Toy Story 3 (June 18) – If you made a short list of the sequels that were better than the original, Toy Story 2 would be right there at the top of the list. And that’s saying a lot, given how groundbreaking the first chapter was. So it’s obvious that Pixar is serious about doing Toy Story 3 just right, this time finding the toys shipped off to a day-care center when their owner departs for college. This was the franchise that set the bar for what computer-generated movies can be. In a post-Avatar era, I’m kind of stoked to see what they come up with to wow us now.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (July 16) – We’re going to withhold judgment at this juncture. The first trailer seems somehow both exciting and bizarre, and we’re not sure if Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) is really the man for the job. He seems more focused on action than wonder. But there is some potential here, in the story of a second-class wizard who’s put in charge of the shop by his master when all hell breaks loose. My biggest concern though: In Fantasia, this poem was converted into an animated short; how do you make a feature-length film out of the thing? (See Techland’s top sci-fi and fantasy books of the decade)
Honorable Mentions:
Predators (July 7) – Our favorite, thermal-scanning aliens are back, this time taking on the likes of Topher Grace, Laurence Fishburne and Adrien Brody, who star as the truly hopeless humans.
Piranha 3-D (April 16) – Sort of says it all in the title.
Let Me In (TBA) – Anyone who has seen the snowy and solemn Let the Right One In, quite possibly the most moody and melancholy vampire film ever made, will surely be stoked to see the American re-make. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves is on board, as is the kid from The Road. Could be great, if they don’t screw it up.