Hiddlestoners, Potterheads and the Cumbercollective: Film's most dedicated fandoms

Yahoo Movies
By Cat Collins | Yahoo UK Movies Features – 6 hours ago

While we admire their dedication, sometimes hardcore fans can be a little overwhelming.

For example, over 93,000 Batman fans who feel Ben Affleck is the wrong man to play Bruce Wayne have signed a Change.org petition to remove him from the role.

And Tom Hiddleston has said he's "flattered and amazed" by a group of Hiddlestoners who have decided he deserves his own solo superhero movie.

 IceFloeSoul2·

Saddened that Hiddleston won't appear in Joss Whedon's Avengers follow-up, and clearly concerned that we might never see Loki again, the fans have collected over 22,000 signatures petitioning Marvel for the God of Mischief to star in his own story on the big screen, steadily working toward their goal of 30,000.

But are Hiddlestoners the most dedicated fan base of them all? Let's see...

Hiddlestoners

Object of affection:
Tom Hiddleston

What's it all about?
Dedicated and determined, Tom Hiddleston obsessives are pretty hardcore in their love for the actor. After piquing their interest in Marvel's 2011 superhero epic, Thor, Hiddleston further seduced his legion of fans when he reprised the role of Loki in Joss Whedon's wildly successful team-up, Avengers Assemble.

But more than the standard group of swooning teenagers, Loki's Army have used their force for more than simply penning fanfic and stalking Hiddles on Twitter. One gang, Hiddlestoners Have Hearts, have even raised thousands of pounds for UNICEF in his name.

Don't say:
"Phwoar! That Thor's a bit of alright, isn't he?"

Do say:
"Oh my God, he's so adorable!"



Cumberbatch disapproves of Cumberbitches...

it's a revolution, I suppose·

The Cumbercollective

Object of affection:
Benedict Cumberbatch

What's it all about?
Formerly known as Cumberbitches or Cumberbabes, before Benedict himself poured disapproving scorn on the offensive noun, the lusty Cumbercollective have but one simple goal in mind: To meet Benedict Cumberbatch and make him fall in love with them.

It's a dream many can understand, albeit one the man himself seems to be a bit embarrassed by, but for most of them a dream it will remain. Luckily for them, he ain't going nowhere.

Don't say:
"You know what? I think Ricardo Montalban was a better Khan."

Do say:
"The Purple Shirt of Sex. That is all."

READ MORE HERE:http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/hiddlestoners--potterheads-and-the-cumbercollective--film-s-most-dedicated-fandoms--170949695.html

SUPERMAN FLYING HIGH WORLDWIDE: ‘Man Of Steel’ Opens With $21M Late Shows; Begins Global Release With Asian Records (DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD)

By NIKKI FINKE,
 Editor in Chief | Friday June 14, 2013 @ 7:26am PDT

FRIDAY 7 AM UPDATE: Not even torrential downpours in NYC could dampen enthusiastic crowds forming long lines for Thursday late shows. Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures just announced its hotly anticipated Man Of Steel opened with a midnight show of $9 million

Combined with $12M from a corporate group sale screening program at 7 PM, this third Superman franchise begins its North American run with a cume of $21M. “Off to a flying start!!!” A studio exec gushed to me just now. The number ranks 7th among late show records, behind only the Harry Potter and Twilight franchises, but ahead of The Hunger Games. It’s also the all-time highest superhero late show record, surpassing The Avengers’ remarkable $18.7M and The Dark Knight‘s $18.5M. 

The more equal comparison would be June 2005′s Batman Begins which was the first of the trilogy and grossed $1.6M at midnight while June 2006′s Superman Returns reboot made $4.9M and July 2012′s The Amazing Spider-Man redo earned $7.5M. Of course, any such record must come with an asterisk because Hollywood studios recently have interpreted ‘midnights’ as beginning at 7 PM Thursday through midnight and sometimes into early dawn. So that prevents any accurate movie-to-movie direct comparison of late show grosses. IMAX hauled in $1.6M domestic from Man Of Steel late shows from 327 North American locations.

