My Top 10 Films of 2013!

2013 in film has been a year of spectacular bookends; a sandwiching of a disappointing summer between two periods of really high class cinema. Despite there being some gems within the May to August movie season, I think we can all agree much of what impressed this year in the cinema came within the first and last four months of the year. I very much feel this Top 10 will demonstrate such a notion, as well as highlighting to you, my much appreciated readers, what films are worth your time should you not have caught them yet. I have done my best in the last couple of weeks to cram a good few films in before composing this list in order for it to be as comprehensive as possible. But hey, even I can’t watch everything. Anyway, sit back, relax, and take in my film highlights of the year that was: 2013.

Honorable Mentions: Drinking Buddies, Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Cloud Atlas, About Time, Rush, Les Miserables, Django Unchained

10. The Kings of Summer (Dir: Jordan Vogt-Roberts)

As this list will go on to demonstrate, I am a sucker for coming-of-age movies. There is always something to relate to for anyone who has had to tackle the dark storm clouds of adolescence. Coming-of-age films all have the rather difficult task of differentiating themselves from the large pack of teen based dramas, and The Kings of Summer manages to find it in its unique blend of offbeat humour,  bittersweet sarcasm, and boy’s own adventure spirit. The film sees three friends; best pals Joe (soon to be seen in Jurassic World, Nick Robinson), & Patrick (Super 8’s Gabriel Basso), and weird lone-wolf Biaggio (The Middle‘s Moises Arias), running away from the stresses of suburban life and over-bearing parents into a forest, where they have built their own house together. With the plan to spend the summer on their own terms, it is not long until the realities of life and young love bring their fantasy crashing down to Earth. Everyone has had this kind of summer; the summer of unrequited crushes, the one where your parents never really know what you’re getting up to, and the summer where you just feel a burning desire to break free and discover who you are. As well as inflicting a heartwarming sense of nostalgia, debut director Voght-Roberts crafts a rather beautiful film, focusing on the natural surroundings of the lush forests of suburban Ohio, giving the film a unique visual identity to accompany its well trodden thematic path. The cast are also spot-on, with Robinson in particular turning in an impressive performance. It also feature a couple of sit-com favourites in the form of Alison Brie and the hilarious Nick Offerman. A little seen gem that deserves more love!

9. Frozen (Dir: Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee)

A great surprise this year came in the form of Disney’s latest cinematic offering, and is one that can join the ranks of their animated greats. While too late to say if it is part of a new renaissance period for Disney, it marks a continuation of quality from Disney, starting with The Princess and the Frog, through to Tangled and Wreck-It-Ralph. Featuring memorable songs from Robert Lopez and his wife Kristen Anderson Lopez, Frozen takes Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen tale and crafts its own story from it, namely through the relationship between two sisters; the older magical and tormented Elsa, and the free-spirited optimist Anna. Frozen has an infectious spirit, so while there is plenty to nit-pick, its good-natured tale, charming characters and wondrous visuals win you over within the first 10 minutes alone. It is a film which lures you into thinking that you know the tale, know exactly how everything will pan out to the Disney formula. Yet, Jennifer Lee’s script manages to throw in enough little surprises to allow Frozen to stand apart from recent Disney adventures. Frozen is still at cinema’s across the country now, so be sure to catch it while you still can. Also free to check out my full review here: https://andygaudion93.wordpress.com/2013/12/12/review-frozen-let-it-snow/

  8. Prisoners (Dir: Denis Villeneuve)

An icy affair in a much different way to the previous entry, Prisoners is a film of dark, brutal potency, and stands out as one of the most impressive thrillers in recent memory. After his and a friend’s daughter has been kidnapped, with the lead suspect released due to a lack of evidence, determined father Hugh Jackman takes matters into his own hands, capturing the suspect and exacting his own form of interrogation. All the while, meticulous detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) continues to lead the kidnapping investigation to find the girls as soon as possible. A tightly wound, amazingly taunt thriller, that never once loses your interest, despite a 150 minute run-time. I have not seen a thriller this efficient and stylish outside of a David Fincher movie in modern day Hollywood, with French/Canadian director Villeneuve orchestrating a nerve-shredding atmosphere of dread and despair. The film also features some of the best cinematography of the year from the master that is Roger Deakins, whilst also playing also to a powerful performance from the man beast that is Hugh Jackman. An angry performance fueled with primal rage that, in a film that has a lot going for it, proves to be the most memorable aspect of it.

