2008 Preview part 1 – The films that will no doubt rock

2008 has some very interesting looking blockbusters as well as a lot of less publicised smaller films coming out. Unfortunately there seems to be nothing coming out that is down our street between January and March except the usual awards worthy fare (except for Cloverfield which gets more interesting by the day). The following films are the ones that I have no doubt will succeed, the ones that look like absolute sure things. Of course I could be here at the end of next year and we find out that I was completely wrong. That's all part of the fun though.

The Dark Knight

The trailer for the Dark Knight was released shortly before christmas and confirmed that its going to be an action packed film with a great villain. Heath Ledger as the joker seems to be closer in spirit if not look, to the joker seen in the comics. A psychotic clown who will kill all his own men after a robbery just because he thinks its funny. Not only does he look like a mime after a rough night on the lash but his voice also creeps me out, it seems to be all deep one minute and then go high the next. Anyway on top of most of the cast returning bar Katie Holmes, we also have the underrated Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent the District Attorney who become hideously scarred and becomes Two Face. This should build on the success of Batman Begins with awesome action scenes and hopefully another dynamite final scene.Its got some stiff competition this year from a Hulk reboot and Iron Man. Its a safe bet that Batman will come out on top. Released: July 25th

Hellboy 2

Out of all the comic based movies released in 2008 I am perhaps looking forward to this the most. I loved the original Hellboy film and am a big fan of the original Mike Mignola comics and the animated movies they released at the beginning of last year. Although apparently with a lower budget than the first movie, the trailer they recently put out makes it look like they have made it go a long way. Guillermo Del Toro returns to the directors chair and it looks like he has put more of the visual style that made Pans Labyrinth such a success into this one combined with a tone closer to the spirit of the original comic. The first Hellboy movie is well regarded and made a decent amount when released at cinemas. This one should do the same and become a solid word of mouth hit when it come out late summer. Released: August

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Its not yet clear whether this film will be on the slate for 2008 or early 2009 but in any case a new film by David Fincher is cause for celebration. Another change of direction for Fincher though as its not a dark thriller but a film based on the F Scott Fitzgerald short story from 1922 and adapted by Forrest Gump screenwriter Eric Roth. Brad Pitt plays Benjamin Button who begins life as an old man and gradually ages backwards until he reaches infancy. This sounds like bizarre material and it will be interesting to see what the tone is like. Will it be Forrest Gump sickly sweet or will it be Shawshank Redemption bittersweet/feel good. If this is as good as the people involved then look for this to be nominated for every award going come the award season in early 2009. Released: November TBC

Where the Wild Things Are

Spike Jonze has not made a film since Adaptation in 2002. He has been working on this film for most of that time. Where the wild things are is a children's book published in the 1960's created by Maurice Sendak. The story concerns a boy named Max who is punished for being naughty and sent to bed without supper. In his room Max travels to a large forest which is home to the wild things, large and fearsome looking creatures. Max conquers them with a scary look and is proclaimed their King. This is a children's classic in the states in the same way that Roald Dahl books are in the UK. The slim story has been expanded by Jonze and Dave Eggers who co-wrote the screenplay. The thing that most makes me want to see this though is its been made using puppetry and very little CGI. .Watching Labyrinth again recently made me really miss that era of my youth and the Jim Henson company are behind many of the creatures in this movie. Hopefully this will be a classic kids film with just enough darkness for adults too. Released: October

Bond 22

Fact: James Bond is cool again!, Very little is known about the plot for the next Daniel Craig bond outing. The story supposedly picks up after the superb Casino Royale and deals with Bond's activities after being betrayed by Vesper Lynd. The director is Marc Evans the director of Strange than Fiction and The Kite Runner, A man not exactly known for huge action thrillers. Robert Wade the writer of Casino Royale is behind the script again and some cast members return including Jeffery Wright and Judi Dench. As long as they get the tone right and don't fall back into satellite in space death ray cliches which ruined Die Another Day (so so bad) then we should be in for another treat. Released: November

WALL-E

Pixar's next movie will be great, there is no doubt in my mind. The first out and out Sci-fi movie Pixar have made concerns a small cute robot named WALL-E who is left on planet earth after the humans have ruined it and made it into a huge rubbish dump. WALL-E is the robot who has to stay behind and clean it up. He discovers a new purpose however when he meets a female robot named EVE. Directed by Andrew Stanton who made the great Finding Nemo the rumor is that there is hardly any spoken dialogue in this film with WALL-E and EVE speaking in only bleeps and other sounds. It will be interesting to see if this works against the film and people stay away or if people are curious enough to turn up in droves. Either way this will open big this summer. Released: July

Pineapple Express

The latest comedy film from the Judd Apatow production line is directed by David Gordon Green, the arthouse director behind Undertow and All the Real Girls. The film is a stoner comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco as a couple of pot heads who witness a murder and have to go on the run. Again its written by Rogen who wrote last years Superbad which was one of the funniest movies of the last ten years. The idea of a stoner action comedy written by these guys is a mouth watering prospect. Will it be a cult stoner movie like most of the others? or will it go over big like Knocked Up and make tons of cash?. It remains to be seen but a recent clip from the Superbad DVD shows that the witty dialogue and buddy chemistry is there between Rogen and Franco who are friends in real life.Hopefully this will erase memories of Dude Where's my Car? Released: September