2016 News
February Preview
What to watch...
January 1
[No new wide releases]
January 8
-The Forest
-The Masked Saint
-Wazir
January 15
-13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
-Ride Along 2
-Norm of the North
January 22
-The 5th Wave
-The Boy
-Dirty Grandpa
-Caged No More
-Ip Man 3
January 29
-Fifty Shades of Black
-The Finest Hours
-Kung Fu Panda 3
-Greater
-Jane Got a Gun
January Releases
The first weekend of January is a cinematic wasteland, so let's just hope I'll be posting reviews from 2015.
The next weekend is not a whole lot better, with two small films and one generic January micro-budget horror film. Once again, I think I will be focusing on 2015 films.
The third weekend in January finally has a release I care about, even if I don't think it will be good. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi could be a return to form for director Michael Bay, so I'm curious about it. Ride Along 2 looks like trash, but not as bad as Norm of the North looks. I pity the people who will be forced to go see that one.
The fourth weekend of January has a young-adult adaptation film trying to be The Hunger Games, another typical January horror movie, and Dirty Grandpa, which I don't know what to make of. Once again, I think I will be focused on other things.
The last weekend in January features the parody film Fifty Shades of Black, which, based on the trailer, looks incredibly cheap. The Finest Hours has the potential to be good, while Kung Fu Panda 3 gives me a good reason to rewatch the first two films in that franchise (which are both good). Of the two smaller films, Jane Got a Gun is the most interesting because it has actually been delayed for a while (it was supposed to come out last year). So that might be worth checking out.
January Preview
Contrary to January, February contains quite a few releases I'm really excited for.
In the first week, we have Hail Caesar!, the latest comedy from director duo Joen and Ethan Coen, which I'm really excited for. The other three films look either pretty bad (The Choice and Regression) or B-movie quality (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).
In the second week, we have Deadpool, which I'm incredibly excited for. I will probably be also reviewing the two other X-men spinoff movies (the two Wolverine movies), saving the mainline X-men movies for the upcoming X-men: Apocalypse. Also released that week is Zoolander 2 and How to be Single. I might review Zoolander, but I will most certainly be avoiding How to be Single as it isn't really up my alley of comedy.
The third week in February is probably going to be the most intriguing. While Risen seems like it's trying to put the whole Gladiator spin on Jesus, the trailer is spinning it as a mystery, so that could be interesting. The Witch is a movie I know nothing about from the trailer, but looks scary. And Race looks like another feel-good historical sports movie, which sounds like a bad thing, but often isn't. I'm really curious to see how this week will turn out.
The final week in February has Gods of Egypt, which looks like the terrible Hercules movies from 2014, Triple 9, whose trailer told me absolutely nothing, and Eddie the Eagle, which looks pretty fun and has some good preliminary reviews.
February Releases
February 5
-Hail, Caesar!
-The Choice
-Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
-Regression
February 12
-Deadpool
-Zoolander 2
-How to be Single
February 19
-Risen
-The Witch
-Race
February 26
-Eddie the Eagle
-Gods of Egypt
-Triple 9
-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
What to watch...
What to watch...
March 4
-Zootopia
-London Has Fallen
-Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
-Knight of Cups
-The Other Side of the Door
March 11
-The Brothers Grimsby
-The Perfect Match
-The Young Messiah
-10 Cloverfield Lane
-Eye in the Sky
March 18
-The Divergent Series: Allegiant
-Miracles From Heaven
March 25
-Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
-The Disappointments Room
-My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
March Releases
Only a few releases in March are actually interesting to me.
In the first week, we have Zootopia, which I've already seen and is fantastic. London Has Fallen looks incredibly generic and dumb, which is probably what it's trying to be. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is something of intrigue, as I don't really know what it's about. Knight of Cups looks like its visually amazing and probably nonsensical. It's Terrence Mallick. The Other Side of the Door looks pretty bad.
