'Tis the season to be jolly. No it's not Christmas, its summer blockbuster time!! Every year May through August bring out the big guns and budgets with movies filled with superheroes and aliens, comedians and romantics. This year one series opens with The Avengers and one, The Dark Knight Rises, comes to its epic conclusion. Below is a highlight of the movies that are being released and thoughts on the ones I am looking forward to the most.
May: The Avengers (5-4) is the first big movie of the season and one of the most anticipated (especially by me). This movie has had the ground work built in the Marvel Studios movies over the past 5 years. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) brought a comedic beginning to the franchise. Last year, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) were given their own origin stories. Both were very well received, rightly so, earned a lot of money and sequels are in the works.While the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) has had two movies (one prior to Iron Man), they were not as well received, but early reviews indicate that Ruffalo brings the touch the green, rage monster needed. This is one part of the film that I am greatly anticipating as I am a big fan of Ruffalo's. Another actor whose star should be rising high after this is Tom Hiddleston, who brought Loki to life in Thor. He stole scenes from Anthony Hopkins and made people take notice. The rest of the Avengers are Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and an honerary spot to S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) who has helped to link together the other films. I can't wait to see what Joss Whedon brings to this franchise!
Dark Shadows (5-11) starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green; directed by Tim Burton. This is the eighth collaboration between Depp and Burton and is based on the cult-tv hit of the same name. Depp plays a vampire who returns to the '70's after being at rest for some time. Two things are for certain when the two get together: Depp will have a shade of white facial makeup and it is sure to be a wacky good time.
Battleship (5-18) shares its name with a popular board game, but is likely to resemble Transformers with aliens instead of placing pegs in plastic ships to sink the battleship. The film brings together Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Neeson, Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker (I like to call her Mrs. Andy Roddick). Decker stars in another movie releasing the same day: What To Expect When Your Expecting. This is an ensemble comedy based off the popular expectant mother book of the same name. The trailer indicates the real draw will be the daddy's or dude's club! The all-star cast includes: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, Joe Manganiello, Rodrigo Santoro and Matthew Morrison.
Men In Black 3 (5-25) re-teams Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent J and K. This adventure send Agent J into the '60's when a young Agent K, played by Josh Brolin, was only 29 and had some "city miles" on him. Will Smith always delivers a great summer blockbuster and from what I have seen it looks like this one will not disappoint. The only complaint I have is that this movie is not being released on the July 4th weekend, better known as the "Big Willy Weekend", based on several hits he had on that weekend in the past.
June: Snow White and the Huntsman (6-1) is the second film this year based on the beloved character. This version stars Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Charlize Theron as the evil witch/stepmother and Chris Hemsworth as the (hunky and dirty- he's covered in mud in every photo I have seen) huntsman. From the footage available so far it seems to be a much darker take on the fairy tale and that will likely leave me happily ever after.
Prometheus (6-8) sends director Ridley Scott back into territory that made him a legend, aliens. This film is greatly anticipated and shrouded in mystery. Boasting a talented cast including Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace, this is sure to send sci-fi geeks into a tizzy.
Rock of Ages (6-15) based on the hit Broadway musical goes back to the time of 80's rock-n-roll. The cast includes Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta Jones and Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx. It seems important to point out Cruise's character as the trailer only says it a few hundred times! Now lets not get me wrong here, I have seen the stage show and it is phenomenal. It blends songs you know, romance, comedy and social commentary into one hell of a good time. Who doesn't want to see a good musical or a shirtless Cruise singing Bon Jovi?
That's My Boy (6-15) has Adam Sandler playing Andy Samberg's father. Need I say more? I'll see you there and be the one howling in the back.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (6-22) is no joke. Based on a best-selling book and starring relative newcomer Benjamin Walker, this film will likely divide audiences but has me saying "four-score and seven stakes ago."
Brave (6-22) is Pixar's next big hit. This time a red-headed Scottish female leads the action as she is not pleased with her royal parents betrothing her to three available suitors. They had me at Pixar.
