Consider the Shared Universe Part I: Marvel

Since my "sabbatical" from blogging, I've missed out on a lot of nerd news. Yes, I sound like a broken record at this point for doing this pretty much every semester. No, I don't care, because college is demanding. But now I have a chance to talk about all this news, and it's actually still relevant since it pertains to all the films I'm hyping up this year. I've written extensively on this blog about the shared universe trend that has hit Hollywood. Since most of it comes off as reacting to Internet news with fanfic, it's also pretty repetitive. So you'll forgive me if what I'm about to propose sounds pretty similar.

I've decided that if the "shared universe" is going to be a permanent fixture in Hollywood for the immediate future, some ground rules need to be laid. Therefore, I'm taking a look at the various shared universes Hollywood is developing. I will incorporate some fanfic-y elements by predicting how these shared universes could conceivably work. I will then provide commentary on whether or not they WILL work, given the history of these franchises and the intent behind them. Since I've already devoted a series to dissecting the effectiveness of trilogies, I figured a shared universe series is the next step. Hopefully the intention behind this will make it different from my past dissections of the shared universe. At any rate, I feel like the flood of information we've gotten these past few months makes such a series ideal. So let us begin with the franchise that started this trend-Marvel.

The Story So Far: Marvel has released ten films as of this writing, along with five short films and two TV series. In development are eleven more films and five Netflix shows, all of which are expected to expand the universe in new and exciting ways.

Predictions

Agent Carter- Marvel's latest show is set just after Captain America: The First Avenger, following SSR Agent Peggy Carter as she navigates a sexist post-WWII environment and helps form SHIELD. The show only has two episodes released so far (expect my review when the series is completed). From what I've seen, the show will tease who Peggy ultimately marries, solidify her relationship with Howard Stark, and possibly introduce a young Hank Pym to help set up this year's Ant-Man. Anton Vanko is also involved, so the show might explain how Vanko is caught by Howard and banished, setting up Iron Man 2. The human Jarvis is also involved, which may factor into Howard and Tony's motivations for basing an A.I. off of him (important as the A.I. Jarvis becomes Vision in Age of Ultron). 

Agents of SHIELD- The first half of season 2 has seen a huge burst in quality, including Peggy Carter in flashbacks and a continuing battle with HYDRA. We've learned that Skye is really Daisy Johnson, aka Quake, her father is Calvin Zebo aka Mr. Hyde, and that her mother was an Inhuman. Yes, we've introduced the Inhuman mythology, as well as name dropped the Kree from Guardians. Aside from interviews stating the season will eventually tie into (and maybe set up) Ultron, the long game may be to further the cosmic Kree mythology of Guardians and 2018's Inhumans. Depending on the show's longevity, we could see the characters continue either in the films (Civil War anybody?) or the Netflix shows. Speaking of which...

Netflix Defenders (Daredevil, AKA Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist)- We know Daredevil is hitting this April, and the other shows are coming sometime thereafter. Daredevil is Charlie Cox, Kingpin is Vincent D'Onofrio, Jess Jones is Krysten Ritter, and Luke Cage is Mike Colter. Iron Fist has yet to be cast. In terms of how this will play out, I see each show obviously going through the origins of each hero before they team up as the Defenders. Daredevil and Jones got their powers from the same toxic waste incident. Jones marries Cage. Cage and Iron Fist become best friends. These connections are enough for the characters to all team up, possibly against Kingpin. Should they ever make it to the films, I could see them participating in Captain America: Civil War as part of Cap's resistance. If that doesn't pan out, they should at least show up for Infinity War. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1, 2015)- We've had two trailers released thus far for Joss Whedon's comic book epic. Based on what we've seen and what I've gathered from interviews, plus the broad strokes of Phase Three from the announced film slate, here's my basic plot prediction. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner create Ultron by combining the Iron Legion tech, a dormant A.I. created by Howard Stark and Hank Pym, and salvaged Chitauri tech. 

Ultron goes rogue, eventually upgrades himself with Vibranium from Wakanda. This introduces Ullysses Klaw (Andy Serkis, from the trailers) and Black Panther (he would cameo to set up his role in Civil War). The Twins will help set up the Inhumans instead of being mutants, while JARVIS becomes Vision. By film's end, Thor will return to Asgard, Hulk will either be shot into space or wander the Earth (following the Hulkbuster fight), and the remainder of the team will be divided depending on whether they follow Cap or Tony. The Superhuman Registration Act is proposed. 

Ant-Man (July 17, 2015)- We know from the trailer and Entertainment Weekly feature that Hank Pym will recruit Scott Lang, fresh out of prison, to steal his former protege Daren Cross's Yellowjacket suit. Hank and the late Janet/Wasp's daughter Hope will assist. I'm thinking Cold War flashbacks will show Hank and Janet as the original Avengers, and will reveal Hank's role in helping Howard invent the prototype Ultron A.I. Hope will eventually become the new Wasp. By film's end, Tony will recruit Hank, Scott, and Hope into a new, government sponsored Avengers team to help back the SRA. 

