Today, the first of May, signals the start of the summer movie season for this year. Traditionally, if you want to call it that, it usually started on the Memorial Day weekend and ended the weekend after the 4th of July holiday. But now, the season is much more elastic in its starting and end dates which is based upon how many films the studios have lined up for the summer release.
In the last few years, the studios have tended to release only their most popcorn type movies, i.e. the films that feature action, comedy or are for children. Now, serious films touted as possible Academy Award nominations are also released during this time. Also, serious action films may not necessarily be released for the summer now. Several times films are pulled from the schedule to be released during the Christmas season when competition for ticket goers dollars is less.
Last year’s big summer film was The Dark Knight, a blockbuster by many standards, and accordingly all other films were scheduled around its release date. This year, no single film has been singled out as the one film to see but there are a few like Star Trek and the latest harry Potter film that will attract the heaviest attention.
So below are the films scheduled to be released this summer. Film outlines are from the USA Today special on summer movies as well, I added my assessment whether I will watch the film or not. Did fairly well last year in catching the must see films. I hope to repeat the same effort this effort.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1)
20th Century Fox
Outline: Hugh Jackman returns as everybody’s favorite adamantium-clawed mutant in this look back at the snarling, cigar-chomping, Elvis-haired hero and how he came to be through Canada’s Weapon X human experiments. (Finally, some Canuck villainy.) Other characters from his Marvel sphere of story lines include Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth, Taylor Kitsch as Gambit and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
Will I see it?: More than likely. I always been an X-men fan and I have seen all of the films to date. As the more exciting character from the pantheon of heroes that are the X-men, it should be a thrilling film.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (May 1)
Warner Bros.
A Dickens of a romantic comedy. Playboy photographer Connor (Matthew McConaughey) receives comeuppance at his brother’s wedding; he is haunted by conquests past, present and future.
Will I see it?: No. Not just in the mood for romantic comedies right now.
Star Trek (May 8 )
Paramount
Captain Kirk, Spock and space surgeon Bones McCoy (“Dammit, Jim! I’m a doctor, not a _!”) return in the visages of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban, respectively, in this big-budget, sexed-up version of the original series, with Lost and Alias’ J.J. Abrams at the helm. The film goes where William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have gone before, sort of. It takes the Enterprise crew on a sleeker adventure, in the hopes of reviving the franchise.
Will I see it?: Definitely. This re imagining of the original Star Trek story will definitely be the hot topic of discussion for many of the fan boy and Trekkie sites but it looks like a solid film all the way through.
Angels & Demons (May 15)
Sony
Harvard professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati — and a deadly threat to the group’s enemy, the Catholic Church. Ayelet Zurer plays Vittoria Vetra, a doctor who helps search for the killer of her physicist father. Ron Howard directs.
Will I see it?: Unlikely. Never saw the first film even though this is supposed to a prequel to the Da Vinci Code film. Probably will keep this one strictly for later viewing.
Terminator Salvation (May 21)
Warner Bros.
John Connor, chased by robots from the future throughout his childhood, has finally made it to the point in 2018 when he irritates humanity’s mechanical overlords enough for them to try to go back and kill him in the past. In this McG-directed fourth installment, Christian Bale stars as Connor, and Anton Yelchin co-stars as fellow refugee fighter Kyle Reese, who grows up to be the Sarah Connor saving/loving hero Michael Biehn played in 1984’s original Terminator— who, as everybody now knows, turned out to be Connor’s father during that foray into the past. Confused yet? Just remember — it’s time travel, so hasta la vista, baby.
Will I see it?: Probably. I was into the whole Terminator thing way back with the original film and one of my favorite memories of going to the movies is when I and 500 other fans crashed our way to see the sneak preview of the second Terminator film.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (May 22)
20th Century Fox
The action moves to D.C. when the Museum of Natural History exhibits from the first film are stored in the Nation’s Attic during a renovation. Ben Stiller’s Larry poses as a Smithsonian guard to protect his old friends and new ones, including Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams).
Will I see it?: I enjoyed the original film and this is a solid family film so I might just take the whole film to see it when it comes out so mark this as more than likely.
Up (May 29)
Pixar/Disney
Pixar’s first release in digital 3-D is a symphony of senior moments as elderly Carl (Ed Asner) fulfills his late wife’s dream of seeing South America by transporting his home to Venezuela via thousands of balloons. Along for the ride: Russell (Jordan Nagai), an 8-year-old stowaway, a giant bird dubbed Kevin, Dug the dog and mad adventurer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer).
Will I see it?: Definitely. I will never miss a Pixar film and the 3D effects should be stellar is the preview I saw in 3D when Monsters vs Aliens came out.
Land of the Lost (June 5)
Universal
You know the story, especially if you grew up in the ’70s. Just sing the theme song from the cheesy Sid & Marty Kroft kids show: “Marshall, Will and Holly/ On a routine expedition/ Met the grea-test earthquake/ ever known … ” And from there they plunge into a parallel dimension where they are menaced by Sleestak lizard people, a Tyrannosaurus rex named Grumpy and a furry little guy called Chaka, who is supposed to be friendly, but maybe not this time. Expect this version, starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel, to have a more overtly comedic sensibility than the very kitschy show.
Will I see it?: I like Will Ferrel but I have yet to see him in a film at the theatre when he was in the starring role. Not sure about this one. Did not see the one with Brendan Fraser last summer either when it was in 3D so I would say unlikely for this film.
