Ones to look out for in 2013

So as we gear up for the new year here are some films I am looking forward to in 2013.  January is a big month with some heavy hitters right out of the gate such as Zero Dark Thirty and Django Unchained, two films I have been looking forward to for a while.  So without further ado here are some films I am eagerly anticipating throughout the first half of next year.

Django Unchained - released 10th January in UK

I have been looking forward to the new Tarantino film ever since it was announced.  Tarantino is always a favourite of mine and I loved Inglorious Basterds (2009) and so hope that his streak continues with Django Unchained as I am sure it will.  Here he teams up again with Christoph Waltz who is joined by Jamie Fox, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tarantino regular Samuel L. Jackson.  This film looks to have the signature Tarantino flair of humour, action and drama.  I for one cannot wait.

Les Miserables - released 11th January in UK

I have always been a fan of musicals and here we finally have a film version of the long running musical Les Miserables.  The cast is made up of quality actors such as Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway and based on the trailer has retained the themes from the stage musical with Tom Hooper making a good job of bringing it to the big screen.

Gangster Squad - Released 11th January in UK

Gangster Squad tells the story of LAPD Detectives who are trying to keep LA out of the hands of the gangsters and maintain law and order.  Set in the 1940s and 50s the film has a great cast with Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte and Emma Stone.  The film was supposed to be released September 2012 but in light of the shooting at the screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora the film was pushed back to January.

Stand Up Guys - released 11th January in UK

After spending 28 years in prison Val (Al Pacino) gets released from prison only to find out his old partner, Doc (Christopher Walken) has been hired to kill him.  Claphands (Mark Margolis) has contracted Doc to avenge the accidental death of his son years earlier.  With Alan Alda joining Pacino and Walken it should be an entertaining experience and seems to have a good mix of humour, action and drama.

Zero Dark Thirty - released 25th January in UK

Zero Dark Thirty takes us through the ten year hunt for Osama Bin Ladin and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May, 2011.  I am a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow and here she has teamed up with Mark Boal as writer again and lets hope it will be as good as their last collaboration The Hurt Locker in 2008.  The cast is superb with Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Jason Clarke and many other quality actors.  I am really looking forward to this film.

Lincoln - released 25th January in UK

The new Steven Spielberg film focuses on the last four months of Abraham Lincoln's life and his efforts to abolish slavery in the US.  The trailer already has all the ingredients for an emotional cinematic experience which is a thing that Spielberg does so well.  The swelling musical score, family connections and a man wanting to do acts greater than himself.  I have always been a fan of bio-pics and look forward to this one in January.

A Good Day to Die Hard - released 14th February in UK

Here we have the fifth instalment of the Die Hard franchise which sees Bruce Willis reprising his role as John McClane and this time heading to Moscow to help his son who has been arrested.  While there McClane just happens upon a terrorist plot which shockingly involves his estranged son, I know no one saw that coming right.  This looks to be ridiculous, mindless entertainment and I for one cannot wait as while the first two Die Hard films are awesome with the third trailing not too far behind the fourth one was silly but the fifth just seems to have taken ridiculous to a whole new level.  

The Heat - released 5th April in UK

The Heat stars Sandra Bullock as an FBI agent who has to team up with a Boston police detective played by Melissa McCarthy to take down a Russian mobster.  The films looks silly and very funny.  I am a fan of both Bullock and McCarthy so look forward to this one later in the year.

42 - released 12th April in UK

I am a big fan of sports movies and bio-pics and here we have the two coming together to tell the story of the legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson.  With a great cast made up of Harrison Ford, Christopher Meloni, Chadwick Boseman and Lucas Black.

Iron Man 3 - released 26th April in UK

The third instalment of the Iron Man franchise is hitting cinemas in April and although the second one was disappointing The Avengers more than made up for it.  Here we have Tony Stark just trying to hold on to it all while facing his toughest enemy yet, The Mandarin.

I'm So Excited - released 3rd May in UK

I'm So Excited is the latest film by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and it is set almost entirely on an aeroplane following the crew and various passengers.  Although the trailer does not show much about the narrative Almodovar has said it is a very light comedy and if his other films are anything to go by it was also be amazingly insane.  I have been a fan of Almodovar for years and he is one of the few directors who surprises me and baffles me with his movies.  

Star Trek Into Darkness - released 17th May in UK

I have only seen the later Star Trek films which is why I think I had no issue with the re-imagining of the franchise with Star Trek in 2009.  I know many people who had an issue with it but I thought it was an OK film with faults and issues but an enjoyable enough experience.  I look forward to the next film which looks to be a little darker and looks like it will be visually impressive at least.

Man of Steel - release 14th June in UK

The widely anticipated re-boot to the Superman franchise comes to cinemas in June.  After the appalling Superman Returns in 2006 I hope this instalment fares better.  Based on the trailer the direction has gone darker and more along the lines of Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy which is no surprise as he was on hand as producer to advise director Zack Snyder.

I am sure there are many more films that I have missed that are going to be on my watch list.  Let's hope 2013 will be a good year for films.  What films are you looking forward to in the New Year?  Post your comments below.