This third Superman franchise goes wide today in a whopping 4,207 locations which is the 2nd widest release ever for a non-sequel: 850 are 2D only, and the remaining venues will play in 3D with a 2D component. Tracking has ranged from Warner Bros’ lowball $80sM aimed a managing expectations to rival studio projections around $95M-$100M. According to both fandango and MovieTickets.com, domestic advance ticket sales accounted for over 85% of total daily transactions Thursday and today. (“That percentage would have been higher if it weren’t for This Is The End doing 7% of sales today,” says Fandango’s Harry Medved.) Still, even with a longish running time of two hours and 23 minutes, the Chris Nolan-Zack Snyder-David S. Goyer-Henry Cavill tentpole Man Of Steel could pack an unexpectedly stronger punch because of the 3D premium and immense wannasee. 

It’s almost guaranteed to set a new opening weekend record for the month of June. Superman’s last big screen outing was Superman Returns with a very mediocre five-day opening of $84.6M that stopped Warner Bros from ordering up a sequel. But it scored higher positive reviews of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes than Man Of Steel‘s surprisingly middling 58% seven years later. Then again, this is a critics-proof pic after it took Christopher Nolan’s involvement to make Superman cool again (finally)  even though it’s a feel-good movie where the man of steel must save the day against Michael Shannon’s villainous General Zod. And the studio’s masterful marketing campaign filled with mystery (that first teaser barely featured the Metropolis Marvel) really caught the imagination of anyone ever enamored of one of the most popular DC Comics characters ever.

READ MORE: http://www.deadline.com/2013/06/man-of-steel-beginning-worldwide-release-record-opening-day-in-the-philippines/

Divergent Begins Production, Mekhi Phifer And Ray Stevenson Join The Cast Author: Kelly West (CINEMA BLEND)

Following on the huge success of the Twilight franchise, Summit-Lionsgate continues to target the young adult audience with feature adaptations of popular book series. We have The Hunger Games: Catching Fire to look forward to this fall, along with the sci-fi film Ender's Game. And coming to theaters next March (2014) is Divergent, the feature adaptation of the first novel in Veronica Roth's YA dystopian series. The film has added two more to its cast and has begun production this week.

Summit announced today that production on the anticipation film Divergent began today in Chicago, which is where the story is set. It should be interesting to see how Chicago is transformed for the film, as the story is set in the future in what's left of the Windy City. Residents in the rundown city are divided into five factions, which determine a person's way of life. In the film, Shailiene Woodley will play the lead character Tris, a young woman who comes of age and must decide if she will stay with her family's faction or choose a different path. The twist is that, prior to deciding, she learns that she's "Divergent," which is not a good thing, and means she'll never fully fit into one faction. Tris keeps this secret as she makes her choice and joins other trainees as they undergo a series of tests to find their place among their faction.

READ MORE http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Divergent-Begins-Production-Mekhi-Phifer-Ray-Stevenson-Join-Cast-36834.html

Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence? And Charlize Theron? (Video) BY CATE MEIGHAN ON FEBRUARY 24, 2013 (CELEB DIRTY LAUNDRY)

Jennifer Lawrence seems to be kind of an exception to the Hollywood rule. Usually when an actress is young, accomplished and quite stunning the press is all over her, invading every inch of her private life.  For some reason Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t find herself under quite the same microscope as say, Kristen Stewart.  Even when she split with Nicholas Hoult last month there was precious little wild speculation about who she’s hook up with next.

GLOBE in the March 4th print edition claims that there does appear that a contender emerging in the form of Michael Fassbender. The two will soon be filming X Men: Days of Future Past and it was on the set of the first film that the fast friends actually met. Jen was spotted off in a corner with Michael at the BAFTA Awards having a pretty intense conversation and he seemed to be working overtime to keep her attention. Even after they went their separate ways, Jen kept her eyes on him.  Before leaving for the night the two were overheard making loose dinner plans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=W6aFRDAcqU8#!

READ MORE:  http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2013/jennifer-lawrence-michael-fassbender-chasing-dating-manhood-penis-large-sex-0224/

WATCH: 'Judi Dench Was A Police Officer': Will Ferrell And Kristen Wiig Go Crazy At Golden Globes. Comedians leave audience in stitches in joke filled presentation (E.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c9OxMmVJKFQ#!

BlakeElijah youtube


Read more: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/101204/WATCH-Judi-Dench-Was-A-Police-Officer-Will-Ferrell-And-Kristen-Wiig-Go-Crazy-At-Golden-Globes-

'Fifty Shades of Grey' Movie UPDATE: Henry Cavill New Front Runner For ChristianGrey? By Bobby Pollier, EnStarz | Jan 06, 2013 05:20 PM EST

Buzz over the movie adaptation of E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey" continues to heat up the web at an astounding rate.  While many notable actors have been discussed in fan polls as favorites to play the role of the 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey, one of the names that seems to come up fairly often is "Man of Steel's" Henry Cavill.

