By: Matt Cummings
These are the March films which should get you to the theaters.
After a surprisingly strong Winter movie season, March arrives with an intriguing lineup that feels more like something we'd see in Summer. Over the past few years, March has been interesting in that it seems more like a roll-out month than a leech, ready to usher in a strong April that ultimately leads us to Summer. That's good or bad depending on how you look at it, but one thing is for sure: there are a surprising amount of high profile releases that could either become impressive money-makers or duds that will quickly find their way to the Blu-ray bargain bin. For a schedule that includes a second Bible epic, a comic book adaptation, and a Muppet movie, March certainly arrives with six (or seven) movies that have peaked our interest.
300: Rise of an Empire (March 7th)
The original 300 was a masterpiece of cinema: beautifully violent, it ushered in a new way of film-making that put Gerard Butler and Zack Snyder on the map. But neither is directly involved for the sequel (although Snyder is listed as an EP), so why does it interest us? First, it still casts Lena Heady as Queen Gorgo and Rodrigo Santoro as the creepy Xerxes, but also adds Strike Back badass Sullivan Stapleton and Eva Green as Artesmia. Second, we'll go because it's 300, one of our guilty pleasures for a rainy weekend. But with a director who doesn't have a lot of experience in Noam Murro, we can't help wonder if we're walking into a glorious triumph or a serious disappointment.
Watch the trailer for
300: Rise of an Empire.
Need for Speed (March 14th)
Starring Aaron Paul from AMC's Breaking Bad, this video game adaptation boasts cool cars performing real stunts and no CGI. Sure it sounds like another guilty pleasure in The Fast and the Furious franchise, but we're hoping Need can establish its own audience with its more practical effects. Still, there's a lot to consider here: can Need for Speed accelerate Paul's career? Will audiences be drawn to practical effects, and can Paul himself make himself into a bankable movie actor? If past history is any indication, few who leave television find themselves among the elite in film. We also like the addition of Dominic Cooper, who seems like the perfect speedster. We're intrigued, but like 300: Rise of an Empire, this one's future is unclear.
Watch the trailer for
Need for Speed.
Divergent (March 21st)
We're not sold on YA adaptations, and neither are fans. Minus very good Hunger Games series and the awful Twilight franchise, this new genre has had trouble keeping fans in seats, mostly because their adaptations have been so dull and miscast. We feel the same about Divergent, a film that stars some headliners like Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, along with Director Neil Burger, but its post-apocalyptic story mirrors Hunger Games, which is what Summit Entertainment had hoped for. The question is, can Woodley become a draw like Jennifer Lawrence? With so many YA's littering the cemetery already, this genre has proven to be fickle, with even the most devoted fan base abandoning the battlefield when a Beautiful Creatures or The Mortal Instruments isn't done well. Divergent - like 300 and Need for Speed - has a lot to prove and not a lot of time to do so.
Watch the trailer for
Divergent.
Muppets Most Wanted (March 21st)
Among our favorites of the month is Muppets Most Wanted, a film that doesn't seem to rest on its laurels. With its childhood charm and wacky personality, 2012's The Muppets represented an amazing return for a franchise that seemed stuck in developmental Hell. Luckily, its success fast-tracked a sequel, which introduces a new human cast in Rickey Gervais and Tiny Fey while returning Kerrmit, Fozzie, Ms. Piggy and a ton of other lovable felt/furry creatures that made our childhood so memorable. It's also been one of the most brilliantly-advertised movies of the year, with a campaign sporting a variety of Internet shorts and commercials which seem to capture the best elements of Muppet zaniness. This is the best part of the Muppets, and we hope their fun-loving self-awareness comes out once again.
Watch the trailer for Muppets Most Wanted.
Noah (March 28th)
We're not sure how the big-budget biblical flood story is going to play out. Sure, it stars Russell Crowe and is directed by Black Swan Director Darren Aronofsky and seems pretty epic in the commercials. But its subject matter is a concern, largely because we're unsure how audiences - both Catholic and non - will respond. Ultimately, any successful film relies on many elements - if the production value and script are appealing, we could see Noah stick around for quite awhile. But at this point, any success is anyone's guess.
Watch the trailer for Noah.
Sabotage (March 28th)
Actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sam Worthington have experienced a hard run of luck lately. Usually bankable assets, the pair have seen their individual careers wane and both need a winner to get them back on track. That's what Sabotage - a story about DEA agents targeted by a drug cartel - hopes to do. In addition to our duo, it sports a great cast in Mirelle Enos, Josh Holloway, Terrance Howard, and Joe Manganiello. It's directed by End of Watch helmer David Ayer, and from the trailers, it looks a slick action flick. But for all its intrigue, Sabotage needs to sell us with a good mix of story as well, something that's been missing from previous Arnold flicks sans the very good Escape Plan. Hopefully, Worthington and cast can offer up something just as memorable.
Watch the trailer for Sabotage.
An Interesting Month Lies Ahead
While surprises like The LEGO Movie and Ride Along have brought in the cash, March 2014 certainly sports a collection of films that could challenge these two for box office superiority. If audiences can give in to buddy-cop capers and animated plastic parts, then perhaps they'll do the same for practical car chases, stylized violence, and cute and cuddly Muppets. Ultimately, it's about fit and finish, regardless of the season. If Need for Speed, 300: Rise of an Empire, or Muppets Most Wanted can go beyond its core audiences, then each will have secured a place as a growing franchise. We also have high hopes that the animated Mr. Peabody & Sherman - arrives March 7th - will be a success with the little ones. In the end, March is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent memory.
Be sure to add these to your Movies To-Do List:
- March 7th: 300: Rise of an Empire (and Mr. Peabody & Sherman)
- March 14th: Need for Speed
- March 21st: Divergent, Muppets Most Wanted
- March 28th: Noah, Sabotage
Which films are you looking forward to this month? Comment below and join the conversation! Discuss this story with fellow SJF fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms, and follow author Matt Cummings at @mfc90125.
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