The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
What is it? Steven Spielberg's collaboration with Peter Jackson (the former directing, the latter producing) of Herge's very popular - outside the US - comic book character. It's the 'Berg's first ever wholly mo-cap effort.
When's it out? 26 October in the UK - 2 months before America.
TrailerVerdict: They're still evidently nervous about the popularity of the motion capture style, so there are only brief glimpses of faces, and most importantly, eyes. Nevertheless I quite like the look of it - it seems to be Spielberg having the sort of adventurous fun we haven't seen in a while. It seems like Andy Serkis is again going to steal the show - his Captain Haddock looks like easily the most convincing character. Jamie Bell's Tintin sounds a bit dull though.
War Horse
What is it? Spielberg's been a busy boy - this is his film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's story, currently receiving raves on stage too. Set during World War 2, it's about the relationship between a boy and a horse, but is apparently much better than it sounds.
When's it out? 13 January.
TrailerVerdict: Looks pretty stunning. Great to see Spielberg filming in Britain again, and giving plenty of exposure to our beautiful countryside. Certain to be a Best Picture contender.
Hugo
What is it? Martin Scorsese's first 3D film, apparently a family fantasy film about a kid who lives in a train station. Originally called the infinitely less bland The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
When's it out? 2 December.
TrailerVerdict: It'll be fascinating to see what the Maestro does with 3D, and whether he can reinject some excitement into an already fading novelty. The trailer looks interesting, with an impressive scale, although you'd never guess it was from Scorsese.
John Carter
What is it? Pixar's first live action venture, directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E). It's the adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's A Princess of Mars, the first in his John Carter of Mars trilogy, 100 years since its publication. A romantic sci-fi/fantasy epic, by the looks of things.
When's it out? 9 March 2012.
TrailerVerdict: Ugh, what a boring title - what's wrong with John Carter of Mars? And why the obsession with just putting a name in a title? I was actually more excited about this before seeing the trailer, as it looks a bit... naff, but I'm well prepared to be won over. It certainly has an original design aesthetic and the retention of period setting is a welcome touch. I love me a good sci-fi epic. (Is it just me, though, or should Mars be a bit, well, redder? It just looks like a desert on Earth...)
The Thing
What is it? A prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 masterpiece, in which a shapeshifting alien nasty is dug up in Antarctica, then goes about killing people and impersonating others. Cue lots of paranoia and suspicion.
When is it out? 14 October.
TrailerVerdict: It's apparently a prequel, but looks a lot like a remake with a woman in the lead (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, trying to be the new Ripley it seems). They seem to have nailed the look, but it concerns me that the phenomenal practical effects of the original - still amazing - will be dumped in favour of generic CGI. I can't help but notice too that despite being set in a Norwegian base, everyone seems to speak American. Nice shout-out to Carpenter's theme music at the end there.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
What is it? Sequel to Sherlock Holmes, again directed by Guy Ritchie, this time with added Moriarty.
When is it out? 16 December.
TrailerVerdict: I've grown into quite a fan of the first Downey-as-Holmes flick, so I'm looking forward to this one a lot. The trailer sells a much larger, more international scale for this one, but still with the emphasis on humour and that great steampunk look. Anachronisms abound and I'm not expecting high art, but this should be the hit of Christmas - especially with no Avatar to go up against this time.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
What is it? Mission: Impossible 4 in everything but name, directed by Brad Bird. Can Tom Cruise revive his A-list career? And the biggest question of all, where do you put the colon in the title? Jeremy Renner looks like he's about to step into Cruise shoes in this franchise.
When's it out? 26 December, the first non-summer M:I movie after the lacklustre showing of the last one.
TrailerVerdict: Yep, looks like a Mission: Impossible movie all right, and a pretty impressive one at that. I remain surprised that Brad Bird left Pixar to make a third sequel, but he definitely has the skills to produce a cracking action spectacular. Looks like Cruise's love of scaling tall things continues - this time he's on the world's new tallest building in Dubai.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
What is it? Aardman's first feature film since Flushed Away ended their DreamWorks deal, The Pirates! is a claymation comedy of piratical proportions.
When's it out? TBC Spring 2012.
TrailerVerdict: Looks fan-bloody-tastic, and absolutely hilarious! Funny that no-one's tried to cash in on the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, but this looks altogether more loony and delightfully British too. Great to see Aardman back on the big screen, and loving that they're keeping hold of the old-fashioned physical animation - it has a character and artistry all its own.
Phew. That's all for this instalment of Trailerama. Coming soon, The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, amongst, no doubt, many others!
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