The must-see blockbuster movies of 2012

From an outer space prequel (Prometheus) to a 3D re-release (Titanic), super heroes to vampires, Martians, male strippers and even some crazy penguins, 2012 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year at the movies.

Here are some of 2012's most anticipated blockbusters-to-be.

Our hearts will go on (in 3D)

Movie seats will surely be filled when James Cameron releases his titanic, uhm, Titanic in April – this time  digitally remastered in 3D. The re-release of the epic film will co-incide with the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage and tragic sinking of the actual Titanic back in 1912. This time around the highly emotional scenes are set to amaze in 3D action (like the panoramic shots of Jack and Rose on the bow of the Titanic and those cataclysmic water destruction sequences) and are bound to bring a new sense of reality to the film.


Buzz-o-meter: James Cameron says advances made in 3D rendering just in 2011 are incredible and have been applied to his movie frame by frame.


There is a storm coming, Mr Wayne

Christian Bale and director Christopher Nolan's last Batman outing - The Dark Knight Rises - will see the darkwing hero rise in July to defend Gotham in the third installment in the rebooted DC Comics franchise. The just released trailer (the destruction looks epic and there is a sport stadium implosion you've never seen before) already broke the record as the most watched iTunes trailer seen in one-day … ever.

Buzz-o-meter: Look out for the Batman universe villains, Bane played by Tom Hardy and Catwoman played by Anne Hathaway.

Nostalgia-fest

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic romance drama novel The Great Gatsby gets yet another big screen treatment coming out in December 2012 with a stellar cast including Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Baz Luhrmann wrote the screenplay and is the director. Set during the roaring Twenties in New York, a young mysterious millionaire throws lavish parties and is in love with Daisy Buchanan who's involved with another guy.

Will there be face-huggers?

He's not saying, but Ridley Scott's Prometheus set for cinemas in June with Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce looks very much like a terrifying and secretive prequel to 1979's Alien. A manned spaceship goes in search of an advanced alien civilization which could, or could not be, responsible for the origins of mankind.

Buzz-o-meter: The trailer alludes to terrifying things. Terrifying things in the dark.


Family fun

Get ready for some animated sequels from DreamWorks Animation in 2012 featuring more crazy penguins, notorious monkeys and ice age creatures. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is out in June in which the lovable creatures join a travelling circus. In Ice Age: Continental Drift, the 4th movie due in July, Manny, Diego and Sid embark on a seafaring quest with an iceberg as their ship.

Shaking their money-makers

Come June, Channing Tatum will be getting his kit off. The former male stripper drew from his real-life past experiences as a male stripper in Florida for Magic Mike. It's a tale about how stripper Magic Mike and some of his "clothing optional" friends teach a young dancer the art of the – cough – pelvic thrust and how to shake the money-maker.

Buzz-o-meter: Big because of the big, uhm, curiosity factor. The movie will bring the beef with Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Bomer and Joe Manganiello all set to drop trou.

High G.I. diet

Channing Tatum has been a busy boy. He's back for the G.I. Joe sequel (with Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis and Arnold Vosloo), entitled G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation in June. With nuclear warheads set to destroy world cities and all world leaders under the evil Zartan's control, the remaining G.I. Joes are left with the responsibility of saving the world.

Vamp it up

"Slow, joyless, and loaded with unintentionally humorous moments'' is how critics and moviegoers savaged The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Part 2 is due in November 2012. Will the ''one unending love scene constantly getting interrupted by a were-boy'' ultimately have a satisfying conclusion?

Buzz-o-meter: Did you know that Part 1's birthing scene triggered epileptic seizures in moviegoers? Yikes.

My Precious

Tolkien fans are already giddy with excitement as they await their return to Middle Earth in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The film is the first part of director Peter Jackson's two part ''prequel'' of sorts based on JRR Tolkien's separate ''pre-book'' he wrote before the Lord of the Rings saga. We'll see the first part in December 2012 and the second part in December 2013. Major LOTR characters are back (as are the actors who portrayed them since wizards and elves live almost forever). A young Bilbo Baggins gets swept up in an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Mars attacks

Besides Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a classic science fiction series in which the character of John Carter appears. In John Carter an Earth soldier is transported to Mars, become embroiled in an epic battle between races on the red planet whilst trying to save a princess. Taylor Kitsch stars as John Carter.

Buzz-o-meter: In March we'll find out if it's either going to be hugely successful or a big flop – and Hollywood is waiting. Andrew Stanton wrote the screenplay and is the director. He previously did the hugely popular Finding Nemo and Wall-E but this is his first live-action movie.

Recalling the past

Set for August, Total Recall with Colin Farrell as Doug Quaid is a remake of the Arnie action caper of 1990 which also stars Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. In the future (this time set on Earth and not Mars) a man is on the run, thinking he's a spy, but not sure what side he's on or what his real memories (which are blocked) will reveal about himself, his past, and the nation states of Euromerica and New Shanghai.

Eensy weensy spider

There won't be any upside down kisses when Sony reboots the Spider-Man franchise – this time with Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in 3D in The Amazing Spider-Man. Coming moviegoers' way in July, Peter is back in high school as he develops his spidey powers in a movie described as '"gritty".

Buzz-o-meter: Will people accept a Spidey that's not Tobey and without director Sam Raimi?

* Which movies will you be looking forward to the most in 2012? Send us YOUR most highly anticipated movies to Movies@Channel24.co.za