With this year potentially our last on Earth, it’s time for us to sit back and try and enjoy what pop culture brings to the table for the start of 2012. With a sure-to-be-groundbreaking film conclusion to “The Dark Knight” trilogy as well as the mesmerizing finale to television’s “Breaking Bad” returning this summer, here is a list of upcoming titles to try and make the wait a little more bearable.
Movies
“Haywire” – Jan. 20 @@http://www.freep.com/article/20120112/ENT01/201120308/UPCOMING-RELEASES@@
From Steven Soderbergh comes an intense thriller about a secret agent for the government named Mallory Kane, played by Gina Carano, who is brought on to perform tasks that aren’t quite what you would call “legal.” Kane is cruising along her secret life until she is double-crossed by a trusted partner, which sends her on her own mission of revenge. Soderbergh adds big names Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender and Channing Tatum to complement the already experienced team behind the camera.
“Man on a Ledge”– Jan. 27 @@http://www.freep.com/article/20120112/ENT01/201120308/UPCOMING-RELEASES@@
In an exciting trailer that features actor Sam Worthington on a ledge about to jump to his death, the tables are quickly turned when we learn that the whole act is a decoy for an elusive bank robbery. Worthington stars along with Elizabeth Banks and Ed Harris for 2012’s first blockbuster.
“The Grey” – Jan. 27@@http://www.freep.com/article/20120112/ENT01/201120308/UPCOMING-RELEASES@@
Two years ago, Liam Neeson was shot into action stardom with “Taken,” and last year he returned to the genre with the quietly good “Unknown.” A new year means another action-thriller with Neeson at the helm, and this time around he is stranded in the arctic after a plane crash and soon finds out that arctic wolves are hungry for human flesh.@@LOL. Can you spell “box office bombshell”?@@
Television
“House”
With articles surfacing around the internet saying that highest-paid TV actor Hugh Laurie is tired of television work, it looks like Fox’s successful doctor drama House is in the home stretch. Laurie has created an iconic television character that will be remembered after the show ends, but as for now, the show’s eighth season is still going strong and returns this January.
“Community” and “Parks and Recreation”
There is almost an unspoken understanding between networks that NBC’s Thursday night is the best night for comedy, and it isn’t because of “The Office” or “Whitney”; it is because of the 8 o’clock hour-long block of the critically acclaimed and now cult-following shows of “Community” and “Parks and Recreation.”
With “Parks and Recreation” bringing one of its funniest episodes to date with the introduction of Tammy 1 in which Ron Swanson shaves his mustache and introduces everyone to Swanson moonshine, the sky’s the limit for the Pawnee, Ind., Parks Department. @@Should Indiana be abbreviated?@@
“Community” on the other hand has not enjoyed as much success in ratings as “Parks and Recreation”; however, the show was just named the best comedy on television by both Hulu.com and TV.com. “Community” fans were scared when NBC shelved the show for a midseason break; however, a huge retort from its devoted fanbase made NBC take notice, which immediately assured the public the show will be back in 2012.
Music
“Out of Frequency” by The Asteroid Galaxy Tour– Jan. 31 @@http://www.theasteroidsgalaxytour.com/preorder/us.html@@
The European band that gave us two catchy television commercial jingles with “The Golden Age” and “Around the Bend,” @@Big ups, yo@@the Danish band releases its second album at the end of this month. Catchy electric rock isn’t a genre that has really taken off in America; however, the band’s lead singles from its last album enjoyed success last year, and they are hoping to ride that momentum into 2012.
“Human Again” by Ingrid Michaelson– Jan. 31 @@http://www.newsrecord.org/index.php/article/2012/01/january_music_preview@@
With “Ghost” already on the Top 25 playlist of every hipster in Eugene, Ingrid Michaelson’s heartfelt sound brings us a fifth studio album on January 31. The Staten Island native has had her music featured on “Scrubs,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “One Tree Hill,” and this next album illustrates that there are no signs of slowing down for the 32-year-old artist.
“Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” by Nicki Minaj – Feb. 14 @@http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Friday-Reloaded-Nicki-Minaj/dp/B006PTZNSY@@
After a huge 2011 in which her single “Super Bass” as well as her collaborative efforts with David Guetta on the tracks “Where Them Girls At” and “Turn Me On” became huge club hits, Nicki Minaj isn’t going anywhere with her sophomore studio album set to be released on Valentine’s Day. Expect the radio to be filled with her unique hip-hop/electronic sound for most likely the rest of the year, if not longer, as her last album put out eight separate singles.
Videogames
SoulCalibur 5 – Jan. 31 @@http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/the-theater-of-history-soulcalibur-5-story-mode-trailer/@@
In one of the most popular arcade game franchises of all time, SoulCalibur 5 is ready to unleash better graphics, more maps and even more playable characters this time around. Competing with Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, the Soul franchise has enjoyed a steady regime of successful games, thanks in large part to its brutal gameplay.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 – Jan. 31@@http://parkablogs.com/content/final-fantasy-xiii-2-out-jan-31-2012@@
In 2001, Final Fantasy X was regarded as one of the best games of the year for its long storyline and breathtaking graphics (well, for its time); so a spinoff to the game, Final Fantasy X-2, was released. The game was a lot like last year’s Hangover 2, the plot was pretty much the exact same and not quite as good as the first. Final Fantasy XIII came out in 2009 and became the fastest selling title in the series, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that a spin-off was announced. The variation this time around could defy all expectations; however, for a game labeled “Final Fantasy,” they are always incredibly high.
Resident Evil Revelations – Feb. 7 @@http://www.residentevil.com/revelations/agegate.php@@
To many gaming websites such as IGN.com and gametrailers.com, Resident Evil 4 was arguably one of the best video games of the last 10 years because of its camera angles and emphasis on puzzle solving to complement the game’s horror. On Feb. 7, the same format is being brought to the handheld market with Resident Evil Revelations for the Nintendo 3DS. If the game has any of the same qualities of Resident Evil 4, then expect another great title in the franchise.
Books
“Annotated Sandman” by Neil Gaiman – Already published@@http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2017167121_comics09.html?prmid=head_more@@
Arguably the most recognizable graphic novel after “Watchmen,” Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series is reawakening with the release of “Annotated Sandman.” With everyone back drawing and illustrating from the previous comics, this Sandman series is sure to be an extension of its already tremendous success in the graphic novel world.
“Big Miracle” by Tom Rose – Already published @@http://www.amazon.com/Big-Miracle-Tom-Rose/dp/0312625197@@
“Freeing the Whales” was released back in 1989 and didn’t receive that much success, but the book was picked up for a film adaptation, and recently the book was re-released under the same title as the film, “Big Miracle.” The film stars Drew Barrymore and  John Krasinski of “The Office,” but the book has recently gained popularity on Amazon.com with its true story about a whale rescue in Alaska.
“The Last Nude” by Ellis Avery – Already published
Inspired by old French paintings of the early 1900s, Ellis Avery, who was named “The Best Writer You Have Never Heard of but Should Go Read Right Now” by the New York Press, releases her second novel after the critically acclaimed “The Teahouse Fire.” The novel tells the story of a prostitute who tries to escape the dark world she finds herself in after a famous French painter asks her to model for him.