Best Films of 2014: Hunger Games Mockingjay, Godzilla, The Hobbit 3, and More
2014 has already seen its share of good cinema. Mark Wahlberg's "Lone Survivor" tore up theaters and teared up audiences en route to a $38.5 million opening weekend. However, January isn't really known for huge blockbuster movies. It's awards season after all and the only films that seem to come out now are usually smaller, less noteworthy releases. So what upcoming 2014 films are worth your hard earned cash?
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"
According to Jezebel, "The Hunger Games" book series is more popular than Harry Potter! And the movies are doing pretty well themselves. A big part of that success is due to America's sweetheart, actress Jennifer Lawrence. She leads the charge as protagonist Katniss Everdeen. In the first film we see Everdeen compete and win The Hunger Games. In the second movie titled "Catching Fire" Everdeen attempts to fend off the crazy Panem governement. In "Mockingjay," Everdeen and her allies must destroy the tyrannical government once and for all.
Godzilla movies haven't been good in far too long. In fact, the glory days of Godzilla are so long gone that you have to go back to the 1960s to find a decent version. Director Roland Emmerich tried to make Godzilla resonate with American audiences in 1998. Everyone got tired of movies portraying the destruction of the Big Apple. The whole flick was corny and the acting was wooden (sorry Matthew Broderick.) The latest "Godzilla" is director Gareth Edwards lean and mean reimagining of the classic monster. The cast is extensive and includes many big names, Heisenberg included.
"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
In "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" we saw James Franco play brilliant scientist Will Rodman. He genetically enhanced a chimpanzee by the name of Caesar, deftly played by Andy Serkis aka Gollum in "The Hobbit trilogy." Caesar goes on to become as smart as his "creator" so to speak and winds up leading a rebellion of primates. Taking place eight years after the first film, the primates are organized and ready finish their rebellion. They've reduced humanity to nothing more than a ragtag group of survivors. A final battle will take place, the winner claiming dominance over the loser.
First appearing in 1959's seminal classic "Sleeping Beauty" super villain Maleficient is one scary, demonic fairy. Angelina Jolie will play her in the upcoming live action film of the same name. What's should you look forward to in this film? Well Jolie's menacing high cheek bones and snarl should instill a lot of fear into children. Also, the fact that "Maleficient" is a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" from the antagonist's point of view is pretty cool.
"The Hobbit: There and Back Again"
"The Hobbit: There and Back Again" will conclude director Peter Jackson's latest trilogy. Unlike Jackson's original "LOTRO" trilogy the hobbit flicks haven't gotten nearly as much acclaim. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on the other hand garnered 11 Academy Awards!
You should check this movie out though if you want to see how Bilbo Baggins and the rest of the Company of Thorin defeat Smaug. After all they need to reclaim the lost city of Erebor!
Do you want to see any of the titles listed above? Or do you want to see something else? Let us know in the comments section below.