To add to the 29-year old's demand, he was recently coined as the "Breakout Star of 2013" by Fandango.  In the contest, Cavill beat out British movie stars Nicholas Hoult and Sam Clafin of "The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire," among other male celebrities.

Many women would love to see Cavill don the Grey role due to his dashing looks and chiseled physique.

"If the Man of Steel is the breakout star of 2013, then he totally should be #Christian Grey!" a fan of the franchise tweeted.

Read more at http://www.enstarz.com/articles/11288/20130106/fifty-shades-grey-movie-update-henry-cavill.htm#ose8tcJYbFqegCiT.99 

Emily Blunt Tipped for Lead Role in Gone Girl Adaptation By Timur Moon: Subscribe to Timur's RSS feed

Devil Wears Prada star Emily Blunt is in the frame to star in the screen adaptation of Gone Girl, the macabre potboiler and psychodrama that was the runaway US publishing phenomenon of 2012.

The thriller, which topped the New York Times bestseller list, selling 2 million copies since last summer, has been memorably described as "like a Hitchcock rewritten by a mean Candace Bushnell" by one critic, in a reference to the author of the Sex and the City books.

Following the commercial success of The Hunger Games and the sensation surrounding Fifty Shades of Grey, bidding to secure the film rights for the summer's most popular novel was fierce, eventually going to 20th Century Fox for $1.5 million. Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn has been signed up by the studio to write the screen adaptation.

Initial speculation as to who will land the lead role centred on Legally Blonde star Reece Witherspoon, who has confirmed she is to produce the film. But her hopes of landing the part were dismissed by TheAtlanticWire.com, which labelled her a "chipper little sparkplug", adding that the role demanded "someone with secrets".

READ MORE: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/420971/20130105/emily-blunt-gone-girl-hollywood-reece-witherspoon.htm

Man Of Steel: Henry Cavill Selected 2013 Breakout Male Star By Fandango Users By: Scott Johnson on January 3, 2013 (COMIC BOOK)

However, if a recent poll from Fandango is any indication, Henry Cavill looks to be getting a warm reception as Superman. Unlike polls conducted on a site like well Comicbook.com, where comic book movies and their stars would be at a huge advantage, Fandango reaches a more general audience.

In the Biggest Male Breakout Movie Star for 2013 category, Henry Cavill finished in the top spot for his upcoming role in Man of Steel.  He was followed by Sam Claflin in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Arnie Hammer in The Lone Ranger, Jain Courtney in A Good Day to Die Hard, and Nicholas Hoult in Jack the Giant Slayer and Warm Bodies.

It’s a pretty impressive accomplishment, considering that Warner Bros. has only barely begun their marketing for Man of Steel. With only two trailers released, Henry Cavill’s performance as Superman seems to be impressing the general population just as much as it impressed comic book fans. The Man of Steel is scheduled to be released in movie theaters on June 14, 2013.


http://comicbook.com/blog/2013/01/03/man-of-steel-henry-cavill-selected-2013-breakout-male-star-by-fandango-users/

Tom Hardy Tops List Of 2012's Biggest Movie Stars (CINEMA BLEND)

Author: Sean O'Connell

Who were the biggest stars of 2012? Well, a lot of that depends on what your definition of “biggest” would be. 

Few people could argue that they had a bigger year than Jennifer Lawrence, who had one smash hit in The Hunger Games and is closing off the year with Oscar buzz for her performance in David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook. At the same time, Kristen Stewart closed off her massive Twilight franchise with Breaking Dawn: Part 2, had a summer hit with Snow White and the Huntsman, generated a few critical raves for On the Road and even notched her own tabloid scandal thanks to an ill-timed kiss with her Huntsman director. 

Both ladies make a new list released by IMDB, which tallied its STARmeter rankings for the year to simply see which celebrities marked the most page views. Critical assessments and box-office numbers weren’t important. This was just cyber-interest generated by IMDB users, and their No. 1 selection – Tom Hardy – was somewhat surprising to me.

