This list was written a while ago, but I wanted to wait until I’d posted my best of 2016 list to post this. That said, I’m still not done watching the movies from that list, so I won’t be posting it yet. I did want to post this one, though. I’ve already seen one movie from this list, and I have to say, I should have placed it higher on the list. Split has just bumped the next Shyamalan film up higher on my list for the year it is coming out.

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi – By far, my most anticipated movie follows up 2015’s The Force Awakens with the further adventures of Rey and Finn. Picking up from where we left off, Luke Skywalker joins the journey and our heroes take off on a new adventure as the First Order regroups and the Resistance continues in their efforts to bring them down.
2. Look to the Sky – Brett Culp’s long awaited follow-up to 2013’s Legends of the Knight. This time it is a film about hope, centering on the character of Superman.
3. A Voice that Carries – Another Brett Culp helmed documentary, this one about the relationship between father and daughter.
4. Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters – A pair of feature length documentaries, one about Ghostbusters and the other about Ghostbusters II. I’ve been following the production of these documentaries for what seems like about 10 years now. They are getting closer to release. They may not make a 2017 release date, but they’re definitely on their way toward a release very soon.
5. Justice League – I’m pretty excited for DC to finally have their Avengers movie. The cast is excellent, with everyone looking the part, and it’s about time all of these characters get together. Wonder Woman was one of the highlights of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and she could maintain that status here.
6. Wonder Woman – Finally getting her own major motion picture, the setting kind of reminds me of Captain America: The First Avenger, though with settings in WWI rather than WWII. I hope that it’s great.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – The sequel looks just as weird and catchy as the original. Baby Groot looks fantastic. Can’t wait to hear the soundtrack and hope that the film has as much heart as the first.
8. Transformers: The Last Knight – Michael Bay’s (final?) Transformers film looks like more of the same. I liked the first and third TF films best, the fourth was alright, and the second as well… I’m hopeful for another great one. My one question: will they ever make a Transformers movie that isn’t lead entirely by the humans in the cast?
9. Beauty and the Beast – The one major problem I have with this film is Emma Watson. So far, we haven’t seen her smile much at all in the trailers. I’m really looking forward to the music in this, and hopeful that, with the same composers working on this that worked on the 1991 original, they have recaptured the magic. From the music in the trailers, it seems like they have with the opening of the film at least. Slightly less annoying is the voice of Lumiere. It sounds like someone forcing a voice and accent, rather than using a voice that they use when they natually speak.
10. Cars 3 – Lightning McQueen’s journey appears to be coming to a close with the third film in the series. I’m hoping for a return to form. The second film was very much a spy thriller with a fish out of water story that could have had more heart if they only work-shopped Mater’s role in the story a bit more. This time, McQueen appears to be the primary character once again, as he deals with being the older racecar in a field of new cars.
11. Score – A documentary about film scores. I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time. Hope to see it sometime this year.
12. Disneynature’s Born in China – Pushed from 2016 to Earth Day 2017. I love the Disneynature films that I’ve seen, and can’t wait for this one.
13. Spider-Man: Homecoming – I still wish they had made Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4. I also wish they would have made The Amazing Spider-Man 3. Alas, neither was to be, and now here we are, 15 years after Spider-Man took the world by storm, we’re getting our sixth film featuring our third Peter Parker. Looks fun, and I hear it’s like a John Hughes movie. I like that prospect.
14. My Little Pony: The Movie – My wife and I have watched this show for the last few years, and there’s no way she’s going to want to miss this one.
15. Thor: Ragnarok – Been waiting for this one since Thor: The Dark World, to find out what has actually happened with Loki. Plus, this one looks like it includes Hulk and Doctor Strange.
16. Coco – Pixar’s second film release of the year is also an original film. I haven’t read too much about this one, but I’m always up for a Pixar.
17. Jumanji – Is this a reboot? A sequel? A remake? I have no idea, but it looks like a unique spin as we might be heading into the Jumanji game, rather than having the game invading our world.
18. Logan – The final Wolverine film. It also features Professor X and X-23. This could also be Hugh Jackman’s final time playing the role he originated in 2000’s X-Men. (Amazingly, Dougray Scott was up for the role, back in the day, but filming on Mission: Impossible 2 ran over, creating a schedule conflict and they had to replace him with Hugh Jackman for the role that he went on to play over 18 years.)
19. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – I like these movies. We’ll see, though. They need to capture the fun of the original film.
20. The Lego Batman Movie – Will this be as good as the surprisingly great Lego Movie? I hope so. If not, at least it’ll be funny.
21. Power Rangers – Could be great. Could be terrible. The cast will make or break this one.
22. Smurfs: The Lost Village – After two live-action mixed Smurfs films, it’s about time they make one that is actually true to the original animated series in style and setting. This looks like it could be the Smurfs movie that should have been made first.
23. A Dog’s Purpose – My wife wants to see this one for the dogs.
24. Split – I love M. Night Shyamalan’s films. And I understand that this and his last film are both a return to form for the director. That said, I am kind of scared of seeing his latest movies. I’m not a fan of scary movies, and the subject matter of this one is kind of terrifying.
25. Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan is hit or miss for me. I like all of his Batman movies and Inception. The Prestige is alright. Interstellar and Insomnia are both insufferable. Where will this fit in? Will it?
26. The Dark Tower – We’ll see if I make it to this one. I could go either way.

The long awaited Justice League film is happening, and it’s happening sooner than most thought it would. Zack Snyder masterfully directed Man of Steel, which was my favorite Superman movie so-far. His upcoming sequel, currently under the working title Batman vs. Superman, is ramping up production, and has already been filming in various locations. Costume tests have been done, showing Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in costume together.

And now, it’s been announced that Zack Snyder will also be directing Justice League.

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These are the team comics that I’m the most interested in, which haven’t been listed in any of the other articles I wrote prior to this.  There are two Justice League teams, a very Young Justice like Teen Titans and a pair of Legion of Superheroes titles.  I’m most excited for Justice League and Teen Titans, out of the lot of them, as they appear to have the characters that I know and like.

Justice League #1

Featuring the major characters of the DC universe: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Cyborg (?), this is the title that starts it all.  I really enjoy seeing multiple heroes working together.

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Reading comics is always a double-edged sword.  When I was a teenager I recognized the ridiculous nature of the artwork with regard to the women as artists draw them.  I also recognize that they’re drawings.  That doesn’t mean that for some they won’t be something of a challenge, though.  Well, last week a new design was announced for Wonder Woman.  It’s not the first time her costume has been redesigned, but it is the most drastic.  The thing about it, though, is that it’s both realistic and functional.  It’s also far more modest than anything that she’s worn in the past, outside of an all white full body costume at some point that I’d never seen before.  I only wish that it had gone further with the modesty, but such is life.

Now, let me just say that I’ve never been that big of a fan of Wonder Woman.  The character is one that I only knew about because when I was young I’d watch Super Friends.  When the FX network was kicking off, they would show the old Batman show, followed by The Green Hornet, and I seem to remember watching the old Wonder Woman tv series there as well.

I also read some JLA and saw her again in the Justice League cartoon.  Otherwise, I really had no interest in the character.

That being said, I think that the new costume is the right direction for DC Comics to take her.  It’s something that adds a big more strength to her character and will earn her more respect.

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