Trailerblazing -- Avengers: Age of Ultron/The Babadook

Avengers: Age of Ultron -- May 1, 2015 -- directed by Joss Whedon -- starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, James Spader

And now for the trailer that officially broke the Internet. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that this is the first blockbuster of summer 2015. Marvel Comics' combination of excellent characterization, stark humor -- see what I did there? -- and end-of-the-world warfare did wonders for the 2012 film. All of the principal favorites are back, with the addition of mutant siblings Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who seem to have quite a prominent role in the story. Whedon also expands the mythology geographically, possibly delving into some characters' pasts and locating new enemies for the Avengers to battle. I really like Spader in villain roles and here he creates motivation and intent using merely his voice, which is brilliance on a whole other level. All in all, the film looks like another fun entry in the Marvel canon and another megahit for the superhero trend.

The Babadook -- November 28, 2014 -- directed by Jennifer Kent -- starring Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Tim Purcell

I like horror films with little to no gore. I am big on atmosphere and subtle scares, just like Jennifer Kent's The Babadook -- we are a a perfect match! The story seems to rely on the general theme of creature urban legends, following a single mother who discovers a sinister presence in her house. The human element is the tale's main one, automatically making The Babadook an intriguing idea and reminding me of works like Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist, those fright classics that place characterization and relationships above all else. I am also happy to see the use of sparse locations, since the most simple ones are often the most effective for this genre. There is nothing like a dark corner if presented in the right way. Finally, I would like to point out that we need more female voices in horror, so I am happy to see Kent's first feature receiving the kind of attention and praise that it has been getting. I look forward to seeing it.

Trailerblazing -- Blackhat/Taken 3

Blackhat -- January 16, 2015 -- directed by Michael Mann -- starring Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Wei Tang, William Mapother, Holt McCallany

From the looks of it, Michael Mann is back in form. This techno thriller harks back to engaging crime sagas like Heat and Collateral that the filmmaker is known for. The story is timely, what with the Assange and Snowden sagas still playing out and our world being turned upside down again and again every day. Hemsworth has shown that he makes for a great leading man and the supporting cast is strong and eclectic. I love the international flavor, which always gives flair and a sense of urgency to this kind of tale. It seems that this is going to be one of those films in which locations are characters of their own, what with the city lights and the urban decay shown in the trailer. There are also nuclear reactors in the mix, which is never good news and always high drama. Blackhat looks suspenseful and dynamic. I am not looking forward to January temperatures, but I am definitely looking forward to at least one of its movies. 

Taken 3 -- January 9, 2015 -- directed by Olivier Megaton -- starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Forest Whitaker, Dougray Scott  

Or two of its movies! Question: what do we expect to see in Taken 3? Answer: Liam Neeson and a "very particular set of skills" being utilized against bad guys. At this point, there is no one to be taken anymore, so Bryan Mills goes on a quest to prove his innocence after he is framed for the murder of his ex-wife. Of course, shootouts and beatdowns ensue. It is too bad that Janssen's character is not in the picture for much longer, but I guess the narrative had few avenues left to explore, especially after the abysmal 2012 sequel. The first film was fresh and exciting, but the second one turned the franchise into a cash cow. It remains to be seen if Taken 3 -- or Tak3n, as the cool kids would call it -- can get the series out of the slump. The poster proclaims that "it ends here". I would hope so because, if it did not, the next installment should really reconsider the title.

Weekly Review -- Something different about you...

Divergent (2014) -- The market for young adult novel adaptations appears to be far from slowing down. With the success of The Fault in Our Stars and The Maze Runner, and with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay coming up, these novels have been taking cinema by storm. The exciting adaptation of Veronica Roth's "Divergent" is yet another example that proves it.

In a futuristic Chicago, people are divided into factions based on personality traits, such as Abnegation the selfless and Erudite the intelligent. Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) had been born into Abnegation, but has always been fascinated by Dauntless, the fearless city protectors whose day to day activities can be summed up as a daredevil's dream. Everyone is able to choose a faction on their 16th birthday, based on an aptitude test that shows their best option, and can choose to leave or stay in their birth faction. When Beatrice takes the test, though, she finds out that she is Divergent, a trait signifying that her mind does not fit into a single category and one perceived as a threat to the system. Hiding the results, Beatrice decides to join Dauntless and soon falls for one of her instructors, Four (Theo James), but then discovers signs of a conspiracy brewing...

At first glance, the general plotline of Divergent is similar to so many young adult novels populating our pop culture consciousness these days -- a female protagonist going up against a dystopia. At the same time, however, the fun part is that Roth's story is universal. Tris represents everyone searching for themselves and everyone searching for a way to be free of social conventions. Having the endlessly appealing Woodley in the role does not hurt the cause and neither does having identity as leverage. It is not only the intended demographic that can identify with these themes, it is every human being under the sun. 

As far as the other cast members go, James is stoic and mysterious as Four, while Ashley Judd and Tony Goldwyn are excellent as Tris's parents. Kate Winslet is a revelation as the villain of the piece, Erudite faction's calculated leader Jeanine Matthews. She taps into the ruthless politician's coldness, but manages to hint that there is something else going on behind the pragmatic exterior. Her exchanges with Woodley are the definition of antagonism and I look forward to seeing her in more villain roles.

The one plot hole that comes to mind is the changing of the factions. If someone switches factions and is successful in both, does it not automatically mean that they are divergent? They cannot exactly turn off the attributes of the one that they had been born into. Still, this would be a minor gripe that does not have anything to do with the significance and entertainment value of the story.

One of the most thrilling cinematic fantasies in recent years, Divergent keeps you on your toes and makes you think by mixing human issues with terrific action sequences and plot twists. Sure, the story is not groundbreaking, but it offers up a host of intriguing questions and a strong heroine, which is more than can be said for many other films being released. We are more than ready for the sequel. Bring on Insurgent, please.

9/10