Captain America: Civil War (May 6, 2016)- I'm entering uncharted territory here since Phase Two hasn't ended yet, but here's my prediction based on the comics arc and what we do know. Cap, Falcon, Sharon Carter, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the Twins will be the anti-Reg team, possibly with assistance from Bucky, the Defenders (or at least Daredevil) and Coulson's SHIELD team. Tony and Pym will lead the pro-Reg team, with War Machine, Vision, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Black Panther in the roster. As I've said, Hulk and Thor aren't involved. 

Pym may be an advisor, or may use Cross's Yellowjacket tech, or maybe even invent the Giant-Man formula. Considering the Sony Hack reveal that Spider-Man might be involved, I'm guessing if they do manage to sneak him in, he'd be a rookie influenced by Tony to join the pro-Reg team. I'll offer more thoughts on that later in the series, but it'd be great to see Tony and Pym present Peter with the Iron Spider suit. Eventually Black Panther and Vision (and Peter if there) will switch sides. Cap will surrender to Tony after a lengthy battle. The entire SRA is revealed to be a plot by HYDRA, set up by either Baron Zemo or a ressurected Red Skull. On orders, Crossbones shoots Cap. With Cap believed dead, Bucky takes up the mantle. 

Doctor Strange (November 4, 2016)- Benedict Cumberbatch plays the Sorcerer Supreme (!!!) in Marvel's first foray into fantasy. I expect the origin, either as the main arc or in flashbacks. Given Strange's jurisdiction, if he's already established during the Civil War, he'll be neutral (like in the comics). I'd have him fighting Baron Mordo, who's trying to retrieve the Eye of Agomotto for his master Dormannu. The Eye is revealed to be an Infinity Stone, either the Soul or Time Gem. Strange will end up fighting Mordo and Dormannu in the finale and keeping the Stone safe. 

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (May 5, 2017)- The Guardians may have only had a limited comics run, but given the films are using them to showcase Marvel's cosmic lore, the story could be anything. I'd like the true identity of Star-Lord's father to be adressed, since it sure as hell aint J'Son, Emperor of Spartoi. Starfox (Thanos's brother), Starhawk (a quantum energy being and original Guardians comic member) or Adam Warlock/Magus seem like ideal candidates. 

My personal prediction: Magus (Warlock's evil self) leads the Universal Church of Truth in an attack on the cosmos. Thanos has lent Nebula and another of his adopted daughters, Moondragon, out to him. Moondragon is revealed to be Drax's very alive daughter. Family will be a recurring motif, with Moondragon choosing between her real father Drax (and his surrogate family the Guardians) or her adopted father Thanos. If Magus is Star-Lord's dad, Peter will undergo a similar arc. By film's end, Magus will be redeemed as Adam Warlock, and he and Moondragon will join the Guardians as their newest members. If Hulk is shot into space at the end of Ultron, the Guardians running into him either as part of the plot or in a credits scene would be a nice twist. 

Thor: Ragnarok (July 28, 2017)- This film is described as wanting to do for Thor what Winter Soldier did to Cap. In that vein, I'd like the Nine Realms to be plunged into destruction, with Surter and Muspelheim the main villains. Loki, as Odin, will betray Asgard to Surter. Sif and the Warriors Three will have more characterization, and the Earth characters won't be involved (maybe a mention at best). Appearances from Hela, Enchantress, Executioner, the Midgard Serpent, and Beta Ray Bill would be awesome, but that sounds like a packed film to me. Ultimately, it should end with Asgard decimated and Thor believed dead. Loki will use the chaos as a distraction to give the Tesseract and Infinity Gauntlet to Thanos. Since Loki's confirmed for Infinity War, I'm guessing Thanos will take Loki with him as his new advisor to replace the Other. 

Black Panther (November 3, 2017)- Again, this all depends on how much T'Challa and Wakanda are involved in the stories of Ultron and Civil War. But if my guesstimates are right, I'd say the film will involve T'Challa trying to go from a prince to king of Wakanda. He will try to defend his nation from Ulysses Klaw, who will try to obtain Vibranium for HYDRA. Man-Ape could also be involved as a collaborator of Klaw's trying to usurp the throne. It would be cool if by the end, T'Challa dissolves Wakanda's monarchy and ends its isolationist policies. He will then leave to join Bucky's anti-reg Avengers team, possibly as co-leader. 

Avengers: Infinity War Part I (May 4, 2018)- The beginning of the end for the MCU. With Captain Marvel and The Inhumans released afterward, I'd say this is the start of a four-part finale to Phase Three, despite Infinity War being a two-parter. In broad strokes, I'd say the Civil War is still going on. Bucky and T'Challa are leading the anti-Reg side, Tony and Pym the Pro-Reg. The Netflix Defenders should definitely be involved this time around. Spider-Man too if it's possible. The main arc of this film is how Thanos roams the galaxy collecting the rest of the Infinity Stones. 