In the second week we have The Brothers Grimsby, The Perfect Match, and The Young Messiah, all of which aren't that interesting to me. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a movie nobody knew existed until a month ago, so I'm excited for it. Eye in the Sky looks like it features one of Alan Rickman's last performances, and has an intriguing premise.
In the third week, we have the last movie in the Divergent series. I honestly think the hype is gone from this franchise. Miracles From Heaven also opens, but looks pretty generic.
Finally, we arrive at Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which is the only interesting thing coming out in the fourth week of March. Even though I'm tentative about how good it will be, I'm still incredibly excited.
March Preview
April Preview
April is the calm before the summer storm that is May.
In the first week, Everybody Wants Some!! and Miles Ahead are the only movies of interest to me. God's Not Dead 2 and Meet the Blacks look preachy and painful, respectively.
In the second week we have The Boss, Hardcore Henry, and Demolition, all of which aren't that interesting to me. I might be interested in seeing if Hardcore Henry turns out to be successful, because it looks like something I've never seen before. The other two look pretty unappealing.
The third weekend in April presents some interesting releases. Many of you know that I absolutely detest the Disney animated The Jungle Book. This new film looks like it is quite a different take on the story, which is definitely a plus for me. Furthermore, Green Room and Sing Street have fantastic reviews and look good. I've never seen any of the films in the Barbershop series, but this one looks pretty cheesy. Criminal looks like it's taking itself a little too seriously.
In the fourth week, we have the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman, which I did not go to see. This new film looks awful. A Hologram for the King looks intriguing, only because I'm not sure what it's about. Elvis & Nixon features some interesting casting, so I might go check it out just for that (Michael Shannon?!).
Finally, we arrive the fifth week in April, which features a painful-looking comedy, a cheap-looking animated film, and a movie about a cute cat. If those are my options, I'm going with the cat.
April Releases
April 1
-God's Not Dead 2
-Meet the Blacks
-Everybody Wants Some!!
-Miles Ahead
April 8
-The Boss
-Hardcore Henry
-Demolition
April 15
-The Jungle Book
-Barbershop: The Next Cut
-Criminal
-Green Room
-Sing Street
April 22
-The Huntsman: Winter's War
-A Hologram for the King
-Elvis & Nixon
April 29
-Keanu
-Ratchet and Clank
-Mother's Day
What to watch...
What to watch...
May 6
-Captain America: Civil War
May 13
-Money Monster
-The Darkness
May 20
-The Angry Birds Movie
-Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
-The Nice Guys
May 27
-Alice Through the Looking Glass
-X-Men: Apocalypse
May Releases
Even though Captain America: Civil War wasn't on my anticipated list of the year, and even though I'm a little tired of Marvel Superhero films, the good reviews have me stoked. I'm hoping for a more serious tone, something that would up the stakes.
In the second week of May, we have Money Monster, a film whose trailer had me locked in, and The Darkness, a generic-looking horror film that I have no interest in seeing.
In the third week of May, we have The Angry Birds Movie. The only question I have is "why?" I haven't seen the first Neighbors, so I can't really gauge my interest in its sequel. The Nice Guys, however, looks hilarious. I'm pretty excited for it.
The fourth week in May sees the release of Alice Through The Looking Glass, the sequel everyone was asking for right? Good thing we also have X-Men: Apocalypse. Now, my excitement for this film is fueled by my love for X-Men: Days of Future Past, which is the best superhero film I've ever seen. I really don't know what the new film is about despite many trailers, so I'm excited to find out.
May Preview
August Preview
Coming into theatres in the first week of August is perhaps the most anticipated film to drop this entire summer. It's Suicide Squad. The DC cinematic universe is not on a great streak right now. I hope this film brings it to fresh ground. Also opening is the strange Nine Lives, which feels like a joke. Little Men is a pretty well-reviewed indie film that I hope to check out, so I included it here.
In the second week of August we have an incredibly diverse bunch of films opening. I mean, we have the period piece Florence Foster Jenkins, which was very good (I luckily got to see it back in June), the R-rated animated film Sausage Party, the actual children's film that's live action, Pete's Dragon, and the western, Hell or High Water. I want to see all of them, I really do.