READ MORE:http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Tom-Hardy-Tops-List-2012-Biggest-Movie-Stars-34706.html

Emily Blunt: Stanley Tucci has secretly married her baby sister,Felicity. Congratulations! (DAILY NEWS)

STANLEY TUCCI is a married man. The “Hunger Games” actor, who got engaged to actress Emily Blunt’s younger sister, Felicity, in October, confirmed to us Monday that the two have secretly tied the knot. When we asked Tucci and his blushing bride, who was sporting double bands on her ring finger, at the “Hope Springs” screening at the School of Visual Arts if they were newlyweds, the 51-year-old was hesitant.

“Yaaa-yess,” he said, finally confirming. When we repeated the question, Tucci, who had the London-based literary agent on his arm, gave a more affirmative response: “Yes.” The actor, who was there to support his “Devil Wears Prada” co-star Meryl Streep, told us he didn’t need any pointers from the flick, which is about re-charging your love life. “I have all the tricks!” he joked. A source close to Tucci, who has been wearing a band on his ring finger for months, says the couple plans to have a second, more formal wedding with friends and family.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/gatecrasher/stanley-tucci-emily-blunt-secretly-tied-knot-plan-a-formal-wedding-article-1.1131174?localLinksEnabled=false

Christian Bale: The Hunger Games Star Wes Bentley Films Scenes For Terrence Malick 0 Posted April 4, 2012 by Blake Dew in News (WE GOT THIS COVERED)

The Hunger Games star Wes Bentley has been spotted shooting scenes with Christian Bale for Terrence Malick‘s new films.

 At this point it is unclear whether the scenes are for the once titled Lawless or Knight Of Cups, but with all the footage that’s been shot so far rumoured to be for Lawless, I think it’s a safe bet that that will be the film that Bentley appears in.

 As we know, Malick is known for leaving actors out of films due to excess footage having been shot, so at this point there is no way to know if Bentley will end up in the final cut of either of Malick’s upcoming films, but at least he stands a chance. I’ve always been a fan of Bentley’s work and I think he would fit nicely into a Terrence Malick movie


READ MORE:  http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/hunger-games-star-wes-bentley-films-scenes-terrence-malick/

Foreign Box Office: 'Wrath of the Titans' Opens No. 1 Overseas, Displacing 'The Hunger Games' (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

12:58 PM PDT 4/1/2012 by Frank Segers

"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" finishes No. 3; "Pirates! Band of Misfits" debuts an animated No. 4.

Blanketing the foreign theatrical circuit over the weekend, Wrath of the Titans easily displaced The Hunger Games as the No. 1 box office attraction overseas, opening to an estimated $78 million at some 13,900 screens in 60 territories.

That’s especially good news for distributor Warner Bros. since the 3D action-fantasy sequel’s 2010 predecessor, Clash of the Titans, drew $332 million from overseas theaters -- more than double its comparable U.S. and Canada box office total.

The special-effects-laden extrapolation from Greek mythology with Sam Worthington returning as Perseus, Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades took the No. 1 spot in 46 markets, notably in nine of the top 12 international territories including Korea, France ($3.3 million from 455 venues) and Italy ($1.7 million from 361 situations).

READ MORE:  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-hunger-games-wrath-titans-dr-seuss-lorax-306653

Shocked youngsters 'are walking out of The Hunger Games' as experts demand film's certificate is raised to 15 (MAIL ON LINE)

By LIZ THOMAS and ALISON BOSHOFF

Psychologists, child health professionals and parents yesterday joined calls for The Hunger Games to have its rating raised to a 15 because of its violent content.

Children who see the controversial film are at risk of having its disturbing scenes ‘hard-wired’ into their brains, one expert warned. The movie – about teenagers in a totalitarian future being forced to kill each other in gladiatorial combat – was initially given a 15 certificate by the British Board of Film Classification but this was lowered to a 12A after producers agreed to make several cuts.


 READ MORE:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2121303/The-Hunger-Games-rating-Shocked-youngsers-walking-movie.html

Top 20 Box Office Openings (THE WASHINGTON POST)

No. 1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 
 Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter throughout the eight-film series, is shown in the final chapter, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which amassed $169.2 million in its opening weekend. Warner Bros. Pictures via AP




No. 2: The Dark Knight 
Heath Ledger won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the Joker in the Batman movie "The Dark Knight," which had an opening weekend of $158.4 million





No. 3: The Hunger Games 
Jennifer Lawrence portrays Katniss Everdeen and Liam Hemsworth portrays Gale Hawthorne in "The Hunger Games," which opened at $155 million.


