Top Ten: Tantalising 2013 Trailers

2013 is looking like a decent year for cinema. The beginning of the year saw some great films released – Les Miserables, Zero Dark Thirty and Lincoln are among my favourites and the summer blockbuster season has already had a decent start with Oblivion and Olympus Has Fallen. More trailers are being released daily. Here are the 10 that have most caught my eye.

1. Iron Man 3

I’m not a huge fan of the first two Iron Man films but loved Avengers Assemble. The action looks great and Sir Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin is certain to be an over the top delight.

Released: 25th April

2. Star Trek Into Darkness

I loved JJ Abrams’ reboot of the Star Trek franchise and this trailer promises an action packed sequel. Benedict Cumberbatch is going to be a great villain testing Chris Pine’s Kirk every step of the way. Alice Eve however doesn’t look a great addition to the cast – the screaming and bikini shots make me think of a 70s damsel in distress rather than an impressive action heroine.

Released: 9th May

3. The Great Gatsby

This is one film where it’s the trailer more than anything else which has persuaded me that I want to see the film. The Great Gatsby is an American classic but I’m not sure it has the same appeal in the UK – I really had no interest in this adaptation but the trailer has raised my interest. Carey Mulligan as Daisy looks particularly well cast.

Released: 16th May

4. Man of Steel

Here is a trailer that intrigues me rather than necessarily making me want to see the film. Zack Snyder’s reboot of the Superman franchise sees Henry Cavill wear the cape and save the world (I presume) from Michael Shannon’s General Zod. The action sequences look tremendously well made and I can’t imagine a better Lois Lane than Amy Adams but I just don’t know if we need another Superman film. The Christopher Reeve version is a classic – why mess with it?

Released: 14th June

5. Much Ado About Nothing

I’ll admit it, it’s not just the trailer that’s so intriguing about Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy about the battle of the sexes. Everything about the film appeals to me – the cast of Whedon favourites including Alexis Denisof and Nathan Fillion, the tight shooting schedule – 12 days at Whedon’s home and the modern setting. There’s also some top-quality Schindlering going on in the trailer…

Released: 14th June

6. World War Z

I’m not a zombie nut, they’re ok but I’ve never found the appeal but with several key scenes of World War Z being filmed right outside my dad’s office in Glasgow how could I fail to want to see this? The film sees Brad Pitt’s UN employee Gerry Lane searching for a cure to a virus which is destroying humanity. So far, so zombie like. It’s the fact I can watch the trailer and try to spot my dad’s office that really appeals.

Released: 21st June

7. Monsters University

Monsters Inc is one of my favourite Pixar films for many reasons. John Goodman is the perfect voice as James P. Sullivan, a scary monster and his rapport with Billy Crystal was a highlight. As was little human girl Boo who shows the monsters that children aren’t frightening. Monsters University is the prequel and tells the story of how Sully and Mike first met. I’m looking forward to this one a lot but do wonder if the lack of a “human” character will damage the narrative.

Released: 12th July

8. The Lone Ranger

This is one film I’m really not sure about partly due to the trailer. My dad has fond memories of the TV series from the 1950s and for many of his generation the story of the good guy ranger and his Native American scout Tonto is a classic. Disney have reteamed director Gore Verbinski and star Johnny Depp in the hope of recreating the Pirates of the Caribbean box-office magic. The trailer is heavy on action but Johnny Depp blacking up seems pretty offensive to me, it isn’t still the 50s….

Released: 9th August

9. R.I.P.D.

I’ll be honest, Ryan Reynolds is normally enough to intrigue me and this comic book adaptation has appeal. Reynolds stars as a recently murdered police officer who is recruited into a special police department which rescues the living world from the threat of unhappy ghosts. Reynolds is partnered with long dead wild west lawman Jeff Bridges. The trailer would suggest a film which is similar in tone and plotline to Men In Black As long as it’s the original and not one of the inferior sequels that’s not a bad thing.

Released: 30th August

10. Rush

It wasn’t until I got together with my husband that I started to pay any attention to Formula One. In the past 13 years I’ve become something of a fair-weather fan, or at least a fair-time fan – I’ll watch the afternoon races live but won’t get up in the middle of the night. I have some knowledge of the history and great rivalries and this film by Ron Howard is focuses on the James Hunt/Niki Lauda era. And it stars the gorgeous Chris Hemsworth – what’s not to like?

Released: 13th September