2013: Three Threequels To Look Out For

There’s no doubt 2012 was a great year for the film industry, with box office records being smashed. Skyfall became the highest grossing film of all time in the UK, after it raked in over £94.3 million in just 40 days of its release. It was also the first time four films (The Avengers, Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Hobbit) made over $1 billion, beating last year’s record of three. So what can we expect from 2013?

A couple of evenings ago I was scrolling through the list of films to be released this year, and there were so many films I wanted to see. The sci-fi genre looks especially tasty. However what really stood out was the amount of sequels there were lined up. Now what I could do is write a long list telling you what they are and what to expect, but I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’ve narrowed it down, and found three threequels that will get your mouth watering…

IRON MAN 3: 

Release date: April 25^th

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak

Plot: When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has his world torn to pieces by an evil terrorist known as the Mandarin (Kingsley), Stark embarks on a harrowing quest to find out those responsible.

What to expect:  Judging by the trailer this is going to be big, and I mean BIG. This sequel looks as though it’s going to be darker and more sinister than the others, and with Shane Black taking over as director it will be interesting to see how he stamps his mark on the film. John Favreau directed the previous films and will stay involved by offering his support to Black, meaning Iron Man 3 will be an exciting blend of conventional and fresh ideas. This is definitely one to look out for.

THE HANGOVER PART III:

Release date:  May 24th

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Jamie Chung, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson, Mike Epps,

Plot: This time it's not about a wedding or a bachelor party - the Wolfpack go on a road trip instead. We all know something is bound to go wrong…

What to expect: The Hangover films are arguably one of the most talked about comedies since the first one hit theatres back in 2009. I am though hoping that the third instalment will prove to be slightly more original than the last, and with no bachelor or wedding this time around it does look promising. If The Hangover Part III shows a little more vitality and verve then this will surely be one the comedies of the year. Still, with Zach Galifianakis playing Alan, what’s not to love?

RIDDICK:

Release date: TBA

Director: David Twohy

Starring: Vin Diesel, Katee Sackhoff, Karl Urban, Nolan Gerard Funk, Jordi Mollà, Dave Batista, Keri Hilson

Plot: Riddick (Diesel) is betrayed and left for dead on a sun-scorched planet full of dangerous predators - where, naturally, he takes down the competition and arises even deadlier than before. Soon bounty hunters from all over the galaxy descend on Riddick, where they find themselves victims of his bigger plan for vengeance.

What to expect: It’s been a while since Riddick’s predecessors Pitch Black (2000) and The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) were released, so director David Twohy will have more on his tool belt this time around. The action scenes have been superb in the previous two films, and I expect Riddick will have more of the same. There are a fair few sci-fi films out this year, including the eagerly anticipated Star Trek Into Darkness, so Riddick will really have to pull out all the stops if it wants to stamp its mark on 2013.

Conclusion:

And there you have it, three tantalising threequels to add to your list of films to watch this year. I will be looking out for Riddick, as I’m a fan of the previous two films. But I think it’s safe to say nearly everyone’s eyes will be on Iron Man 3 and The Hangover Part III. Robert Downey Jr. is arguably the reason why the series so great. His acting abilities are first class, and his knack of delivering humour in a witty, intelligent manner is what makes him so remarkable. I particularly like him in the Sherlock Holmes films. The Hangover’s excellence is down to a number of characters. For me though, Alan is the reason why it is so funny, and is one of the main reasons I watch it. Without him, the series just wouldn’t be the same.

Thank you for reading, and feel free to comment below with the films you’re most looking forward to in 2013!

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3: Best and Worst Characters

After season 3 of AMC’s The Walking Dead came to an end just over a week ago, I thought I’d look back and share with you my five favourite, and five least favourite characters of the series.

BEST

I’ll start with my favourites, as it was undoubtedly the easiest list to come up with…

5. Tyreese and Sasha

Coming In at number five is Tyreese and Sasha. I decided to rank these two together as they always come as a pair. Although they only came in about halfway through the series, I think they’ve been a really good addition to the show. The chemistry the pair have together is fun to watch, and they can both put up a fight. They also have strong morals, and I hope we get to see more of them in season 4.

