It’s that time again folks! The weather outside is getting hot and fireworks are in the air, and the same goes for your local cinemas. The summer blockbusters is an age old tradition when we get to see just how much Hollywood can wow us with special effects and all around entertainment.
So who will put up big numbers this season? As you know, former #1’s on my Top 12 Summer Films To See included Star Trek, The Dark Knight, and Toy Story 3. I think my qualifications speak for themselves. Here are twelve films this summer I plan on checking out!
12) Transformers: Dark of the Moon (July 1)
The first Transformers film was awesome! It had action, comedy, special effects, and a tasty Megan Fox as eye candy. So what went wrong with the sequel? Well all the small things that worked in the first film were amp’d up too much in the second, like Sam’s embarassing parents, Optimus Prime being unbeatable, and don’t even get me started on those gang-banging twins for the Autobots. It was like having two Jar Jar Binks in the film, my own worst nightmare.
So why am I still a little excited to see this film? Well it was either this or the fourth Pirates film, and this one was shot in Chicago at least. Not much is known about the plot of this film thanks to the mysteriousness of the trailer but basically this Cybertronian craft has crashed on the moon and both the Autobots and the Decepticons are out to learn it’s secrets. Returning cast members include Shia LeBeouf, Josh Duhamel, and Tyrese Gibson *cringe*. Leonard Nimoy is also coming out of retirement to lend his voice in this film. If nothing else, it’ll be something we can all bitch about at the water cooler come Monday.
11) Fright Night (Aug. 19)
This film was one of my favorite vampire films back in the 1980’s, and I’m looking forward to see it updated. Anton Yelchin plays Charlie, a teenage boy who is convinced his next door neighbor is a vampire. Of course no one believes him, not even his girlfriend Amy. But when Colin Farrell sets his sights on a woman you can bet he’ll leave his mark on her, but can Charlie stop him before everyone he loves turn into the undead?
No trailer for this film has been released yet, but if they stick close to the original film I don’t see how it can go wrong. Yelchin is your average guy, and Farrell is the dream hunk trying to steal his girl and make his life miserable. Sounds a lot like high school to me.
10) Fast Five (April 29)
The first film was basically Pointe Break in fast cars, the second film had Tyrese Gibson *cringe* in it, the third film I didn’t even watch because I was afraid Godzilla was going to show up, and you could have skipped the last two films and still been able to watch the fourth film with no problem. So why do I want to see this film full of fast cars and hot women? For god sakes I’m a red-blooded heterosexual male aren’t I?
Paul Walker and Vin Diesel are back in the only movies it seems they ever do. This time they’ve gathered everyone from the previous films together to steal $100 million from a drug lord. Hot on their tails is a federal agent, played by Dwayne Johnson. The trailer looks like a promise of a tough guy showdown between Diesel and Johnson. Just so long as I see some cool car chases and Jordana Brewster half-naked I’ll be a happy camper.
9) Crazy, Stupid, Love (July 29)
Steve Carell is a middle-aged man in the middle of a divorce and Ryan Gosling is the young player who is going to teach him how to live. Does it get more simple of plot than that? Oh and of course Carell is trying to win back his ex, Julianne Moore, while living out his pimp lifestyle. Easy A’s Emma Stone is also in this film as the sassy hottie who may just be too much for Gosling’s swinging character to handle.
Julianne Moore and Ryan Gosling are great actors, Emma Stone is a rising star, and Steve Carell is just plain funny. I think this film is gonna be a lot of fun with a lot of heart. But if you think it looks lame then go check out the trailer for Something Borrowed. Go ahead, I’ll wait………………………………………………… See, this film doesn’t look so bad now eh?
8) X-Men: First Class (June 3)
“But wait Shawn, I thought you were a big X-Men fan who owns the 90’s cartoon DVD’s and collects three monthy X-men comic books. How is this film not higher on your list?”
That’s a good question random citizen. I’ve been so disappointed with the way 20th Century Fox has handled this beloved franchise that I hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Bryan Singer did a pretty good job with the first two X-Men films, but then Brett Ratner proceeded to make a third film that, I don’t know what it was, because it sure as hell wasn’t an X-Men film. The Wolverine prequel was ok, but still lacked the unique storytelling and characters that are X-Men.
This film is another prequel, even though the comic book mini-series with this same title is completely different from the film. This is the tale of how Charles Xavier and Erik Lennsherr, played by James MacAvoy and Michael Fassbender, became Professor X and Magneto. It looks like there are some other characters in as well like January Jones as the sexy White Queen, and Kevin Bacon as the sinister Sebastian Shaw. And if you don’t know who these characters are check out The Dark Phoenix Saga cartoon so you can see how bad they’ll probably screw the characters up.
As an X-Men fan I am authorized to stand by this film and praise it if it is good, and hate it if it sucks. On June 3 I’ll be sure to let you all know. Oh, and my offer still stand that if anyone can get Brett Ratner to stop making movies I’ll buy them an Icee machine!
7) Priest (May 13)
Based on a comic book, this film takes place in a dystopian future where a vicious war between humans and vampires has finally ended thanks to the church’s warriors known as priest. After his family is attacked and niece taken hostage, Paul Bettany plays a priest who goes out to save her, disobeying church law. Bettany’s character is convinced the vampires aren’t dead, but have evolved and are waiting for the right time to strike back. He’s got the priests trying to catch him and the vampires trying to kill him. I think of this film looks like Judge Dredd with vampires. Yeah!