VIEW THE REST:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/top-20-box-office-openings/2012/03/26/gIQAw40McS_gallery.html#photo=3

Donald Sutherland: "'The Hunger Games' could be the most influential American film since I can’t remember" (TELEGRAPH)

Donald Sutherland: "'The Hunger Games' could be the most influential American film since I can’t remember" Surprised to see the sparring partner of Eastwood and Marvin, boundary-pushing leading man and unlikely sex symbol starring in a teen fantasy being called 'the new Twilight?' You're not the only one, Donald Sutherland tells SEVEN magazine.

Shaking hands with Donald Sutherland is like being greeted by the head wizard at a Nordic potions academy. He is 6ft 4in with shoulder-length white hair and a long white beard. The beefy hands grip you firmly while the pale blue eyes inspect you unhurriedly. Up close, he is a dead ringer for Getafix the Druid from Asterix the Gaul. His manner, on the other hand, could not be more different. “There is no such thing as Chilean sea bass,” he intones decisively. I’m waiting in the doorway of his suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills, while his lunch order is being organised. “The Chilean sea bass is a marketing invention,” he declares in his velvety baritone. “It is in fact the Patagonian toothfish.” I later Google Chilean sea bass and discover he is completely correct.

But then Sutherland’s hallmark, as a veteran actor of some 120 movies, is a majestic kind of old pro, no-frills precision. His fellow Canadian Christopher Plummer may have taken home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year, but one can’t help feeling that Sutherland could – with a rich, juicy lion-in-winter role – do the same. His vast CV takes in a few oddities (Beerfest, The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas), but the high points are enduring peaks (MASH, Klute, Ordinary People and, of course, Don’t Look Now). Indeed, no British interview with Donald Sutherland is complete without a discussion of his and Julie Christie’s legendary sex scene in that film. I lasted all of 22 minutes before I brought up my conspiracy theory – but more of that later.

READ MORE:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9130828/Donald-Sutherland-The-Hunger-Games-could-be-the-most-influential-American-film-since-I-cant-remember.html

12-plus films to look forward to in 2012 (GoErie)

By Dave Richards, Erie Times-News
Staff writer

Hollywood took it on the chin in 2011, even with "Sucker Punch" and "Warrior" hitting theaters.

Movie attendance dropped to its lowest levels since 1995. Apparently, people were more into occupying Wall Street than multiplexes. But movie execs have good reason to expect a rebound in 2012 with sequels, reboots and potential franchises on the horizon.

Some titles to watch for:

1. "The Dark Knight Rises." Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale complete their compelling "Batman" trilogy, which has redefined what superhero movies can be. Will he dare to kill off Batman? We'll find out July 20.

2. "The Hunger Games." Anticipation is sky-high for the first film in a potential new franchise based on Suzanne Collins' best-selling young adult series. Jennifer Lawrence steps in for her sister in the title games, in which a boy and a girl from each district fight to the death, on live television, per edict by government regime. March 23.

3. "The Avengers." Here they come, all in one film: Thor, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Captain America band together to fight Loki (Mickey Rourke.) Director Joss Whedon had better not mess this up. May 4.

4. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Peter Jackson re-enters J.R.R. Tolkien territory -- this time in 3-D. He won 11 Oscars the last time he visited. Part 1 arrives Dec. 14; the second part in December 2013.

5. "Prometheus." Director Ridley Scott says this isn't an "Alien" prequel. Yeah, right. Excellent cast (Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbinder, Guy Pearce) should elevate this above standard-issue horror. June 8.

6. "Django Unchained." Quentin Tarantino follows up his biggest hit yet ("Inglourious Basterds") with a Western-era drama about a vengeful former slave. What a cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Walz and Sacha Baron Cohen. Dec. 25.

7. "Skyfall." Daniel Craig returns as 007, but can the series return to form after the lackluster "Quantum of Solace"? Directorial choice Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Revolutionary Road") is intriguing. Nov. 9.

8. "Lincoln" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." The former, due in December, is from Steven Spielberg, who goes from World War I ("War Horse") to the Civil War with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the president. Will knowing the ending hurt? The latter is based on the popular fanciful novel. June 22.

9. "The Amazing Spider-Man." The web-slinger returns, directed by Mark Webb, whose previous film was the critically praised "(500) Days of Summer." Andrew Garfield plays Spidey. July 3.

