The next few years promises to some of the finest in recent cinema history, even with the recent postponement of Batman Vs Superman (or Superman Vs Batman if you prefer) 2015 has the potential to be the greatest year for blockbuster cinema, but 2014 could well be made or broken by the next three months:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Principal Cast Members: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan and Samuel L. Jackson
Release Date: 26th March 2014
It's impossible to talk about modern day blockbusters without mention of Marvel and particularity their cinematic universe and their phase 2 continues this summer with two installments, Captain America's second solo outing and the rather exciting looking introduction of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Steve Rogers is up first in what seems the most obvious sequel to Avengers Assemble. and will reintroduce not only the Cap but also Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Black Widow. While this would be exciting enough the additions of Robert Redford and the highly under rated Anthony Mackie suggests that this could be the standout film of Marvel's phase 2. Along with other returnees from the Cap's first solo adventure The Winter Soldier should have enough talent in order to make the film thoroughly watchable much will depend on the talents of action newcomers behind the camera the Russo brothers. Anyone who has seen Community's signature paintball episodes will know that there is plenty of potential for the pairing to go on to great things and for Captain America to get one over Iron Man and Thor and be the star of Phase 2 before Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Transcendence
Director: Wally Pfister
Principal Cast Members: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall and Morgan Freeman
Release Date: 25th April
Christopher Nolan is probably the best filmmaker working today (obviously this is my opinion and not fact) and while later on in the year we will get his latest feature Interstellar, Transcendence sees his long term cinematographer, Wally Pfister take center stage and the early signs look promising. There are obvious thematic links with Nolan's work in the intriguing trailer for Transcendence but hopefully Pfister will have enough sense to put enough of his own twist on his work to make it his own. He has also inherited several Nolan veterans in the form of Hall, Freeman and Cillian Murphy but has added some impressive actors of his own in the form of Paul Bettany, future Sue Storm Kate Mara and managed to secure Johnny Depp for the lead. While the storyline promises to be complex it also looks extremely absorbing and if all the elements go according to plan Pfister could even end up eclipsing his former partners entry in the battle for film of 2014.
Godzilla
Director: Gareth Edwards
Principal Cast Members: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston
Release Date: 16th May
Poor Godzilla got rather the raw end of the deal in Roland Emmerich's the less said about it the better 1998 version but after over 15 years the big guy is back and this time promises to finally erase the memories of his last little jaunt to the US. You certainly can't say that Gareth Edwards has put maximum effort into his latest project, having been developing the film since the release of his highly impressive 2010 low budget debut Monsters. This time he has a budget and from the looks of the trailer and promotional material good old Godzilla looks fabulous for it and he's ready to do whats he's been doing for over 60 years. This time he's got some competition for the limelight with two of the hottest young stars right now with Aaron Taylor-Johnson ready to kick some ass (I am so sorry about that!!) and possibly the most promising up and comer Elizabeth Olsen, Who'd of thought that Mary-Kate and Ashley's sister would become one of Hollywood's hottest properties. However, many will see the biggest draw of the film been Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston start his inevitable raise to the very top of Hollywood. Godzilla could put an end to the dominance of the comic book movie but at the very least should at least be better then Emmerich's monstrosity.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Director: Bryan Singer
Principal Cast Members: Pretty much any member of the franchise you can think off + Peter Dinklage
Release Date: 22nd May
As already mentioned Marvel are taking cinema by storm but it's the original Marvel comic book adaptation that is threatening to dominate 2014. After a few disappointments the franchise got a new lease of life with prequel First Class and this year will see us get a sequel to that and the original series, IN THE SAME FILM!! Based on what I am informed is one of the most important comics Days of Future Past will see the return of many of the characters from the franchises 14 year history and also sees Bryan Singers first return to the directors chair since he left the series after 2 installments to direct Superman Returns. As if that were not exciting enough there is also a raft of new character been introduced and the addition of Peter Dinklage (Whose Game of Thrones 4th season should be the highlight of 2014 in television is its even a tenth as good as the book it will be adapted from) as a villain promises to further improve the chances of this film been the best X-Men film yet. While the biggest challenge will be balancing character and story lines the early signs are extremely promising and with Singer back in charge of his franchise the 22nd May cannot come quickly enough.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Principle Cast Members: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried and Neil Patrick Harris
Release Date: 30th May
Seth MacFarlane is well and truly on his way to been a film mainstay, after debut Ted led him to success and helped book him his controversial yet highly entertaining night hosting the Oscars, his next film sees him tackle ... The Western. Now i'm not a big fan of the Western but when massed with another genre (Cough Firefly Cough) it can often lead to gold and there's no doubt that with MacFarlane in charge there will defiantly be comedy a plenty. Not only will MacFarlane be starring, and not as a swearing teddy bear this time, but he has also assembled a great supporting cast with the pairing of Amanda Seyfried and Neil Patrick Harris been particularly appealing, especially as the film will be released shortly after the final episode of How I Met Your Mother which will deprive us of our weekly dose of NPH. As would be expected from MacFarlane this will not be one for the easily offended A Million Ways to Die in the West could well be 2014s leading comedy.