Thanos decimates the Nova Corps to get the Power Stone. He gets the Reality Stone from the Collector and the Time or Soul Stone from the Guardians. Then he makes his way to Earth for Doc Strange's stone and the Mind Stone, currently nestled in Loki's sceptre with one of the Avengers teams. Thanos's arrival forces the two warring teams to stop fighting and agree to a summit to decide what to do. As part of his galactic rampage, Thanos destroys the Kree Empire. Captain Mar'Vehl is mortally wounded and ends up on Earth, meeting Carol Danvers. 

Captain Marvel (July 6, 2018)- Mar'Vehl passes his powers to Carol, who takes up his moniker as Captain Marvel. She is tasked with avenging Mar'Vehl's people, and goes into space to join the surviving Kree forces in a retaliation against Thanos. Thanos is now empowered by the full Infinity Gauntlet, and continues his galactic rampage. It's all part of his grand scheme to appease Death by causing as much destruction as possible. When the battle fails, Carol is told of the existence of a race of human/Kree hybrids on Earth who may help turn the tide. By film's end she heads for the city of Attilan to seek help from these "Inhumans."

Inhumans (November 2, 2018)- Carol arrives at Attilan, while the Twins seek out the city looking for the truth about their powers. They will learn of the Inhumans' origin and meet the royal family, including Crystal, Medusa, and Black Bolt. Crystal will fall for Quicksilver, enraging her fiancee Maximus, who is Black Bolt's brother. Maximus will betray the location of Attilan to the Kree, who hoped Carol would convince the Inhumans to act as soldiers in their war against Thanos. Carol and the Twins help the Inhumans fight the Kree, while Black Bolt fights Maximus. Black Bolt eventually agrees to assist Earth's heroes in fighting Thanos. 

Avengers: Infinity War Part II (May 3, 2019)- Here it is. The big one. The ultimate finale to Phase Three, possibly the MCU in general. Earth's heroes are united under the leadership of Adam Warlock (Hulk, Doc Strange, and the Guardians are drawn in as well). The first assault on Thanos fails. Eventually Cap and Thor join the fight, having been ressurected by one of the cosmic aspects (Maybe Infinity or Eternity) to help fight. Their presence improves the heroes' morale, and they renew their attack. I can see it going like the Infinity Gauntlet comics arc, with Cap being the last hero standing against Thanos and Thanos abandoning his body to merge with the universe. 

Nebula and Loki betray Thanos in a mad scramble to get the gauntlet. Eventually Thanos is defeated and the gauntlet and stones destroyed. The SRA is rendered null and void on Earth, and a new team of Avengers is formed with Bucky, Carol and T'Challa leading the charge, with Tony, Steve, and Thor giving them their blessing. Tony and Steve rebuild SHIELD and co-lead it, while Thor rebuilds Asgard and becomes its new king. This allows the MCU to end on a note of closure but still leave a lot open to do a Phase Four, only with the "new guard" of heroes taking focus off the older Avengers. Further Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Captain America (with Bucky), and Guardians films can follow, possibly with more Iron Man (have Rhodey take over) and Hulk films. Leader and Mandarin need some love, damnit! Also, should Spidey finally come home, this is the opportune time to give him more solo films, only set in the MCU with a rebooted continuity. 

Can It Work? Absolutely. While a lot of what I've outlined is conjecture based on what I know mixed with comics knowledge, Marvel has done a fantastic job seeding their films and shows with concepts that will pay off down the line. Revealing their Phase Three slate was a masterstroke, as we now know the basic plan for the remainder of the MCU. The fact that Marvel has their plan is the first sign that a shared universe can work for them. The second and more telling sign is their focus on expanding the universe through the introduction of more varied characters. We have an African and female hero coming, with more cosmic and earthbound adventures as well. 

The main way a shared universe can work is if audiences care about all or most aspects of this world. The only way to do that is to believe in the characters. Different characters occupying their own parts of the world, in adventures based on different genres (spy thriller, heist film, gritty crime noir, sci-fi, space opera, fantasy, period piece, etc. etc.) ensures longevity, and that each installment offers something new for audiences. As long as Marvel sees the potential in their characters and expands the universe naturally through them, this shared universe can go on forever. 

If anything can hinder them, it's the possibility of genre saturation. Superheroes may be a hot commodity now, but eventually audiences may grow bored of them. Marvel may buck this trend because they realize that their films can reflect different genres, making each film feel different. But even with this, audiences may hate the growing continuity of the films and how they need to follow 20 movies and 5 TV shows to make sense of anything. 

However, Marvel seems really smart about offering films that pay tribute to their continuity while acting as standalone adventures. See Guardians for the best recent example. That's another key element to the success of a shared universe: standalone stories can expand the lore just as much as continuity heavy stories. Films in a shared universe should function as films first and jigsaw pieces second. As the trend setters, Marvel has been around long enough to make mistakes and learn from them while putting a shared universe together. 