Once again, there are a diverse bunch of films coming out in the third week of August. The one I am looking forward to the most, and indeed a film I've been looking forward to all year, is Kubo and the Two Strings. Laika Animation has made three interesting and unique animated films so far. I'm really excited to see this one. War Dogs looks pretty standard and Ben-Hur is probably going to try to condense the epic classic film of the same name into a two-hour swords-and-sandals kind of movie. The magic will probably be lost.
Why is there another Mechanic movie? Hands of Stone looks like another boxing movie. I saw both of last year's boxing choices and am a bit tired of them at the moment. It could still be good though. Don't Breathe has some good reviews so, while I don't usually do horror, I may have to check this one out.
August Releases
August 5
-Suicide Squad
-Nine Lives
-Little Men
August 12
-Florence Foster Jenkins
-Pete's Dragon
-Sausage Party
-Hell or High Water
August 19
-Ben-Hur
-Kubo and the Two Strings
-War Dogs
August 26
-Don't Breathe
-Hands of Stone
-Mechanic: Resurrection
What to watch...
What to watch...
July 1
-The BFG
-The Legend of Tarzan
-The Purge: Election Year
-Swiss Army Man
July 8
-The Secret Life of Pets
-Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
-Captain Fantastic
July 15
-Ghostbusters (2016)
July 22
-Ice Age: Collision Course
-Lights Out
-Star Trek: Beyond
July 29
-Bad Moms
-Jason Bourne
-Nerve
July Releases
In the first week of July we have Steven Spielberg returning to the fantasy genre with The BFG. I haven't read the book of the same name, but I am seriously excited for this film. John Williams to score it? Can't wait. The Legend of Tarzan looks pretty awful, as does The Purge: Election Year. Swiss Army Man looks interesting, but I don't think I'll be going out of my way to see this one.
In the second week of July we have The Secret Life of Pets, whose trailers sold me on the premise of what happens when we leave our pets at home. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates looks pretty bad. Captain Fantastic is a film I don't think any of you may have heard of. I included it because Viggo Mortensen is in the lead role.
The new Ghostbusters film is perhaps the most universally dreaded film to have ever seen a nationwide release. I have never seen so much hate towards a film. That having been said, I actually managed to catch a screening to this film, so I will be seeing it.
Ice Age: Collision Course might be the literal embodiment of the words "milking a dead franchise". They keep making money though. Lights Out is yet another horror film that I probably won't see. Star Trek: Beyond looks like an action film with the Star Trek characters and name slapped onto it. I'll problably still see it.
Bad Moms is going to be the film among this bunch that I definitely won't see because I have a screening for Nerve and I can't wait for Jason Bourne. I will probably end up reviewing the other Bourne films as well.
July Preview
June Preview
I have no interest in anything related to TMNT. It just seems really dumb and dated. Me Before You is just not my kind of movie. The only real intrigue here is from Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, a spoof film that actually looks like it might have some promise.
In the second week of June we have Now You See Me 2, which I might go see if I watch the first film. The same can be said about The Conjuring 2. The real show here, at least for me, is from Warcraft. I spent nearly a year of my life (in hours played) on World of Warcraft. The film doesn't look great, but I have hope.
In the third week of June we have the biggest release I can see: Finding Dory. Now, I really liked Finding Nemo, but didn't really like Dory. She wasn't a strong point, and the trailers for this film don't look great. Pixar is on a bit of a losing streak (not counting Inside Out). I'm not confident that this film will bring back Pixar. In other news, Central Intelligence looks fun, but will be likely overshadowed by Finding Dory.
The last week of June sees the releases of quite a few films, including the Matthew McConaughey starrer Free State of Jones, the weird film The Neon Demon, and the indy Swiss Army Man. It seems strange for Independence Day: Resurgence to be released on a day other than July 4th, but I can't say that doesn't make me excited. I don't think the film will be good, but I'm still excited.
