Posted by Matt in movies.
Tags: 30 Minutes or Less, August, Captain America: The First Avenger, Conan the Barbarian, Cowboys & Aliens, Fright Night, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Horrible Bosses, July, Larry Crowne, Our Idiot Brother, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, summer movie preview, The Change-Up, The Help, The Smurfs, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Zookeeper
Today we will continue our look at the upcoming summer movies. Last week we looked at some notable films set for release in May and June and today we will look ahead to July and August.
July 4
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Tyrese Gibson
Director: Michael Bay
Plot: Against the backdrop of the space race between the USSR and the USA, the alliance between Sam Witwicky and Optimus Prime is put to the test against a common enemy: Shockwave.
My Take: Who goes to these movies? I watched the first one, thought it was awful, and never even bothered to waste my time with the second, so naturally I’ll skip this as well.
Larry Crowne
Stars: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts
Director: Tom Hanks
Plot: Unclear of his next steps after losing his job at a big-box retailer, Larry Crowne enrolls at his local college, where he finds a niche among the school’s community of outcasts, and a connection with a teacher who has lost her passion for life.
My Take: Tom Hanks has only sat in the director’s chair for a feature film one previous time, 1996’s That Thing You Do!, so I’m not quite sure what to expect from him here. The presence of rom-com queen Julia Roberts and the generic trailer make me queasy, though, so I’ll have to pass on this one.
July 8
Zookeeper
Stars: Kevin James
Director: Frank Coraci
Plot: The animals at one particular zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman.
My Take: Kevin James gets on my nerves, the director specializes in bad Adam Sandler fare, and the trailer looks truly awful. No thanks, but my kids will probably love it.
Horrible Bosses
Stars: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
Director: Seth Gordon
Plot: Three friends concoct a deadly plan when they realize their respective bosses are making their lives miserable.
My Take: It sounds like a promising idea, perhaps something Office Space-like, but the lack of a released trailer is a bit bothersome and could mean that the film is so unwatchable that they couldn’t put together a few scenes to make it appealing. We’ll see.
July 15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Director: David Yates
Plot: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes. But when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the battle we’ve known has been coming – Harry vs. Voldemort – looms large on the horizon.
My Take: Count me in. The ten year, 8 film series finally comes to an end this summer is what should be the cinematic event of the season.
July 22
Captain America: The First Avenger
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Joe Johnston
Plot: After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America. His first mission: to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Red Skull.
My Take: Consider me interested. Sure, the comic book adaptation market is a little oversaturated right now, but the trailer is entertaining and this could be a winner.
July 29
Cowboys & Aliens
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde
Director: Jon Favreau (Iron Man 1 and 2)
Plot: In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their difference aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.
My Take: Awesome. Combining an excellent cast, the director of Iron Man, and screenplay writer Damon Lindelof of Lost fame, this could be one of the most entertaining experiences of the summer.
The Smurfs
Stars: Hank Azaria, Katy Perry, Neil Patrick Harris
Director: Raja Gosnell
Plot: The little blue creatures of Smurf village more to New York City after the evil wizard Gargamel chases them out of their mushroom-like homes in the forest.
My Take: Lord, this looks terrible. Even the all-star cast doesn’t save this one for me.
August 5
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Stars: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto
Director: Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist)
Plot: In present day San Francisco, a scientist looks for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease by experimenting on a chimpanzee named Caesar. The development of animal intelligence brings about a war for supremacy between humans and apes.
My Take: Is this related to the fiasco that was Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes? The presence of James Franco gives this a slight boost, but the unfamiliarity of the director leaves me a lot of questions. I’ll have to wait for the reviews.
The Change-Up
Stars: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde
Director: David Dobkin
Plot: A family guy switches bodies with his slacker best friend in an effort to romance his co-worker.
My Take: The body-switching idea has been done so many times, that I just can’t bring myself to care. I will say, though, that the presence of Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds is a little intriguing.