7. Pacific Rim (Dir: Guillermo del Toro)

The only summer blockbuster of my top 10 this year comes in the form of the Robot/Monster brawling epic; Pacific Rim. One of the rare original films this summer, (which in itself is a tribute to the Japanese Monster movie), Guillermo del Toro has produced a film that, on face value, looks like a film very much in the vein of a certain Michael Bay franchise. You could not be more wrong! The world of del Toro’s Pacific Rim is much more well thought out and passionately designed than any toy commercial Bay may produce. With Earth being invaded by inter-dimensional monsters (known as Kaiju) from deep within the Pacific, humanity’s last hope relies in the form of Jaeger robots: twin-piloted giant robots built specifically to battle the Kaiju to the death. Leading the final assault is Marshal Stacker Pentecoast (Idris Elba), who enlists the talents of young skilled pilot drop-out Raleigh Beckett (Charlie Hunnam) to join a team who aim to end the terror of the Kaiju once and for all. The character’s are somewhat stock, but the involving action (in which you get a great sense of the physical toll these machines require to operate), gorgeous neon laced visuals, a commanding Elba performance, and all levels of weird and wonderful quirks make del Toro’s love letter to monster movies of the past the best blockbuster of the year. An action adventure powered by child-like glee and enthusiasm. In a word: awesome. Full review:https://andygaudion93.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/review-pacific-rim-domo-arigato-mr-del-toro/

  6. Blue Jasmine (Dir: Woody Allen)

A Woody Allen film, despite all the great ones he has made, is still a hard thing to truly get excited about. He is one of the most hit and miss directors that one can think of. Yet, it is always easy to spot when he has delivered gold, indicated mainly by critics going a bit ga-ga. The last time that happened was Midnight in Paris, which found its way onto my top ten of 2011, and I am very happy to include another Allen gem this year. Detailing Cate Blanchett’s Jasmine’s attempts to re-organise her life after losing every penny she owns, Blue Jasmine is an engaging and witty exploration of depression and portrayal of life in a post-crash America. It is all anchored by the best female performance of the year in the form of Blanchett. Pure text-book acting, Blanchett modulates through numerous emotions within a scene with utter conviction and devastating grace. Jasmine is a modern tragic figure, who most of the time only has herself to blame for her misfortune, yet still manages to seem worthy of our sympathy. A very funny film with a sharp cynical edge that has been missing from Allen’s films of late, even his good ones. Allen hasn’t quite tapped in to the modern state of mind in such a way since the 70′, making for a refreshing change of tone and topic for him, delivered by one of the best ensemble casts of the year.

5. Gravity (Dir: Alfonso Cuarón)

The film that has topped many ‘best of’ lists this year comes right slap bang in the middle of mine. It is by far the best film of the year in regards to innovation in film-making; no other film this year, or for quite some time for that matter, has pushed the envelope of the form in quite the same way as Gravity. It is undoubtedly a masterpiece of technological brilliance, but in regards to emotional investment, it was somewhat lacking for me. Many more films worked much better on an emotional level, with Gravity relying heavily on its innovative effects and techniques, leaving much to be desired in the story stakes. Yet, it does not prioritize character development and story because it simply does not need to. Efficiently giving you just enough to work with, the film was an awe-inspiring experience in I-MAX 3-D. The visual spectacle of Gravity is second to none in the format, with amazingly immersive 3-D that enhanced the films visceral, nerve-shredding experience of human survival. That is what it boils down to in the end; it is a film about the strength of the human spirit in the face of danger and over-whelming odd, thematically rich in its imagery. It all amounts in the greatest visceral experience of the year, which should make filmmakers begin to look at the implications of 3-D and special effects in an entirely new perspective, with the hope being that Cuarón has inspired more creative and engaging means of employing the third dimension. Knowing Hollywood, it won’t be the case, but at least Cuarón is doing something different. And over $600 million at the box office speaks thousands of words.

4. Mud (Dir: Jeff Nichols)

Another ‘coming-of-age’ picture comes in the form of Jeff Nichols third film, which also came to highlight a significant film in the rather fascinating resurgence of Matthew McConaughey as a dramatic actor. Following the young Ellis (Tye Sheridan), Mud is a modern American classic, as Ellis and his friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) find a wandering stranger called Mud (McConaughey). Striking a friendship with the young boys, Mud enlists their help to repair an abandoned boat and reunite him with his true love, Reese Witherspoon’s Juniper. The film embodies a strange whimsical fairy-tale spirit, with a dashing of Gothic sensibilities to deliver a film about like-minded spirits inhabiting a world in which their nature and character cannot co-exist with the reality of situations, where both a young boy and a man must face who they are and establish their stakes in this world. It is a film that does not condescend their naivety, it allows it to play its course, letting the characters grow within this distinct American environment. McConaughey is provides an emotive performance, playing highly on his character’s naivety, but also provides a great anchor for an impressive performance from the young Tye Sheridan, allowing the young actor to carry the picture with him, as both carry much of the emotional heavy-lifting of the narrative. A gorgeous, earth-soaked film with a unique visual aesthetic.