10. "Nero Fiddled." Can Woody Allen keep the momentum rolling following his warmly received "Midnight In Paris," his biggest hit? He stars, along with Ellen Page, Alec Baldwin, Robert Benigni, Penélope Cruz and Jesse Eisenberg. October.

11. "World War Z" and "Dark Shadows." Brad Pitt in post-apocalyptic zombie thriller? We're in. Dec. 21. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton working together again -- on a remake of the classic TV vampire series, no less? Also in. May 11.

12. G-forces: "Gambit," "Gravity," "The Great Gatsby." The Coen brothers wrote (but do not direct) "Gambit" a remake of a 1966 crime caper comedy with Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman and Stanley Tucci. Release date TBA. Sci-fi drama "Gravity" pairs Sandra Bullock and George Clooney with excellent director Alfonso Cuaron ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," "Children of Men," "Y Tu Mama Tambien). Nov. 21. DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan co-star in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of the great F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Dec. 25.

http://www.goerie.com/article/20120105/ENTERTAINMENT0702/301049904/12-plus-films-to-look-forward-to-in-2012

The Ten Can't Miss Films of 2012 (Zimbio.com)

By JoeRobberson on January 2, 2012

(BauerGriffin, PacificCoastNews)

With apologies to Breaking Dawn - Part 2, John Carter, The Amazing Spiderman, The Avengers, and American Reunion, here are the real can't miss films of 2012. With most Hollywood blockbusters, and especially within the comic book genre, you know what you're going to get. I can say with confidence right now that John Carter, Spiderman, and The Avengers will all look terrific and will probably be worth seeing, but they will all be effects-driven mindless popcorn action flicks that provide zero intellectual stimulation. This is fine, of course, many of us use the movies as a way to relax and unwind, and not thinking at all can be a godsend sometimes. However, looking a bit deeper into the upcoming crop of films for this new year reveals some true gems. These are the movies you really need to see in 2012.

1. The Dark Knight - July 2012

Easily #1, The Dark Knight Rises will end Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale's Batman trilogy that began seven years ago with Batman Begins. 2008's The Dark Knight was lauded critically and commercially and fans are expecting more of the same for Rises. With the additions of Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, as well as smaller roles filled by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard, Rises features another amazing cast. What remains to be seen is what path Nolan will take with his hero. Set eight years after the end of The Dark Knight, the story will revolve around a graying Bruce Wayne. Will Nolan take Batman to places unexplored in comic book films? Will the hero meet his maker in Bane? The looming threat of Batman's death makes The Dark Knight Rises the most anticipated comic book film ever made.

2. Lincoln - December 2012

 

Spielberg and Lewis on set (Richmond Times-Dispatch)Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's encyclopedic novel, Team of Rivals, Lincoln is expected to be one of the best films of 2012 and a major Oscar contender come this time next year. Daniel Day-Lewis will play the title role so his involvement alone makes the film a must-see. The method actor chooses his projects wisely and Lincoln may be his most ambitious yet. Giving the iconic 16th American President life is a daunting task that only Lewis may be able to pull off. Though, he won't be alone as Lincoln has an amazing supporting cast in Tommy Lee Jones, Gordon-Levitt, Jared Harris, John Hawkes, David Strathairn, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Sally Field.

3. The Hunger Games - March 23, 2012

With a built in audience devout to the Suzanne Collins novels, The Hunger Games should see a huge opening weekend and total box office take. Director Gary Ross cast Jennifer Lawrence as his young heroine, Katniss Everdeen, and the role should propel her career. Katniss has been the idol of young girls everywhere since the novel's publication in 2008, but the book does quite a bit to distance itself from other young adult novels like the Twilight series. For one, the setting is post-apocalyptic, violent, and no real place for children. Much like Ender's Game, The Hunger Games places children in an adult context and treats them without sympathy. Katniss must face off with 23 other "tributes" aged 12 to 18, in a televised fight to the death masquerading as tradition in a twisted future American society. The loyal book following and "The Running Man meets Lord of the Flies" storyline makes The Hunger Games a potential blockbuster for 2012.


.

