YES! We made it through the Winter Movie Season, where Hollywood unloads their junk on us, and now we’re headed into the Spring!
Spring is a time for mini-blockbusters, and movies that Hollywood hopes will have decent runs. Last year, “The Hunger Games” was released in March, for example, and we all saw how well that did!
Click through to see all the movies that this Spring Season has to offer!
March 1st
“21 and Over”
Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Skylar Astin, Sarah Wright, François Chau, Jonathan Keltz, Daniel Booko, Dustin Ybarra
I’m well on the record as being a fan of “party” movies. Put a bunch of young kids getting hammered on film, and I’m in. Whether or not this movie has anything else to offer has yet to be seen though.
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“Jack the Giant Slayer”
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Ian McShane
This looks outright stupid, to me, I’ll just say it. Plus the one blurb I saw said “Kids will love it”, which says to me “not made for adults”. We’ll see, but my bet is this is a big, silly spectacle.
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“Phantom”
Directed By: Todd Robinson
Starring: Ed Harris, David Duchovny, William Fichtner, Sean Patrick Flanery
Secrets spark a standoff in a submerged submarine!
Sorry, had to try to make it sound interesting somehow…
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“Stoker”
Directed by: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver
Wasikowska and Kidman are both great, and a number of people are clamoring to see what Chan-wook Park will do with his first American film. I bet its disturbed and violent, whatever it is. LOL
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“The Last Exorcism Part II”
Directed by: Ed Gass-Donnelly
Starring: Ashley Bell
I like the fact that they went with “Part II”, seeing how just plain “2” wouldn’t have made sense. LOL. I haven’t seen the first one, but it’s on one of my cable channels on demand, so I could watch it free if I wanted to.
Nahhh…
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March 8th
“Dead Man Down”
Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, Terrence Howard, Wade Barrett
Colin Farrell and Terrence Howard co-starring? I like them both, but knowing their career arcs, this movie has the stench of flop on it. Plus that trailer doesn’t do much for me. I hope I’m wrong though.
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“Oz the Great and Powerful”
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Joey King, Zach Braff, Bruce Campbell
Ostensibly the Spring’s biggest offering. A loaded cast, a classic property, a talented director. All signs say yes on this one. I hope this isn’t another Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”, though (released at similar times). We’ll see!
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March 15th 
“The Call”
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli, David Otunga
This has a chance to be a decent thriller. But I’m not sold on it. The high concept of trying to stop a serial killer as a 911 Operator has potential, but I bet they blow it. Oh well. At least I can amuse myself thinking “Ch-ch-ch-Chia” every time I see Halle Berry’s hair.
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“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”
Directed by: Don Scardino
Starring: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, James Gandolfini, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Gillian Jacobs
Please be good.
Seriously. I like this trailer. I like that cast. I think it’s a funny high concept. I just want to be impressed when this movie finally says “Ta Dah!!”
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March 22nd
“Admission”
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Gloria Reuben, Wallace Shawn, Lily Tomlin
For real? This is a test of my favorable status for Paul Rudd. With the exception of a small part in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” his movies have been terrible lately. As much as I like the guy, I’m beginning to cringe when I see his name attached to films.
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“Olympus Has Fallen”
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Dylan McDermott, Radha Mitchell, Aaron Eckhart, Ashley Judd, Melissa Leo
Well, at least we’ll get to see the White House all blowed up.
Gerard Butler staring in a testosterone overdosed shooter? Ehhh… let’s just say I’m not exactly psyched for this one.
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“Spring Breakers”
Directed by: Harmony Korine
Starring: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine
Oh, I’ll say it. I’m looking forward to this one. Helllllll yeah. I’m almost looking forward to seeing James Franco in that ridiculous gangsta krunk lookin’ get up more than I am watching this murderers row of young nubiles prance in their bikinis. Almost.
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“The Croods”
Directed by: Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Emma Stone, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman
Dreamworks Animation has brought us some excellent films. Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek. So I have a feeling that this will be good, in spite of the fact it’s about cavemen and features Ryan Reynolds AND Nick Cage. Looks gorgeous…
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March 29th
“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”
Directed by: Jon Chu
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Ray Stevenson, Jonathan Pryce, RZA, Walton Goggins
The ceiling for this… the absolute best that this one can achieve… is dumb, shoot ’em up fun. The trailer? With Bruce Willis spraying fire from the back of that El Camino? Lets just say that that has some Cheese-Tastic potential. Let’s hope. Cause otherwise… what else has it got?
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“Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor”
Directed by: Tyler Perry
Starring: Jurnee Smollett, Lance Gross, Robbie Jones, Vanessa Williams, Kim Kardashian, Brandy Norwood, Ella Joyce
Tyler Perry channels his inner Nicholas Sparks.
That’s not a prospect that appeals to me.
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“The Host”
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, William Hurt, Frances Fisher
For those bemoaning the demise of the “Twilight” saga, Andrew Niccol brings you the latest Stephenie Meyer offering, “The Host”. Aliens invade that can take over the world by taking over people’s minds, but trust me, nothing will be more important than the teen romance at its core!
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“The Place Beyond the Pines”
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Bruce Greenwood, Ben Mendelsohn, Dane DeHaan
This genuinely looks good. Potentially the movie I’m looking forward to the most on this list. Gosling and Cooper are both riding high right now, and there’s a lot of talent in that supporting cast, too. That trailer looks so bad ass. I have hopes that this will be a fantastic crime drama.