3. The Spectacular Now (Dir: James Ponsoldt)

A film which will hopefully gain a wider UK release in the early months of this year when Shailene Woodley’s popularity grows as a result of the upcoming Divergent; The Spectacular Now is a coming-of-age (oh hey again) film that manages to avoid a great many deal of the pratfalls of the genre, simply down to how honest it is. Working as almost a re-working of Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything, the film follows Miles Teller’s Sutter during the summer beginning with his high school graduation. Fresh off a break-up with his girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson), Sutter finds friendship in the seemingly unremarkable Aimee (Woodley). While initially seeing her as a project, Sutter begins to find that he has genuine affection for her. All the while, he battles his own demons concerning his absent father and the looming decisions he has to make about his future. The pairing of Teller and Woodley is nothing short of beautiful; both are natural and charming performers on their own but together they create something quite, well, spectacular. Woodley in particular demonstrates why her star is rising, turning in a performance very different to that of The Descendants, while also demonstrating quite how naturally beautiful she is, in a role which requires her to wear little to no make-up for most of the run-time. Teller invokes the spirit of a young John Cusack and mines surprising depths, particularly in the film’s emotionally charged final third. A film that is very much about living in the now, but mindful of how what has happened in the past, and what may happen in the future, can shape the person you are ‘in the moment.’ Irresistible, genuine, and sweet; The Spectacular Now is impossible not to fall for.

2. The Act of Killing (Dir: Joshua Oppenheimer)

If you only see one film from this list, then please, for the love of all that is human, make it this one. Joshua Oppenheimer’s documentary is a bizarre and unique beast. The film’s subject matter concerns ex-members of state Death Squads from under Indonesia’s Military Dictatorship in the 1960’s; namely two gangsters who went from selling black market movie tickets to leading Death Squads across North Sumatra, killing anybody suspected of being a communist or who chose to disobey the regime. The two men, Anwar Congo and Adi Zulkadry, agree to allow Oppenheimer to film recreations of their killings through the discourse of any genre of their choosing. As Oppenheimer helped make their film, he made one of his own, highlighting the bizarre and utterly unbelievable behavior and attitudes of these men. The re-creation of the atrocities they performed on behalf of the state bewilder and disturb, as does their manipulation of people around them as they embark on making their film. What is hardest to swallow though is the demeanor and attitude that these men still have, believing themselves to be men who simply did the right thing. An uncompromising vision of a dark underbelly of human nature which also provides the most fascinating figure of the year in the form of Anwar Congo. The only man who seems to regret his past life is shown to have a crisis of self and is quite clearly haunted by the memories of his past, which are brought back to life during the course of his film-making experience, making him re-evaluate his past life. Powerful, important, and unmissable. Special thanks to Paul Mcloughlin for bringing this film to my attention.

1. The Place Beyond the Pines- (Dir: Derek Cianfrance)

There you have it, my number one film of the year, and one that I came to rather late in the game, having only just watched it in the past month. Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines can easily sit as an American classic, with an utterly epic sense of scope and thematic landscaping. Accounting the tale of two men and their path of collision in life (Ryan Goslings motor-cycle Stuntman, and Bradley Cooper’s police officer), the film offers a journey of narrative complexity and invokes a macabre sense of mysticism and predetermination in human destiny. Following on from his Blue Valentine, a film that I frankly found to be something akin to depression porn, Cianfrance shows that he is a director of sophistication and filmic prowess. Every single shot of this film is utterly beautiful, easily standing as the best shot film of the year that didn’t require green-screen. Accompanied by an haunting and absorbing score and carefully measured performances, Pines is practical film-making at its most bare boned; allowing characters to form, relationships to build, and eventually crash and burn. A truly great film is measured on how much of a rewarding experience it is, and by its re-watchability, with the hope being that each time you witness it, the film will offer more secrets and even more rewards for you to un-earth. I viewed Pines twice in quick succession and found it utterly mesmerizing each time, and cannot wait to delve back into its exploration of innocence lost, familial relationships, and human destiny once again. An assured, confident, and masterful piece of film-making.

As always, to see out the year in film, I shall now provide you with a brilliantly edited tribute to the film’s of the year, courtesy of Gen Ip. I hope you all have a marvelous New Year, and enjoyed this year of film, one that has been littered with some true greats. Here’s to the next 12 months of cinematic exploits!

Review: Pacific Rim- Domo arigato Mr. del Toro!