4. Prometheus - June 8, 2012

Ridley Scott's film was originally conceived as a prequel to Alien, but rewrites have changed the story and we won't be seeing Ridley in this one. Prometheus is the name of a spaceship carrying a team of explorers deep into the solar system in hopes of discovering the origins of life on Earth. Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Sweden) will star as the lead scientist with Michael Fassbender playing an android. Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce also co-star. Scott, who is the industry's foremost authority on extraterrestrial science-fiction, returns to what he does best with Prometheus. Expect a dark, terrifying account of close encounters. I'm hoping for an R-rating for this one and some serious scary alien murders. Basically, I'd like Alien again.

5. Moonrise Kingdom - May 2012

Keitel on set (caughtonset.com)Wes Anderson's first live-action film since 2007's The Darjeeling Limited will be met with unrivaled fervor from film buffs and hipsters everywhere. As with Darjeeling, Moonrise Kingdom was written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, and will feature some old hands, but also plenty of new ones. Bill Murray will appear in his fifth Anderson film, as will Jason Schwartzman (his third). Joining them will be Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton (always destined to work with Wes in my opinion), Frances McDormand, and Harvey Keitel. The all-star cast will all portray small-town New Englanders who set off in search of a young couple who flee the town. Anderson set the story in the 1960's so it will be interesting to see how he directs a period piece, something he's never done before.

6. Skyfall - November 9, 2012

The newest James Bond film is Daniel Craig's third in the historic franchise. He has been offered a huge contract that would place him in the next five Bond films also. Craig's success as the British secret agent has put the once-moribund franchise back on top. Skyfall will test Bond's relationship with M (Judy Dench), as her past will intersect with the present and cause the main conflict in the film. What sets this edition apart, however, is the inclusion of director Sam Mendes. His presence lends real credence to a production that could have been explosion after explosion. Mendes has a talent for real narrative storytelling so Skyfall may actually have a plot worth paying attention to. Can Mendes do what no other Bond director has ever done? Can he make a film that doesn't just look spectacular, but actually has some depth?

7. This is 40 - December 2012

Judd Apatow's second film of 2012 (The Five-Year Engagement) is a spin-off of his 2007 film, Knocked Up. The story will center around the lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) a couple years after the events of Knocked Up. Jason Segal and Megan Fox will co-star. Apatow's films all follow the same basic premise: a guy is humiliated hilariously and built back up by his collection of friends and the woman he loves. Knocked Up was one of the surprise hits of 2007, so This is 40 should do well with date-night crowds and anyone 40 and under. Plus, the dynamic duo of Rudd and Segal is hard to pass up in any context.

8. Dark Shadows - May 12, 2012

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton reunite for the ninth time on Dark Shadows, the supernatural vampire story based on the cult 1966-1971 gothic soap opera . Depp will play Barnabas Collins, a rich playboy who is turned into a vampire and loses his estate. The cast will feature Eva Green, Michelle Pfieffer, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Chloe Moretz. Burton films are typically filled with his trademark creative style and sound. He loves the macabre and Dark Shadows seems to be set in the same kind of world that made Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, and Batman so memorable. The adult subject matter and the presence of Depp in the lead points to a return to form for Burton. Although we may be even more impressed with his other 2012 release: his new remake of his own film, Frankenweenie .


(EntertainmentWeekly.com)

9. The Great Gatsby - December 25, 2012

Visionary director Baz Luhrman lends his talents to the classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. The ambitious project will be worth a shot based on the impressive pedigree alone. Jack Clayton's 1974 film starring Robert Redford stands as a lackluster intertpretation of the colorful novel so there is much room for improvement. Luhrman should embrace the music of the time and fill the screen with the color and vivacity the '74 film lacked. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanon, the 2012 edition sports an impressive cast of A-list talent.


Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast of Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' film driving scenes on location. (Bauer Griffin)more pics »10. Looper - September 28, 2012

Rian Johnson's long-awaited science-fiction thriller will be released this Fall. The film features futuristic hit-men, called "loopers" who wait for their marks to be sent to their time from the future. Problems arise when one looper (Gordon-Levitt) is tasked with killing his future self (Bruce Willis). Johnson and Levitt teamed up to great success in 2005's Brick, the film which really made Levitt as a serious actor. Their reunion and Johnson's original story could make Looper one of the real hits of 2012. Good science-fiction is hard to come by these days, but solid ones typically rule the box office. My bet is Looper will be something really special. Johnson has a unique cinematic style and vision that should lend itself spectacularly to a sci-fi story like this.

http://www.zimbio.com/Christopher+Nolan/articles/YIcftvcd74D/Ten+Can+t+Miss+Films+2012