The Hangover (June 5)
Warner Bros.
A trio of groomsmen (Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis) go on a drunken Vegas binge and lose the soon-to-be-married groom. In a desperate effort to find him, they must retrace their wobbly steps.
Will I see it?: Naw.
Away We Go (June 5)
Focus
Sam Mendes (American Beauty) does his first full-out comedy. Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph), about to have their first baby, set off on a journey to visit friends and family in Arizona, Wisconsin and Montreal while searching for a place to put down roots.
Will I see it?: Unsure about this one. At some point I need to work in a light comedy into my movie schedule. One of my favorite films from a few summers ago was Little Miss Sunshine which I though weas a welcome change of pace after what I was seeing that summer. I guess it will depend on mood at the time and how I managed to keep up with the films released to date.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (June 12)
Sony
This thriller pits Denzel Washington, playing a subway employee, against John Travolta’s hijacker, who has commandeered a train and taken passengers hostage. The Tony Scott-directed film is a remake of the 1974 classic with Walter Matthau as the transit worker and the late Robert Shaw as the chief crook.
Will I see it?: Probably not. Liked the original film when I saw it on video and typically my assessment of remakes is that they are rarely needed.
Year One (June 19)
Sony
Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day) joins the gang of decorum-defying filmmakers with this tale of barely evolved buffoons Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera), who stumble through ancient history after being banished from their village.
Will I see it?: Saw the trailer but I dod not think there is enough in the film to make me go the weekend it comes out. Will wait for the word of mouth reviews from the film.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26)
Paramount/DreamWorks
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and the remaining earthbound Autobots do battle with a new gang of visiting, villainous Decepticons, here to harness energy and reconnect with their ancient leader The Fallen. Needless to say, those goals also involve annihilating the human race. This time, the villains include Soundwave and the robotic jaguar Ravage, and the Autobots get female Arcee, who takes the form of a pink motorcycle. Michael Bay directs.
Will I see it?: Probably not. Did not see the original film which I thought was just one long action sequence of things being destroyed. This does not look much different.
The Hurt Locker (June 26)
Summit Entertainment
Jeremy Renner stars as a bomb disarmer in Iraq, who shocks his friends and colleagues with his fearlessness in deadly situations — but that may be a sign of a psychological breakdown and addiction to danger.
Will I see it?: Intriguing film that I may make some time for if it ever comes this way to the theatres.
Public Enemies (July 1)
Universal
The feds try to take down notorious American gangster John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and his henchmen during the crime wave of the 1930s. Christian Bale plays a crime fighter again, this time as Melvin Purvis, one of J. Edgar Hoover’s favorite agents.
Will I see it?: Strangely enough, I have keeping up with nearly everything that Jonny Depp has appeared in the last several years even in a minor role. Great looking film on the trailer. This one I would say definitely.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (July 1)
20th Century Fox
Manny the mammoth (Ray Romano), Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo), Diego the saber-tooth (Denis Leary) and the squirrelly Scrat are back. They not only enter a new dimension (digital 3-D) for this third adventure, they also fall into a passage to a world ruled by dinosaurs.
Will I see it?: A few weeks back I saw the original Ice Age on television and then saw an extended commercial with the trailer for this film. The difference between the animation quality of the original film and this one is remarkable. I may not see the film for myself but perhaps take the kids to see it.
Bruno (July 10)
Universal
In this follow-up to 2006’s Borat, Brit wit Sacha Baron Cohen assumes the guise of a gay Austrian fashion correspondent who flamboyantly treks across America while exposing hypocrites and homophobes in their rawest form.
Will I see it?: Oooh boy. Not sure. Guaranteed to offend me in some way at some point even if I am laughing my head off. Hmmm …. probably.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17)
Warner Bros.
The principals (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) return for the sixth installment, as Lord Voldemort’s threat hangs heavier over Hogwarts as Dumbledore prepares Harry for the final battle with his ultimate foe. Meanwhile, adolescent hormones run wild through the corridors of the academy.
Will I see it?: I have seen all of them to date at least once. Might as well keep the streak alive.
G-Force (July 24)
Disney
A specially trained squad of guinea pigs (voiced by Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz and Sam Rockwell) is dispatched to stop a diabolical billionaire from taking over the world. The genetically altered rodents have been groomed by the government to serve as little James Bonds — and they take themselves very seriously. Jerry Bruckheimer produced the picture, a mixture of live action, animation and 3-D.
Will I see it?: Nope.
Julie & Julia (Aug. 7)
Sony
Julie Powell (Amy Adams) starts a year-long mission to whip up all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking in her tiny Queens kitchen. Interspersed are scenes of Child (Meryl Streep) from My Life in France, which recounts the culinary pioneer’s initial foray into French cuisine.
Will I see it?: Late summer film after an immense diet of action films and other blockbusters. Could be the dessert for the whole summer movie season. Maybe.
Inglourious Basterds (Aug. 21)
The Weinstein Co.
A group of Jewish soldiers (Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B.J. Novak) are commissioned to strike fear in the Nazis by attacking their officers with special brutality and viciousness, collecting scalps for their Southern-fried chief (Brad Pitt). Expect a spectacle of gore; it’s Quentin Tarantino’s first war saga, and Roth made the brutal Hostel films.
Will I see it?: It’s a Quentin Taratino film. Blood and gore are almost a prequisite. I would say more than likely.