Most Anticipated Films of 2015

Today is the first day of 2015, which is very hard to believe. It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the commencement of 2014. Now that 2015 is upon us, though, we can start to look forward to the many great movies that will be released in the new year. That's why I'm here. I'm going to lay out the films that I absolutely cannot wait to see in the coming year, and also some movies which I'm unsure about, but am interested in seeing how they pan out. This is going to be a long list, since there are a lot of movies I'm looking forward to, so I will talk about them in order of release. Without further ado, here are the films I'm looking out for in 2015:

Taken 3 - January 9

First off is the conclusion to the trilogy of action films starring Liam Neeson as the guy you don't want to mess with. I liked both of the first two Taken movies. The first one was the movie that really catapulted Neeson's career into that of an action star. I also enjoyed the second one, unlike a lot of people; I liked the way they switched the situation around by making Neeson the one being taken. I thought that made for an entertaining, if rather disposable action thriller. And, in all honesty, that's what I'm expecting out of Taken 3. It's not going to be an Oscar-winner, nor does it have to be. If it can deliver the same style of action that the first two supplied, and if Neeson is engaged in the role like the previous films, I will be satisfied. 

Jupiter Ascending - February 6

I probably would have overlooked this sci-fi film starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum if it weren't for the two people directing it. The Wachowskis are back, and if the two people who directed one of my favorite sci-fi action films of all-time are making another movie, I'm in. Of course, I'm referring to the original Matrix. If Jupiter Ascending is half as good as that movie, I'm probably going to enjoy it. Sean Bean is also on the cast list, and it's always a positive when he's in your movie. I'm not entirely sure what to expect out of this film, but I am hoping it's good. 

Chappie - March 6

This has to be one of the most intriguing films of next year. It's from the director of the sci-fi movies District 9 and Elysium. I enjoyed the former, though I do think it is often overblown by its supporters. I didn't particularly care for Elysium. So, I'm not sure which Neill Blomkamp is going to show up. From the trailers, it looks a little more like District 9 - which was more personal than Elysium - though it also just looks like its own thing. I think there's definitely potential for it to be a thought-provoking Pinocchio-like study of humanity, but it could also devolve into a sappy mess just as easily. I will probably go see it, because the trailer has intrigued me. 

In the Heart of the Sea - March 13

This is Ron Howard's latest project; a biography of the sinking of the whaleship Essex. Howard has made some excellent movies in the past - Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, and Frost/Nixon come to my mind. But, he has also made a few duds as well - namely The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Dilemma. Just from the trailer, In the Heart of the Sea looks more in line with his successes; he seems to be most comfortable telling real-life stories. Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Brendan Gleeson highlight the cast, and the visuals from the trailer look amazing. If this is done right, it could be a riveting thriller. If done wrong, it could be a cheesy and boring biographical film. I'm hoping - and expecting - that it will be good, but we'll have to wait and see. 

Furious 7 - April 3

This is the latest installment in the Fast and Furious franchise. I have a love/hate relationship with this series; there have been some really bad ones, but there have also been some good ones like Fast Five and Fast and Furious 6. Luckily, the latter entries in the franchise are the most recent, so hopefully they've found their rhythm. James Wan has taken over as the director. He has really only made horror films up to this point in his career, so I'm not sure what to expect. Based on the trailer, he knows how to stage action. But, trailers can be deceiving. So, I'm tentatively looking forward to Furious 7. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron - May 1

The next movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of my three most anticipated films of 2015. Marvel hasn't let us down yet, so I don't see any reason to expect them to start now. The trailer was awesome. I loved the bleaker tone compared to the first Avengers movie. I'm really looking forward to seeing James Spader's Ultron. He looks like he's going to be a great villain, which this franchise has been short of on certain occasions. I'm also just really excited to see all our favorite heroes come together again. May 1 is marked on my calendar. You can be sure I'll be in a theater on that day at least once. 

Tomorrowland - May 22

This is a movie that hasn't gotten much attention up to this point, and I think that's a shame. I'm personally very excited for Brad Bird's latest project, not only because I love Brad Bird, but also because it features two of my favorite actors and also sounds like it could be really cool. George Clooney and Hugh Laurie are the aforementioned actors, and I'm expecting great things as usual out of them. Bird is known for making visually impressive films, and just from watching the trailer, I can see Tomorrowland will be no different. I also thought the trailer had a wonderful sense of adventure and discovery that I'm hoping the film replicates.

Jurassic World - June 12

The long-awaited sequel in the Jurassic Park franchise is now only half a year away. I'm going to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of the original. I certainly like it, and its impact on modern blockbusters is undeniable, but I don't have that nostalgic push that a lot of people that grew up in the '90s have. I never watched the original as a kid. However, I do enjoy it as I said, so I will go to see Jurassic World. I wasn't blown away by the trailer like a lot of people were, but I will say that I can't wait to see Star-Lord and his band of Velociraptors. 

Terminator Genisys - July 1

Terminator Genisys is yet another long-awaited sequel in a popular franchise. I was one of those people that did not like the trailer for this movie. I like the idea of bringing Arnold back (for real this time), but there was something about the trailer that felt phony to me. As if they were making a parody of themselves. I've been proven wrong before, but something just feels wrong to me. I'm a big fan of the first two films, though, and I will see Genisys simply because I want to cling to the hope that there is still life in this franchise. 

Ant-Man - July 17 

Here is another entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that is coming out in 2015. Not a lot of people are talking about it because not a lot of people are familiar with the characters. That's what excites me about Ant-Man. I'm ready for Marvel to once again make a great film about a relatively unknown group of characters. They did it most recently with Guardians of the Galaxy, and I see no reason not to trust them to do it again. 

Spectre - November 6

I'm making a big jump up to November with the latest entry in the long-running James Bond franchise. As I've often said on this blog, Bond is one of my all-time favorite movie characters, and I really love the films. Skyfall was one of my favorite in the entire series, and I'm excited that a lot of the same cast and crew are returning. I also like the title, as it suggests they're continuing to hearken back to old days of 007. I can't wait for Spectre, and it is one of my top three most anticipated films of 2015. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - November 20

This is the final installment in the extremely popular Hunger Games franchise. I have enjoyed the films up to this point, and was also a fan of the novels. If I had to rank the first three films from best to worst, it'd go Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Part 1, and then the original Hunger Games. I'm hoping Part 2 is a terrific conclusion in vein of films like Deathly Hallows - Part 2, or even the recent Battle of the Five Armies. People complained about the lack of action in Part 1; well, those people will probably be satisfied with Part 2.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - December 18

This is easily my most anticipated film of 2015. I am a gigantic fan of the franchise. The original trilogy made a tremendous impact on me as a child, and I still adore those movies to this day. I'm one of those crazy people that also enjoyed the prequels. I recognize that they are a drop in quality compared to the first three, I really do. But, they still have a certain nostalgic charm to them, since I also grew up when they were coming out and watched them all the time as a kid. Based on the trailer (which was amazing), JJ Abrams and company are going for a vibe similar to the originals, more specifically Empire Strikes Back. There was a much darker and grittier tone to the trailer than the prequels had, and I love that. I absolutely cannot wait for this movie to come out. I can't believe it's a whole 12 months away. 

Mission: Impossible 5 - December 25 

I am also a huge fan of this franchise. The first four films in the series are some of my favorite action movies of all-time, and I really can't wait to see what Christopher McQuarrie brings to the table. Tom Cruise is returning as the expert super spy Ethan Hunt, a role he excels at. It's also nice to see names like Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, and Jeremy Renner being rumored to return as well. I'm hoping this is just as fun and terrifically entertaining as the previous franchise entries.