So... it seems to have been that time of the year again. The summer movie season is set to open this year with Iron Man 3 on May 3rd. A per usual, there are an obscene amount of tentpole flicks (The Lone Ranger, World War Z, etc), sequels (Iron Man 3, Kick Ass 2, The Hangover 3,etc) and animated fare (Despicable Me 2, Monsters U, Turbo, etc). So once again I know I will be really busy at the theater for the next four months. But I decided to highlight ten movies that I really am anticipating... all original works, all first cracks at a movie lover like myself. Sure, I will be there for Iron Man, Hangover, etc.... but these are the ones that I am really looking forward to. Lets see how it all plays out in September... check out my list after the jump...
Here is my list in order of my interest:
10) The Conjuring - July 19th
This is a paranormal research story that is based on true accounts. It is directed by James Wan (Saw & Insidious) and it stars Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson. Wilson was great in Insidious, so I can't wait to see him work with Wan. Farmiga has done awesome in The Bates Motel, so i am looking forward to seeing her in a feature length horror role. This one looks spooky as shit...
9) The Bling Ring - June 14th
This one comes ripped straight from the headlines and is directed by Sofia Coppola (love her). It tells the story of four wild L.A. teens and the theft rampage that they went on, robbing celebrity houses. The real story involved thefts at Rachel Bilson, Paris Hilton, and many others... Plus this one gives us a grown up Hermoine (Emma Watson) in the lead, so I am in right away.
8) The To Do List - August 16th
You now how teenage comedies about losing virginity always revolve around boys? Yeah... not anymore. Aubrey Plaza is a valedictorian of her High School, and she is desperate to figure out the A,B,C's of sex. so she decides to take a methodical approach that has worked so well for her in her studies: she makes a to do list and checks them off as she completes them. The list is filled with sexual acts (think about things like a Dirty Sanchez & Hooking The Marlin) and will probably lead to hilarity. Plus Plaza can get it...
7) After Earth - June 7th
I am being optimistic about this one, and part of that is because of the director M. Night Shayamalan. no, not because of his track record. i loved his earlier films, but I truly believe that The Happening is the single worst movie ever made. Ever. But since he has been on a down swing in his career, he needs this one... bad. Plus the studio is keeping his name off of the adverts and credits during teh trailers for the film, instead allowing the lush scenery and potential of the Smith boys (father Will & son Jayden) carrying the audience's interest in the film. The action looks great, and Night is due for a hit... we shall see.
6) Maniac - June 21st
Elijah Wood is in this remake of the 80's classic horror film. I know I said that this list would consist of no sequels or remakes, but this one is a must see for me as the original is a huge part of my childhood. plus Wood was super fucking creepy as Kevin in Sin City, so this is right up his alley. Love me some non mainstream horror paying homage to classics....
5) R.I.P.D. - July 19th
Ryan Reynolds. Jeff Bridges. Mary Louise Parker. Based on a beloved indy comic. Yeah, I will be first in line to see this. When a cop is killed in the line of duty, they are given a choice. They can go to heaven/hell (whichever they are destined for) or they can join the Rest In Peace Department for 100 years of service, keeping rouge criminal spirits & ghosts in line. Recently killed cop Reynolds decides to join, and is partnered with grizzled veteran Bridges (who is in the last year of his 100 years of service, so is an Old West lawman.) Madness ensues. Think Men in Black with a sprinkle of Ghostbusters.
4) The Purge - May 31st
America is nearly perfect in this movie. Crime is non existent. Unemployment is down under 1%. everyone is prospering. How you ask? Well, one night a year all crime is legal. It is called The Purge, and it allows all people to take out any frustrations they have. They can take those feelings out in the worst ways possible... and boy is it helpful! But when a family locks in for the night and one of their teenagers decides to lend a hand to a guy being chased by a group of murders, Ethan Hawke's family becomes part of the murder plot due to their harboring of the target. This is a great concept and I hope it is pulled off...
3) The World's End - August 23rd
Simon Pegg. Nick Frost. Martin Freeman. All starring in a movie from Edgar Wright. 5 buddies reunite to complete an epic 12 bar Pub Crawl that they started years earlier but never completed. Now that they are older, wiser and drink much more they are planning to get it done. But there might be one problem with that... Aliens? Monsters? Movie critics? The secret of the movies villain has not been revealed, but i for one will be right there to see it all play out...
2) This Is The End - June 12th
Real life friends James Franco, Jay Burcel, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Jonah hill, and Craig Robertson all star in this film as themselves. They are rich, young, and the toasts of Hollywood. They are all super successful. And when they get together for a party at Franco's house, it is just another party night for the crew. Or is it? Aliens invade, the end of the world is at hand... and these pampered idiots now must survive the post apocalyptic world that is left. With tons of guest stars, this meta comedy is almost my most anticipated film of the summer. The distinction goes to...
1) Pacific Rim - July 12th
Holy shit i can't wait to see this movie. Guillermo Del Torro always has my attention, but when you make up a movie about giant robots fighting huge kaiju monsters. Sprinkle in Charlie Hunan (Sons of Anarchy) and Idris Elba (The Wire & Luther), some unbelievable realistic looking robots, and the best looking giant monsters I have ever seen and you got summer hit written all over it! If there was ever a reason to see a movie in IMAX 3-D, this is it. I'm in....
Honorable Mention: You're Next & All the Boys Love Mandy Lane -
I chose these two movies because they are finally getting released after laying in release date hell. All the Boys was filmed back in 2006 and you're Next back in 2010... but the companies that made them went bankrupt. So they bounced around and now have the proper backers, and both are finally coming out. Good to see these films actually getting a proper release...