Guillermo del Toro, the maestro behind such creature features as Cronos, Mimic, the Hellboy franchise and Pan’s Labyrinth, is a man who is no stranger to the cinematic beastie. Not only do his films often feature bright and inspired creature designs amongst their characters, from the wise to the nightmarishly ugly, del Toro is also a self-proclaimed fan of the genre, namely the Japanese brand of  monster movies known as the ‘Kaiju’ genre. From this love of the genre del Toro was inspired to make his own ‘Kaiju’ movie that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Honda’s Godzilla (definitely not Emmerich’s). A genre that lacks sophistication, some may say, is developed into something truly unique in the hands of del Toro, as Pacific Rim thoroughly delivered on my hopes of both of a film that would both cater to the summer blockbuster need of gleeful destruction and offer audiences a little bit more to produce what could be the best movie of the summer.

Set in the year 2020, the people of planet Earth have been dealing with an onslaught of attacks from strange, large, and incredibly dangerous inter-dimensional beings known as the ‘Kaiju’, who enter our world through a rift in the deepest point of the Pacific Ocean. In order to tackle the threat of the Kaiju, the nations of the world pulled all their resources together to create Jaegers; giant robots designed to combat the Kaiju. With two compatible pilots, linking together through a memory link known as ‘The Drift’, the Jaeger forces soon begin to show result, with victory even in sight. However, as soon as it looks like the human race was close to victory, the Kaiju attack in larger numbers and with more ferocious force. With the Jaeger program being forced out of action, Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) plans a final assault that could well see the end of the Kaiju attacks. In order to see that the plan succeeds, Pentecost must pull together the best Jaeger pilots he has ever seen. One such pilot is Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), who has not been in a Jaeger since the death of his brother. In order to enter back into the Jaeger, he needs to find a compatible partner in time before the Kaiju launch an assault of their own.

On the surface, Pacific Rim should be a film which doesn’t take you by surprise. There is certainly nothing original on face value. We’ve seen giant robots in many a Hollywood action picture (namely directed by Michael Bay) and we’ve seen monsters before. Nothing should feel fresh. Yet, despite this, Pacific Rim holds many surprises in a well-worn genre while creating a world that is unique and exciting. del Toro has always been a master at constructing a world in lavish, bright, colourful, yet seeped in a sinister coating, and Pacific Rim is no different. Filled with nasty beasties, gross gooey innards, eccentric characters, and big hulking behemoths of metal, the details of Pacific Rim feel carefully and lovingly crafted, a feeling that is very lacking in many Hollywood blockbuster pictures.

del Toro is not afraid to both feed you your expectations of this kind of genre while also supplying you with enough surprises to keep you guesing. The biology and the mechanics of both the Kaiju and Jaeger’s is exceptional and thoroughly thought out; time and craft has been given to the design of the workings of these creatures and to the robotic creations made to combat them. The action as well is well though out as well as delivering incredible and epic popcorn entertainment. Every punch, every hit, every move made by a Jaeger is heavy and mechanical, you feel the human strain and are made constantly aware of the human effort that goes into operating the hulking great pieces of machinery. Impressive effects works brings del Toro’s creations to life, and practical prosthetics bring the guts to brilliant glory. He also constructs a gritty and organic aesthetic through the design of the barracks and robots; this isn’t fresh bright and clean like the decks of the enterprise, this is an Earth ravaged by war and using all its resources to fight back, not on making everything clean and luxurious.

The script also ticks many boxes in regards to the Summer blockbuster checklist, and the dialogue is most certainly the weakest part of this film. It is certainly cheesy, but the most perfect Hollywood cheese that you would want from a robot-fighting monsters movie; memorably quotable, ridiculous, and fist-pumpingly awesome, while also being a script that is not afraid to kill off its characters. The cast revel in the cheese factor, the most part of them playing well-worn stereotypes with great zest and likeability. Charlie Hunnam’s traditional good looks make him a rather bland leading man, reminding me a great deal of Garrett Hedlund of Tron Legacy fame; component but not wholly interesting, but more than capable of carrying the film on his shoulders. Idris Elba turns in a performance of gusto and bravada, certainly having fun with the stirring speeches that he is given. Rinko Kikuchi turns in a sweet and tender performance as young pilot Mako, who has suffered great personal loss to the claws of the Kaiju. The supporting performances contain some of the strongest of the film, most notably Charlie Day and Burn Gorman as the two scientist in charge of working out how best to tackle the Kaiju, and Ron Pearlman’s brief appearance as a Kaiju Organ dealer by the name of Hannibal Chau (everyone has awesome names in this movie).

