While 2012 wasn’t a bad year for films, let’s be honest. This year wasn’t particularly the best year for films. Sure, there was The Avengers and plenty of spectacular films from Looper to Zero Dark Thirty to Life of Pi. But with that being said, it was a bit of a let down for “geek films” in general. However, after the usual so-so winter and early spring, 2013 shows a lot of promise for sci-fi and action films, particularly comic book films. While there may not be a billion dollar mega-hit The Avengers this year (maybe), there are a lot of awesome films worth checking out.

Bullet to the Head

February 1st, 2013

It will be interesting to see how this turns out, since this is a balls-to-the-wall action film based on a lesser known comic. From the looks of the trailer, it has all of the old and welcomed 80s/90s action film tropes, from buddy cops to kidnapped daughters. If the gamble pays off, Bullet to the Head, along with The Expendables, A Good Day to Die Hard, and The Last Stand could mark a major return to the testosterone action genre. Regardless of Bullet to the Head‘s impact, the action should hopefully provide enough entertainment to cover the ticket cost.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

March 29th, 2013

Mixed feelings on this G.I. Joe: Retaliation. On one hand, the trailers do show some promise that the film might be a fun popcorn flick enough to satisfy us on the wait for Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel. Plus, this might be a film that surpasses its predecessor and surprises even the skeptics. On the other hand, it’s nearly year long delay raises a lot of red flags, particularly re-shooting various scenes. It’s only a question now of whether these alterations give the film the edge it needs, or is yet another case of The Industry making abysmal miscalculations in the name of marketing.

Iron Man 3

May 3rd, 2013

Now the big guns come out, and there’s no better way to start the summer season than with Iron Man 3. Rather than follow the familiar upbeat snark that the other two films well employed, the trailers promise a darker and more somber entry to the Iron Man saga. And while it may sound like a risky gamble, it’s safe to bet that legendary screenwriter and director Shane Black knows where to take it. While I do hear a lot of complaints about the new cream colored Mark VIII and the fact that Mandarin is no longer Chinese, I’ll be shocked if this film is a disappointment. Not only am I sure that this will be a great Marvel entry, I’m sure that there’s a decent probability that this might become the best Iron Man film thus far.

Star Trek: Into Darkness

May 17th, 2013

There’s a 99 percent chance that this film will have the same exact quality of Abrams’s previous Star Trek entry. A terrific film, but way over-hyped and over-praised. Only the most brain dead fanboy won’t be able to figure out the theme and general direction of this film (hint, the bad guys strike back, much is lost, and the heroes win an arguably Pyrrhic victory at the end). Still, regardless of how predictable and overrated it might turn out to be, this definitely looks like a must see and possibly one of 2013’s top ten films.

Man of Steel

June 14th, 2013

This is hands down going to be DC’s most important film. If Man of Steel is a hit, they get to move on with their other properties, establish loyalty with the mainstream audience the same way Marvel did, and possibly secure a Justice League film. If this is a miss or even just OK, then DC takes three steps back. With that being said, the new trailer shows that Man of Steel isn’t going to get lost in Superman‘s shadow, and has more than enough to make it not just a memorable film of the year, but a memorable film of the decade. There may be some skepticism left, such as Snyder’s annoying love of slow-mo or Goyer’s hit and miss record, but if the trailer can turn one cynic into a believer, there’s no telling what the film can do as long as they don’t mess it up.

Kick-Ass 2

June 28th, 2013

The first Kick-Ass won a surprise spot in my top ten favorite comic book films of all time. While it wasn’t the biggest hit at the box-office or with the critics, Kick-Ass had an amazing action sequence, just the right amount of humor, and a lot of heart and emotion. If Kick-Ass 2 has at least some of what made the first film great, then there’s no doubt that it’s a ticket worth buying. There’s some questions remained to be answered, such as whether they’ll give equal attention to plot and character, or if Jim Carrey’s performance will pay off (to be fair, Nicolas Cage was a risky move and that paid off in spades). But regardless of what works and what doesn’t, anything with Hit-Girl in it is worth seeing.

The Wolverine

July 26th, 2013

This is the film that’s going to go above and beyond its predecessor. If samurais, a noteworthy source material, and Wolverine don’t make for a great film, I don’t know what does. At the very least, this film should be praised for using a mostly Asian cast unlike some upcoming comic book adaptations based in Japan.

RED 2

August 2nd, 2013

Your enjoyment of this film will depend on exactly how much you enjoyed the first film. Seeing that the action sequel rule of thumb is that it is below the quality of the first film, and while entertaining, RED was nothing spectacular. I’d recommend waiting for this one on Netflix. Unless RED 2 pulls out a great script or action sequences that just have to be seen on the big screen.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones/Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

September 20th, 2013/October 4th, 2013

I don’t need to tell you what to expect. Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave or absolutely hate sci-fi, you’ve seen Episode II and III at least once to your enjoyment or disdain. While they aren’t on most Star Wars fans top episodes, they might be worth seeing again if the 3D is implemented well. Seeing that their re-release dates are close, it might make for a good double feature.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

October 4th, 2013

The first Sin City was awesome, and the graphic novels are must reads, so hopefully Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is the benchmark film of October. The major wrench in the gear is the sheer fact that Miller seems to have gone off the deep end with his recent works. But seeing that Robert Rodriguez is co-directing, hopefully the film will be the sexy, sleazy, gritty sequel we’ve all been waiting for.

Oldboy

October 11th, 2013

Like a good deal of new remakes, whether or not you’ll see it depends on your feelings on remakes (or if you’ve actually done yourself a favor and seen the original). Since I personally feel that the original Oldboy is a stroke of genius, I’m going to stick to the original unless Spike Lee has made a masterpiece out of the Americanized version.

Thor: The Dark World

November 8th, 2013

It’s a Marvel film with Thor. So basically, no worries here. The title seems to speak for itself. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a darker film with the “bad guys strike back” approach done with most epic trilogies. With Thor feeling like one big buildup, it’s going to be interesting to see where they take it next. Especially since, like Iron Man 3, this one has a new director in charge (Alan Taylor).

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

December 13th, 2013

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was not without its flaws. And despite some wonderful added scenes, it still feels unnecessary for Peter Jackson to make three two+ hour films. Still, the first film proved to be entertaining, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug should only up the ante (provided it keeps a solid pace). Plus, we’re going to finally get to see Smaug in all of his glory on the big screen, and not just a few quick glimpses.

What can I say? 2013 is going to be one hell of an entertaining year for films. Let me remind you that these are only a few of the sci-fi/action films coming out soon. There’s so many non-comic book community films, such as Jurassic Park and Top Gun in 3D, Riddick, and Enders Game, that there’s no way I could mention them all. So whether you’re going to see badass cops, samurai mutants, or hobbits, have fun at the theaters next year, and have a safe New Year’s.

Andrew Hudson
ahudson@comicattack.net
@Hudsonian