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The must-see / must-avoid movies of 2007
Now that we’ve looked back at 2006, it’s time to look forward to what’s coming out in 2007. What follows are the 20 films I’m most looking forward to, followed by some less choice cuts. The titles link to the Comingsoon.net or IMDB entry, where you can find more info. Release dates are in parentheses at the end and are subject to change.
The 20
Children of Men: Alfonso Cuaron, the director of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” makes a near-future thriller. Nice. (Friday)
Little Children: The acclaimed infidelity drama with Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson finally opens locally. (Friday)
Letters from Iwo Jima: “Flags of Our Fathers” underwhelmed me somewhat, but I’m still very curious to see the same story told by Clint Eastwood from the Japanese side. (Jan. 19)
The Good German: Critics have not been kind, but I still can’t resist seeing Steven Soderbergh direct George Clooney and Cate Blanchett in a “Casablanca”-esque drama, using only technology available in the 1940s. (January 19)
Pan’s Labyrinth: This fantasy from director Guillermo Del Toro has been drawing rave reviews. (Jan. 19)
Black Snake Moan: The trailer played in front of that other Samuel L. Jackson/snakes movie, and all I can say is Christina Ricci …. Ssssssssss. From the director of “Hustle & Flow.” (Feb. 23)
Zodiac: David Fincher returns with a true-crime thriller about the San Francisco killings of the 70s. (March 2)
Grindhouse: Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s adolescent /exploitation kick is getting a little old, but man, that trailer makes it look fun. (April 6)
Spider-Man 3: The best superhero movie series is back in black. If it’s half as good as the second, I’ll be pleased. (May 4)
Ratatouille: Anything by Pixar is always a given. That the director is Brad Bird, who made “The Incredibles,” makes the prospect even sweeter. (June 29)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Some fans think of this as one of the weaker books, but it will be very interesting to see what director David Yates, unknown in these parts, does with it. (July 13)
The Simpsons Movie: The teaser trailer had me in stitches. (July 27)
The Bourne Ultimatum: For awhile, the question was, “Can Bond beat Bourne?” Now the shoe’s on the other foot. Matt’s back, of course, and so is the great director Paul Greengrass. (Aug. 3)
The Brave One: Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard star in a psychological thriller directed by Neil Jordan. Reminds me a little of the misbegotten “Flightplan,” but I have confidence in this crew. (Sept. 28)
Enchanted: Disney gets back to hand-drawn animation, sort of, in this live action/animated fantasy fronted by the delightful Amy Adams. (Nov. 21)
Charlie Wilson’s War: Mike Nichols directs Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. I’m so there. (Dec. 25)
Lions for Lambs: Robert Redford directs himself, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. I don’t care what people say about Tom, I’m so there for this too. (Fall)
Sweeney Todd: Tim Burton directs a musical that’s not animated. And a macabre musical to boot. Delicious. (Fall)
There Will Be Blood: No, it’s not the fourth “Saw” movie. Paul Thomas Anderson (“Boogie Nights”) adapts Upton Sinclair with Daniel Day-Lewis starring. (TBA)
Youth Without Youth: Francis Ford Coppola returns to the director’s chair for the first time in 10 years. That alone has my attention. (TBA)
Intriguing, but …
Shrek The Third: I always thought this series was overrated, and the idea of Diaz’s real-life beau Justin Timberlake in the cast has me worried about an “aren’t we pleased with ourselves” vibe. I hope I’m wrong. (May 18)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: Yes, I want to see how they wrap this up, and how Chow Yun-Fat and Keith Richards fare, but I sure hope this doesn’t take as long to get going as the second one. (May 27)
Surf’s Up: Penguins AGAIN?? C’mon guys…. (June 8)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: I admit the teaser is kinda cool, but the same crew that made the first movie, which was second-rate, also made this. (June 15)
Live Free or Die Hard :John McClaine is back, but I wasn’t that anxious to see him since I thought “Die Hard with a Vengeance” was lame. (June 29)
Transformers: The fanboys are drooling, but guys …. It’s Michael freaking Bay! He who cannot shoot an action scene with less than three shots per second. Oyyy. (July 4)
Beowulf: The good news: Robert Zemeckis directs another animated tale. The bad news: one of the writers is Roger Avary, who made the dreadful “Killing Zoe” and “The Rules of Attraction.” (Nov. 16)
You’d Have to Drag Me
Epic Movie (Jan. 26): I haven’t seen one frame of the film, but the poster alone tells me this one sucks.
Hannibal Rising: Is anyone really that curious about the early days of the world’s most famous cannibal? I’m not. (Feb. 9)
Alien Vs. Predator 2: I didn’t see the need for the first one. (Dec. 21)
So what movies are you anticipating/dreading in 2007?
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By SRCputt
January 4, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
I’m not too worried that Avary is a co-writer of Beowulf. With another writer, and a strong director, it might turn out OK. After all, that recipe worked for Pulp Fiction.By Sir Critic
January 4, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Well, sure those guys have ideas … they’re just all BAD! ;)By SRCputt
January 3, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
Regarding Stupid Movie — if I gave those guys an idea, it would bring their sum total to 1.By Sir Critic
January 3, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this
SCRPutt : Regarding “Stupid Movie” — Shhhhh!!! Don’t give em any ideas!By efice32
January 3, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
I am also interested in seeing Spider-Man 3. I’ve watched the trailer a few times and I think it just might be the best of all 3. Ocean’s 13 seems interesting simply because I loved 11 and 12. Then again, I love that kinda of movie. Should be an interesting year in the movie world.By SRCputt
January 3, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Other intriguing ones: Hairspray (loved the original), 28 Weeks Later (loved the original). Sequels I’ll at least look at, with morbid curiousity: Evan Almighty, Ocean’s 13, Rush Hour 3, and The Golden Age (which is a sequel to Elizabeth). Sequels I can skip: Resident Evil: The Extinction, and Saw IV (didn’t everyone die in III?)By SRCputt
January 3, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Because I am sick of the lame remakes, I must add to the avoid list: The Hitcher, The Hills Have Eyes II, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Halloween. I also think Norbit and Reno 911 look terrible.By SRCputt
January 3, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
All you need to know about Epic Movie is that it is the same team that did Date Movie. If they were being truthful, the title would be Stupid Movie.By Danielle
January 3, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
well if you must no i think that you might want to check out the new movie the return i heard it is good. i no that this is a 2006 movie but hey check it out you may like the movie.