Seven Sequels Sure to Score

Every year I tell myself I am not going to write about the excessive amount of sequels that come out every year.  But with over 20 sequels coming soon to a theater near you, some involving superheroes, dragons, and possibly Dinobots, I simply couldn’t resist.  The truth is I always hope to see the next film that will creep its way into the pantheon of follow-ups like “T2”, “Spider-man 2”, “Aliens”, or “Wrath of Kahn”.  This year’s second, third, and even fifth parts in the franchise are almost sure to win with the masses and there are a few others that I hope will surprise.

 

Captain America: Winter Soldier-- April 4th

After “Iron Man” my favorite Marvel movie is “Captain America: The First Avenger”.  Director Joe Johnston was completely in his element as he was in “The Rocketeer”, making Cap a true hero for the ages.  The trailer for “Winter Soldier” looks promising, and the comic book storyline is great, I just hope the new directors, the brothers Russo know how to handle this hero post “Avengers” where Cap was given very little to do.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2—May 2nd

I didn’t think too much of the Spider-Man reboot two years ago.  Though there were things to like about it, with Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker, and making Spidey more spider-like.  But its origin paled in comparison to Rami’s 2002 version.  This sequel seems to do what it took other films three tries to do, villain overload.  That is almost a sure-fire way to kill a franchise.

X-Men: Days of Future Past—May 23rd

Speaking of the killing of a franchise, Fox did a number on the X-Men in a way Magneto never could have with the knock down of “X-Men: The Last Stand” and the kick’em when they’re down “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”.  But with the resurgence of superheroes and the return to form with “X-Men: First Class” and last years “The Wolverine” the X-Men are rising like the Dark Phoenix.  And with the daddy of the franchise, Bryan Singer returning behind the camera with a classic storyline in tow this one has ‘epic’ written all over it.

How to Train Your Dragon 2—June 13th

The magnificence that was the original “How to Train Your Dragon” and with the same team returning for this one, I expect greatness once again with even more brilliant flying/action sequences.  The story feels more ambitious but that’s the formula for animated sequels. If you don’t up the stakes what is there to care about?

Transformers: Age of Extinction—June 27th

Michael Bay sorta redeemed himself in his last Transformers film “The Dark of the Moon” at least on an action standpoint.  The robot stuff was way more interesting than the human drama, if you could call it that.  This time they dropped LaBeouf and picked up Mark Wahlberg, which may or may not be the best of signs.  But they’ll make their money, either at the box office or on the toy shelves.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1—November 21st

This one could go one of two ways: either better than the previous as they have been, or struggle trying to stretch one book into two movies.  But with the end in sight, the action and body count will rise as Katniss and company take on the Capitol in a fight to the end, well more like cliffhanger ‘end’ until next year’s finale in Mockingjay Part 2.

The Hobbit: There and Back Again—December 17^th

After the all talk of the first Hobbit film and the all action of the second Hobbit, here’s hoping that Peter Jackson can find the balance in the final installment of a not-as-great-trilogy as the original “Lord of the Rings”.  But I will settle for a larger-than-life battle to end all battles ending when the five armies come to play.  And they still need to take care of the whole Smaug thing.  It already sounds over-stuffed, either way I will be there opening day.

Whether or not any of these will be better or any good at all it matters little, the fact is they will make serious bank. The other sequels that I hope will do better than their predecessors are filled with fast cars, crazy apes, and gun-toting bad-asses such as Chris Pine, John Brolin, and of course Channing Tatum.

 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, 22 Jump St., Fast and Furious 7, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Sin City: A Dame to Kill for.

--Robert L. Castillo