Jon's 20 Most Anticipated Films of 2016

Here are the 20 films I am most anticipating in 2016! 

1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The first spin-off tale derived from the Star Wars universe is coming next December, and it is the story of the Rebel spies who captured the plans to the Death Star, many of them not surviving the operation. There are rumors of Darth Vader making an appearance in this one.

This picture of the team looks great, except, if you squint, Felicity Jones looks a little bit like a Hobbit about to journey to Mordor. That said, just that this film is happening is far beyond exciting for me, since the room for complete experimentation within the Star Wars universe will be at its most ripe. I hope there will be enough new things in this film to keep the audience looking forward, in the Star Wars universe, instead of constantly looking back.

2. Deadpool 

If you are unaware of the assassin in red, and this film's massively brilliant marketing campaign, you will soon be enlightened come this February. That is, if you are in the market to see a fun, irreverent, nasty, bloody, and ridiculously cynical superhero tale. I love seeing new things I've never seen before on the big screen, and this should be no exception. 

But don't look for some sophisticated, art film that you can watch with your cultured art-critic relative, nor should this be watched with your 12 year old in tow. It's pretty much the first "hard-R" superhero flick ever. And it's coming in less than a month!!!

3. Suicide Squad

I am convinced that this will be an unexpected hit for the superhero genre. For the first time, ever, a superhero story will feature the perspective of a team of villains. And these villains look incredibly interesting... besides Will Smith. I'm still not sure about him playing this sort of character. To me, he does best as a misunderstood loner who is a kindhearted hero. This is kinda the OPPOSITE of that. 

But David Ayer was definitely the right person to direct this film. I'm sure he will give us something very special here.

4. Doctor Strange 

Really? Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange? Are you kidding me? And they got Derrickson to direct? I don't think this could get any better!! This film has threatened to go to the top of my list. But I am so in the bag for new experimental takes on genres and existing franchises that I placed these other films higher. But I know if those experiments don't do so well, that this film will come out on top. 

Not only is Marvel a proven studio to do this very thing... make incredible heroes come to life, while combining their own fun superhero universe with new, previously unexplored genres, they also get the very best in the industry to accomplish it. And this just looks so freaking cool!

5. Captain America: Civil War

Arguably, Captain America has become the very best superhero sub-franchise in history. And within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is positioned to challenge our allegiance to any and all other superheroes that have found their way into out hearts... such as Ironman.

But my only complaint so far, is that this looks so good (based on the trailers), that why the entire Avengers and MCU aren't weighing in and choosing sides is beyond me. I want to see Hulk, Thor and the Vision, weigh in on whose side they will be on. But I suppose this is because the trailers are so epic to me that relegating it to a simple Cap vs Metalman story seems pithy. Still, I'm sure this will be such a fun, exciting chapter in the First Avenger's story arc. Let's see who comes out on top!

6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I had been even more excited for this film, but the trailers disappointed me a bit. They revealed too much of the third act in my view, which really takes the wind out of the sails. But this should still be a really great film, and I am still hoping that Gal Gadot will portray Wonder Woman well, and that Batfleck will do the Bat Man justice. But I have no hope for Eisenberg as Luther. None at all.

7. The Neon Demon 

I am one of the biggest Nicholas Winding Refn fans out there. Even his work before 'Drive' compelled me. But, this looks like it is returning to the American well. The well that I believed made 'Drive' such a work of art. And I am very happy about it. 

Let's see if it can make critics and viewers happier than "Only God Forgives" did.

8. Assassin's Creed

Alright! Here we go with a video game-based film that threatens to change EVERYTHING! Just as Marvel brought superhero films into the mainstream by hiring some of the BEST actors in the business, I believe this very well may be the way to go with Fassbender in the "Assassin's Creed" movie! 

I can't wait to see a trailer for this film, because this could be an exciting, brutal, and action-packed interpretation of a video game hero!

9. Midnight Special

If anybody knows me well, they know I follow directors that aren't necessarily mainstream yet, but that do amazing work! Jeff Nichols, who also directed "Mud" and "Take Shelter," is one of those directors! And this is his first sci-fi.

Just as I was excited to see Rian Johnson's first sci-fi "Looper," I am also eagerly anticipating what looks to be a film inspired by some of the great 80's sci-fi/horror-tinged films out there, by directors such as Spielberg and Carpenter. It seems to have an elegance and a beauty to it. For me, it reminds me of E.T., Starman, and Close Encounters, just to name a few. And after I watch Batman v Superman in March, I plan on catching this one (notice the comic book the kid is reading on the poster?).


