The first half of 2014 will witness the release of a varied bunch of Hollywood films. We look at few interesting ones
Last year saw an unprecedented rise in box-office collections in the country. And this northward trend was not restricted only to Hindi films. There was a considerable jump in Hollywood figures as well. Going by this upswing, there is much to be expected from the forthcoming Western releases. HitList takes a look at some of the interesting films one can look forward to in the first half of the year...
'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'
Director: Marc Webb
Release: May 2
About: This is undoubtedly one of the biggest releases of the year. Peter Parker is still trying to strike a balance between his life as a high school student and his superhero duties, and as he digs deeper into his family background, he is faced with certain uncomfortable truths. This time, the film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx.
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'X-Men: Days of Future Past'
Director: Bryan Singer
Release: May 23
About: Shot entirely in 3D, the sci-fi superhero franchise switches between time with the characters staying intact. As usual, the ensemble fights a war for the survival of their species. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in a battle that must change the past in order to save their future.
'Mandela - A Long Walk To Freedom'
Director: Justin Chadwick
Release: January 24
About: This biopic comes at the most appropriate time. With Nelson Mandela’s demise last year, the world lost a remarkable leader and this particular film, with an Indian co-producer, takes you through the journey of not just a man but that of a nation.
'Lone Survivor'
Director: Peter Berg
Release: February 7
About: Hollywood scriptwriters can’t seem to have enough of post-invasion drama. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana, this war film is a high-octane thriller about a failed mission in Afghanistan.
'Winter’s Tale'
Director: Akiva Goldsman
Release: February 14
About: The screen adaptation of a 1983 novel by the same name, it features Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Will Smith in key roles for the first time. Shifting between two time different zones, it follows a supernatural-meets-romance theme.
'The Monuments Men'
Director: George Clooney
Release: February 21
About: The last time Clooney wrote and directed a film, he won an Oscar nomination. This time around, the multi-faceted maven has come up with a World War II story that focusses on the Allied rescue operations of artworks captured by Nazis during their six-year reign.
'Dallas Buyers Club'
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Release: February 28
About: Matthew McConaughey has not been nominated for an Academy Award so far. But this biopic aims to alter that. Based on the life of an AIDS patient who smuggles medicines into Texas -- thanks to government’s apathy -- this might just change McConaughey’s fortunes.
'300: Rise of an Empire'
Director: Noam Murro
Release: March 7
About: Six years ago, MiD DAY allotted five stars to 300. It’d be worth noting how the epic war drama’s sequel fares. With most of the lead actors being replaced by newer faces, the Greco-Persian duel should make for engrossing viewing, if nothing else.
'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Release: April 4
About: Marvel Comics aims to continue its winning spree at the box office with this film. The superhero venture has Chris Evans in the lead role along with Scarlett Johansson and the story pegs on the fight to save the planet from an irreversible catastrophe.
'Rio 2'
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Release: April 1
About: A sequel to the 2011 superhit, Rio 2 goes beyond the love story between the two exotic macaws. Foraying into the CGI-enabled Amazon jungles, the family angle has now been added along with the introduction of newer and spunkier characters.
'Million Dollar Arm'
Director: Craig Gillespie
Release: May 9
About: If you liked the TV series Mad Men, you’d definitely love to see Jon Hamm on the big screen. Here he plays a baseball agent who is inspired to stage a reality sports series in India in an attempt to attract potential cricket players. Yes, you just read baseball and cricket in one sentence.
'How to Train your Dragon 2'
Director: Dean DeBlois
Release: June 13
About: Three years after the first instalment, the Vikings and their dragons are back with the promise of some more fast-paced action in the meantime. The plot has the characters indulge in a spot of fun and embark upon an adventure in a bid to save the future.
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