2012 promises to be an exciting year for cinema fans of the varing geeky persuasion. Everyone has their flavour (even those who don't admit to it). So here's a year start list of films we at Butchers Hook Video are getting excited about.

The Amazing Spiderman

So Hollywood flummoxed everyone again by rebooting a highly successful franchise for no other reason than to make a shit loads more cash. My interest in this has been peaked because of the 2^nd unit directorship of trusted Bond/Indy alumni Vic Armstrong. Vic has promised to keep the action as CG free as possible – which will certainly be at odds to the FX of the original trilogy.

 The Hobbit

Furry footed adaptation of Tolkien’s first opus featuring a wealth of Brit acting talent. Now call me an old curmudgeon – but I think I was probably the only person in the world that wanted The Hobbit to be made in the UK (as seemed likely at one point) – seeing as Tolkien’s Middle Earth was based on our fair shores.

Iron Sky

The most outrageously silly premise of a film in many a year – and a fantastic journey for film makers Timo Vuorensola and produced by Tero Kaukomaa who first went to Cannes 4 years ago with just a teaser trailer and need of lots of money. They gained co-producers and have managed to get the film made through the new process of participatory cinema. Asking for ideas and money from the online community. 

Expendables 2

 Get the fuck out! The sort of line up that I would have dreamed of after a Nutella induced mid night feast aged 12. The concern here is the sight of all of those aging 80’s action heroes – all wheezing along, walking sticks and AKs in hand. The first Expendables was distinctly average – but something tells me this will be better – having Simon West helming is a good sign too.

MIB 3

 Long overdue second sequel to the rather good Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones starring squishy space mutant’s movies. The stand out feature of the trailer (apart from the talking graffiti) has to be Josh Brolin’s creepily good impression of a 60’s Tommy Lee Jones. Am I the only one reminded of Rob Lowe’s impression of Robert Wagner in Goldmember?

Total Recall

Now I put this one in reservedly... Of course – in the mighty Schwarzenegger original – it did seem strange to have Arnault living his life initially as a mere blue collar construction worker (even one married to Sharon Stone). So perhaps it makes sense having the more regular (albeit entertaining) Colin Farrell in this reboot. The flip side of this is the concern of this remake being helmed by the frankly shit Len Wiseman. We’ll have to wait and see.

*Eagle eyed viewers will notice the 1990 trailer - there's been no hint of trailer for the new one as of writing.

Dark Knight Rises

The long awaited follow up to Dark Knight promises much; from the white hot director Christopher Nolan coming off Oscar nodded dream-fest Inception. I find it encouraging that the likes of this and Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol are being shot on IMAX – a far preferable solution than tokenistic, eyeball screwing 3D. The one concern for this is that we’ll have difficulty hearing what anybody is saying – from Christian Bale’s silly bat growl and Tom Hardy’s recently documented muffled speech.

Prometheus

Finally – it seems like the Alien universe can return to normality after the horrors of Resurrection and the “Vs” films. But wait – returning master helmsman Ridley Scott has vastly widened the scope of this adventure – and it’s not clear if the Xenomorph’s even turn up in this film. What the trailer certainly does show is some serious Alien universe arse kicking – so hopes are high!

The Avengers

Not an adaptation of the groovy sixties TV show or the lamentable Sean Connery/Uma Thurman adaptation – but finally – the unleashing of the whole Marvel Avengers team – after seemingly endless (but excellent) set up films. Hopes are high for this.

SkyFall

Last – but definitely not least – is the 23^rd official James Bond feature – Skyfall. Now admittedly, the title sounds like an Xbox 007 game – but producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have lined up the sort of dream team never seen before in front or behind the camera of a Bond film. From Daniel Craig to Havier Bardem to Ralph Fiennes and Sam Mendes to Coen stalwart DoP Roger Deakins – it’s looking REALLY GOOD. Web videos are starting to appear at Bond's home here - be sure to keep up with the action!