“Clap, clap!” says Marie Antoinette in the opera.

In 2013, I promise to watch more movies. It’s a lonely life sometimes, not having a clue what everyone’s talking about. So I’m envisioning 2013 to be the year when I’ll actually have significant (maybe even witty!) input in conversations about what is generally agreed on to be “pop culture”. For example, I saw someone tweet that there’s going to be a Rooney Mara movie next year. That I’m gonna see. (Alas, I haven’t seen Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. But I’ve read Rooney’s profile in Vogue, and the lady is heartbreakingly stunning.)

I browsed MovieInsider.com to scan the list of movies shown this year. Below, I copied some I haven’t seen that ring a bell. I’m going to guess what they’re about, hoping that this embarrassingly revealing exposé of my non-knowledge shall make me a changed man, starting tomorrow, technically.

John Carter
In my mind it’s a movie about a basketball coach. I Googled it now, saw photos, and found out I’m very very wrong.

21 Jump Street
I was playing Icon Pop Quiz on my sister’s Android last week and encountered an illustrated clue with a “21″ figure with limbs, jumping on a street. I guessed right that this refers to 21 Jump Street. Though I know nothing about the movie, I have to say it’s a pretty nice-sounding, catchy title, owing to the fact that I actually know it.

The Cabin in the Woods
Lena Dunham’s Creative Nonfiction comes to mind, in which the heroine (Lena Dunham) is writing a novel (or was it a screenplay?) about a heroine (Lena Dunham, aussi) who is abducted by her teacher (was it a teacher?) who made her hostage inside a cabin in the woods. It’s entirely possible that this has nothing to do with The Cabin in the Woods.

The Avengers
This much I know: it’s about some superheroes, like Captain America (I haven’t seen Captain America) and Iron Man (I’ve seen maybe the last thirty minutes of the Iron Man movie on a bus). I don’t know for sure though what exactly they’re avenging, or if it’s just kind of a name, like The Breakfast Club.

Rock of Ages
In which Tom Cruise is a rockstar. I abhor the word “peg” but at some point in my life, Tom Cruise was, I guess one could say, my “peg”. Risky Business and Jerry Maguire were highlights of my childhood. I might just check this out, and Jack Reacher, too.

The Bourne Legacy
I know there are scenes shot in the Philippines. In fact, one day on my way to board the MRT, there was hugh commotion in one area on the platform. Someone informed me later that Bourne Legacy was probably shooting. So am I in the movie?

Argo
I have absolutely no idea.

Cloud Atlas
Could it be about a person (or a barkada of some sort) travelling the world to make a map that tells where one can see certain kinds of clouds? (cf. “Weird, Rare Clouds and the Physics Behind Them” on Wired.com) If not, that actually sounds like a good movie idea.

Wreck-It Ralph
I have a fleeting memory of one friend or acquaintance telling another friend or acquaintance, “Oh, it looks like the game in Weck-It Ralph“. So I know it’s an animated movie with a game in it, like a wrecking game. Sam also happens to have a hilarious story about seeing Wreck-It Ralph, but let’s save that for another time.

Skyfall
I first heard Adele singing the Skyfall song (is it called “Skyfall”?) on TV the other day! I loooove it, I’m Youtubing it now as we speak. Anyway, I remember having seen Casino Royale, that scene where James Bond is on a motorcycle, wearing a navy blue pique shirt, black pants, and black shoes. This is a look I often attempt replicate.

Rise of the Guardians
I saw the huge poster outside one SM some time ago. The guy who appears to be the main character has cool silver hair. This, of course, reminded me of T.O.P.’s silver hair during the “GD&TOP” album promotion. Seeing Rise of the Guardians might just be the final push I need to get silver hair, too. What do you think?

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
I was actually really planning on seeing this, but then for some reason I forgot.

Know any nice upcoming movies I should see in 2013? ^_^

Jed