Ten most anticipated films of 2005

I know this list is a little bit delayed since it is almost March, but luckily none of the movies that I am looking forward to have come out yet. Maybe it is just me, but it is hard to look forward to Oscar buzz movies when the ink is hardly dry on the Oscars from this year. Thus most of the films that I am looking forward to are big budget studio films. Of course I am thrilled that so many of the books that I loved as a child are being put on the screen, many of them for a second time. My only concern with these movies, as it usually is with anything that is anticipated, is that they could all be really great movies, or they could all get really screwed up.

1. War of the Worlds - Paramount
I’ve just got to see this one the moment it comes out. I’m drooling just thinking about seeing this movie. Starring Tom Cruise, directed by Steven Spielberg, and releasing July 29th. When the other studios found out the date for this one they reshuffled their schedules to give it a wide berth.
2. Serenity - Universal Pictures
Serenity Now!! I loved this show from the moment it aired and thanks to brisk DVD sales it will now be a feature film. I’d like to think that the fact that I made everyone I know watch the show on DVD helped to make this a reality. Unfortunately they moved the release from April 22nd to September 30th. September can’t come fast enough.
3. King Kong - Universal Pictures
Since The Lord of the Rings trilogy Peter Jackson can do no wrong. Lets see if that holds up as he remakes a classic film of beauty and the beast. So far the images on the web look magnificent. Releases December 14th.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Warner Brothers
The third may have been my favorite book but the fourth is no slouch either. Only the volume, and nature, of material causes a problem in this one. The film releases November 18th.
5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Warner Brothers
The latest version of the children’s classic stars Johnny Depp and releases July 15th. This is not a musical. Said to be much creepier than the Gene Wilder version I still expect a lavish and intriguing adventure.
6. Sin City - Dimension
I haven’t loved Robert Rodriguez’s work but this one sounds cool. Starring Bruce Willis and Elijah Wood it should be pretty well acted if nothing else, and I love the dark film noir atmosphere. This film releases April 1st.
7. Batman Begins - Warner Brothers
June 17th the Batman series begins anew. No camp, no cheese, just a superhero caught up in his own neuroses, just like it ought to be.
8. The Producers - Universal Pictures
The film releases on Christmas Day. I’m not quite sure what to say here. I loved the movie the first time. Now it has become a movie again by way of a Broadway show. Only in Hollywood.
9. Kingdom of Heaven - 20th Century Fox
Billed as the latest release since Gladiator, what isn’t billed as that nowadays? But a story about the Crusades starring Orlando Bloom sounds well worth the price of admission. This film opens May 6th kicking off the ever earlier summer season.
10. The Corpse Bride - Warner Brothers
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are together again for this animated fare reminiscent of Nightmare Before Christmas. This one is set for a September 23rd release so it should do good business in the runup to Halloween.

Others:
Be Cool - MGM
This one releases March 4th a no-mans land of filmdom but this movie should be good since it builds off some great characters from Get Shorty and has a fatally hip attitude.
Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - 20th Century Fox
Oh please, please, please be a good movie. I still am looking forward to this one, but after Episode II I have my doubts. Opens all by itself on May 19th.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Walt Disney Pictures
This film opens June 3rd. I loved these books, I hope the sense of humor carries into the film otherwise this whole exercise is a lost cause.
The Pink Panther - MGM
This is another one I am holding my breath on. The Pink Panther is a great role and Steve Martin can do it, maybe. He needs to get back in touch with his schitzophrenic side like he did in All of Me when his physical comedy was at its prime. This one releases September 23rd.
The Legend of Zorro - Columbia Pictures
Everybody is back for this sequel to The Mask of Zorro. Releases November 4th.
The Brothers Grimm - Dimension
Not as high a flier as some of the others on the list though since this stars Heath Ledger and Matt Damon expect a big advertising blitz before this fantasy/historical film hits theaters November 23rd. Of course it was supposed to release November 2004 so there may be some issues with the final film still to be worked out.
The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - Walt Disney Pictures
The childhood story of four siblings who discover a different world in the wardrobe gets the big screen treatment. Though it may appeal to current sentiment I hope that the films don’t get bogged down in the Christian religious imagery with which CS Lewis imbued his books. This film releases December 9th.

Related posts:

1. Ten Most Anticipated Films 2007
2. Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2006
3. Most Anticipated Films of 2005 Revisited
4. Part III Fall Movie Preview - November