10. Warcraft

I've been waiting for Duncan Jones, maker of "Moon" the great breakout indie favorite of 2009, to return to sci-fi/fantasy, and this is it. Warcraft, along with Assassin's Creed are the two big video game-based franchises coming to the big screen. And I can't wait to see how well these will fare. 

So far the animation looks to be fairly well realized, skirting the edge between realism and a glossy 3D animation look. Let's see if they can pull off a win and make us all believe that the video game market can enter into Tinseltown with fanfare and cheers. Or will it go home again in defeat, hoping to fight again another day?


11. The BFG

So, who is in the mood to see Steven Spielberg return to the charm of his original sci-fi and fantasy kid's tales with a dark edge? YES??? Me too!!! Based on the Roald Dahl children's tale of the same name, The BFG appears to be just THAT. And the trailer proves that the dark children's tales like E.T., or Close Encounters of the Third Kind, or Jurassic Park are STILL part of his wheelhouse.

12. Ghostbusters

If you don't remember hearing Dan Aykroyd talk incessantly about how Ghostbusters is coming back ONE DAY. Well... now we don't have to hear him talk about it anymore. Here it comes, along with their signature 'hearse' and 4 'human beings'. Don't misunderstand, I'm not disturbed by the new ch-ch-ch-changes. But it does give me cause for concern. I'm not absolutely convinced this will be a 'Ghostbusters' film. But I am convinced that these super-talented ladies will do something supremely incredible, and really fun to watch.

13. Triple Nine 

So, you don't know what Triple 9 is? Just watch the trailers and come back to me. The talent in this film is incredible. And I love it when a director can challenge and revitalize a genre to do better. To me, this looks like what Michael Mann did with "Heat" years ago. If you haven't seen that either, give it a watch. This looks like a tragic tale of evil men and their evil deeds come back to bite 'em in the butt.

14. The Secret Life of Pets 

This looks so cute that every time I see the trailer (and Ive seen it probably 10 times already) I have to give a little *snicker*. Every time I see the trailer in the theater, the kids explode with laughter. And its for a good reason. This looks like another great example of the art of animation, at its best. 

15. Finding Dory 

And here comes a much loved classic "sequel". Something that "Incredibles" and "Up" fans would love to see. While I haven't been 'blown away' by the teaser, I am still eagerly awaiting what Pixar will do with this story. And since my daughter LOVES Nemo, I will definitely be watching this one!

16. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

To be completely honest, I was never a full Hogwart's convert. But, I did see the last film in IMAX and was blown away by much of the movie franchise. This, like the 'Rogue One' Star Wars story, looks to be a great opportunity to play in a fully-realized universe without being restricted by the original narrative. ...Which REALLY excites me! 

17. X-Men: Apocalypse 

I have been a little less-than impressed with the latest X-Men films. But, this looks like a very potent version of what the X-Men is about... and this just may prove to be the most brilliant outing for the Bryan Singer team. Still, I don't believe it will hold a candle to the Marvel or DC Cinematic Universes. But, let's see what they have to say about the science vs religion debate in superhero story-form, again.

18. Zoolander 2 

Here comes Blue Steel again. I just love watching Ben Stiller act foolishly. And the trailer looks like they've captured the idiocy of these characters, even fifteen years later. And of course, Will Ferrell threatens to steal the show along with the addition of numerous other cameos and the silliest characters you can think of.

19. The Jungle Book 

The Jungle Book? Its coming back? Yes. And it looks like it will actually do justice to the original. With this new form of animation, the jungles of India and the dark, wild, and fun characters of the Jungle Book can come back with a new vibrancy, and detail never before seen. And while I don't think it'll be the best film of 2016, I do think it looks gorgeously put together and it could even be worthy for my daughter to see.

20. The Huntsman Winter's War 

At first, I was going to ignore this film due to the disappointment that was "Snow White and the Huntsman". Why they picked Kristen Stewart to be Snow White, I cannot say. But they really botched a lot more than that essential casting choice in that film.

But the new trailer for this new film really brings back the things that DID work in the Snow White film... Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth (who was clearly underutilized). Then they added some even more incredible actors... Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain! The story looks compelling as well, as opposed to simply, "a deposed princess trying to regain her throne," or something like that. This appears to have much more internal conflict and mystery to it. So, we will see if it performs, and if it can bring back some of the charm of the once-glorious Disney fairy tales.