Pacific Rim has turned out to be one of those truly great and awe-inspiring summer blockbusters which act as a capsule into a brilliant world filled with hugely likeable characters, heart pounding and involving action sequences, spurred on by the suitably stirring score from Ramin Djawadi. Those who have written this film off as a Bay-esque experience, please, for the love of God, be rid of those thoughts and go and experience a true summer blockbuster experience. It is bad enough that this movie lost to Grown Ups 2 this weekend in the states (to you, our cousins from across the pond, SHAME on you! SHAME!), Pacific Rim is a movie that deserves to do huge business. It is a huge movie and it deserves nothing less. It deserves to be a hit. It has been quite sometime since I’ve seen a film that has so organically established a world within what appears to be familiar territory and made it its own. Immeasurably fun, alive with creativity, some of the best action I’ve seen this summer, and a tongue-in-cheek tone to boot. Guillermo del Toro has does the Kaiju genre proud, and I for one am incredibly grateful. Now go bare witness to the cancelling of the apocalypse!

5/5- The perfect Hollywood blockbuster in del Toro packaging! Incredibly fun, terrifically exciting, and wondrously imaginative. Pure escapism.

12 Things Learnt at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con!

The San Diego Comic-Con took place over the course of this weekend, and of course, like every year, it was rich for film news! Comic-Con has become an important marketing event for big Hollywood movies, not only catering for Comic-Book movies, but any major Hollywood picture on the horizon. this year was no different, featuring the first footage from the likes of next year’s Man of Steel and the upcoming The Expendables 2. Rather than report on every little detail, I thought I would take a blog post to focus on some of the highlights of the Convention this year, which does pretty much cover every major aspect and highlights seen this year. One day, I hope to be reporting live to you from San Diego, as the Comic-Con is definitely on my lift of things to do before I die. Some people have ‘visit the Great Wall of China’, I have the Comic-Con. Well, it makes sense to me. So, without further ado, what news is there from the land of San Diego (a Whale’s Vagina to some)?

1. The Return to Oz with Sam Raimi looks to be a colourful affair…

One of the first panels at the Con was for Sam Raimi’s much-anticipated prequel to the 1939 classic, The Wizard Of Oz, which is entitled Oz: The Great and Powerful. The upcoming Spring release has been rather scarce in terms of promotional material, with the Poster having been released a week ago, and the trailer (more on that in a sec) being unveiled at the Con. But, truthfully, there isn’t a much better place in which to kick-off your film’s marketing than the San Diego Comic-Con. Raimi was reportedly in high spirits, enthusiastically talking about his next Blockbuster project. Points he stressed were that this is not a prequel in the traditional sense(mostly due to the fact that Disney do not have the rights to certain specific imagery from the 1939 original), it instead draws most of it inspiration from the original series of books by L. Frank Baum, a series that is still rich in un-mined imagery and imagination. Raimi simply stressed how this is very much a self-contained story, with elements that will be recognizable, as we follow James Franco’s Oscar Diggs, a small-town Magician, who wishes for something more. After a certain incident involving a tornado, Oscar finds himself in the magical land of Oz. There he embarks on an epic, Technicolor adventure in which he finally finds a chance to prove himself. Raimi then treated the convention patrons to the first footage from the movie, in the form of its first trailer, which you may have seen over the weekend (if not, you can find it below, aren’t I good to you?). It looks as you might come to expect, a bit too similar to the production design of Alice In Wonderland (granted, they share the same production designer), but thankfully it does seem to have much more vibrancy and visual flair, more than likely due to the fact that it is Raimi in the director’s chair. And a film with Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis in it can’t be too bad to look at. Raimi also confirmed that his regular collaborator Bruce Campbell shall indeed have a trademark cameo, as will his famous recognizable car, although not in the way that you might expect. And now, as promised, here is that trailer once again:

2. We can expect some more politically infused Sci-Fi from Neill Blomkamp with Elysium… 

Neill Blomkamp, the man behind the fantastic Sci-Fi action drama District 9, has been busy at work on his follow-up picture, Elysium, and aside from this image of a gun-wielding bald Matt Damon, we have seen or know next to nothing about the promising director’s next directorial effort. Well, if you were at Comic-Con, you certainly will have seen a lot more now. Blomkamp, along with his cast members, Damon, Jodie Foster and District 9‘s Sharlto Copley, screened some exclusive footage. The film is set in a dystopian future (is there any other kind?) in which Earth is a wasteland, and the rich and the wealthy live on board a giant luxurious space-station, where all medical concerns are a thing of the past, including cancer. Damon plays Max, a working man who is one of the many less-privileged folk who continue to live on Earth. However, Max’s depressing life becomes even worse after he is exposed to radiation poisoning following an incident at work. With five days to live, Max must do all he can to make it to Elysium in order to cure himself of his poisoning. Although, that is a task which is easier said then done. The crowds were reportedly very impressed with the footage, which demonstrated the world and style of Blomkamp’s film. Not a stone throw away from District 9, the film is said to gritty, tough and featuring some quite literal bone-crunching violence, all infused with another political allegory, in this case representing the struggle of the 99-ers; albeit in a ultra-violent sci-fi action fashion.  I am a huge fan of District 9, and I simply cannot wait to see someone of this footage, as the prospect of Blomkamp working with a big budget and a big star is a very tantalizing prospect. Here’s hoping we’ll see a trailer sometime in the near future.