They had a few roadblocks in Phase One and early Phase Two, but now seem to have a firm grasp on what makes the concept so appealing and effective. As long as Marvel keeps taking risks on new genres and characters, sticks to their direction, and crafts standalone stories in their expanding narrative, they will continue finding success. Tomorrow I will look at the ever X-panding X-Men universe, and how effective it can be in following Marvel's footsteps. 

The Year Without Roads Part Two: The Future Is Now

I had to go back in time for my retro review of 2014 in film. With my odyssey in the past complete, it's time I came back to the future, to look forward to the wealth of films being released. As I've said before, there's a number of high profile blockbusters coming out, the majority of which are sequels. While there's a very good chance any or all of these films could be terrible, I'm still pumped beyond belief. So without further ado, here are my top 15 hyped films for 2015, with some honorable mentions thrown in as well.

Numbers 15-11: Mildly Hyped

15. The Fantastic Four- So me, the superhero nerd, has the new F4 movie as my least hyped film of 2015. Make no mistake, I am hyping this up. Only I'm doing so very, very cautiously. Things like Michael B. Jordan playing the Human Torch don't bug me (personally I think he'll own the role). Things like making Doctor Doom an angry blogger do (I mean, I get it. Bloggers are petty and hateful. Ha ha. Give me the magic wielding, third person speaking Latverian dictator, you Hollywood assholes). The complete lack of promotion from Fox this late in the game also doesn't inspire any confidence. Marvel's First Family hasn't faired well on film yet, and I don't see how they can this time. BUT, the Four are well casted, and Josh Trank is a proven director after Chronicle. I'll still hype this, just with reservations.

14. Terminator: Genisys- Like F4, the new Terminator film has me cautiously optimistic. Arnold's back? Check. Danaerys Targaryen and the Eleventh Doctor are among the cast? Check. A Star Trek-esque timeline retcon that wipes away T3 and T4? Check and mate. Too bad T1 and T2 have to be wiped away as well. And maybe I'd be fine with that, if the trailer didn't show how they're just planning to take the best elements of the first two films and mix them together. While it's great to see a T-1000 again, I just don't know what to make of this. I see a lot of potential for this to be great, and what I've seen so far hasn't been terrible. I just don't see the logic in tampering with two classic films yet relying solely on their iconography to sell this. I don't want another Star Trek Into Darkness. But the central premise of an older Arnie model raising Sarah Connor is intriguing, so I'll keep an eye out.

13. Furious 7- I don't usually care much for the Fast and Furious series. In fact, as of this writing I've only seen the first four, when a lot of people cite Fast Five and Fast and Furious 6 as the best of the series. But I have paid attention to the francise's comeback, and like that the narrative's finally acknowledged Tokyo Drift (it wasn't the best of the ones I've seen, but it always bugged me the series never really acknowledged it). I put this higher up than F4 and T5 because the trailer does look ridiculously fun. Not only does it make me want to watch the fifth and sixth films, but it makes me want to pay respects to the late Paul Walker. I saw the third and fourth films in theaters, so seeing this wouldn't be much of a stretch. Not terribly excited for it, but I'm hyping it up nonetheless. 

12. Chappie- Here's my take. District 9 was awesome. Elysium was not. But this looks really promising. Shartlo Copey as a childlike robot is a great concept, and Hugh Jackman's inclusion is a good sign. This looks like a much more human affair after the lofty Elysium, and seems to offer a similar brand of sci-fi action and visuals mixed with intelligent subtext that made District 9 so fantastic. I'm definitely looking forward to this, since Neil Blonkmap still has a lot of potential as a director. But I'm also a little nervous that it'll be a huge letdown the way Elysium was. Here's hoping Chappie tugs at the heartstrings and delivers in every way.

11. Tomorrowland- I never thought we'd be getting another film based on a Disney ride. Well, here it's not so much a ride but a mini theme park. Regardless, the reason I'm hyping this so much is the talent backing it. George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, plus Brad Bird as director? That immediately puts this on my radar. While The Iron Giant and The Incredibles proved Bird can do animated sci-fi, the fourth Mission: Impossible showed he can definitely handle live action. Now we have a mysterious little film with a tantalizing first trailer, and it's made me all the more intrigued. At the very least, I'm glad we're getting something in 2015 with jetpacks in it.

Numbers 10-6: Very Hyped

10. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two- While part one wasn't fantastic the way Catching Fire was, it was perfectly serviceable from a filmmaking standpoint. I expect the finale to the Hunger Games saga to be fully action packed, and hopefully make some improvements on the weaker aspects of the book. J-Law and company deserve to go out in style, and since I've followed the films from the very beginning, it's only fitting I bid a proper farewell to Katniss Everdeen and the world of Panem.

9. The Good Dinosaur- It is so good to see Pixar making original films again. Granted, their last original effort Brave didn't wow me like I expected. But that doesn't mean Pixar can't bounce back. While we don't have a trailer yet, the film's premise about a dinosaur and his pet human sounds great. Here's hoping the film doesn't make the company extinct (and it better not. I want my Incredibles 2).

