Ready for 2014 Rock Paper Watchers? To celebrate the new year, we are releasing our “Can’t Miss This List” so you know our picks for upcoming shows, movies, albums, and books. Check back Monday for our top 2014 book picks!
Labor Day
January 30, 2014
“A story of love, passion, and betrayal as seen through the eyes of a teenage boy and the man he later becomes. Henry looks back on his fateful 13th year, when he lived with his reclusive divorced mother. At the start of Labor Day weekend, while on a rare excursion to town, Henry and his mother encounter an injured man who asks for refuge in their home. Over the course of the next four days, they’re taken ‘hostage’ by a man who ultimately captures them, body and soul.” Source: Google
Reasons to Watch: Sometimes there is something so right about something being so wrong. And can we talk about that chemistry? It’s just oozing between Winslet and Brolin. The scene with the peach pie? Every southern girls dream…..
The Normal Heart
May 2014 on HBO
Based on the Tony award-winning 1985 play, The Normal Heart details the spread of HIV/AIDS among a group of gay men living in 1980s New York City. The film adaptation, airing on HBO in the spring, was directed by American Horror Story and Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy. Murphy describes the film as his “biggest labor of love,” and it features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch (be still my heart), and Jonathan Groff.
Reasons to Watch: That cast. The Normal Heart includes some of the finest men Hollywood has to offer all in one movie and under the direction of Ryan Murphy, who is known for pushing his actors out of their comfort zone. The film promises to be powerful, and the performances promise to be spectacular.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
May 23, 2014
Calling all X-Men!
X-Men: Days of Future Past features both the original cast of X-Men and the younger versions of themselves from the X-Men: First Class film. In the latest installment, Wolverine is sent back in time to help the younger mutants prevent an event from occurring, which will ultimately change the future and save mutants and humans alike from war and destruction.
Reasons to Watch: With an ensemble cast that features fan-favorites Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Halle Berry (just to name a few!), this movie is bound to be an unforgettable adventure. And if that wasn’t reason enough for you, in addition to the phenomenal cast of good guys, Peter Dinklage stars in the film as villain, Bolivar Trask. That’s right people. Tyrion Lannister in X-Men. I couldn’t be more thrilled to see my favorite Game of Thrones star on the big screen [no pun intended].
Maleficent
May 30, 2014
You guys, I’m not going to lie, I am so so excited for this Disney movie!! Angelina Jolie stars as the evil Maleficent in this modern remake of Sleeping Beauty. The story we have come to know and love from the 1959 classic is retold from Maleficent’s perspective. We learn about her past and the things that happened to her that drove her to become the evil villain that bewitches Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning).
Reasons to Watch: As if Angelina Jolie as Maleficent isn’t enough for you… Seriously though, the trailer for the film looks fantastic. And I’m excited about the fact that Jolie is not only starring in the movie, but served as executive producer. She played a major role in designing her character’s costume and, despite execs pushing back who wanted to take advantage of her beauty, created a menacing and frightening look for Maleficent. In fact, Jolie in costume was so scary on set that the only child who could play toddler Princess Aurora was her own daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.
The Maze Runner
September 19, 2014
Based on James Dashner’s 2009 novel, The Maze Runner begins when Thomas, our narrator, wakes up trapped in “the Glade” with no memories other than his first name. He is surrounded by a group of boys who live inside a seemingly unsolvable maze that is beyond the Glade. Every 30 days another boy is delivered but things change dramatically when a girl, Teresa, is delivered with the message that she’s the last one. From there, the book moves quickly as the boys try to figure out why they’re there and more importantly, how do they get out?
Reasons to watch: Personally, I can’t wait to see the Maze depicted on screen. As a reader, you have an idea of how something might look in your head. When it actually comes to life, that changes everything. Also, the cast features some of the greatest young actors in Hollywood today like Dylan O’Brien, Will Poulter, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
Gone Girl
October 3, 2014
It’s hard to write this summary without giving too much away, so I’m not going to. If you haven’t read Gillian Flynn’s runaway hit by the same name, stop whatever you’re doing right now and go read. Early into the book’s release, Reese Witherspoon bought the film rights and is putting it to use with David Fincher directing. When Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, it’s her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) who becomes the prime suspect.
Reason’s to Watch: The novel itself was full of twists and turns, and in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, David Fincher promises readers of the book will still be even more surprised by the movie’s curve balls. If it is anything as shocking as the book I can’t wait. Go read.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1
November 21, 2014
Everyone LOVED Catching Fire, and after the cliffhanger, where do we go next? Without giving too many spoilers away, much of the first part of the book is about Katniss. Our Girl on Fire is pretty much a space case, lost in her own thoughts, scared for her family and Peeta, as well as getting use to a more contained life in District 13. However, during these first nine chapters, she agrees to become the Mockingjay, a symbol of rebellion for the districts which leads up into the rest of story, the Districts rising up in a rebellion.
At this point, here is what we know:
Hunger Games: People Die
Catching Fire: More people die
Mockingjay: A lot more people die.
Its safe to say, no one is safe. So get your tissues ready, its going to be a bumpy ride.
Reasons to Watch: It’s probably the most anticipated movie of 2014 and of course, we are all on the edge our seats wondering what the Girl on Fire will do next. Finally, we get outside of the arena and our characters begin to focus on the rebellion against the capital, not to mention we will get our first look at District 13, a District once thought to be destroyed. One of the big questions still looming is: Where are they going to split the book at? Mockingjay is divided into the three parts, The Ashes, The Assault and The Assassin. My bets are somewhere within The Assault. (Obviously)
Did I also mention one of our favorite girl crushes, Julianne Moore, is joining the cast as President Coin? *Squeals*
The Hobbit: There and Back Again
December 17, 2014
The third and final installment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit prequel/trilogy is set to hit theaters at the end of 2014. Great, we only have to wait one year to find out the fate of Bilbo and the dwarves, the elves, and Lake-town. (Even though, let’s face it, we all know what’s going to happen). The film is the final in Jackson’s Tolkien films and fans of the Lord of the Rings will have to say their final goodbyes to the series. Let’s just hope that the last Hobbit movie doesn’t have as many endings as LOTR Return of the King. I swear, I thought that movie ended 4 times before it actually did.
Reasons to Watch: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug was a fantastic cinematic thrill ride (those spiders gave me nightmares!) and I’m excited to see what Jackson has in store for his final Tolkien-based film. It also ended on a MAJOR, major cliffhanger. Seriously, major!! The third movie promises to be a wild and insane adventure as the battle with Smaug comes to a conclusion, the love triangle between Tauriel, Legolas, and Kili is decided, and the Necromancer comes into power as the evil Sauron.
Honorable Mentions
The Lone Survivor, January 10
That Awkward Moment, January 31
The Monuments Men, February 7
Godzilla, May 16
A Million Ways to Die in the West, May 30
The Fault in our Stars, June 6
Interstellar, November 7
Horrible Bosses 2, November 26
Into the Woods, December 25
ROCK PAPER WATCH 