Thoughts on the Summer Movie Schedule 2011 - Part One

There are a few films worth highlighting this summer, and some other films being released as well.

In the interest of providing you, my loyal reader, a look at the films scheduled for release over the summer months, as well as my thoughts and hopes for a few of them, here is a calendar of what you can expect over the next few months.

As always, dates are subject to change, because studios don't really believe in planning months in advance.

MAY

6th

THOR



With the announcement that this film would be directed by Kenneth Branagh, famed Shakespearean actor and director, my hopes began to rise for this film.  Overall, the Marvel films have been quite good and there is no reason to doubt that this one will be as well.  The cast looks fantastic and Branagh's direction should help turn this into an epic film.

SOMETHING BORROWED

THE BEAVER

While I am a huge fan of Jodie Foster, the fact that this film also stars Mel Gibson kind of makes me a little less inclined to see it in theaters.  Sometimes the details of a stars life outside of the cinema overshadows his or her work inside of cinema, and that is certainly the case for me with Mel Gibson.  However, this idea is extremely interesting.  The film is about a man who's depression so overcomes him that his life is completely falling apart, but with the advent of a beaver hand puppet through which he begins to solely communicate, he finds hope.  It is a different type of film from the usual Summer fare, and therefore might be worth checking out.

JUMPING THE BROOM

THERE BE DRAGONS


13th

PRIEST

I suppose this film might be fun if you're into this sort of thing.  I doubt that it will be one I check out in theater, however, unless it gets some rave reviews.

BRIDESMAIDS

THE BIG BANG


20th

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

Personally, I feel like this was a franchise that should have stopped at just one film.  The second in the original trilogy is a terrible mess.  The third's only redeeming quality is really that it is better than the second film.  For me, the only Captain Jack (of questionable sexuality) is Captain Jack Harkness (of Doctor Who and Torchwood), not Captain Jack Sparrow.  With a change in much of the supporting cast, and a different director in charge (Rob Marshall, who directed Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha, which makes him somewhat of a strange choice), there is some hope that this film can correct the mistakes of the last two in the series and returning to the fun whimsy of the original, but I'm not holding out hope.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

The new film from famed writer/director Woody Allen starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.


26th

THE HANGOVER PART II

This is another franchise that I fear should have stopped at one.  The plus is that it was the cast and crew that pushed for this sequel, and that it wasn't pushed for and rushed out by the studio.  On the other hand, it worries me that there is only what amounts to a teaser trailer for this film less than two months before its release.


27th

KUNG FU PANDA 2

Speaking of films that didn't really need a sequel....
The first film was very original and an outstanding story, but I'm not sure where it can go after the story that it already told.  It certainly won't have the emotional character development that the first film contained.

TREE OF LIFE



Terrance Malick is one of my all time favorite filmmakers.  His vision and ability to make film art are beyond reproach.  Though he has notoriously taken lots of time in-between projects (his first well known film was Days of Heaven in 1978, he didn't make his next film, The Thin Red Line, until 20 years later, 1998), he has been a little more prolific (by his standards) of late.  His last film was only released six years ago (The New World).  He is a director who's work I will be guaranteed to see in theater.


Until Next Time, tomorrow, I will return with a look at the month of June as my Thoughts on the Summer Movie Schedule continues.