escape to insanity

We're starting to get into the new year… about to the point where writing checks with the wrong year is starting to fade away. We've probably gotten to the point where we're admitting that our resolutions — if we made any — are probably not going to be taken seriously. (I was going to make a resolution not to make any resolutions, but then… well… the universe would have imploded. You can thank me later.)

I'm starting to realize just how badly my wallet is going to be drained this year. It's a good thing I have no comprehension of anything relating to budgets, because mine would be blown entirely on “entertainment.” 2008 is looking like it'll be a great year for movies. In no particular order, except by the month they're going to be released, I present to you the awesomeness of 2008 in movies.

January

• Cloverfield (aka 1-18-08) I've been waiting for this movie to come out (like the rest of the movie-going world) since the trailer first appeared before Transformers. Hopefully the whole movie isn't shot in that shaky hand-held camera style - I don't think I could last through two hours of that.

February

• Jumper. This is another movie I've been psyched about since seeing the preview for it. Hayden might be able to pull himself out of the Anakin role for this one. Samuel L. Jackson promises an interesting performance too…

• Vantage Point. Eight different views of the same assassination attempt. The extended trailer I saw (on the Resident Evil: Extinction DVD) made it out to be much more political than I was aware.

April

• The Forbidden Kingdom. Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and this plot outline from IMDb.

  A discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.

  That's all the more I need for this to intrigue me.

May

• Iron Man. 'Nuff said.

• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While I think ol' Harrison Ford is getting a bit on in years to have quite the same effect as the first three, this installation of Indy could be interesting.

June

• The Incredible Hulk. While I think Eric Bana was perfect for the Bruce Banner character, I'm a big fan of Ed Norton (”People are always asking me if I know Tyler Durden.”) so I'm hoping he can do the role some justice. I can't think of a single Ed Norton movie I haven't liked, so I've got high hopes for this one.

• Wanted. The plot synopsis, courtesy of Wikipedia:

  Wesley Gibson is offered the opportunity to seek revenge in the murder of his father, who was an assassin. Gibson is invited by his father's partner, Sloan, to follow in his father's footsteps. Sloan's second-in-command mentors Gibson. Wesley Gibson follows the death orders issued by the Fates, weavers who read individuals' destinies in fabrics produced by mystical looms.

  Umm… sure. Suspension of disbelief, here I come!

July

• The Dark Knight !!!! That's all I can say about this one.

August

• Blindness. Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore in a movie where even the Oracle, Wikipedia, doesn't have much to say about it. I'm intrigued - the story is apparently something about a city where the sudden loss of sight for the entire population brings on the collapse of their culture. Interesting, no?

• The International. Clive Owen is an Interpol agent investigating a corporation for corruption and murder. Alrighty, you've got my interest. I'll bite.

November

• Bond 22. Again, enough said. Though, “Bond 22″ is only the working title for now. Apparently this picks up exactly two minutes after the end of Casino Royale, which was an amazing movie, and continues the character development of early Bond.

December

• The Day the Earth Stood Still. Even though this remake is going to be starring Keanu Reeves (whoa!) I have decent hopes for this one. Jennifer Connelly might be able to rescue the film from Keanu's dubious acting.

And those are just the ones I'm aware of. There's bound to be a few others being released that I just haven't heard of but are still nothing short of awesome. I'm expecting to be throwing down quite a bit of cash money this year - the MPAA better not complain about theatre revenue this year. I'll be keeping them afloat singlehandedly, methinks.

Did I miss any good ones coming out?