Oh brave new year with such blockbuster entertainment in it. With the flip of a calendar, the new year feels exciting and unbesmirched by the mistakes of the year that came before, with its lackluster comic book adaptations (except Thor was fun), all-star romantic comedy ripoffs, and Pixar’s first major disappointment. Here are some of the 2012 films on the horizon that smell of redemption from moldy old 2011.
1. Brave
Oh, Pixar, I can’t stay mad at you. Let’s pretend Cars 2 never happened, okay? Brave looks full of adventure, with an apparently awesome female protagonist (voiced by Boardwalk Empire’s Kelly McDonald), the first ever for a Pixar feature. Bonus: most of the Scottish accents are apparently uttered by actual Scots, like McDonald and Billy Connolly.
2. The Lorax
Frankly, history has been unkind when it comes to movie adaptation of beloved Dr. Seuss stories. However, most of that fault lies in the insistence on creepy live-action versions with once edge comedians covered in body paint and Muppet fur. I haven’t seen Horton Hears a Who, which received favorable reviews, but The Lorax seems like it might actually capture that Theodore Giesel spirit and make me forget the sight of Mike Meyers as The Cat in the Hat. *involuntary shudder* It helps that it has the team behind “Despicable Me” at the helm.
3. The Avengers
If anyone can make me forget the uneven quality of last year’s comic book action blockbusters, it’s Joss Whedon.
4. Hunger Games
Thank goodness Katniss Everdeen came around to wash the taste of Bella Swan out of our mouths. The Hunger Games looks like it will be a thoughtful adaptation of the blockbuster YA dystopian drama.
5. The Dark Knight Rises
Ahh, a Christopher Nolan Batman movie. Exactly the shot in the arm 2011 needed, and the great dark hope of 2012. We’ve already shown you the trailer, but it bears repeating.
What movies are you and your family looking forward to this year?
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