June Releases
June 3
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
-Me Before You
-Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
June 10
-Warcraft
-Now You See Me 2
-The Conjuring 2
June 17
-Finding Dory
-Central Intelligence
June 24
-Free State of Jones
-Independence Day: Resurgence
-The Neon Demon
-Swiss Army Man
What to watch...
The first week of December is probably the least interesting with only Jackie as a film I'd consider watching. The other two just seem boring.
The second week of December would have been boring if it weren't for La La Land, which I'm incredibly excited for. Director Damian Chazelle made Whiplash, one of the best films I've ever seen, so I'm excited for this one. Office Christmas Party looks like it's going to overshadowed.
The third week of December sees the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which I'm incredibly excited to go see. Also being released that weekend is Collateral Beauty, which looks interesting and has a great cast, and Solace, which looks generic.
Now we come to Christmas weekend, which sees the release of a plethora of films. Assassin's Creed and Passengers both have great casts but look bad. Sing looks like it might hopefully save Illumination Entertainment for me after three duds in a row. Patriots Day looks boring. Why Him? looks pretty funny. A Monster Calls has some great voice talent working. Silence looks very interesting and is directed by Martin Scorsese so I'm intrigued. Fences looks like it might be another stellar Denzel Washington film, 20th Century Women looks like Oscar bait, Live By Night is Ben Affleck in the director's chair again so I'm excited. And finally Toni Erdmann has some great reviews so hopefully it's good.
In the last week of December, the only film being released is Paterson, which I've heard good things about. I actually live pretty close to Paterson, so it will be interesting how this film depicts the area.
December 2
-Jackie
-Incarnate
-Believe
December 9
-La La Land
-Office Christmas Party
December 16
-Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
-Collateral Beauty
-Solace
December 21-25
-Assassin's Creed
-Passengers
-Sing
-Patriots Day
-Why Him?
-A Monster Calls
-Silence
-Fences
-20th Century Women
-Live By Night
-Toni Erdmann
December 28
-Ocean Waves
-Paterson
What to watch...
December Releases
December Preview
What to watch...
November 4
-Doctor Strange
-Hacksaw Ridge
-Trolls
-Loving
November 11
-Arrival
-Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
-Shut In
-Almost Christmas
November 18
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-The Edge of Seventeen
-Bleed for This
-Manchester By The Sea
-Nocturnal Animals
November 25
-Moana
-Allied
-Bad Santa 2
-Rules Don't Apply
November Releases
November is a powerhouse month this year with four films I want to see being released just in its first week. Doctor Strange is the latest Marvel film so I will be seeing that early. Hacksaw Ridge is directed by Mel Gibson who is much better at directing films than his personal life. The trailer and cast sold me pretty quickly. Trolls didn't look good from the trailers but I've heard it tells a good story. Loving is a typical Oscar-bait type of film, but it's directed by Jeff Nichols who always delivers interesting films. I want to see it for the performances by Joel Edgerton, Ruth Nega, and Michael Shannon.
The second week of November features a less diverse roster. Still, Arrival, is a film I can't wait to see. Its director, Denis Villeneuve, has delivered some incredible films including last year's Sicario. This film has fantastic reviews to top it all off. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk looks like an interesting take on the Iraq War by director Ang Lee. Shut In looks generic (haven't we had two of this kind of movie already this year?) and Almost Christmas looks like it could be a decent comedy similar to Think Like a Man.
Harry Potter will be dominating the conversation in the third week of November with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I won't be able to review all of the other Harry Potter films, but expect me to see this one. The Edge of Seventeen has some stellar reviews and stars Hailee Steinfeld, who can definitely deliver a standout performance. Bleed for This is another boxing film that I'm not excited for. Manchester By The Sea, on the other hand, has been talked about as a powerhouse drama with an amazing performance from Casey Affleck. I'm looking forward to that as well as Nocturnal Animals, which has a similarly talked about powerful performance from Amy Adams.