8. Inside Out- For the first time in history, we're getting double the Pixar in one year. This film definitely has more potential, given it's about personified emotions controlling the mind of a young girl. The trailers have been fantastic so far, and with such an out-there concept, it seems Pixar is finally taking risks again. Even if Good Dinosaur fails later in the year, should this film fly, Pixar will at least have gained some redemption. I'd love for Joy to be the primary emotion coming out of this, instead of Disgust. But who knows? I may end up liking Disgust better.

7. The Hateful Eight- I think the poster says it all. It's the new film from Quentin Tarantino! And another western, on top of that. Djano Unchained was one of my favorite films of 2012, so another Tarantino western can only be a good thing. This film almost wasn't made after the script was leaked around Hollywood, but Tarantino has decided to move ahead with the film anyway. And boy am I glad he did. Kurt Russel, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, and Sam Jackson are set to star, with a story about bounty hunters, criminals, and Civil War vets stuck together in a cabin during a blizzard. Such a premise is perfect for Tarantino, and since he has yet to make a technically bad movie (Death Proof nonwithstanding) we should be in for a treat here. 

6. Mad Max: Fury Road- Swapping Braveheart for Bane may seem like an odd choice, but it's still exciting to see Max Rocktanowsky again. The trailer was simply phenomenal, and given the return of the original director and adherence to the aesthetic of the original films, this could be a successful comeback. Whatever the outcome, I can't help but get pumped up for the return of the Road Warrior.

Top Five: Beyond Hyped

5. Spectre- Bond is back! Daniel Craig keeps up his mostly amazing run as the world's greatest spy, and I'll definitely be there to see him take on his classic enemies, the terrorist organization SPECTRE. It also helps we get Christoph Waltz, Drax, and Sherlock's Jim Moriarty as the villains. Skyfall returned Bond to the suave superspy we all know and love, and this film looks to keep that momentum. I can't wait for 007 to grab a shaken (not stirred) martini and get back to work.

4. Ant-Man- Guardians and Avengers proved Marvel can go big, but can they succeed at going small? The recently released teaser trailer showed promise but also seemed off. Is that from bad marketing, or the sign of an inferior final product? Given the troubled production history (still pissed Edgar Wright left) this could very well be Marvel's first real stinker. Then again, people said the same thing about Guardians, and that turned out great. The Ant-Man and Yellowjacket suits look badass, and the father-daughter and heist aspects are new territory for the MCU. Here's hoping the world's smallest hero makes it big.

3. Jurassic World- The original Jurassic Park is a bonafide classic, so it's not too surprising its sequels couldn't measure up. This long gestating fourth installment also had a troubled development history, but everything I've seen so far has been very promising. Complaints about hybrid dinos and trained raptors aside, this looks to capture the original's magic. Plus there's Chris Pratt, so that's got to be worth something. I'm glad life found a way, but I hope the filmmakers knew what they had before they patented it, packaged it, and starting selling it. It'd be a pity if, after careful consideration, I decided not to endorse this one. Okay, I'll stop with the puns.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron- Holy hell I can't wait for this movie. The promise of Ultron alone is enough to ensure multiple viewings. But Nerd God Joss Whedon isn't content with just that. No, he has to give us Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and the freakin' HULKBUSTER suit too. For a Marvel uber nerd like me, this is simply paradise. Any other year, this would easily be my most hyped film. But to Disney's credit, they found a way to outnerd even Marvel...

1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens- I'm honestly still amazed this film is even happening. All my life I dreamed of this movie, yet never actually thought it'd be made. George Lucas's statement that the story ends after Sith and Jedi seemed pretty final. And yet here we are, a decade later, with this miracle of a film only 11 short months from reality. Director J.J. Abrams is a lifelong fan, and it shows in that amazing trailer he released last November. I'll happily take ten crossguard lightsabers if it means we get a quality Star Wars film again. To paraphrase Fanboys, this movie could very well suck. It could also be the greatest Star Wars film since Empire. But whatever the outcome, it'll be great to return to that galaxy far, far away again. The Force has indeed awakened, and I couldn't be more ready.

Honorable Mentions

1. Kingsman: The Secret Service- The director of Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class doing a full-blown spy movie? With Colin Firth and Sam Jackson?? Count me in. 

2. Mission: Impossible 5- I haven't actually seen Ghost Protocol, but remember hearing really good things about it. Brad Bird may have moved on to Tomorrowland, but with the franchise stronger than ever, there's a good chance the fifth film could be a rip roaring adventure. 

3. Jupiter Ascending- An original sci-fi film from the duo who made The Matrix sounds fun. An original sci-fi film from the duo who made Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, and Speed Racer does not. But the visuals look good, the premise is interesting, and there's a very good chance this could surprise a lot of people. It isn't really on my radar right now, but it very well could be depending on the reception. 