4. Andrea

Next up is Andrea. She really made herself one of the leading players over the last series, and deservedly so. Her storyline with The Governor and Woodberry was refreshing, and allowed the show to focus on more than just Rick and his group.

3. Merle

Number 3 is Merle. He’s not exactly someone you’d want living next door to you, but in my opinion he is one of the main reasons why season 3 was so great. He livened things up, and was so unpredictable. His fight/action scenes were arguably the best in the series too. I think Michael Rooker deserves real credit for his portrayal, as his acting his first-class.

2. Michonne

Finishing in 2^nd is Michonne. Dreadlocks, samurai swords, and pet walkers – what’s not to love? Intelligent and tough, you’re always hoping things turnout ok for her (and they rarely do!). She’s established herself as part of the group after forever trying to prove her worth, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her.

1. Daryl

And my absolute favourite has got to be Daryl. The death of Shane has meant Daryl stepping up as Rick’s right-hand man, and in doing so he has shown us what a valuable group member he really is. Without him the group would be seriously vulnerable, with Daryl’s crossbow, tracking and hunting abilities proving invaluable. His decisions are almost always right, and is someone you’d want by your side in a zombie apocalypse.

WORST

And now for the worst. Getting the top 2 was easy, but finding a top 5 did prove to be quite difficult. So here goes…

5. Hershel

Number 5 was the hardest position to fill, and I was torn between Hershel and Rick. But I’ve gone for Hershel. Yes he’s kind, caring, and honest, but let’s face it, he is boring. His main role is to comfort and support the group in times of need, and his veterinary skills have undoubtedly been useful. For these reasons I can see why he has yet to be killed off, but I feel his time might come when his daughters develop better medical abilities. I’m not rooting for his death, I’m just not bothered either way.

4. Beth

Coming in at number 4 is Beth – “Erm, who?!” I hear you say.  Just to let you know, she’s that young blonde one who’s been in nearly every episode and doesn’t leave the prison. It’s not that I dislike her, it’s just that she doesn’t do anything! It would be quite interesting to see how many words she spoke all season. That said, I’ve heard she is to have a more predominant role in the next series, so there’s maybe more to come.

3. Allen

My 3^rd most disliked character is Allen. He was part of Tyreese’s group, but swiftly sucked up to The Governor and nodded at his every command. You don’t see much of him during the show, but when you do he’s doing something irritating or treacherous. I was hoping Tyreese would drop him in the pit of zombies when he had the chance, but sadly no. Luckily The Governor eventually sorted this problem out.

2. Carl

My 2^nd most disliked character is Carl. He’s rash, reckless and always sulking. I know he had to kill his mother, but seeing him bad-tempered all the time is so annoying. I also don’t think he is portrayed very well by Chandler Riggs, which doesn’t do his character any favours. Let’s hope we see a change in behaviour next season, and maybe even a new actor playing him too (which sometimes happens when characters get older).

1. Glenn

For me, the absolute worst character of season 3 has got to be Glenn. He is constantly moaning and crying, and whining like a little b**ch. I didn’t mind him in past seasons; in fact I kind of liked him. But throughout the series I have hated watching him, and hate is a strong word. Before watching one of the episodes I saw someone write on Twitter that Glenn dies during the episode, but unfortunately it was merely a cruel joke.  If Glenn ever did die I doubt he would be missed by many.

Summary

And that concludes my list. Other characters I enjoyed were The Governor and his henchman Ceasar Martinez, who were both good additions to the show. I am gutted we lost Shane in the previous series, but the new characters have almost made up for this. I have high hopes for season 4 (which premières  in October 2013), and am looking forward to seeing what new characters are to be included, and which ones we will see more of.

I hope you've enjoyed reading, and please feel free to comment below and let me know your top 5s!