3. Dredd impressed

Preview screenings are not a rare occurance at Comic-Con, but you are never too sure what movies shall grace the fans with their advance screening presence. This year, it was the reboot of the 2000Ad character, Dredd. Judge Dredd was last seen on-screen in the 1995 Sly Stallone picture, and that film was not very well received. Panned by critics, despised by fans, Danny Cannon’s adaptation may have had the style, but it certainly did not have the story, and it was not the Dredd that fans of the British comics had grown to love (mainly because Stallone took the helmet off). It was a complete waste of promising potential, and now screenwriter Alex Garland and director Pete Travis are having a shot. And from the sounds of it, they have fully delivered. The buzz around Dredd has been pleasingly positive and everything that I had hoped. It has been described as an inventive, gritty, insanely violent and highly stylish affair with a commanding lead performance from Karl Urban. I did read somewhere (for the life of me I cannot remember where) that it evoked the spirit of a hardcore 80’s action-er, and that fills me with fan-boy joy. Dredd is mean. Brutal and unforgiving. And so is the world of Mega-City. A film of this world should be violent and nasty, and from the sounds of it, Travis and Garland have not skimped out on the ultra-violent goodness (as a clip below shall demonstrate). Concerns with the film have been aimed towards the premise, which has some rather unfortunate similarities to this year’s The Raid, and there have been some grumblings concerning the scale of the picture, although that can easily be attributed to its rather small independently funded budget. But the buzz coming out from this film is certainly enough to get me excited, and it certainly pleased the 2000AD fan’s who were present at Comic-Con. Now, feast your eye’s on this glorious violent clip:

4. Iron Man’s got a new foe, and a new suit in which to face him with… 

Marvel made their presence known well and truly at the Con this year, as they do every year really, with Iron Man 3 representing merely the tip of the iceberg concerning what Marvel had to announce this year. But that is a bloody big tip. The Shane Black written and directed movie has only been filming for a good month, but that didn’t stop Marvel from presenting a few sequences from the movie, involving some banter between Robert Downey Jnr.’s Tony Stark and Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan. But the real money shots came from seeing the destruction of Stark’s Malibu home and the reveal of the main villain of the movie. And after months of internet rumors, I can happily announce that Ben Kingsley shall indeed be playing The Mandarin; arguably Iron Man’s most famous and formidable foe. Marvel’s Phase 2 has certainly begun. The prospect of The Mandarin is something incredibly promising. He is a villain with great intelligence to match his highly tuned martial arts skills, and the power of his 10 mysterious rings. I’m sure they will try to ground The Mandarin much more in reality, but the threat he possesses should take Stark down a peg or two and give one hell of a reality check. The next big piece of Iron Man related news was the reveal of his new suit for the movie, as pictured. Ditching the Red and Gold combo, this suit is much more in keeping with the Extremis design of the suit, the Extremis being  recent arc in the comic books that saw Stark developing the means of having the suit appear out of his skin (there is a lot more to this arc, it is very complicated, I recommend researching it if you’re interested). It has been rumored that the Extremis arc would be featured in this sequel, however I would not take this suit as confirmation, as I will only believe it when I see it, as I think the Extremis arc would be far too hard to develop in the course of one film. I guess we shall discover soon enough, come May of next year!

5. Thor 2 and Captain America 2 have new titles…

Another piece of Marvel news (there are still two more to go) concerned other elements of Marvel’s Phase 2, namely the follow-ups to Thor and Captain America. Unlike the Iron Man franchise, these two heroes are dropping the numerical label, and are instead given subtitles. Not only does it create a much better sense of a continuing world, filled with episodes (much like a comic book universe), it also offers some intriguing speculation as to what these certain sequels may focus on. First up is the sequel to Thor, out on November 8th 2013, which is now titled Thor: The Dark World. Now this seems to have confirmed the early notions that the Thor sequel shall explore the darker under-belly of the pristine Asgard. Which would also seem to suggest a rather drastic change of tone from the first movie. Kenneth Branagh’s first installment was a grand and highly daft affair; fun, slightly camp, an all out romp. Branagh is not directing this installment, that role is now being filled by Alan Taylor, a regular director on the rather dark fantasy series, Game of Thrones. His employment alone suggest a much darker take on the character, and this title certainly confirms that we are going to see a much darker take on the God of Thunder. Now onto the Star-Spangled Man with a plan. Captain America 2, out on April 4th 2014, shall now be called Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And if you’re familiar with the comic-books, then that title needs no elaboration. But if you aren’t well versed in the Marvel Universe, allow me to enlighten you. The Winter Soldier was the name given to Cap’s supposedly dead best friend Bucky, who in the comics, returned as a Brainwashed Russian Assassin, out to kill Captain America. First things first, yes, Bucky did appear to die, however, we never saw a body, and as soon as his death occurred, I for one certainly thought that we could easily see Bucky return in future installments. And that certainly seems to be the case. Yet, the idea of a Russian Assassin  is certainly out-dated, so it remains to be seen if the directing pair of the Russo Brothers will develop the Winter Soldier in any way. Either way, it is a title which has certainly got me excited.

