2018 is coming to a close and we have a few trailers showing us the promise of next year! Let’s start from the bottom and work our way to the top. Captain Marvel opens on March 8th. It of course stars Brie Larson who was promoting the role for years, spending time at the Air Force, and at Comic Con. The trailer was dropped in October and the new trailer this month. It looks promising as a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. There are fun touches of the 90’s with the Blockbuster Video opening and the pager. It dives into the early MCU with a younger Fury. Most likely, Captain Marvel will break Wonder Woman’s box office with the MCU momentum. Still, what makes MCU films forgettable entertainment is the lack of an emotional core. Captain Marvel opens on March 8th. Next, there is Aladdin, I have to say there is a strong connection I make with the movie, I worked at Aladdin’s Oasis in Disneyland, saw the Aladdin parade countless times. I’ve also seen the show at the restaurant several times a day and was part of the show carrying a tray of food for the “Prince Ali” segment. It was also the first film I saw at the El Capitan Theatre. I read the original Arabian Nights tale which focuses on genies in various objects and also his mother. It was interesting to hear Guy Ritchie announced as director, he is known more for adult fare than family friendly movies, but he is also coming off of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017).
The teaser trailer was also released two months ago with a moody beginning. It showed the desert sands, a parrot flying which must be Iago (talking or not), the Cave of Wonders, inside the cave with its treasures, and Aladdin (Mena Massoud) about to pick up the lamp. Hints of scenes, but nothing stunning. It seems like it is a musical so there should be a song, not a full song, but a line or two like in Mary Poppins Returns trailers. We recently we had the Entertainment Weekly cover and feature. It looks promising, I would like to see more in the direction that Ritchie is taking in; magical fantasy or adventure. I’m expecting it to be different than the animated film and I actually don’t want to see Will Smith’s Genie until he is on the promotion part of the film’s release. Aladdin opens at the box office on May 24th. How to Train Your Dragon is an interesting series. I tried to read the first book by Cressida Cowell, but it looks like the filmmakers took the basic idea and character names and told their own story. I missed seeing the first film in the theaters. It had what looked like some brilliant use of 3D in the flying scenes. Then, How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) aged up the characters and expanded the Dragon world. Around that time, I was able to see the live action show, with Toothless flying around in person! The first trailer dropped in June and it is funny, a touch of romance with Toothless and the white Night Fury. Having to find a new home for the dragons and the beauty of the Hidden World. The second trailer debuted in October. I love Hiccup’s destiny told to him by his father, Stoick. The Hidden World will be opened on February 22nd.
Shazam! is interesting because I wasn’t too interested in the comic book character, actually his name is Captain Marvel, he was very popular with his title outselling Superman. He was one of the first superheroes on film with the Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941), two years before Batman and seven years before Superman. I was more familiar with the Shazam! television show that ran in the 70’s. Still, it was the animated movie, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010) where I understood that the true hero is Billy Batson, not the super powered Captain Marvel. Then, there was Geoff Johns’ New52 polish of Shazam! Billy was an unlikeable orphan in an orphanage of brat kids that all together form Captain Thunder. The first trailer dropped in June, it had hints with Asher Angel from Andi Mack as Billy Batson and Jack Dylan Grazer from IT as Freddy Freeman. Billy defends Freddy from bullies and when he transforms into Shazam (Zachary Levi) so he relies on Freddy to help him with his powers. Fun. Then, there were the videos by Levi and Angel that made me give it a chance. The top trailer for me is Lion King. I remember D23 Expo 2015 that previewed Jungle Book (2016) and it made my jaw drop. 2017’s D23 had the “Circle of Life” scene debut in November. The music swells, the African animals take notice, the narration by Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and the young Simba putting his paw on his father’s paw print. The antelope stampede, “Circle of Life”, and then adult Simba roaring on Pride Rock. This is the same anticipation I felt with Jungle Book upped to eleven. Will it be entirely computer animated or have some live storytelling segments like I theorize? Either way, I just can’t wait to be king on July 19th!
The honorable mentions starts with Avengers: Endgame. I look back to Avengers: Infinity War and I only saw it once to see if I was taken with it because of the film or if it was just the hype. It was the hype. The Marvel Cinematic Universe factory seems to churn out these movies without heart. The lone exception is Black Panther. In early December, we got the teaser trailer for Avengers: Endgame. Post-Snap, Tony records his message to Pepper, with no food and water, then we get Black Widow at the New Avengers Facility telling Captain America that Thanos decimated half of living creatures. This would technically be trees and other oxygen providing organisms, plankton is also living, or did she mean people? We see images of Scott Lang, Peter Parker, and Shuri. Thor is with Nebula. Steve Rogers talks about all that was lost including family, then we see the hooded Clint Barton, and Scott Lang, who was thought to be lost, wanting entrance to the facility. As an action movie and superhero film, it might be interesting, but probably in the same mold as Avengers: Infinity War. I’ll see it, but not thinking about it. Avengers: Endgame opens at theaters on April 26th, again bypassing Free Comic Book Day, if the MCU leaves that date, I hope DC or another franchise can use it.