4. The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water- I grew up with the sponge, and was there for his first film back in 2004. I consider that the last quality adventure for Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward and the gang, but the trailer for this was actually not bad. Maybe it'll signal a return to quality for the series and jokes for both kids and adults. I highly doubt it, but for nostalgia's sake, I may check it out. 

4. Hot Tub Time Machine 2- I enjoyed the first film, and this looks....not sucky. Here's hoping the guys from the original going to the future instead of the past actually heralds some laughs. 

5. Ted 2- Like Hot Tub, it'd be nice if this sequel lived up to the original, but I have my doubts. I hear Mcfarlane dropped the ball with A Million Ways to Die in the West, and all his shows have dropped in quality as of late. Hoping for the best and expecting the worst with this one. 

6. Minions- An origin movie for the insanely popular, one eyed yellow misfits? It'll be great for kids, no doubt. I just don't know if they can succeed on their own without Gru. 

7. Pixels- In a plot taken straight from a Futurama short (I know it's based on a YouTube sketch, just pointing out similarities), slackers must save the world from aliens who attack using arcade game characters. The posters are great, and this does show promise based on story. Peter Dinklage is also involved, which is great. What prevents this from making my "most hyped" list is the presence of Adam Sandler, who hasn't been funny since the early 2000's. Maybe Sandler will redeem himself, but I doubt it. 

8. Crimson Peak- Guillermo Del Toro's next directorial effort, starring Tom Hiddleston, who owns a creepy haunted house. I'm not much of a horror guy, but the actor-director pedigree is enough to "peak" my interest (Get it? Get it? Ok, I'll stop the puns). 

9. The Peanuts Movie- Come on, it's Charlie Brown! My childhood self may demand me to see this, regardless of quality. I can't really pass up a chance to see Snoopy and Woodstock on the big screen, can I?

10. The Martian- Ridley Scott returns to sci-fi with a film about astronaut Matt Damon, who's stranded on Mars. It has the makings of greatness, if not for the fact that Ridley Scott hasn't made a generally good film in years. His last sci-fi effort Prometheus didn't wow me, so we'll see.  

It's unfortunate we've finally gotten to 2015, and there's still a lack of hoverboards. But if these films are even half as good as I hope they are, I can at least feel like I live in a world where we don't need roads. Here's to 2015, and a bright future ahead for movies and nerddom in general. 

The Year Without Roads Part One: Looking Back Before the Future

Here's a funny story about the future: it tends to catch up with you when you least expect it. You take what you think is a short sabbatical from blogging to focus on schoolwork, then before you know it a whole semester's over. Then when the new year rolls around, it's the year you've literally been associating with "the future" since you were ten. So here we are in 2015, and still no hoverboards. Or Jaws 19. But we do get Jurassic Park 4, Bond 24, Terminator 5, Avengers 2, Mad Max 4, Hunger Games 4, and Star Wars 7 as consolation prizes.

Yes, it seems 2015 is another big year for franchise sequels. Probably the biggest I've seen since 2007 and 2012. But how can I "ring in the new" without celebrating the old? 2014 was, as it is every year, a mixed bag of movies. I think the announcements for future films excited me more than the films we ultimately got. Be that as it may, I must rank every 2014 film release that I had time to see, from worst to best. Because I'm an obsessive movie blogger and it's what I do. Shall we begin?

Numbers 22-18: The Worst

22. Transformers: Age of Extinction- This film was, without a doubt, the worst film I've seen in theaters in the past year. Possibly the worst I've seen in quite a long time. While the first three films (at least 1 and 3) satisfied my primal urge for awesome robot fights, this film was just overkill. Optimus Prime is now the Punisher, Galvatron's a wimp, the new humans are non-entities, and the Dinobots are butchered beyond belief. Not to mention the nearly three hour run time really tested my patience. As long as Bay's at the helm, this franchise will continue to sink to new lows. 

21. Transcendence- Talk about dissapointment. Directed by the cinematographer behind Inception and The Dark Knight. Starring Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, and Morgan Freeman. With a story about a dying man's mind being uploaded to a computer. All this potential, completely wasted on a weak script with poorly written characters and over-the-top ideas. So much for original sci-fi. 

20. Maleficient- Speaking of dissapointments, how do you take one of the most iconic villains in the Disney canon and completely butcher her? With Angelina Jolie playing her, no less? Trying to make classic Sleeping Beauty villain Maleficient sympathetic, I can get behind. Making her Aurora's surrogate mother??? Inexcusible. The Wicked route could work for a number of fairy tale villains, but for this dark sorceress, it was a resounding failure. Despite Jolie's performance, the film was a textbook example of how NOT to remake a classic.

19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- What a mixed bag this turned out to be. I'll admit, this wasn't the worst of the TMNT films (Looking at you, Turtles in Time). But that's no excuse for further damaging this iconic '80s franchise. Yes, the Turtles' personalities were actually perfect. And I'll admit, making them April O'Neal's childhood pets wasn't entirely stupid (just mostly). Also, Megan Fox didn't completely screw up the role. BUT, the Shredder's a human can opener, the Turtles' designs were way too weird, and the entire tone just reeked of Bay. Not even Kraang, Bebop or Rocksteady could salvage this reboot. 