August 12
30 Minutes or Less
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson
Director: Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland)
Plot: Two fledgling criminals kidnap pizza delivery guy, Nick, strap a bomb to his chest, and inform him that he has mere hours to rob a bank. As the clock ticks, Nick, with the help of ex-best friend, Chet, deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship.
My Take: Maybe. I loved director Ruben Fleischer’s last film, Zombieland, but I’m not sure what to make of this trailer. We’ll see.
The Help
Stars: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer
Director: Tate Taylor
Plot: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962: aspiring writer Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan returns home after college, where unexpected friendships with African-American maids Aibeleen Clark and Minny Jackson result in a book that gives a previously unheard voice to a community’s suffering.
My Take: I loved the book, but the mid-August release date for this film is kind of a dead zone for studios, a relative dumping ground for films not big enough to make summer blockbuster money and not good enough for Oscar consideration. Director Tate Taylor has only one other full length film under his belt, Pretty Ugly People, which I’ve never seen. We’ll see, but I have the feeling this could be a huge disappointment.
Aug 19
Fright Night
Stars: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant
Director: Craig Gillespie (Mr. Woodcock)
Plot: Teenage Charley Brewster guesses that his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists Peter Vincent, the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down Jerry and his guardian.
My Take: Hollywood’s return to the 1980’s continues with yet another remake, this one of a quintessential vampire flick of the period. Considering the director is also responsible for Mr. Woodcock, I’m not exactly enthusiastic, but the presence of Colin Farrell could make this a little more interesting. We’ll see.
Conan the Barbarian
Stars: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan
Director: Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remakes)
Plot: Muscle-bound warrior Conan the Cimmerian seeks to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village.
My Take: Remake king Marcus Nispel (the guy responsible for both the Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes) is apparently ready to throw anything, even a movie bad by Schwarzenegger standards, against the wall to see if it sticks. What’s next Red Sonja? No thanks.
August 26
Our Idiot Brother
Stars: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel
Director: Jesse Peretz (The Ex, episodes of Important Things With Dimitri Martin)
Plot: A pot bust sends nice-guy Ned to jail, and though he’s released early on good behavior, he returns home to discover that his girlfriend has left and taken his dog with her. Homeless and unemployed, he divides his time by couch-surfing at the homes of his sisters and causing chaos in each of their lives.
My Take: We’ll see. I’m hit-or-miss when it comes to Paul Rudd and director Peretz (he did The Ex and episodes of Important Things With Dimitri Martin in the past) is a bit iffy.
Thoughts? What do you want to see?
Posted by Matt in movies.
Tags: Bridesmaids, Cars 2, Everything Must Go, Green Lantern, Hobo with a Shotgun, Kung-Fu Panda 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Priest, summer movie preview, Super 8, The Beaver, The Hangover Part II, Thor, X-Men:First Class
That time is upon us again, when big budgets and on-screen explosions and CGI effects and scantily clad women seem to take over the entertainment industry. Yes, it’s the summer movie season! As a public service, each year I take a look at the upcoming movies, read their descriptions, watch their trailers, and give you my verdict on whether or not they will be watchable. Today we will look at some of the coming films to be released in the months of May and June.
May 6
Thor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Plot: The warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastical realm of Asgard by his father Odin for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live among humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster teaches Thor much needed lessons, and his new-found strength comes in plan as a villain from his homeland wends dark forces toward Earth.
My Take: My familiarity with the Thor comic book character is basically nonexistent, so this one does hold some intrigue for me, particularly because of the presence of Branagh, whose directorial work has mostly been in Shakespeare adaptations. The trailer looks promising and if the reviews are decent, I’ll probably check it out eventually.
The Beaver
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin
Director: Jodie Foster
Plot: A troubled executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating with his family and colleagues.
My Take: So, apparently Mel Gibson’s comeback from hate speech and insanity is to play Mr. Garrison from South Park. Um, okay, I guess. We’ll see.
Hobo with a Shotgun
Starring: Rutger Hauer
Director: Jason Eisener
Plot: A transient looking for a fresh start in a new town instead finds himself in the middle of an urban wasteland run by a notorious crime boss and crooked cops. Fed up with the violence around him, he grabs hold of a pump-action shotgun and begins to dole out round after round of civilian justice.