6. It’s time to meet the Guardians Of The Galaxy…  

Possibly the worst kept secret concerning a Marvel movie, as internet rumors have been around for quite some time concerning their ‘mysterious’ August 2014 release. The Guardians Of The Galaxy is not a well-known Marvel title, in fact it was cancelled after 25-issues. It is a huge risk in terms of both money investment and in further expanding the Marvel Universe. I do believe that this is not in the same Universe as The Avengers (don’t quote me on that) as last I heard the intention was to produce this as an animated movie. It would make, considering the characters that make up the Guardians Of The Galaxy; a powerful alien by the name of Drax The Destroyer, a super-smart living plant named Groot, a space Raccoon called Rocket Raccoon and Star Lord who is a Galactic Super Cop. Yeah. Rather diverse characters. The concept art of the characters is certainly interesting and the scope of the film could be something that we have never seen before in a comic-book movie. There is still no director attached, but I shall keep a curious eye on this movie, as the choice of director should say a lot in terms of what the tone of the movie shall turn out to be. Now, here’s that concept art for you to gaze upon. Pretty bad-ass Raccoon, right?

7. Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man may finally happen…

The last bit of Marvel related goodness from the Con comes in the form of news concerning Edgar Wright’s long-gestating movie of Ant-Man, the superhero who can change his size at will. Ant-Man was one of the original members of The Avengers, yet Marvel decided to focus on the more popular heroes for the first big-screen outing of the assembled team, and rightly so. But now that Phase One was so successful, Marvel are prepared to take more risks, and an Ant-Man movie could be such a way of doing so. It must be said that this film is still not yet officially confirmed, but this is an indication that things are happening to see an Ant-Man movie. Edgar Wright, the maestro behind Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, surprised everyone in San Diego when he turned up to present the test-footage that he shot about two weeks ago. The footage was not finished at all, and the man playing the title character was merely a stuntman, but in terms of showcasing what Wright intends to do in terms of the action, it apparently did not disappoint. What the fans were treated to was trademark Wright; zippy, brilliantly paced and inventive action with a great sense of humor to boot as Ant-Man used his powers to take out a couple of guards guarding an elevator. And the costume is supposedly very much in keeping with the look of the Kirby artwork. Which is bound to please fans. So, still no release date, but I’m sure we can expect Ant-Man to become a reality in the very near future.

8. We can expect to see a very different kind of Superman…

Probably one of the most anticipated movies at the Con this year, Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman movie Man Of Steel certainly has provoked intrigue following a screening of a teaser trailer at this years convention, a teaser trailer said to be in front of The Dark Knight Rises come Friday. Warner Bros. certainly has a lot riding on this movie, considering Batman shall be done and dusted, at least for now, come the end of the summer, and I’d imagine that they were rather happy with how the footage was received. The footage firmly established this Superman as a much more dramatic, somber and of course darker origins tale, with Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent finding it somewhat hard to find his place in the modern world. A shot that got many people talking was of Super being escorted down a corridor by a league of armed guards. Do the Earthlings not take too kindly to the last son of Krypton? The audience was also pleased to see that Man of Steel may feature a more reserved and mature film-making style from Snyder, following his adolescent, video-game of a movie Sucker Punch. I’m all for a more mature approach from Snyder, but I do hope Supes isn’t all gloomy drama, he needs to have a sense of glee and good-will spirit that the Superman image embodies. Either way, I am more than excited for a new Superman movie, being a big fan of the character’s cinematic past. Man of Steel hits cinemas on June 14th, but be sure to track down the trailer when The Dark Knight Rises is released on Friday.