18. The Interview- First off, I want to thank this movie. It's mere existence got North Korea so pissed off they leaked all of Sony's emails over the Internet. I knew Hollywood was screwed up, but man, did Sony drop the ball. But despite all the controversy, The Interview was ultimately a run-of-the-mill political comedy that doesn't back its intriguing ideas. Rogen and Franco were fine, as was our Kim Jong Un. But the predictable, immature laughs didn't make this at all memorable. If anything, the uproar from North Korea and resultant Sony Hacks will be remembered more than the film itself. 

Numbers 17-11: The Decent

17. The Amazing Spider-Man 2- Ah, the other film at the center of the Sony Hacks. I so wanted this film to be good. And to an extent, I still got some entertainment from it. The action was decent, and Garfield, Stone, and Dehaan gave great performances. But just like Spider-Man 3, the film was derailed by too many plots and villains. I'd like to say this was a surprise, but really, it wasn't too shocking (see what I did there?)

16. Lone Survivor- This film didn't at all interest me, but after seeing it with some friends, I was surprised at how impactful it was. And how painful. Every bruise and scrape from Mark Walhberg and his men was felt. The film was a gritty, intense action thriller, but ultimately wasn't memorable enough to rank with some of the best war films out there. 

15. Into the Woods- Wow this film was over the top. It's a broadway musical fairy tale in both the best and worst possible way, with catchy songs, cheesy acting, and too much happening at once. With that said, it was pretty enjoyable. Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt were standouts, Johnny Depp's wasted on a downright creepy performance, and Chris Pine was hilariously bad. It's not a revelation in terms of musicals, but as decent entertainment with a great soundtrack, it'll do. 

14. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One- By all accounts, this film should be higher on my list. The film maintained the momentum from Catching Fire and continued to develop the unique world of Panem. J-Law was brilliant as always, while Julianne Moore and Natalie Dormer shined as newcomers President Coin and Cressida, respectively. So why is this film so low on the list? That pesky "Part One" in the title. This simply felt more like half a story, consisting entirely of set-up with no real climax or payoff. This may be the current trend in Hollywood, but for Mockingjay, one tight three hour film would have sufficed. 

13. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- For similar reasons, this was an average film that suffered from only telling part of a story. Initially I thought this was my favorite of the Hobbit trilogy, but in hindsight it was probably the weakest. The action was phenomenal, as befitting a Peter Jackson trilogy capper. Seeing the White Council banish Sauron was definitely a fan pleaser. And Bilbo and Thorin's relationsip was by far the strongest element. But ultimately, this film confirmed my suspicions that Tolkien's slim novel can't make for an effective trilogy. Too much filler and too many characters doomed the narrative. When the Extended Edition comes out I'll do a review of the entire trilogy, but until then, this was a bittersweet farewell to Jackson's Middle-Earth Saga.

Numbers 12-6: The Really Good

12. Big Hero 6- Here was a film that, while perfectly charming and vastly entertaining, could have been so much more. When I heard Disney Animation, fresh off of Frozen, was making a film using Marvel characters, I smelled potential. But instead of applying the same postmodern take that Frozen did for fairy tales, or Wreck-It Ralph did for video games, Big Hero 6 was content just to be an average superhero film for kids. The relationship between Hiro and Baymax saved it, since it was the one unique thing this film had, but everything else was the cliche superhero origin story. Still, as an animated film, it's harmless and cute, not to mention gorgeous to look at. I just wanted something a little more original.

11. Snowpiercer- Damn was this movie impressive. Chris "Captain America" Evans as a revolutionary on a post-apocalyptic train? This had no right to be as good as it did. A near perfect mix of action, sci-fi, and philosophy, Snowpiercer was definitely worth a watch.

10. 22 Jump Street- How do you follow up a comedy reboot that no one expected to be good yet everyone loved? Make fun of the very concept of comedy sequels, that's how. The meta jokes were brilliant, especially the proposals for a Jump Street franchise during the credits. Gut busting humor and the chemistry between Tatum and Hill skyrocketed this film, making it, in this humble blogger's opinion, just as good as the original. For a comedy sequel, that's a rare feat.

9. Interstellar- There's always a pedigree with Chris Nolan, especially since his last original sci-fi was Inception. While this was as intellectual as any of his prior flicks, Nolan tried to break new ground here by wrapping his quantum physics heavy space epic in the tale of a father and his daughter. Matthew McCounaughey and Jessica Chastain were great with the material they were given, but despite Nolan's best efforts, the whole affair wasn't as emotional as he probably intended.

Nolan excels with big ideas, and this might be his biggest cache of ideas yet, what with wormwholes, relativity, and time travel all huge elements. As a sci-fi fan, it was great to see these concepts brought to life with both awe and realism. But given Nolan's ultimate intentions, it struck me just how emotionally distant it ended up being. Still, the amount of ambition puts this easily in my top ten, not to mention the breathtaking visuals (especially in IMAX). Objectively, I'd say this is Nolan's worst film. But it's telling that despite all that, this is still one of the best films I've seen this year.