My Take: Why include this one? Because it’s about a freakin’ vigilante hobo with a shotgun and the director’s last work was on a short film about murderous Christmas trees fighting back. Awesome.
May 13
Bridesmaids
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Director: Paul Feig
Plot: Picked as her best friend’s maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids.
My Take: The trailer looks better than expected from the plot description and the comparison to Judd Apatow is promising. We’ll see.
Priest
Stars: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie O
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Plot: A priest disobeys church law to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
My Take: A vampire hunting priest? Eh. Whatever.
Everything Must Go
Stars: Will Ferrell, Rebecca hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace
Director: Dan Rush
Plot: After Nick Halsey loses his job, the rest of his life begins to crumble as his wife leaves him and he starts drinking again. Oddly enough, selling his worldly possessions on his front lawn with the help of two neighbors might be the key to his preservation.
My Take: I tend to be a Will Ferrell fan, so I’m looking at this comedy-drama with a great deal of interest, maybe even more so since it co-stars the Notorious B.I.G.’s son. I’ll see it at some point
May 20
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Stars: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane
Director: Rob Marshall
Plot: After crossing paths with a woman from his path, Captain Jack Sparrow is swept aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard, on an unexpected mission to find the elusive fountain of youth.
My Take: I wasn’t terribly enamored with the last two Pirates sequels and I don’t recall ever seeing them more than once, but I’m sure I’ll watch this one as well. You have to wonder if director Rob Marshall, best known for his work on Chicago, will add in a song-and-dance scene.
May 27
The Hangover Part II
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
Director: Todd Phillips
Plot: Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Dough jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.
My Take: Again? The first was a lot of fun, but I can’t imagine doing it over will hold the same appeal.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Stars: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan
Director: Jennifer Yuh
Plot: Po and the Furious Five venture to China to battle a villain and uncover the secrets of Po’s mysterious origins.
My Take: There’s no escape. This will be a must-see for my kids.
June 3
X-Men: First Class
Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lowrence
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Plot: Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr are two young men discovering their powers. Banding together with fellow mutants to stop a threat to the world, a rift grows between the two forces, leading to the founding of Professor X’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood, and the beginning of their eternal war.
My Take: X-Men 3 was a big letdown after the classic second chapter, so I’m a bit iffy about this prequel. It has a good cast, an interesting director, and an appealing trailer, so I’m sure I’ll see it at some point.
June 10
Super 8
Starring: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler
Director: JJ Abrams
Plot: Ohio, 1979: When kids shooting a super 8 movie witness a train crash, their shock soon turns to feelings of suspicion and horror after disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town.
My Take: JJ Abrams struck gold with his incredible relaunch of Star Trek, so I would be watching anything he does with interest now. This teaming with producer Steven Spielberg, though, looks like a revisit to the 1980’s, so much so that in the trailer I almost expected to see bikes flying by the moon. Probably a must-see this summer.
June 17
Green Lantern
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Starsgaard
Director: Martin Campbell (Edge of Darkness, Casino Royale, The Legend of Zorro)
Plot: When he’s granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, test pilot Hal Jordan becomes the first human to earn membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. His mission: to combat an enemy called Parallax, which threatens to destroy the universe’s balance of power.
My Take: In a summer jam-packed with comic book movies, Green Lantern is one that stands out and definitely one the studio believes will be huge. I’m sure I’ll see it at some point.
June 24
Cars 2
Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy
Director: John Lasseter (Cars, Toy Story, Toy Story 2), Brad Lewis
Plot: Lightning McQueen, pit boss Mater, and the rest of Lightning’s crew enter the Race of Champions, a multi-national event taking place in Japan, Germany, Italy, France, and England.
My Take: The kids will definitely see to it that they win this round, so I’m sure we’ll see it at some point.
What about you? What movies are you looking forward to? I’ll post part 2 later when I have time.
