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.