival thriller. Hopefully, The Revenant will be a great way to end 2015 after the land slide momentum that is Star Wars.