In my opinion, the race to win the Best Animated Feature category this year isn't even close. Zootopia is the winner. But Disney is releasing another film this year called Moana that looks really good. But that film isn't even my most anticipated of this week. That trophy is awarded to Allied from Robert Zemeckis, one of my favorite directors. The story presented by the trailer just looked so intriguing! I can't wait. Bad Santa 2 and Rules Don't Apply both look like they're going to be overshadowed this week.
November Preview
October Preview
The first week of October is off to quite a start with The Girl on the Train, which looks like a mystery thriller similar to Gone Girl, which I found really interesting and suspenseful. The Birth of a Nation has some controversy surrounding it, but looks good and has been well-received. The concept of Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life really hits home with me, but the film itself looks generic.
The Accountant looks to turn Ben Affleck into Jason Bourne. He's already best friends with Matt Damon, so he's halfway there already. The film has a stellar cast and a good trailer, so I'm interested. What I'm not interested in is Kevin Hart: What Now? The film looks like his standup in movie form. My question is: why? Max Steel looks standard, Priceless looks interesting and Desierto looks intense and timely.
Why do we need more Madea films? I'm Not Ashamed looks to be this year's millionth faith-based production. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back looks like an excuse for Tom Cruise to do some crazy stunts (which I'm down for). Keeping up with the Joneses looks like a cool concept, but the trailer just didn't get me. Ouija: Origin of Evil should burn in hell because the first film was terrible but still made money when Nightcrawler, a great film, opened the same weekend in second place.
Inferno is a sequel-ish to the other two Robert Langdon films: The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. I like mystery films, but these are a little too zany with their manipulation of history to really buy into. The trailer for Inferno also spoiled the entire thing.
October Releases
October 7
-The Girl on the Train
-The Birth of a Nation
-Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
October 14
-The Accountant
-Kevin Hart: What Now?
-Max Steel
-Desierto
-Priceless
October 21
-Boo! A Madea Halloween
-I'm Not Ashamed
-Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
-Keeping up with the Joneses
-Ouija: Origin of Evil
October 28
-Inferno
What to watch...
What to watch...
September 2
-Morgan
-The Light Between Oceans
September 9
-The Disappointments Room
-Sully
-When the Bough Breaks
September 16
-Blair Witch
-Snowden
-Bridget Jones' Baby
September 23
-The Magnificent Seven
-Storks
-Queen of Katwe
September 30
-Deepwater Horizon
-Masterminds
-Miss Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children
-Denial
September Releases
The first week of September is pretty sad as we have the heavy drama The Light Between Oceans pitted against the horror film Morgan that looks pretty awful. I'm hoping The Light Between Oceans is good simply because it stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz, all three of which are usually terrific.
The trailer for Sully is fantastic, nearly making me well up as I put myself in the position of all of those passengers. I can't wait. The Disappointments Room is yet another horror movie set in a creepy house and the trailer for When the Bough Breaks gave away the entire film.
I believe Snowden was supposed to be released last year. I was sad to see it pushed back, as it was in the hands of an engaging director and talented cast. I'm looking forward to it. Blair Witch is a horror remake; I don't need to say more. And Bridget Jones' Baby looks really tired.
I really hope Storks isn't as bad as The Secret Life of Pets was, because its trailer is similar. The same company that made The Lego Movie is behind it though, so I have a glimmer of hope. The Magnificent Seven looks like it was made just to get a bunch of stars into one film. The original is quite enjoyable though, and I don't think it would be too difficult to remake it well. Queen of Katwe looks like your average inspirational true story film. Its cast, which includes David O'Yellowo and Lupita Nyong'o, is what interests me.
This last week of September holds quite a few interesting films. Let's just get the generic-looking Masterminds out of the way and talk about what an X-Men rip-off Miss Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children looks like. In other news, Deepwater Horizon looks like a typical disaster film that hopefully has some impressive fire effects. The film here I'm most inerested in is Denial, which stars Rachel Weisz as someone tasked with proving the existence of the Holocaust against Timothy Spall, a denier. Court dramas are always appealing to me and the cast makes it even better.