2013 is one monolithic year for movies and narrowing it down just five films is a daunting challenge. So I decided to change things up by not including any superhero movies or big franchise sequels on my list. It's still only a dent in the mountain of movies I got to pick from. But fear not! My love for far east Asian cinema and animation should add some more diversity compared to previous lists you already may have seen.
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| martialartsmoviejunkie.com |
Now this film isn't on the list for having an original story or “A” list actors. No! It’s the revolutionary new technology being used to film this project. This new tech will help directors capture action scenes with great fluidity and creative dynamism. It basically means more intricate action scenes, new angles and longer uninterrupted shots at the director's disposal. Such scenes would be inconceivable without the aid of CGI before the implementation of this new equipment. No official trailer yet but here is a demo of the new tech in action.
It is also worth mentioning that this will be Keanu Reeves’s directorial debut and shot entirely in mainland china. The Raid: Redemption star Iko Uwais will be among the cast and for extra credibility Reeves has acquired help from legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping as his action director. Man of Tai Chi could be a real game changer not just for martial arts films but for the entire film industry and it’ll be interesting to see how it’ll turn out.
Anticipation meter: My imaginary camera is doing a swooping 360° shot of my jaw hitting the floor!
(Release date: Worldwide 2013)
Kaze Tachinu aka: The Wind Is Rising
Studio Ghibli films are generally considered to be the most imaginative, beautiful drawn and moving pieces of cinema you'll ever see. The man responsible for the best Studio Ghibli works is Hayao Miyazaki, who has created masterpiece after masterpiece and his next film might be his most personnel one yet. What many people are calling Miyazaki final film (OK we've been saying that for nearly 10 years now) will be set in WWII and will follow the life of the man who designed the notorious Zero fighter plane for Japan.
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| Image from: http://www.kazetachinu.jp/ |
Anticipation meter: It's Hayao Miyazaki! If the Best Animated Feature category existed in the 80s he would have at least 3 more Oscars by now. That how good he is!
(Release date: Summer Japan 2013)
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer could very well be this year's sci-fi dark horse. The film is going to be based off a French graphic novel and its going be the English directorial debut of Bong Joon-ho, director of the Korean cult classic hit "The Host". The film is set aboard the "Snowpiercer" a giant train in which the last remnants of humanity travel the frozen earth cause by a experiment to prevent global warning gone inevitably wrong. Inside the behemoth locomotive the populace is divided by a class structure where tension are rising as those at the bottom speak hush whispers of rebellion.
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Image from: http://thefilmstage.com
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Anticipation meter: A scarred frozen Earth, a colossus mega train and a desperate struggle for the survival of all humanity.*cough* So when is this out?.....No seriously, TELL ME NOW DAMMIT!
(Release date: Worldwide 2013)
Any Donnie Yen Martial Arts Movie
Yes I know this is cheating so pipe down. Since Donnie Yen's comeback to Hong Kong cinema in 2005 he been knocking them out of the park with martial arts hits like SPL, Flashpoint and Ip Man to name a few. Yen has since been on a nonstop tear. Well that was until late 2010 where he hasn't been in an action movie for over 2 years now and we're dreading if Mr. Yen has finally ran out of steam. No! This is merely the calm before the storm. Donnie Yen will be staring in up to 3, even possibly 4 martial arts movies by the end of this year. Now that just fracking nuts after a 2 year drought of no D-Yen Kung Fu movies.
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Image from: http://www.filmsmash.com
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Anticipation meter: For us martial arts film fans it'll be the equivalent of letting a starving man eat himself to death at a all you can smorgasbord of raw awesomeness!
(Release dates: Special Identity Spring, The Monkey King Summer, The Iceman Cometh 3D Fall China 2013)
Pacific Rim
Now this is how you do a giant robot/monster movie! Michael "military fetish" Bay sit back and take notes because Guillermo del Toro putting on a marvelous spectacle. Pacific Rim looks like a true homage to both the old school Japanese Kaiju (giant monsters) movies like Godzilla and classic mecha anime like Evangelion. The premise for this film is simple (like it should be), giant monsters come out a rift portal somewhere under the pacific and humanity's must stop them by building giant weaponized robots. I don't know about you but that just sounded awesome.
Del Toro has always been fantastic at melding both practical and computer effects, which is on full display in Pacific Rim. Del Toro's crew are infamous for their creatively weird monster designs and expect to see loads different monsters than just those in the trailer. Pacific Rim is full with fan favorite stars like Charlie Hunnam from "Son of Anarchy", Luther's Idris Elba, Hellboy's Ron Perlman and Oscar nominee for "Babel" Rinko Kikuchi. Now to the knuckleheads out there who think this film doesn't look exciting or shrugs it off thinking this is an inferior Transformer clone, I shake my head and say "you haven't got a clue".
Anticipation meter: My inner child's head just exploded and I'll be running through the doors screaming like a crazy man on release day.
(Release date: 12th July Worldwide 2013)
My Also-rans: The Grandmaster, Drug War, Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, The Berlin File, Only God Forgives, Unforgiven aka: Yurusarezaru mono, Kick Ass 2
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| Image: tumblr.com |
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