A First Look At 2007

Sure, it is a little early for the casual viewer, too late for the studio exec, but just about right for the cinephile.

Firstshowing.net gives you a taste of what to look forward to in 2007. They may be a little too enthusiastic for some tastes, but after all that is their job.

Here are a few highlights:

Next

Release Date: 2007
Director: Lee Tamahori
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel
Synopsis: A man who can see into his own future has to avoid capture by a government organization and win the love of a woman who will be the mother of his child.
The Hype: Another Philip K. Dick adaptation (also A Scanner Darkly) that looks to be an incredibly interesting film with Nicolas Cage as the star.

300

Release Date: March 16, 2007
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan
Synopsis: Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, “300″ concerns the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta led his army against the advancing Persians.
The Hype: Thanks to a special preview shown at Comic-Con, everyone is abuzz about just how intense and epic this ancient Spartan adventure will be, complete with comic-book stylized imagery.

American Gangster

Release Date: 2007
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington
Synopsis: A drug lord smuggles heroin into Harlem during the 1970s by hiding the stash inside the coffins of American soldiers returning from Vietnam.
The Hype: Russell Crowe is going to be fightin’ it up - this time as a gangster! No wait, he’s a detective, damn, our dreams haven’t come true… Either way, this movie, supposedly directed by the legendary Ridley Scott, may rattle some cages during 2007.

Beowulf

Release Date: November 16, 2007
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson
Synopsis: The Scandinavian warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel who is terrorizing towns, and later, Grendel’s mother, who begins killing out of revenge.
The Hype: Zemeckis will bring this epic tale from ancient history to life; it’s been yearning for a film adaption for years.

There Will Be Blood

Release Date: 2007
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano
Synopsis: A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century Texas prospector in the early days of the business.
The Hype: An adaptation of a novel by Upton Sinclair and directed by the guy behind Boogie Nights and Magnolia comes this film about family, greed, religion, and oil. May be an epic drama worth its penny when it comes out next year.

Transformers

Release Date: July 4, 2007
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Bernie Mac, Tyrese Gibson
Synopsis: Dueling alien races, the Autobots and the Decepticons, bring their battle to Earth, leaving the future of humankind hanging in the balance.
The Hype: Many of our childhood memories are brightened by the mention of Transformers. And it’s now come time for a live action Transformers movie that will spend nearly a year in CGI development to tweak and perfect the transformations and robot elements; on top of being directed by Michael Bay and being released on our nation’s day of celebration - July 4th. Another film that may top the list in 2007 - at least in the “totally badass” category.