9. Might we be seeing THREE Hobbit movies?

Peter Jackson is somewhat royalty at Comic-Con, and he certainly didn’t disappoint his many fans this year, bringing with him plenty of footage from his upcoming Lord of The Rings prequels The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and There and Back Again. The footage he displayed showed a very humorous scene at Bag-End during Bilbo’s first encounter with the Dwarves, Gandalf being attacked by some feral looking creature, Gollum playing riddles with Bilbo as part of the Riddles in the Dark sequence, along with some snippets of Evangeline Lilly kicking some Goblin ass, and Legolas preparing to fire his bow at an unseen antagonist.  But what perhaps got people talking was Jackson’s speculation at the possibility of a third Hobbit movie. Jackson has said how much material they could still mine, in light of the appendices that Tolkien wrote, filling in certain plot points and bridging the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings; “There’s the novel, but then we also have the rights to use the 125 pages of additional notes where Tolkien expanded the world of The Hobbit. I’ve been talking to the studio about other things that we haven’t been able to shoot and seeing if we could possibly persuade them to do a few more weeks of shooting.” Personally, I think that The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings are very different books, they tell very different stories, therefore the films should reflect that as well, rather than squeeze everything that they can out of the material available to them. Not that any more time spent in Middle Earth is a bad thing, it is just I would rather see a focused adaptation rather than a sprawling trilogy trying to make more of a connection with LOTR. That’s not what I want, and I’m sure fans don’t necessarily want to see an over-loaded trilogy expanded far too much for its own good. Two films are more than enough P.J.

10. Skyfall looks to be a classic, kick-ass Bond movie…

Bond made an appearance at the Con this year, not something a Bond movie usually does, but I’m sure the fans didn’t complain. The Bond Brigade charged at the Con with a brand new exclusive I-MAX trailer, displaying how this Bond is going to be bigger than the rest, quite literally. The trailer also filled in more details as to what the plot may be. It seems that Judi Dench’s M loses possession of a data drive, which contains the identities of every British Intelligence Agent – and soon enough they begin to get assassinated one by one. Therefore, Bond must act fast, to stay one step ahead and find out who is killing the Country’s spies. It sounds similar to the ‘Smert Spionam’ (Death to Spies) plot of The Living Daylights, but much more personal as Bond’s loyalties to M are truly tested. Fans cheered at the inclusion of Craig uttering ‘Bond, James Bond’ and they were also treated to the world’s first look at Ben Whishaw’s Q, a casting decision that I think is truly excellent. Hopefully we’ll all set our eyes upon this new I-MAX trailer in the near future, as a new Bond movie is always something to get excited about. Now, here is that first image of Whishaw looking all geeky, and Q-like.

11. Guillermo Del Toro aim to inspire awe with Pacific Rim…  

Del Toro hasn’t made movie since Hellboy 2 way back in 2008, so it is about time that he should be getting back behind the camera’s to present us with his unique vision once again. Pacific Rim marks his return as a director after producing many a mediocre horror (here’s looking at you Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark) but the reaction he got from the footage screened at Comic-Con certainly seems to suggest that has been worth the wait. The basic premise of Pacific Rim is fairly simple. Set in the distant future, Earth has been over-run by Giant Monsters who have awoken from a rift within the Pacific Rim (so, that’s why it’s called that). This prompts the human race to build giant Robots, known as Jaegers, to battle these destructive Beasties who are laying waste to mankind. These Jaegers are piloted human operators, who bond telepathically with their respective Robot, to face monsters head on in battle. The footage screened aimed to give an impression of the scale of the movie, and one word seems to describe it rather fittingly; epic. The Robots and Monsters are on a huge scale, with impressive FX works and practical effects. It’s as high concept as you can get, and Del Toro’s visual flair and creativity should be fantastic in this kind of arena. And it has Idris Elba screaming such lines as “Today, we are cancelling the apocalypse!” Epic indeed. Pacific Rim hits cinemas on July 15th 2013, but Del Toro has said a trailer won’t hit for at least 6 months. The tease.

12. Godzilla shall rampage once again…

My last highlight from the con comes in the form of another Monster movie, this time it is Legendary Pictures new take on the iconic Giant Lizard, Godzilla. It has been a while since we heard any news come out concerning this movie, Gareth Edwards (behind the small indie pic Monsters) was announced as director quite a while ago, and after that it went rather quiet. But now, the big fiery beast has let his presence be known, with a new poster and some teaser footage, screened exclusively in San Diego. The teaser stunned unsuspecting audiences, with no one knowing what it was that was being screened, as the camera panned over a brutally destroyed city, smoke bellowing among-st the destruction. As the camera continues along, the audience catches a glimpse of a monster, a dead monster, but not Mr. Zilla. All of a sudden the iconic roar is heard and the title graces the screen. But that’s not all. They were then given the big hero shot, as Godzilla himself turning side on and roaring in all his glory. He reportedly matched the classic look, albeit with a modern makeover. Supposedly nothing like the Roland Emmerich version from 1998. Reports called it intense, spine-tingling and incredibly convincing. Still no release date, but I think we can expect to see this version of Godzilla around 2014.