Trailerblazing -- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword/Kong: Skull Island/Arrival

Time for more Comic Con goodies and a unique looking science fiction piece. Hold on to your hats.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword -- March 24, 2017 -- directed by Guy Ritchie -- starring Charlie Hunnam, Annabelle Wallis, Aidan Gillen, Jude Law, Katie McGrath, Eric Bana

Medieval-themed films have not been faring well recently. Just ask Season of the Witch or Seventh Son. Some of it may have to do with the writing and directing, but some of it also has a lot to do with the general mood of audiences. Enter the millennial iteration of a legend that has been told and retold since the inception of cinema, and which approaches a supernatural fantasy in this instance. 

First, the good. We have a terrific cast. After his turns in The Ledge and Pacific Rim, we know how great Hunnam is at playing reluctant heroes. The fantastic Djimon Hounsou and Jude Law seem to be playing major parts. Annabelle Wallis and Katie McGrath have both been working steadily, though we unfortunately do not get to see them much in this trailer. "Game of Thrones" fans also get a mini reunion -- whoo hoo, Aidan Gillen and Michael McElhatton! In keeping with his unexpected casting choices, Ritchie also casts David Beckham... yes, that David Beckham. The battles look great, although it needs to be said that all directors will have to step up their game after Miguel Sapochnik's "Battle of the Bastards"... oh, yes, you know what I am talking about. A kick-ass battle scene will simply not do anymore when someone has managed to go beyond.

Now, the (possibly) bad. Ritchie is a pretty innovative director and I realize that his goal with King Arthur was seeing the lore through a 21st century lens, but I am not sure if his frenetic style is right for this kind of film, something already showing as questionable in the first sequence of the trailer. As far as the supernatural creatures and effects go, let us hope that the CGI does not overwhelm the acting and the script. This imagery seems redundant in a couple of places, possibly at the cost of character development.  

Overall, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is one of those films that can go either way. It is up against the nostalgia factor of Power Rangers and the science fiction piece Life on its opening weekend, so its box office success may be moderate, but I feel that I can predict a sleeper.

Kong: Skull Island --  March 10, 2017 -- directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts -- starring Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Toby Kebbell, John Goodman

I believe that, with technology and global connectivity advancing at its pace, it is the perfect time for another King Kong film. Effects wizards can truly do wonders with a story of this scope -- pun intended -- and locations are easier than ever to access. That said, the trailer shows an intriguing story and a fantastic cast. It also does what every good monster flick trailer should do -- it does not reveal the said monster, merely hinting at it and not spoiling our first impression. Yes, people, there should exist a textbook for the art of the trailer. On another note, I wonder if naming the principal female character Weaver is a subtle nod to Sigourney Weaver's Alien icon Ripley; if so, this is a nice touch and a hint of the character's strength. Larson has a natural appeal and this is a different sort of role for her, so I look forward to seeing what she does. After Fantastic Four and Ben-Hur, Kebbell needs a breakthrough vehicle, while Jackson and Goodman always provide charisma and authority. It is also great to see Straight Outta Compton's Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell reunited, since their through-the-roof chemistry is always welcome. "Monsters exist," intones John Goodman's character ominously. One thing is for sure -- we definitely recognize a monster hit when we see one. 

Arrival -- November 11, 2016 -- directed by Denis Villeneuve -- starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'Brien

There are not too many films that take a look at a deeper impact that an alien visit would have on humanity. With Arrival and 2017's Blade Runner 2, Villeneuve is about to make his mark on the science fiction genre and he seems to be achieving it one organic step at a time. The story of a top linguist helping to decipher an alien language apparently looks as much into the way that humans communicate as it does into the way that we would relate to any potential space visitors. The wonderful Adams gets another chance to show off her range and the great Whitaker is about to have a busy fall and winter, what with this film and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story both being released this year. The cinematography is dark and pretty unforgiving; somehow, it does not resemble any other genre piece out there. Arrival looks like a thoughtful and intriguing entry, and I am sure that it will inspire many a conversation in the cooler fall months.