I’m a sucker for vampire and werewolf films, but real ones. Not Robert Pattinson doing his sparkling impression of Rainbow Brite, the vampire chronicles. Karl Urban plays the big baddie in this film, and it looks awesome. It’s got lots of action with a decent story and a good cast. Bring it on!
6) The Hangover Part II (May 26)
Once again Stu, Phil, and Alan find themselves waking up not knowing what they did the night before and trying to find someone in time to get to a wedding. Except this time they’re in Bangkok, and they have to get to get to Stu’s wedding and find his fiancée’s brother. Maybe I loved the first film so much because I could see it happening to me, or maybe it’s because I love almost all of director Todd Phillip’s comedies, starting with Old School. All I do know is from the trailer this film looks hilarious!
5) Thor (May 6)
Continuing Marvel Comic’s cinema invasion, and the progression toward Joss Whedon’s The Avengers next summer, is a film about the god of thunder. Thor is a prince of Asgard, played by Chris Hemsworth, who is cast out of Asgard by his father Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins. Thor is sent to Earth where he meets Natalie Portman’s character that shows him Earth isn’t to primitive for the gods. Thor’s brother, the mastermind behind Thor’s exodus, is trying to finish the job by sending minions to Earth to kill his brother. Can Thor save humanity and take down his brother, Loki? Hello, god of thunder here!
I could never really get into Thor comics, but this film looks great. It has a good cast, solid story, and some cool action. I just can’t wait to see what guest appearance they show from other Marvel characters to set-up next summers The Avengers.
4) Cowboys and Aliens (July 29)
Let’s run down the list shall we? Iron Man director Jon Favreau has Daniel Craig with amnesia who Olivia Wilde seems to remember quite fondly. Then Harrison Ford comes looking for him, and so do the aliens. Did you pick-up on all those names? It’s James Bond and Han Solo vs. aliens in the wild, wild, west. I’m geeking out so much I could explode.
All these actors, along with their director, make great films. So even though the premise of the film seems a little bit far out there I’m willing to give this team the benefit of the doubt, and so should you. At the very least it’s not just another ‘aliens attack modern day Earth and how do we stop them’ film.
3) Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22)
I was a little hesitant when I heard Chris Evans, The Human Torch, was going to be Captain America, and I still am. But I also think he could do a good job playing Cap for not only the three Captain America films that he signed on for, but the three Avengers film he is going to do as well. But of course let’s not forget he is still under contract by 20th Century Fox to do another Fantastic Four film if they want him too. Poor guy will be nothing but a super hero is whole life.
Evans is the skinny Steve Rogers, who is too weak to go fight World War II with the rest of his friends, but he is the perfect candidate for a super soldier serum that gives ordinary men incredible abilities. Roger is now Captain America, the Alllies only hope of winning the war against the evil Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving.
I love Captain America, and from the trailer this film could be not only a good super hero film, but a good time piece as well. I also think Weaving is perfect casting as the Red Skull and I am psyched to actually see the man have a red skull. This is the last film coming out before we see Cap, Iron Man, and Thor all together in The Avengers in 2012. I think I’ll pee my pants just a little.
2) Green Lantern (July 17)
This was another comic book casting I felt didn’t hit the mark. I like Ryan Reynolds, but as the Green Lantern I don’t think he fits. On the other hand, I think Mark Strong is the perfect guy to play Sinestro. Based on the DC Comics character, Reynolds plays Hal Jordan, a test pilot who is bequeathed a green ring from an alien. Jordan join the intergalactic space police known as the Green Lantern Corps. The ring can do anything Hal imagines it to do, which is good because he’s going to need it if he wants to save Earth and the universe from Hector Hammond and Parallex.
This is the first of what DC hopes is a successful movie franchise, much like what Marvel is doing with their films. With DC writing god, Geoff Johns, on set all the time I have high hopes for this film. Blake Lively, who I’m not crazy about, said he dyed her hair brown because that’s what her character is in the comics. This gave a me a little more respect and hope for Lively in this film.
When I first saw the trailer I was afraid my doubts about Reynolds were right. But then I saw the 4 minutes of footage from WonderCon and I think it might be everything I hope it’ll be. You can bet I’ll have my GL ring charged come July 17!
4 Minutes of WonderCon Footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnSicg5eRsI
1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (July 15)
Well muggles this is it. There will be no more books, and no more films after this. On July 15, Harry Potter ends. I wouldn’t consider myself a Harry Potter fan, even though I enjoyed the books and most of the films. But I am psyched for the big battle at Hogwarts!
At the end of Part I, Voldemort had found the master wand and Harry was mourning the loss of a friend. Now he, Ron, and Hermione must continue their quest to find the horcruxes and destroy them if they have a chance of killing Voldemort once and for all. Along the way they’ll face a dragon and end up at Hogwarts with their friends and family as Voldemort and his death eaters are coming to kill them all!
If you’ve read the books then you know that most of the 7th book has been shown, and all that’s really left is the battle at Hogwarts. Remember, only Harry has the ability to kill Volemort, but who will strike the final blow? If they do this film right, which I think they will, then they’ll be a lot of happy fans and crying going on when this film ends.
So after Harry Potter ends what will book enthusiast get excited about? Well if you’re like my wife it’ll be The Hunger Games, which is a new series she is bugging me to read. She may have gotten me to read Harry Potter but the only way she is going to get me to read another series is by going through a whole stack of Green Lantern comics. Enjoy the summer everyone!
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