Hi there; welcome to the second part of my four-part series discussing the forty films releasing in 2019 that I am most anxious to view. If you’re thinking that forty films may be a bit excessive, then you don’t know just how much I value movies and view them as one of the most entertaining forms of art ever made. I love films, I live for films, I studied the art of film making, and I am an all-around fan of films. From the all-time classics to the highly derided atrocities, I try to watch as many films released as I can. So, forty films aren’t quite as large a number as you imagine. I mean, I think I watch the Star Wars film series forty times a year alone. That being said and out of the way, check out Part 1 of this list and let’s continue on with Part 2 of “The 40 Films I Want to See in 2019”.
Dumbo
Release date: March 29
Directed by: Tim Burton
Produced by: Walt Disney Pictures, Tim Burton Productions, Infinite Detective Productions, Secret Machine Entertainment
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Starring: Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, Eva Green, Nico Parker, Finley Hobbins, Alan Arkin, DeObia Oparei, Joseph Gatt, Sharon Rooney
To say that I am a huge fan of the 1941 Disney animated classic Dumbo is a bit of an understatement. It is simply one of my favorite films of all time. And when I heard that Disney was remaking the film as one of their live-action adaptations, I was both scared and excited – especially since I read that Tim Burton was going to be involved with the film. But from what I have seen in the trailers, and my past love for the source material for this film, I am still very eager to see Dumbo when it releases in late March.
Captive State
Release date: March 29
Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
Produced by: Amblin Partners, Participant Media
Distributed by: Focus Features
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Starring: John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Alan Ruck, Kevin Dunn, Madeline Brewer, Ben Daniels, D.B. Sweeney
While I am still a bit in the dark as to what Captive State is trying to convey to audiences with their trailers, I am a fan of two of director Rupert Wyatt’s part two films – The Gambler and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. So, I am fairly confident that this film will present something to me that I am sure to appreciate. Still, I wish I knew a little more about this film going in, but then again, I do like being surprised from time to time.
Shazam!
Release date: April 5
Directed by: David F. Sadnberg
Produced by: New Line Cinema, DC Films, The Safran Company, Mad Ghost Productions, Seven Bucks Productions
Distributed by: Warner Bros Pictures
Genre: Superhero Action
Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Faithe Herman, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, Djimon Hounsou
I’ll be honest, I have some serious reservations about the movie Shazam! that Warner Bros is releasing. Nothing, and I mean nothing that I have seen about this film has me convinced that this is going to be a good film. And I hope that I am wrong about these feelings. So, why am I still excited for this film being released this year? Honestly, as a comic book fan, I am always excited about comic films being released and I am always hoping, sometimes against hope, that the films will be better than I anticipate them to be…
Hellboy
Release date: April 12
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Produced by: Lionsgate, Millennium Films, Campbell Grobman Films, Dark Horse Entertainment, Applebox Entertainment
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
Genre: Superhero Action
Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim
And it is with that same sentiment from the previous entry that I am going into the new Hellboy film with, hoping that I am wrong and that the films is better than I am anticipating it to be. I think that David Harbour is a great casting choice to play the titular character, I just have some misgivings about other aspects of the film that haven’t convinced that this film won’t be a complete dud.
The Curse of La Llorona
Release date: April 19
Directed by: Michael Chaves
Produced by: New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster Productions
Distributed by: Warner Bros Pictures
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Starring: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velásquez, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick Harris, Tony Amendola
The Mexican tale of La Llorona is one of my favorite folk tales that my mother told me when I was growing up. And for years I had been hoping that someone in Hollywood would try making a horror movie based on this tale. And even though James Wan is only serving as a producer for The Curse of La Llorona, I am hoping that his influence, and that the stylings of director Michael Chaves, help bring this haunting and tragic tale to life and that they do justice to one of the better ghost stories I have ever heard.
Avengers: Endgame
Release date: April 26
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Produced by: Marvel Studios
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre: Superhero Action
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Jon Favreau, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson
It’s an Avengers film… do I really need to say more than that? I mean, look at what Avengers: Infinity War did at the box office last year and the way it ended and tell me that you are not salivating with anticipation for Avengers: Endgame to finally hit theaters this April. Personally, I can’t wait to see how this tale will turn out and see if the Avengers can overcome the odds and defeat Thanos – and maybe turn back time or something to undo some of the massive damage that the mad Titan has done to the MCU.
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
Release date: May 10
Directed by: Rob Letterman
Produced by: Warner Bros Pictures, Legendary Pictures, The Pokémon Company
Distributed by: Warner Bros Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi Action Comedy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Paul Kitson, Karan Soni, Omar Chaparro
I love Pokémon. My kids love Pokémon. This looks like it’s going to be an amazing if not entertaining live-action Pokémon film for all of us to enjoy. So, why shouldn’t I be excited for this film? The effects and imagery for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu look absolutely outstanding and look as if they will be able to bring the Pokémon universe to life… even if Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu is rubbing me the wrong way in the trailers.
John Wick 3: Parabellum
Release date: May 17
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Produced by: Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Pictures, 87Eleven Productions
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Genre: Neo-Noir Action Thriller
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Mark Dacascos, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Mantzoukas, Anjelica Huston, Robin Lord Taylor
Again, do I really need to explain why I am excited to see a new John Wick film? It’s John-bloody-Wick! I can’t wait to see what John Wick: Parabellum will do to make the franchise more enjoyable – especially the way that John Wick 2 ended. I can’t wait to see if John Wick can survive the immense bounty put on his head, and how many bodies he will leave in his wake as he seeks to escape a seemingly inescapable fate.
A Dog’s Journey
Release date: May 17
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Produced by: Amblin Entertainment, Walden Media
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Genre: Family, Drama
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott, Henry Lau
This is another film that I want to watch mainly because my youngest son wants to watch it in theaters. He has already read the book and he was super excited to hear that they were making A Dog’s Journey into film, just as they did A Dog’s Purpose. And I do have to admit that I did enjoy watching the previous film, so I’m kinda keen to see this film for my own entertainment as well.
Aladdin
Release date: May 24
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Produced by: Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback, Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre: Musical Romantic Fantasy Adventure
Starring: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, Numan Acar, Frank Welker
Of all the films in this part of this list, Aladdin is the film that I am the most nervous about – mainly because I am a bit tired of Will Smith and I am worried about what he will do in the role of the genie. I’m worried that he will rely on really hamming it up and overacting just to try to emulate what Robin Williams did when he originated the role in the 1992 Disney animated classic. Still, I do eagerly want to see this film and hope that Disney doesn’t do anything that will taint the legacy of this beloved tale.
