Automata - 10 October

We’re cast 30 years into the future as we journey with Jacq Vaucan, an insurance agent for a robotics corporation, whose latest case of robot manipulation will have profound consequences on life as we know it. 

Antonio Banderas isn’t known for science-fiction, but after playing a blend of ‘Donkey’ and ‘Puss in Boots’ in the Expendables 3, it seems as though anything is possible. Automata, may seem like an I, Robot clone at first glance, dealing with the minefield of ethics and robotics. However, it seems as though “visionary” Spanish writer-director, Gabe Ibáñez, is going for a Bicentennial Man angle.

Gone Girl - 10 October

When Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle and Tyler Perry headline a movie, you have to guess it’s going to be crass… and potentially funny. The last thing you would expect to be watching is a stone cold David Fincher film starring Ben Affleck. 

Affleck has created his own cinema legacy as a director and the movie title echoes his breakthrough debut, Gone Baby Gone. However, Fincher’s rabbit hole runs even deeper, reflecting key aspects from The Game in a dark crime mystery thriller about a husband who unwittingly becomes the focus of a media circus after his wife’s disappearance. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 17 October

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love pizza… you probably didn’t learn that watching National Geographic. If you grew up on a diet of “heroes in a half-shell”, you’ll probably be willing to spend money on their latest FX-driven adventure, whether Michael Bay rocked (or ruined) your childhood memories of Transformers.

Surprisingly, there’s a South African connection as home-grown director, Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans), shows us where Megan Fox has been hiding all this time and shares some inside jokes with Will Arnett, William Fichtner and Whoopi Goldberg. Catch the Batman Begins wannabes as they face-off an evil kingpin in New York City.

Snowpiercer - 17 October

Joon-ho Bong is an up-and-coming director, who is developing a reputation for thought-provoking sci-fi action adventures with a political message. His latest achievement, Snowpiercer, is all-out art house actioner that is both intellectually and visually arresting (based on the 1982 French comic Le Transperceneige)

If its high calibre cast in Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, Jamie Bell and John Hurt doesn’t compel you, then the story about a self-sustainable train making journeys around a frozen Earth with a strict social order just might. Imagine the politics of The Hunger Games, the visual spunk of Kung Fu Hustle with the weight of Oldboy all rolled into one locomotive.

Annabelle - 24 October

The Conjuring introduced us to Annabelle, a doll whose origins are explored in greater depth in the self-titled prequel, Annabelle. While the real rag doll that inspired the story behind The Conjuring wasn’t available as a prop, the novelty of toy possession horror died with a stream of underwhelming Chucky sequels. 

While produced by James Wan, it’s directed by his cinematographer, John R. Leonetti, the guy who directed Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. The concept of a satanic cult home invasion has great potential if you remember The Strangers, although the no-name cast and low budget mean it could be dark horse or a dud.

MOVIE NEWS

No Country for Old Man Rambo?

Sylvester Stallone has been trying to stage an 80s action man revival, well, ever since the 90s. To his credit, The Expendables is already three movies in, and while degenerating, it’s still drawing an audience. According to the latest reports, Stallone is set to star and direct a fifth and final Rambo movie, aptly titled Rambo: Last Blood. Current speculation is that the action and ultra-violence is going down like The A-Team started… with a Mexican drug cartel.

Aaron Cross vs. Jason Bourne

Matt Damon probably turned his back on the Bourne series because Paul Greengrass was not interested in directing a fourth installation. Well, it’s been seven years since The Bourne Ultimatum and they are reportedly in early negotiations for another mission. How this will affect the Justin Lin Bourne Legacy sequel with Jeremy Renner, simply titled Bourne 5, remains to be seen. Whether it’s bumped or reinvented, there’s definitely room for a team-up or versus plot.