The Neonpunch Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2010

What to look forward to at the cinema this year.

With 2009 being a record year for the box office thanks to films like Harry Potter, The Hangover and Avatar, it’s time to take a look at what’s coming to a theatre near you this year that is either sci-fi, hardcore action or gadgety-cool for the consummate Neonpunch film buff:

1. IRON MAN 2

We put this at the top because this is really the ultimate gadget fans movie. Forget that iPhone or Nexus One when you’re Tony Stark, you probably have your own mobile phone OS built into your head. The first one took our super-high expectations to the next level, and we can only hope for more from Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau with Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson along for this one.

Hong Kong release date: May 6th

2. TRON LEGACY

The teaser from last Summer blew us away, but the original movie did not. So, it’s a crapshoot on this one, but then again no-one cared about the cliche story in Avatar and focused solely on the visuals, so our bet is this one will bring all the geeks and gadget nerds in to see what lightcyles can do today. In case you haven’t seen it, you can see that teaser here.

Hong Kong release date: December

3. INCEPTION

Christopher Nolan’s version of The Matrix is what we’re calling it but, knowing him, it will go to the next level! With a superstar cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy, this is one non-comic book movie that looks like a comic book that will mess with your perception of reality.

Hong Kong release date (and in IMAX): July 15th

4. KICK-ASS

Could this be the end-all superhero movie that Watchmen wanted to be? A kid who loves comics decides to be a super-hero. No powers, no training – just a will to see justice done. This is going to be the most shocking superhero movie to date, or the most offensive…or both!

One thing for sure, it’s got McLovin!

Hong Kong release date: TBC

5. THE A-TEAM

If you have a problem, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire: The A-Team! Yet another nostalgic favorite – and the cast looks great! The first franchise reboot that apparently didn’t want to change a single thing! Mohawks, baseball caps, cigar smokin’ and even the black GMC truck is in it!

Hong Kong release date: June

6. CLASH OF THE TITANS

Nostalgia plays a big part in our desire to see this.  In the trailers, it looks like it’s going for the 300 crowd when it should be its own movie, but it’s been a long time since we’ve had a good Greek God movie with a CG Medusa and giant scorpions fighting everyone. And, of course, that Kraken design has been updated and looks freaky. Go for the CG and a simple history lesson…oh, and it stars everyone’s favorite, Jake Sully from Avatar.

Hong Kong release date: March 25th

7. JONAH HEX

This is our helping of Megan Fox for Summer 2010 and Young Guns it ain’t. From DC Comics comes the story of their infamous melty-face cowboy, Jonah Hex; a lawman looking for justice with a face only a mother could love. Stars Josh “Goonies” Brolin as the hero. We’re hoping for lots of cinematic and CG tricks to turn this into a Western-version of 300.

Hong Kong release date: June

8. REPO MEN

This is a futuristic story and not at all based on the 1984 Emilio Estevez original. If you can’t afford new internal organs you can pay them off monthly, but if you miss a payment, the Repo Men come in to repossess your liver, kidneys and even your heart – and they operate on you live. Sounds crazy, right? Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star:

Hong Kong release date: April

9. THE EXPENDABLES

Our dream movie when we were 13 has finally been realized - ’80s action movies return with an all-star line-up: Stallone, Li, Statham, Lundgren, Rourke – this is 70% perfect! 100% would have added Van Damme, Segal and Arnold, but we’ll wait for the sequel for those guys!

Hong Kong release date: August

10. THE WOLF MAN

We’re not scared of Freddy Krueger anymore, but the make-up on Benecio Del Toro for The Wolf Man looks great. We’re more interested in seeing how werewolf CGI has changed since the days of Micheal Jackson’s Thriller, more than anything else. Sir Anthony Hopkins also stars. See the trailer here.

Hong Kong release date: February 11th

We wanted to keep it to 10 and that’s it. Sure there are more cool movies coming out, but these are the 10 we are most excited for as gadget-loving, popcorn-movie fans. You have others? Please let us know in the comments.

There are also 36 other lower-budgeted sci-fi movies coming our way in 2010, so click here if you want to read about them as this is usually where the real gems shine.