The summer movie season will be kicking into high gear soon, which means we'll be seeing tons of shoot 'em up/blow 'em up blockbusters, a few raunchy comedies and a scattered superhero movie or two to round off the list. Here's a few of the movies which have made my summer viewing list:
"Super 8": This J.J. Abrams sci-fi is set in the summer of 1979 in a small Ohio town, which is the site of a catastrophic train crash as well as some other mysterious goings on. They've already started advertising this one, and it looks promising. Release date: June 10th
"Cars 2": This sure-fire Pixar classic will reunite us with our old buddies, Lightning McQueen and good 'ol boy Mater, the tow truck, as they head overseas to compete in a World Grand Prix. Release date: June 24th
"Bad Teacher": Stars Cameron Diaz as a potty-mouthed and all kinds of wrong teacher, hoping to land a rich meal ticket in the form of a handsome substitute teacher played by Cameron's real-life old flame, Justin Timberlake. Release date: June 24th
"Captain America: The First Avenger": It wouldn't be a summer movie list without at least one superhero movie. Chris Evans stars as a young soldier who volunteers for an experimental program trying to create super soldiers. Release date: July 22nd
"Cowboys & Aliens": Stars Daniel Craig. Need I say more. It's billed as a cross between a classic western and alien-invasion movie. Release date: July 29th
"Crazy Stupid Love": Two of my favorite actors, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, star in this romantic comedy. Release date: July 29th
"The Tree": My one quirky concession to the typical summer fare. Set in the Australian countryside, the movie tells the tale of 8-year old Simone who becomes convinced her late father is whispering to her through the leaves of her favorite tree. The film closed last year's Cannes Film Festival and supposedly received a seven-minute standing ovation. Release date: July
"The Help": The movie stars Emma Stone and is based on the best-selling novel by the same name. You can read my 2009 post reviewing the book here. Release date: August 12th
In addition to the above, you've also got the prequel "X-Men: First Class" starring cutie James McAvoy (6/3); hottie Ryan Reynolds as DC Comics superhero the "Green Lantern" (6/17); a couple family movies starring two very funny guys, "Mr. Popper's Penguins" with Jim Carrey as a real-estate mogul who receives a mysterious crate from Antarctica and ends up playing mommy to six penguins (6/17) and "Zookeeper" with Kevin James as a kind caretaker that can speak to the animals (7/8); and last but not least, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" with the world's favorite boy wizard (7/15).
