Action movie fans are going to love 2008. Not only does Bond, James Bond return for more adventures, lots of action hero-types are back to take down the bad guys. Indiana Jones makes his fourth appearance, Batman's set to take on The Joker, the Hulk is released again, the kid wizards of Hogwarts take on He Who Must Not Be Named, and even Hellboy's heading back to the big screen.
Broken up over two pages and listed in order of release, here are 15 action films hitting theaters in 2008.
Cloverfield
© Paramount Pictures
JJ Abrams is looking to thrill audiences with his take on the monster movie genre. The shaky camera work may scare away audiences, but those with strong stomachs will see a gigantic creature attack New York.
Iron Man
© Paramount Pictures
Jon Favreau packed his Iron Man cast with critically acclaimed actors and that, plus the fact the trailer has even comic book-inspired movie cynics salivating, puts Iron Man toward the head of the pack of the most anticipated movies of 2008. Favreau knows all of his choices will be second, third, and fourth-guessed, but he's handling the pressure well. He even put Black Sabbath's Iron Man song in the trailer. What more could you ask?
Speed Racer
© Warner Bros Pictures
The Wachowski Brothers - the filmmakers who reinvented the action genre with The Matrix - bring Speed Racer to life on the big screen with Emile Hirsch as the young race car driver who lives to drive. Although it's based on the anime series from the 1960s, this Speed Racer looks a whole lot different than the old TV series with the catchy theme song.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
© Walt Disney Pictures
Prince Caspian takes place one year after The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and follows the kid heroes of the first film as they help Narnia's rightful ruler, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), fight the evil King Miraz for the throne. Let's hope the gang from Saturday Night Live comes up with just as addicting of a rap song for the second film as they did in honor of the first.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd
For almost 20 years Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg have been asked about revisiting the Indiana Jones franchise. The third film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, hit theaters in 1989 and since then a myriad of writers have had a shot at coming up with what most likely will be the last Indiana Jones movie for the 65-year-old Ford, who may be passing his fedora to Shia LaBeouf with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If this is Ford's last time stepping into the Indiana Jones character, it's certain Spielberg will make sure he goes out with a bang.
The Incredible Hulk
© Universal Pictures
Can we agree to not hold the 2003 Hulk movie against the new The Incredible Hulk movie? After all, the director's different and so is the cast. Transporter director takes over for Ang Lee behind the camera. Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly are out; Edward Norton and Liv Tyler are in. And Norton even reworked parts of the script, in addition to taking on the role of Bruce Banner. We'll have to wait until June to see if these are all upgrades.
Get Smart
© Warner Bros Pictures
2007 wasn't a good year in films for Steve Carell. Carell enjoyed success on the small screen with The Office but moviegoers didn't go for Dan in Real Life or Evan Almighty. But with Get Smart, Carell returns to the goofy sort of character audiences fell for in Anchorman.
Wanted
© Universal Studios
When Angelina Jolie's Wanted co-star James McAvoy was asked about the change in release dates from March to June, McAvoy wasn't exactly sure of the moves significance. But just about everyone else knows bumping a movie from March to June means the studio (in this case Universal Pictures) thinks they've got a film that can compete with the big summer popcorn flicks.
Hancock
© Columbia Pictures
Will Smith practically owned the last two weeks of December 2007 with I Am Legend, an action movie in which he played the last guy alive in New York City. Hancock finds Smith taking on the part of a disgraced superhero who needs a publicist to help him get back in good with the public. Smith's no stranger to summer blockbusters and this could be as big as his previous summer hits - Independence Day and I, Robot.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
© Universal Pictures
Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and Doug Jones reunite with Hellboy director - and fanboy favorite - Guillermo del Toro for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Almost immediately after the first Hellboy movie was released in April 2004, rumors of a sequel were spreading throughout the internet like wildfire (fire...hellboy...makes sense, doesn't it?). Finally, five years later, fans are going to get their chance to see the big red, horned guy back in action. Hopefully Hellboy II will be worth the wait.
