13 Most Anticipated Action Fantasy Movies of 2014!
Published on October 3, 2013. Updated March 12, 20142014 promises to be a fantastic year for film buffs. There are some highly anticipated movies set to hit the big screen next year. Here are 13 which are being dubbed as the most anticipated action/fantasy films of 2014:
13. Jupiter Ascending
Jupiter Jones appears to be nothing more than a low-skilled janitor. However, a bounty-hunter has been dispatched to eliminate her since it turns out that Jupiter and the Queen have much more in common than the universal matriarch is comfortable with.
The brainchild of the directing-producing team of Andy and Lana Wachowski (the Matrix franchise, Speed Racer), is set for release on July 25, 2014. Films by the Wachowski’s are always entertaining, if unorthodox, promising to create plenty of “buzz” among fans.
12. RoboCop
OmniCorp’s advancements in robot technology has made it a worldwide “peace-keeping” entity. This success leads the organization to become more active on the domestic front, and they choose Alex Murphy, a severely wounded policeman, to be their next project.
Slated for a February 7 release, RoboCop is a remake of the well-received 1987 same-titled film. Rotten Tomatoes gave the original an 88% “Certified Fresh” rating.
11. 300: Rise of An Empire
In 480 BC, historic battles were waged for control of the (then) known world. The action film 300: Rise of An Empire, chronicles these epic Greco-Persian Wars, and is scheduled for a March 7 release.
The film is a sequel to 2007’s 300, which received mixed reviews (6.1 out of 10 by Rotten Tomatoes).
10. Godzilla
Japan is again under seige by the legendary Godzilla, and the carnage continues in the May 2014 same-titled film. The “take-no-prisoners” Godzilla is pitted against the latest creations of rogue scientists, with the future of the world at stake.
Viewed more as “camp” than serious cinema, the franchise nonetheless has a huge fan following and has become a cultural icon in various media.
9. Hercules: The Thracian Wars
Scheduled for a July 25 release, Hercules: The Thracian Wars, stars Dwayne Johnson as the legendary strongman. The film follows the powerful son of Zeus during his “lost years,” forsaking his heritage and finding satisfaction only through combat.
Godzilla should be visually impressive, with Oscar-winning John Bruno in charge of the visual effects.
8. Transformers 4
The live-action science-fiction film, slated for release June 27, is the sequel to the 2011 film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Despite big box-office numbers, reviews were generally negative. (4.9 out of 10 from Rotten Tomatoes) but the Transformers franchise is still considered strong among movie buffs.
Cade, the harried inventor/single parent, finds himself in the middle of a struggle for earth’s survival, with his only assistance coming in the form of Autobots, high-tech “transformers.”
7. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. July 18 is the film’s release date, which stars Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis and Jason Clarke.
Hordes of apes find themselves challenged by humans for control of a disease and war ravaged Earth. A deadly virus has reduced the planet to a battleground, with only a fragile peace maintaining some semblance of order.
The film has a tough act to follow to equal its predecessor, which received very positive reviews. (7.1 out of 10 rating from Rotten Tomatoes).
6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Captain America and the Black Widow attempt to uncover and halt the nefarious efforts of a Washington, DC-based villain. Release date is April 4.
The film’s predecessor was both a critical and box-office success, drawing favorable reviews from Rotten Tomatoes (7 out of 10).
5. Hobbit: There and Back Again
The Hobbit adventure continues in There and Back Again, slated for a December 17 release, directed by Peter Jackson.
Middle Earth is the setting, with Bilbo Baggins, under the tutelage of the Wizard Gandalf and accompanied by thirteen dwarves, on a quest to reclaim Lonely Mountain, which has been taken over by the dragon Smaug.
4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The highly-anticipated sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is set for a May 2 release.
The quintessential “anti-hero,” Peter Parker juggles the pressures of being a superhero while also being a high school student, and danger is always lurking. Rotten Tomatoes awarded predecessor The Amazing Spider-Man a favorable 6.7 out of 10 rating.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
Featuring a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Glenn Close, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, the film Guardians of the Galaxy opens August 1.
A more unlikely mixture of characters would be impossible to find, This motley crew of ex-convicts and misfits are off into outer space with a universally sought-after object that draws attention.
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
The Hunger Games captured the imagination of audiences in 2012, and the third (and final) installment in the trilogy, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, is set for a November 21 release.
Katniss Everdeen has endured a grueling “Victor’s Tour,” and now has aspirations of leading a “normal” existence. Instead, her keen intuition threatens to either save or kill her. On the verge of full-blown war, she again finds herself questioning everything.
1. X-Men: Days of Future Past
The science-fiction adventure X-Men: Days of Future Past, pulls double duty as sequels to both X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: First Class. With a cast including Patrick Stewart, Ellen Page, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence and Ian McKellen, this installment promises to provide plenty of star power.
Time travel, shape-shifting and villains are in abundance, which finds the ensemble battling the bad guys as well as coming face-to-face with younger versions of themselves as they race back and forth in time attempting to prevent an apocalyptic nightmare.
The film hits theaters on May 23, 2014.