8. Godzilla- When I went to see this film for the third time (yes, really), I chose a drive-in movie theater for the viewing. There's a certain nostalgia, not to mention irony, in seeing a giant monster movie at a drive-in. And make no mistake; as a giant monster movie, this new Godzilla succeeded wildly. I don't care if the Big Z wasn't in it all that much. There's a great Jaws/Jurassic Park vibe going on with the way they treated the monsters. When the big lizard finally confronts his two monstrous foes in San Francisco, it's the stuff fanboy dreams are made of.

What stopped this from being a perfect film was that the time in between the monster fights was taken by completely bland human characters. Why cast Ken Watanabe and Bryan Cranston, only to make the focus a wooden soldier played by Kick-Ass? While the monsters made this movie, the humans still needed work. It didn't affect me too much, though. I was just happy to see the true King of the Monsters back in all his glory.

7. Edge of Tomorrow- This film came out of nowhere to be one of the best sci-fi/action hybrids I've seen in a while. Tom Cruise delivered a great performance, but the real star was Emily Blunt. If any movie proved her action star potential, it was this. The time loop element was superbly executed, while the designs for the aliens were some of the most original I've seen in years. Most of all, the film was thrilling, enjoyable, and damn good fun.

6. How to Train Your Dragon 2- THIS is how you make a great sequel. Take the characters and themes of the first film, and build off them in an organic way. From the action and animation to the story and emotion, this film was simply fantastic. Bring on Dragon 3. 

Top Five: The Awesome

5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes- While we're on the subject of great sequels, Dawn was simply a phenomenal follow-up to Rise of the Apes. Mo-cap master Andy Serkis made Ceasar entirely human, and his new role as ape leader bordered on Shakespearean tragedy at times. Surprisingly enough, Ceasar was not the real star here. Toby Kebbel's Koba easily stole the show, challenging Ceasar's authority and growing increasingly violent throughout the film. I was going bannanas (super lame pun intended) after seeing this film, and I sincerely hope the franchise maintains this level of quality in the future.

4. X-Men: Days of Future Past- Thank you Bryan Singer, from the bottom of my heart. While First Class and The Wolverine began redeeming the X-franchise, DOFP brought its true redemption. The masterful time travel premise not only rebooted the series, but allowed for young Xavier, Magneto, and Mystique to grow as characters. The action was fantastic (future Sentinels! Quicksilver's kitchen scene!), the characters were great, and the overall film was an X-cellent addition to the franchise. X-Men: Apocalypse can't come soon enough.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- From the minute I read the "Winter Soldier" comics arc, I knew this would make a kick-ass film. My faith was well rewarded. The Winter Soldier was a superb spy thriller, a throwback to the political films of the '70s, while still delivering all the superhero action expected of a Marvel flick. Chris Evans IS Captain America, and this film proved it. Easily the best plotted Marvel film since the first Iron Man, this flick made it abundantly clear that Captain America is one of the best heroes in Marvel's arsenal.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy- It's hard to believe that Marvel topped themselves twice in the same year, and yet they did. While Guardians may have a somewhat derivative story compared to Winter Soldier, I ultimately found it better for its sheer entertainment value. If you don't walk away from Guardians smiling at the '70s pop tunes, laughing at the characters, or enjoying the pulpy retro space opera tone, then you might be dead inside.

1. The Lego Movie- I was internally debating whether this or Guardians should be number one, but then I remembered Chris Pratt is the lead in both and decided it didn't really matter. Both are outrageously funny. Both subvert a lot of recent Hollywood movie tropes. And both were thought to be enormous risks before proving everyone wrong. Ultimately though, I gave the spot to Lego for its masterful use of nostalgia. Not just in tugging on my heartstrings, but using it in-universe to show the central conflict between normality and creativity. It was funny, it was emotional, it was meta, and it was just so. well. done. Here is definitive proof that animation can be just as groundbreaking as any live action film. There's nothing I can complain about regarding this movie. To put it simply, Everything is Awesome!

You may notice a severe lack of any "Oscar bait" films on this list. No Babadook, Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, or Theory of Everything. I made the grave mistake of not paying attention to these films last year, when Frozen, Her, and The Wolf of Wall Street all escaped my initial grasp. While I'd love to review any and all of these films, we're already ten days into 2015 and I am very behind schedule in terms of blogging. These are the films released last year that I saw, ranked according to my tastes.

Many of these films defied my expectations, either being better or worse than I anticipated. With the new year bringing sequels to some of my favorite films, my expectations will only get higher. But if movies about Legos and talking raccoons can top my list this year, I can only imagine what will top the list next year. So now that I've sent 2014 off in (long belated) style, it's time to fire up the Flux Capacitor and look to the future. Where we're going, we don't need roads.