8. Live Free Or Die Hard (June 29, 2007)
The "Die Hard" movies are necessarily a geek franchise, but who cares? Everyone is eager to see Bruce Willis play John McLean again, even if he is a bitter, alcoholic, divorced ex-cop in the fourth installment. In "Live Free or Die Hard," McLean now works for the Department of Homeland Security in the computer crimes division. Of course, terrorists strike again, this time using high-tech hackers to cripple the United States' computer infrastructure. McLean teams up with a young hacker (played by Justin Long of "Dodgeball" and "Waiting...") to stop the villains. The movie, which was originally titled "Die Hard 4.0," is directed by Len Wisemen of the "Underworld" movies. Will the fourth "Die Hard" movie be as exciting as the first films when the terrorists are using computers instead of taking hostages in high rises, crashing airplanes and blowing up bombs across New York City? Well, the previews and trailers appear to have as much of the requisite eye-popping stunts, car crashes and explosions. Yippee-ki-yay...
View Slide Show (10 images)
7. The Simpsons Movie (July 27, 2007)
It's about time. Nearly 20 years after "The Simpsons" first debuted on TV, the classic animated comedy series is getting its own feature film. "The Simpsons Movie" features all of the original characters and voice actors, as well as just about every supporting characters that's been on the show, from Sideshow Bob (played by Kelsey Grammer) and Krusty the Clown to Ned Flanders and Apu. Details about the plot of the film have been closely guarded, but a montage of preview footage shown at Wondercon featured a few key scenes that included an angry, torch-carrying mob screaming "We want Homer! We want Homer!" outside the Simpson house. There's another segment where Homer is riding a dogsled in the artic, mercilessly whipping his team of dogs until they attack him. If you're worried about the movie not being true to the series, don't: "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening co-produced the movie and co-wrote it along with 10 other longtime writers of the show. Meanwhile, David Silverman, who's directed a number of "Simpsons" episodes, directed the film. D'oh!
An angry mob pursues Homer in "The Simpsons Movie"
6. Hot Fuzz (April 20, 2007)
Simon Pegg. Nick Frost. Together again. In an action movie spoof that's directed and co-written "Shaun of the Dead" writer and director Edgar Wright. What else do you need to know, honestly? Instead of sending up zombie movies, this time the gang is poking fun at just about every cop buddy movie or high-powered action flick ever made. Pegg plays London super-cop Nicholas Angel, who's so good at his job that he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, he's reassigned to the safest town in the U.K. and partnered with an ambitious, action-loving constable (Nick Frost) who longs for action. After Angel arrives, a series of mysterious deaths begin to plague the small town, and of course, hilarity ensues. The only question about this movie is whether or not "Hot Fuzz" can be as hilariously memorable as "Shaun of the Dead." But from the looks of the trailer and preview footage shown at Wondercon, that won't be a problem. "Hot Fuzz" looks hilarious and should give "Shaun of the Dead" fans plenty to laugh at.
"Hot Fuzz" starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
