January 8, 2009

Looking Ahead to the Films of 2009

With the best films of 2008 behind us, it is time to take a look ahead at what the first half 2009 has to offer.

Movie release calendars are a bit strange in that most of the good movies are saved until the last two months of the year. That means films often get categorized in different years…at least in my own mind. Being that my entire life to this point has been organized around an education schedule, I tend to think in a September-starting system.

Whether or not your cerebrum functions like mine in a Gregorian sense, we all enjoy quality films. Here are a few that I think look promising for the first half of the upcoming year.

Note: As I watched the trailers I noticed that some of the release dates in the trailers are incorrect.

Watchmen

Being the comic book fan that I am, Watchmen is naturally at the top of my list. There is some negative talk floating around the internet already, but I am confident that director Zack Snyder can deliver. I recall that before the release of 300 there was plenty of hate, but it turned out to be solid. Watchmen has more rich source material which certainly makes it more difficult to translate to the screen, but nonetheless I cannot wait to see what Snyder can bring to the table. For my sake I am going to be rereading the novel in preparation.

View the trailer.

Taken

The trailer for Taken is easily one of the most intense trailers I have ever witnessed. Just watching the two minute preview got my adrenaline pumping. If the movie can sustain that, I think Taken will end up being a very suspenseful, fierce action flick.

View the trailer.

Monsters vs. Aliens

With recent releases like Bolt and Kung Fu Panda, it seems like Dreamworks is finally getting their act together. Pixar is still the undisputed champion of 3D animation, but Dreamworks has been bringing their A-game for the last few movies. I see their streak of hilarious animated adventures continued with Monsters vs Aliens.

View the trailer.

Adventureland

Adventureland is exciting to me for two reasons. First, it was filmed on location at Kennywood, the amusement park of my youth. My unhealthy love for Pittsburgh only enhances what is a hilarious trailer. The last movie I remember being filmed in Pittsburgh was Houseguest, and I think that Adventureland has the potential to surpass even a masterpiece of that magnitude.

View the trailer.

Fast & Furious

It seems like an eternity since Paul Walker owed The Diesel (no disrespect) a 10 second car. After The Pacifier bailed on the sequels and was replaced by Tyrese and Bow Wow he is back to reclaim the street crown.

View the trailer.

The obviously missing movie is Paul Blart: Mall Cop, but I figured everyone already pre-ordered their tickets.

Are you looking forward to any of these (or others) movies in 2009?

Images courtesy Rotten Tomatoes

5 Comments

Watchmen — Looks good. Will probably not read comic. Taken — Looks very intense, as you said. Monsters vs. Aliens — Not planning on watching. Adventureland — Interesting because it’s filmed in Kennywood. Also, funny. Fast & Furious — OK/10

Tiz
January 10, 2009

We watched taken last night. I liked it.8/10 was my opinion. All these other movies look pretty dece to me also. Except fast and furious.

mark
January 10, 2009

the guy all the way to the left in watchmen looks like a joke and just looks like a queer dressing up as a hero. taken looks sweet and i also will want to see adventureland because of kennywood. the pacifier was awesome.

JaWs
January 15, 2009

I am excited for Watchmen. I would like to suggest that you read the comic before seeing the movie. @mark: The dude on the left in that photo is by no means a queer.

I’m not sure about Taken. It could be good, but there seemed to be a bit of overacting in the trailer. We’ll see what happens.

mark
January 15, 2009

oh okay. glad we cleared that up.

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