It felt like it would never come, but
the summer months are finally around the corner.
The warm weather and long nights are certainly nice, but what excites me
most about the summer is the lineup of blockbuster action flicks being
released. This summer will see an eclectic mix from the stalwart superhero
adaptation to the return of a few long-lost franchises. A Star Wars, Indiana
Jones, Batman, and Hulk movie all being released within a few months of each
other? Yeah, I'm stoked.
In this part 1 of my Summer Movie Preview, I will break through the buzz and
tell you why these movies might rock and why they might suck. To begin,
titles you'll be seeing released in the coming weeks and through the July
4th weekend...
The Story So Far
The summer blockbuster season officially got underway with the release of
the newly-formed Marvel Studio's Iron Man. Staring the re-invented Robert
Downey Jr. as titular hero, it was an instant hit with both critics and
fans. There were those expressing their concern that the much hyped release
of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV would hurt Iron Man's sales. Boy was
that not a problem, as the movie has already made well over a hundred
million dollars.
My full review can be read
Here.
The week after saw the release of the Wachowski brother's ambitious
live-action Speed Racer movie. Most critics trashed its overly colorful
style and campy dialog, and most Americans chose to skip it. Unable to even
break the $20 million mark in its opening weekend, profitability seems
unlikely for Speed.
I think it's a shame, personally, as this unique movie is nowhere near as
bad as some will have you believe. Check out my full review
Here.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skulls
Release Date: May 23
Why it might rock: Harrison Ford might be ridiculously old for an
action/adventure movie, but if anyone can pull off being kick-ass over the
age of 60, it's him. Commies may have replaced Nazis as the main
antagonists, but from the look of the trailers, The Kingdom of the Crystal
Skulls will be everything that made this franchise legendary.
Why it might suck: Let's be honest, neither Spielberg nor Lucas have
done anything particularly groundbreaking in recent years. Also, Shia
LaBeouf as Indy's sidekick has the potential to drag the entire film down.
Maybe that's just my unexplainable dislike of LaBeouf talking, but I really
do wish that they would have gone with another actor.
The Incredible Hulk
Release Date: June13
Why it might rock:
This one wasn't on my radar until recently. The second film to be released
by the new Marvel Studios, The Incredible Hulk has a surprisingly talented
cast. Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt round out the
group, with a rumored cameo appearance of Robert Downey Jr. as his Iron Man
character Tony Stark.
Why it might suck:
A good cast is one thing, but I'm skeptical of how improved its plot will be
compared to Ang Lee's 2003 bomb. Also, the special effects shown in the
trailer don't look too inspiring. Hopefully they've been polished up since
then.
The Happening
Release Date: June 13
Why it might rock: Disappearing bees and post 9/11 wrapped up into a
supernatural suspense thriller? Yes please. Staring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey
Deschanel, and John Leguizamo? I am there.
Why it might suck: M. Night Shyamalan has certainly taken a dive as
of late. Coming off the massive commercial success of The Sixth Sense and
Signs, he gave us the hit or miss pair of The Village and Lady in the Water.
With everyone expecting some massive twist ending, whatever the ending turns
out to be will likely leave many disappointed.
Hancock
Release Date: July 4
Why it might rock: It just wouldn't be a summer blockbuster season
without Will Smith. Details about this superhero flick are sparse, but its
mature look at the personal sacrifices a hero must make sounds like an
interesting premise.
Why it might suck: With long-running Marvel and DC characters
dominating pre-release buzz, I'm afraid that this non-comic book inspired
tale will get lost in the box office hustle.
That's all for part 1 of the Summer Movie Preview. Tune in next week to see
what the rest of the summer has in store for us.
