13 Best Movies Coming Out in 2015 for Geeks

It’s hard to find an objective definition of “geek” – the term applies to many areas. This being a tech blog, we’ll go with this:

“A knowledgeable and obsessive computer enthusiast”

It’s from WordWeb, a Net-enabled dictionary and thesaurus. So the technology connection is sound.

As for the movies, CGI and green screen techniques are part of pretty much everything these days. So let’s confine our listing to films that:

a) have computer/future technology as an integral part of their storyline, or

b) contain (fantastic) elements that couldn’t be realized, without computer technology.

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Here’s what to watch for, in 2015:

Ant-Man

Marvel’s take on the Incredible Shrinking Man premise will see Paul Rudd as the titular hero, and veteran actor Michael Douglas as his mentor, Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym – whom comic-book aficionados (okay, geeks) will know as the original Goliath/Ant-Man/Yellowjacket.

It’s billed as a comedy heist, with the two men hatching a plot to pull off some kind of robbery that will, according to Marvel, save the world.

As Pym is a tech genius who has perfected a method of shrinking a grown man down to insect size while retaining the proportional strength of a human, expect lots of CGI clashes with giant spiders and such – plus a serious smackdown with the movie’s nominated villain Yellowjacket.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Director Joss Whedon reunites Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Thor (Chris

Hemsworth), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, and CGI), in a cautionary tale about Artificial Intelligence (AI).

James Spader provides the voice of Ultron, an ambitious project initiated by Tony Stark, to replace his Iron Man persona, as protector of humanity. The Ultron android is fitted with (Marvel universe ) state-of-the-art AI – and promptly declares war on humankind. Cue self-replication of an army of Ultron drones, mass destruction, and the (hopefully) timely intervention of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes…

Blackhat

In a film by Michael Mann, Chris Hemsworth stars as a convicted computer hacker who’s hauled out of prison when an anonymous group of computer experts start threatening America’s financial infrastructure. Which of course means globetrotting action and blazing guns.

 

Chappie

Neill Blomkamp (director of Elysium) here gives us a lighter, comic affair loosely based on one of his shorts called “Tetra Vaal.” The story’s about a childlike robot (voiced by Sharlto Copley) who’s snatched by a dysfunctional criminal family, and pressed into a life of theft.

 

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Following the box-office success of Mockingjay – Part 1, Part 2 will see Jennifer Lawrence’s return in the fourth and final installment of the film series based on the best-selling Young Adult novels. But “final” being a fluid concept in Hollywood, there’s already talk of a prequeland/or sequel series…

 

Inside Out

The new film from Pete Docter (director of Up and Monsters, Inc.) focuses on the emotions that live inside us. It’s a Pixar production, so expect these feelings to be given 3D animated forms, and memorable personalities. Voice talent attached to the project includes Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader and Amy Poehler.

 

Jurassic World

Director Colin Trevorrow’s belated third sequel to Jurassic Park sees the dinosaur sanctuary upping its game, with its scientists genetically engineering new, more eye-catching varieties of prehistoric lizards. Of course, one of these is a gargantuan hybrid mix of T-Rex and several other voracious breeds. And of course, this giant runs amok.

 

The Martian

Based on a book by Andy Weir, this sci-fi adventure is director Ridley Scott’s latest genre offering since 2012‘s Prometheus.

Matt Damon stars as an engineer trapped on Mars after a dust storm forces his fellow astronauts to evacuate the base. Presumed dead, Damon’s character scratches out an existence on the Martian surface, hoping to survive long enough for NASA to mount a rescue attempt. Jessica Chastain and Kate Mara co-star.

 

Midnight Special

Director Jeff Nichols (who cites John Carpenter as an inspiration for the project) takes the reins of what distributor Warner Bros describe as a “government chase film”.

Working from Nichols’ screenplay, stars Michael Shannon, Adam Driver, Kirsten Dunst and Joel Edgerton lead the cast, in a science fiction story which sees a father and son forced on the run when they realize the former has special powers.

 

Spectre (a.k.a. Bond 24)

Director Sam Mendes is back behind the camera after the excellent Skyfall, for the 24th offering from the James Bond franchise. Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema – whose credits include Let The Right One In, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Fighter – is also on board.

They’re being tight-lipped about it, but the title suggests that Daniel Craig’s Bond will be having his first encounter with the international super-villain ring headed by Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Plus the usual pyrotechnics, of course.

 

Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens

In a tale set some years after The Return of The Jedi, director JJ Abrams has promised an emphasis on physical effects and sets rather than the digital backlot approach of the prequels. That said, you can’t have X-Wings, droids, or the Millennium Falcon without a hefty dose of mega-budget CGI.

Veteran stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Peter Mayhew are set to return, with the likes of Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega representing Generation Next.

 

Terminator: Genisys

With Terminator Genisys, production company SkyDance hopes to inject fresh blood into this flagging series – as it did with the Star Trek reboot in 2009.

A new generation of actors will take on familiar roles. Emilia Clarke (who looks like a young Linda Hamilton) stars as Sarah Connor, with Jason Clarke as her future son John.

Veteran Arnold Schwarzenegger returns, both in age-enhanced CGI form, and wearing his proper years as Sarah Connor’s guardian Terminator (the metal combat chassis under the cyborg’s sagging skin remains strong as ever).

 

Tomorrowland

Brad Bird directs with George Clooney starring in a closely-guarded script by Bird and Damon Lindelof.

The project has been filming in Walt Disney World, and features a former boy genius turned inventor teaming up with a young boy bursting with ideas. Indications are of an intelligent piece of science fiction for a blockbuster family audience.

And that’s your lot. Check out The Den of Geek’s Top 25, or the UK Guardian’s assessment for the freshness and originality (or not) of this year’s cinematic offerings. And happy viewing.

 

Do you have any you’d like to add to the list? Are you excited about any of these in the list? Let us know in the comments below!