Three Movies on the Horizon

I love movies, I'll admit. Even when they're not based on books, I enjoy watching movies. With only 3 months left in this year, I thought I'd highlight some of the ones I'm definitely looking forward too at the end of 2014.

#1 - The Book of Life (17 October, 2014)

Rating: PG

Genre: Romance

Summary:

Set in a fantastical, colorful world, The Book of Life is the story of a young man who must face his greatest fears and follow his heart in order to rewrite his destiny. Filled with love, laughter, music and suspense, this big adventure for the whole family will warm the hearts of audiences as it reminds everyone of the importance of honoring the past while embracing the future. (copyright foxmovies.com)

Produced by: 20th Century Fox

A cute little movie that highlights the Dia de los Muertos (literally Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday that celebrates the life and death of beloved family members. While Movie Insider has an additional note of it being "a Romeo and Juliet style romance set on the Day of the Dead", I think the movie will be a cute piece to go see and it's always exciting to see relatively unusual (at least for the main stream holidays celebrated in America) holiday.

#2 - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (21 November, 2014)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Thriller/Action/Adventure

Summary: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice, but even
though she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. President Snow makes it clear that no one is safe either -- not Katniss's family, not her friends and not the people of District 12.

Producer: Lionsgate Films

Fairly certain most people are anticipating this movie. Having read the books, I have to say there are still some things in the differences between the books and movies that rub me the wrong way. The omission of Madge and the significance of the Mockingjay pin for example. Still, the movie adaptations have proven to be fast paced and keeping with a fair amount of emotion and the story-line so there's not a lot of cause to complain. (I mean have you seen Haymitch and Cinna?)  Despite a bit of shaky camera work, I'm excited to see this movie, even if I have to wait to see the end of the series in a year.

#3 - The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (17 December, 2014)
Rating: Pending (Most likely will be PG-13 like the previous two installments)
Genre: Action/Adventure

Summary: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance. (from warnerbrothers.com)
Producer: Warner Brothers

Our unlikely little hero, Bilbo Baggins, has truly found himself in a pickle this time. When we left the Desolation of Smaug, Smaug had just taken off from the Lonely Mountain to go after Bree and the people there. A rather large "oops-i-daisy" for our daring dwarf band and their little hobbit thief on the part of letting him wake up and escape. Anyways, the exciting conclusion to our second Tolkien trilogy focuses around the 'battle of five armies'. Given that this is just a small chapter in the original book, I look forward to seeing how it's worked out.

Now where's my Silmarillion movie?

What movies are you looking forward to in the next three months? Share your opinions on these and more in the comments below!