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April 5th
“Evil Dead”
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Elizabeth Blackmore, Jessica Lucas
Horror Hounds are salivating over this one. All signs seem to indicate that this will be a first-rate remake rather than a cheap cash grab. The potential is there for an update that stays faithful to the original. So far, all the marketing indicates a scary flick!
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April 12th
“42”
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Starring: Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman, Brad Beyer, Toby Huss, T. R. Knight, Alan Tudyk, Hamish Linklater
Great story. Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. Aligned with the start of baseball season.
Does it get any better? Expectations are high.
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“Scary Movie 5”
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: Ashley Tisdale, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, Terry Crews, Kate Walsh, Molly Shannon, Heather Locklear, Erica Ash, Mike Tyson, Audrina Patridge, Kendra Wilkinson
God… Can I just give this an F now and not go? If you can’t even string together a 3 minute trailer that looks funny, what are you gonna do with a full length movie? I’m betting Scary Movie 5’s answer is “suck”.
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April 19th
“Oblivion”
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Melissa Leo
“Oblivion” looks like it has all the ingredients. High production values. A great cast. An intriguing story. If it all comes together as promised, this looks to be a slick, intelligent sci-fi thriller. Let’s hope the summer blockbusters start a few weeks early this year. With this one.
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“jOBS”
Directed by: Joshua Michael Stern
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, James Woods, Josh Gad, Matthew Modine, J.K. Simmons, Lukas Haas
While I respect the contribution that Steve Jobs made to technology, I’m not sure I’m enthusiastic about a biopic. Especially one with Ashton Kutcher as the lead. Can someone remind me if he’s ever been in a good movie? I’m at a loss to name one.
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April 26th
“Pain & Gain”
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris, Ken Jeong, Rebel Wilson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry
Looking forward to this. LOL I know, I know, it’s Michael Bay, movies’ most maligned director. Johnson and Wahlberg look like they spent all their preparation for these roles in the gym. So lets hope all that muscle translates to dumb fun.
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“The Big Wedding”
Directed by: Justin Zackham
Starring: Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Christine Ebersole, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams
I suppose there’s an outside chance that this film winds up fun. I wouldn’t count on it though. The “fake something for the sake of the family” schtick hasn’t worked since “The Birdcage”. I doubt it will here.
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Well, there you have it folks! The movies to come over the next two months.
What do you think? Which are you excited for? Which wouldn’t you be caught dead at? Is it a good enough crop to hold you over til the summer?
Let us hear it!!
Hmmm, seems like rather slim pickings to me. Looking forward to Stoker and Place Beyond the Pines though. Oh and i’ll try and drag myself to Evil Dead if I can find the courage!
I dont know… after the last two months here (and I know your release schedule is different there… you guys have actually finally been able to see all these GOOD movies the past couple months) the movies here look golden! LOL Whoo hoo! Bring ’em on! 😀
It looks a bit tragic.. and I have a horrible feeling my husband is going to try and make me see Phantom. Stick WWII anywhere in the description and he’s in in.
Aw, yeah… your comment sent me to Rotten Tomatoes to see how it was faring (it wasn’t screened early for critics – not a good sign) and it’s only at 19%.
Maybe tell him its set in modern day or something? LOL I dont know. Maybe it’ll be good after all, who knows. 1 in 5 critics would recommend it, so…
Hi! Great post! I’m really looking forward to Stoker…the rest don’t look brilliant, but the Evil Dead should be fun, i’m a huge fan of the originals.
Hi yourself, Georgina, and thank you! 😀
A lot of people are psyched up for Stoker. I’m not sure why, but I’ve got a little skepticism heading in. I hope I’m wrong.
Let’s hope the Evil Dead delivers, huh? I think – to me at least – it looks like they’ll be taking the campy elements out and going straight scary. So far though it looks like they could pull it off!
Great blog! I’m most looking forward to Oblivion. Sci-fi is my favorite genre (as you’ve probably guessed) 😉 and I’m hoping this one will be good.
Thanks Ash! You? A Sci-Fi fan…. nawwwww you ARE? LOL 😀
With all this promotion talk, I realized I never went through this post and commented! 🙂 Count me in for Stoker, Springbreakers, The Place Beyond the Pines, Evil Dead and 42. The rest? No thanks.
Actually, that’s more than I expected to want to see for this time of the year. Will be nice to have at least SOMETHING to look forward to.
There we go, another one on the Spring Breakers bandwagon. LOL! 😀
I think there’ll be some surprises mixed in amongst all the other junk. I’m sure there will be. 😉
I’m looking forward to Evil Dead.I’ve only seen Evid Dead 2 and Army of Darkness. I looked on IMDB and I don’t see Ash though. He’s gotta be one of my favorite antihero’s. Almost everything he says is very quotable. Should be interesting though. Looks like they are trying to be scary this time.
Oh, definitely… they’re going straight up horror with this one. Evil Dead 2 was a sequel, but it was also basically a remake of the first, they’re very similar… only 2 had more humor and a better budget.
And yeah, I dont know if they’re going to give someone the title of Ash, and if he’ll be a wiseass like Bruce Campbell’s was… we’ll have to see. Anyways, though, the early reviews are great, I’m pretty psyched for that one!