Ten Most Anticipated Non-Sequels of 2013

This list was much harder to create than the last, with major films like R.I.P.D, Pain and Gain, Ender's Game, and We're the Millers missing out on my top ten. Additionally, there will be critically acclaimed dramas like The Place Beyond the Pines, and The Great Gatsby. Action dramas such as Jack the Giant Slayer, The Lone Ranger, 2 Guns, and Oblivion, and comedies like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, The Internship, and The Heat. This isn't even mentioning sequels such as Fast and Furious 6, Kick-Ass 2, and the new Die Hard, or animated films like Despicable Me 2, or Turbo. No, the following 10 films are going to be the cream of the crop of non-sequels. Again, these are in no particular order.

10. Jack Ryan. Chris Pine takes over where Harrison Ford left off (Ben Affleck's Sum of all Fears doesn't count) as the young Tom Clancy CIA operative. Kenneth Branagh is directing, and he's made a remarkable transition from Shakespeare to mainstream action (Thor). Chris Pine will be the new face of action, just like Jeremy Renner achieved this past year. December 27th.

9. Elysium. Not much is known about this Matt Damon/Neil Blomkamp (District 9) sci-fi drama except that it is a futuristic action film with a heavy political agenda. It worked for D9, and will be buzzed about all summer. August 9th.

8. Pacific Rim. Humans create giant robots to battle giant monster aliens? What's not to like? The trailer makes it look a little cheesy, but the action will be fun, a la Transformers. I consider it to be this year's Battleship, which was critically panned, but I was thoroughly entertained. It's director Guillermo Del Toro's first film in five years, though he's been keeping busy writing and producing. Expect this to be loved or hated. But come on, what do you expect from giant robots and monsters? July 12th.

7. Man of Steel. OK, I cheated. This could fall in the sequel category, but I say it's a brand new Superman. Something we've never seen before. If the buzz and creative minds attached mean anything, this will be the next Dark Knight series. Zack Snyder directs with Christopher Nolan and David Goyer as writers and producers. Expect the story to be deeply rooted in inner-conflict and morality questions. As one of the big budget films of the summer season, be assured that no expenses will be spared with regard to special effects, and if Zack Snyder's history is any indicator, it will be riveting. June 14th.

6. World War Z. The zombie craze continues, this time with a feature film adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller of the same name by Max Brooks. The film will not follow the book per se, because it can't. There are too many stories and characters to have anything cohesive on film. Instead, the theme of the book follows Brad Pitt as a zombie infestation ravages the world. Marc Forster is an interesting director choice as he's got a bipolar resume. His works are either great, or terrible. The trailer was released a few weeks back, and it looks pretty cool. June 21st.

5. White House Down. Channing Tatum resumes his reign over Hollywood as a rookie Secret Service agent who is the only one who can save the President when the White House is taken hostage. Sound cheesy? Absolutely. Sound awesome? Absolutely. Jamie Foxx is the President, and Roland Emmerich directs. Will there be disasters rocking the world and throwing shards of special effects into the viewer's face? Perhaps. Will Tatum and Foxx make a great action team? Yes. In the true spirit of Hollywood, this film will rival Olympus has Fallen, the next Antoine Fuqua action flick in which Gerard Butler has to save the President from a terrorist attack. Hmm. June 28th.

4. Admission. Tina Fey and Paul Rudd try their hand at a romantic comedy, and it just might work. Endearing and relevant, but with Tina Fey holding creative control, it will be hilarious. March 8th.

3. 42. The Jackie Robinson story. Baseball movies just seem to have an audience, and the more unbelievable and real the story, the better (Moneyball anyone?). Director Brian Helgeland won an Oscar for writing LA Confidential back in 1997, and is relatively new to directing, but he has an impressive writing resume. Expect the name Chadwick Boseman to be on everyone's tongues in May. April 12th.

2. After Earth. The previews make this look pretty cool, and Will Smith has a history of making great action blockbusters. What intrigues me is the return to direction by M. Night Shyamalan. He hasn't directed anything worth watching in nearly a decade, and his star has certainly burned out. Could this film put him back into critics' good graces? Oh, if it helps, Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana) wrote the screenplay with Shyamalan. Expect some sort of epic twist interspersed with incredible action. June 7th.

1. This is the End. I'm very interested in this film, although it will probably be a bust. A group of young Hollywood actors get together at James Franco's house, and then have to deal with the apocalypse. This is one of those great sardonic portrayals by the characters when they get to play themselves. Kind of a reality TV show inside a film (Being John Malkovich). It's an incredible cast in which they all play themselves, and are put in a ridiculous situation together. It just might be strange enough to work. June 14th.