Channing Tatum has two movies coming out on the 29th: G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Magic Mike. The two draw different kinds of audiences with one a sequel named for a boy's toy and one reflects the actors former profession as a stripper. The first brings in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Bruce Willis for a little more muscle. While, the second will likely draw a large female audience with hunky co-stars Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello strutting their stuff on stage.
July: The Dark Knight Rises (7-20) will complete Christopher Nolan's love letter to Batman. Christian Bale returns to play Gotham City's resident savior, anti-hero, billionaire Bruce Wayne/Batman. Say what you will about his gravelly voice when he is the caped crusader, but Bale has delivered on hell of a performance in the iconic role. Joining him once again are Michael Caine (Alfred) and Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) who know how to deliver on serious material, but can be even more powerful when they are witty. "You expecting to run into much gunfire in these caves?" gets me every time. New to the party are Tom Hardy (Bane), Anne Hathaway (Selina Kyle/Catwoman) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (John Blake). The trio are on my list of favorite actors and will be amazing additions to this story. If Tom Hardy can deliver even half of the performance that Heath Ledger gave as the Joker then we are in for a real treat! I have confidence to say that this will likely go down as one of the greatest trilogy's ever made and if the three trailers are not enough to entice you to see this film then may the Joker have mercy on your soul.
The Amazing Spider-Man (7-3) reboots the superhero only five years after the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire franchise ended. This time Andrew Garfield takes on the title role with Emma Stone playing his love interest Gwen Stacy. Only time will tell if this was a good idea and if it will launch Garfield's career even higher.
Savages (7-6) is a gritty thriller from the veteran director Oliver Stone boasting a talented young cast that includes Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively and bring in veterans John Travolta, Selma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro. This film looks to draw all types of audiences with a story filled with action, romance and intrigue as the two best friends and coworkers (marijuana growers) share their love with Lively and must save her after being kidnapped.
Ted (7-13) makes a childhood dream come true as Mark Wahlberg's younger self wishes his teddy bear to life. The bear, voiced by Seth MacFarlane, stays with him as he grows up and becomes a foul-mouthed, ladies man....bear. The concept is incredible and looks to be a must see, just not for children. This bear is no Teddy Ruxpin!
Neighborhood Watch (7-27) reunites Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller (Dodgeball!) and throws Jonah Hill into the mix as a group of guys who are a group of volunteer neighborhood watchmen. This may be the comedy of the summer a la The Hangover and Wedding Crashers and I can not wait to see it! Just remember Hill's advice to "look at his words and hear my face."
August: Total Recall (8-3) reboots the Schwarzenegger sci-fi adventure with Colin Farrell in the lead role of a factory worker who has newly acquired memories of being a freedom fighter in a futuristic society. Bring in beauties Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale as love interests and you have a late-summer action flick that can bring together different kinds of cinephile's and explore a new world.
The Bourne Legacy (8-3) brings Jeremy Renner in as a CIA agent on the lamb. While Matt Damon was made an action star with the trilogy, this film looks to do the same with Renner. I am usually not a fan of continuing a franchise without the main star, but this looks to be a solid film bringing in costars Edward Norton and Rachel Weisz. This has the possibility to continue on the Bourne legacy and even unite Renner and Damon in a future story a la the Fast and Furious franchise (yeah I said it!).
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (8-15) starring Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton as wannabe parents who discover their dreams come true as a 10 year old boy comes into their life. This has tearjerker written all over it.
The Expendables 2 (8-17) has Stallone, Statham, Li, Hemsworth (of the Liam persuasion), Van Damme, Willis, Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris. Boom, crash, explosion, punch! That's all.
Sparkle (8-17) is Whitney Houston's final film. The drama/musical, Dreamgirls style, looks to launch the film career of music star Jordin Sparks. The story of three sisters who are launched into the music industry with a protective mother seems to be the perfect send off to Houston.
Lawless (8-31) brings together Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf in a story of bootleg brothers who are trying to stay out of trouble and the reach of Guy Pearce. Combining the gangster and western genres should send the summer movie season out with a bang. Did I mention TOM HARDY!?!
It looks like we will all have a very busy and broke summer sitting in the air-conditioning watching these moving pictures.
