Normally Hollywood released “big” movies in the summer and winter seasons. The former to take advantage of kids being out of school(summer blockbuster) and the latter to catch families together for Christmas vacation, and also to generate Oscar buzz. In the past few years though, Hollywood has expanded its movie release calendar, and 2018 is shaping up to be one of the biggest expansion of that thought process in years. If you are into “geeky” movies, this year is one of the best ones yet.
Of course it began with Marvel(who else) releasing Its first “black led superhero” movie since Men in Black and The Blade Trilogy. Marvel smartly capitalized on Black History Month by releasing Black Panther on February 9th, and the movies starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan proceeded to win over both the critics and movie going public, by shattering box office records. As of this past weekend it has earned almost $900 Million world wide.
March looks to continue the trend of geeky movies by having multiple releases averaging 1 movie every week. This past weekend “Red Sparrow” starring Jennifer Lawrence(no stranger to geeks anywhere). This movie is about a Russian Ballerina turned female intelligence agent(Red Sparrow) who is sent to make contact with a CIA agent and possible mole. Yep, an action/mystery thriller(doesn’t sound geeky, does it), but it stars one of the actresses who embraces her geeky side(Katniss, Mystique) so it needs to be included.
Next up on March 9th is the YA fantasy “A Wrinkle in Time”. This movie follow the tale of a young girl who goes in search of her missing father, who disappears after discovering a new planet. With the help of her brother, a new friend and three astral travelers(Mrs Which, Mrs Whatsit and Mrs Who) she sets out to find and rescue her father. This movie stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine.
On March 16th, we get the reboot of “Lara Croft Tomb Raider” starring Alicia Vikander. This movie tells the story of Lara’s first journey as she attempts to find her fathers last location and solve his disappearance.
March 23rd, we get the much anticipated sequel “Pacific Rim Uprising”. Set 10 years after 2013’s hit “pacific Rim”, this movie features improved Jaegers PPDC machines, and restless Kaiju. The breech which was sealed at the end of pacific Rim has been reopened, and once again the world is not safe from monsters. John Begoya stars as Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost(played by Idris Elba). Jake looks to preserve both humanity and his fathers legacy.
March 29th, we get the release of “Ready, Player One”. Another in the long line of dystopia movies(do we ever get a future earth that is happy?), Most of humanity stays “plugged into the OASIS”. The OASIS is a virtual reality connected space, that allows players to forget the problems of the world, while also allowing them to avoid doing anything it fix them. When the creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves a hidden treasure within the game setting off a race between the players, and an “evil mega corporation”(is there any other kind?) to find the hidden treasure. This movie reminds me of an upgraded “Tron” with a healthy dose of “The Matrix” added to it.
April doesn’t let up as on April 13th we get the first of multiple Dwayne “Rock” Johnson movies, “Rampage”. Yep, Rampage is taken from the 1986 Midway arcade game of the same title. Somebody has messed with Davis Okoye’s(Rock) friend, an Albino Gorilla named George, along with a wolf and crocodile. Now these gigantic predators are causing all kinds of destruction, and Davis races against time to find an antidote so he can turn George back into the gentle giant he always was.
April 27th(yep they moved it up a week) we get Marvel Studios 2nd blockbuster of the year “Avengers:Infinity war”. Yep this is the movie the last 10 years has been leading up to. Cosmic Bad Guy, Thanos has come to earth, and he is looking to gather all the Infinity Stones so he can place them on the infinity gauntlet that he took from Asgard. This movie has pretty much every character in the MCU. This is the most anticipated movie of the year according to Fandango.com.
After a couple of weeks “rest”(and to allow “Avengers:Infinity War” to chew up the box office dollars) Marvel is at it AGAIN, this time with some help from 20th Century Fox. On May 11th, “Deadpool 2” gets released. The R Rated ‘Merc with the mouth” looks to continue Marvels money haul. This movie brings back all of Deadpool’s “friends”(Blind Al, Weasel, X-men Colossus and Teenage Negasonic Warhead, Cab Driver Dopinder) while adding Josh Brolin as “Cable”, Zazzie Beetz as Domino and Jack Kesy as Black Tom Cassidy. Look for Ryan Reynolds to continue to break the 4th wall.
May 25th, we travel to a galaxy far, far away for the Star Wars story “Solo”. This stand alone tale as about Han Solo prior to the events in Star Wars Episode 4. From what I have heard from friends in the movie business, Danny Glover as a young Lando Calrissian and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbaca, STEAL THIS MOVIE.
June 15th, we get the long awaited sequel(14years since the original) aimed at kids “Incredibles 2”. This movie takes place immediately after the first movie, and while the Parr family try to maintain a “normal life”, Elastigirl (mom, Helen) is out fighting crime and trying to usher in the “return of the supers”.
June 22nd, we see the 4th movie in the Jurassic park saga, Jurassic World:Fallen Kingdom”. Claire Dearing(Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady(Chris Pratt) attempt to save the Dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption and extinction once again. This one already has a 5th movie set for release in June 2021.
That is everything up to July…..Part 2(July-December) in a few days(it doesn’t slow down at all)