Next, Artemis Fowl, the book series is by Eoin Colfer, whom I was able to see at San Diego Comic Con. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh of course known for directing fantasy films like Cinderella (2015). The trailer dropped in late November. It has the beautiful overhead shot of a forest dissolve to a city, then we see a mass of people on mopeds as the narrator says his people were forced underground, and then a warning. A boy drops a coin down a hole, it tracks to a hover craft, the Haven City Express, that flies in an impressive underground world. We get the woman that starts floating, into a fairy I believe, and then Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) and his bow wielding butler (Nonso Anozie). Looks intriguing! Artemis Fowl opens on August 9th.
Next, Artemis Fowl, the book series is by Eoin Colfer, whom I was able to see at San Diego Comic Con. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh of course known for directing fantasy films like Cinderella (2015). The trailer dropped in late November. It has the beautiful overhead shot of a forest dissolve to a city, then we see a mass of people on mopeds as the narrator says his people were forced underground, and then a warning. A boy drops a coin down a hole, it tracks to a hover craft, the Haven City Express, that flies in an impressive underground world. We get the woman that starts floating, into a fairy I believe, and then Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) and his bow wielding butler (Nonso Anozie). Looks intriguing! Artemis Fowl opens on August 9th.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters continues the Legendary MonsterVerse with Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017). The first trailer appeared in July. Millie Bobby Brown’s character, Madison, is on a rooftop during a stormy day. Clouds seem to be rolling up and she is able to get into a doorway and close it. Her mother, Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) explains that humanity is the cause of mass extinction and that the Earth is fighting back with the rulers called the Titans. We see the shadowy form of Ghidorah, in ice?, Madison reaches out to one, Mothra? Godzilla rises up from the water and fires his breath, this is the bulky Weird Science creature. It looks the ethereal wings of Mothra unfolds. On top of volcano looks like Rodan, his shadow passes over a city, the Washington capital building is burning, Madison says a mother is a monster. Godzilla roars! Trailer 2, in early December has Madison trying to contact, as we get scenes of Rodan’s shadow, the burning capital through a jet fighter’s cockpit, then she hears warnings. A senate presentation is made on the Titans. Rodan passes over a street. A massive tail swipes as Ghidorah rises. Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) says we will be Godzilla’s pet. We see Ghidorah unleashing a blast. Mothra shrieks. Rodan twirls shrugging off rounds sent by the military. Godzilla stomps across a city to meet with Ghidorah. All fun scenes. Godzilla: King of the Monsters opens at the box office on May 31st.
The first Happy Death Day (2017) was interesting since it was a slasher horror movie with a day endlessly repeated a la Groundhog Day (1993). I avoided it until it came on cable, I should have known not to underestimate a Blumhouse film, the premise is fresh here and there is enough a twist that will keep you going with this movie. The protagonist, Theresa “Tree" Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) is completely unlikeable and shallow. The murders didn’t make me sympathize with Tree, but keep me intrigued. The trailer for the sequel which has director Christopher Landon also taking writing duties this time dropped in December. It almost seems like it shifted to the roommate, then it seems the Death Day is recurring for Tree! Now, it looks like it is not only Tree who is in danger, but everyone she knows. The new problem is finding out what is causing the Death Days. I like the assembling of the original cast, the reason behind the Death Days, and Tree facing again the baby-mask killer or killers. It looks like February 14th, Valentine’s Day, will be another Death Day!
Lastly, is New Mutants, it assembled an interesting cast, and directed by Josh Boone, who previously directed The Fault in Our Stars (2014). There were rrumors that the film would adapt the Demon Bear storyline, an intense, very horror based story for the comic book. Its trailer was released a year ago. It has Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga) questioning Danielle Monster (Blu Hunt) questions while she is strapped to a chair. Finally, asking about mutants. We get quick shots of the characters, then Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton) approaches a window that explodes with fire, Sunspot, using his powers? It seems like there is something in the walls. Maybe supernatural. It was intended to be released in April of this year, but delayed until August 2nd next year for re-shoots to heighten fears. Is this a director unused to big budget special effects productions? It is interesting that they are upping the frights when it really is the superheroes missing from this superhero movie. The films without trailers which may be of interest are; Star Wars: Episode IX, rumors, but without more, my interest is at -10 now. December 20th is the release date for Star Wars: Episode IX. Spider-Man: Far from Home, yes, we know he survived the Snap, but again the MCU films are heartless. Spider-Man: Far From Home reaches theaters on July 5th. There is the Terminator sequel, the director of Deadpool, the Terminator writer’s room, plus James Cameron’s involvement. The still untitled Terminator film is set for theatrical release on November 1st. Hobbs & Shaw, Dwayne Johnson is interesting in the Fast and Furious films, so this has some interest. Hobbs and Shaw opens on July 26th. Lastly, Frozen 2, there is just built-in hype for this movie, we know we have to ready ourselves that there may not be a “Let It Go” in this animated film. Frozen 2 hits theaters on November 22nd. 2019 looks like a full year for movies!
#Aladdin, #Shazam, #LionKing, #HowtoTrainYourDragon3, #ArtemisFowl
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