Friday, April 4, 2014

Thoughts on the Summer Movie Schedule 2014 Part Two: June


Continued from Part One: May...

I think June, you will agree, is mainly about the sequels, including some of which I wonder about the need...

As with the last post, the links will take you to the IMDb page of the film.

Without further ado...

june

6th

Edge of Tomorrow

Formally titled All You Need is Kill (and I'm not really in love with either title, but what can you do), the story looks somewhat intriguing.  Tom Cruise is in a war and has to keep living the same moments over and over in an attempt to save the world.  I'm keeping an open mind.

The Fault in Our Stars

A tear-jerker romance based on a teen book as far as I can tell.

june

13th

How to Train Your Dragon 2



Loved the first one, hope the second one doesn't disappoint.  Of course, as we saw recently with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, often times you just wish they left well enough alone and didn't tarnish the greatness of the first with the second.  Hopefully this will be more along the lines of Despicable Me, Shrek, or Toy Story though and actually win you over all over again.

22 Jump Street

Okay, I admit.  I had ulterior motive when bringing up Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsThat movie was terrific (which made the sequel that much more painful).  It was surprisingly funny and way smarter than I was anticipating, and it had quite a lot of heart.  I've heard similar things about 21 Jump Street, to which this is a sequel.  The point of all of this rambling is that Cloudy and Jump Street were both directed by (and Cloudy 1 written by) Phil Lord and Chris Miller (they did not, however, write or direct the terrible Cloudy 2).  They also wrote and directed the fantabulously awesome (although, Everything is Awesome) The Lego Movie.  Therefore, whereas when the first film came out I really had no desire to see it, due to loving Cloudy and The Lego Movie, I kind of want to see this as well as the first one.

 The Rover

I'm hesitant mainly because of Robert Pattinson.

The Signal


june

20th

Jersey Boys

One of the best plays I have ever seen (the Broadway adaptation of the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is simply phenomenal), I have wanted a movie version for years.  However, if I had my dream, it would be Scorsese directing and not Eastwood.  That being said, I'm definitely looking forward to this.  There isn't a trailer for this yet, so part of me wonders if they're a little behind schedule and whether we'll actually get this in June.

Think Like a Man Too

I honestly have no memory of the first one, but if you do and liked it, apparently everyone is back for the sequel.

june

27th

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Sure, the cast has changed, but until Michael Bay has nothing to do with this franchise, I will have nothing to do with the destruction of my childhood.


Until Next Time, I have to admit, through two months of the Summer schedule, I'm a little disappointed.  There's a few films to look forward to, but it doesn't feel like we're getting bombarded with spectacles, to say the least.  Maybe July will give us more hope?  Come back soon to find out!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Thoughts on the Summer Movie Schedule 2014 Part One: May


Over the next few days/weeks, I'll be taking a look at what movies are coming out in that bastion of Hollywood Hype known as the Summer Movie Season!  Some, I'll comment on, some I'll just post.  Each will link to the IMDb page for the film.  If I'm really looking forward to it (and the trailer is available), I'll post the trailer.

Remember, Hollywood can't be trusted, and therefore, all dates are subject to change.

may

2nd

The Amazing Spider-Man 2



Spidey is my all-time favorite superhero.  The first (rebooted) film followed a little closer to the Ulitmate universe than the standard 616 universe (which is the main Marvel universe), but I'm holding out hope that the Gwen Stacy storyline from the comics will be presented on screen in this series somewhere.  That is the best comic book storyline in history, in my opinion (although I have to admit, the recent Superior Spider-Man story gives it a run for its money).  Andrew Garfield is pretty good, if a little too good looking, as Peter.  There were parts of the original trilogy that I liked better than the things they're doing here, but they haven't screwed the fans royally ala Spider-Man 3 yet in this iteration either, so at this point, I'll be there for each film in the trilogy, although my love for all things Spider-Man (with the notable exception of the current cartoon Ultimate Spider-Man, which is horrendous) pretty much guaranteed that anyway.

Belle



This looks intriguing.  I love the trailer, and the cast is phenomenal (although I wonder if poor Draco Malfoy will ever get to play a good guy.  I probably won't see it on opening weekend (especially since it is going against Spidey), but I will definitely check it out at some point.

Walk of Shame

Not really sure on this one.  A comedy from the director of some of the later (read: not as good) Adam Sandler films and D2, the second Mighty Ducks movies.  Take of that what you will.

may

9th

Chef

Jon Favreau (Swingers, Iron Man, Iron Man 2) writes, directs, and stars in this comedy alongside his Iron Man 2 costars Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson.  I reserve the right to get more excited about this film.

Legends of Oz: Dorthy's Return

Following the 75th anniversary of the movie, prepare yourself for an inundation of Oz related things.  This will probably not be the best of them.  (Oz: The Great and Powerful, on the other hand, was actually pretty decent.)

Mom's Night Out

Neighbors

Of these two outrageous (think Hangover/Bridesmaids-esque) comedies Neighbors looks to me to be the better bet if only because of the better names attached.  Nick Stoller after all brought us Forgetting Sarah Marshall (as well as the two latest Muppet movies.)


may

16th

Godzilla



The second "official Summer spectacle movie" (unless you count Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier as among the official summer spectacle's which on its surface it appears to be, but I'm just not prepared to count the summer movie season as starting April 4th).  This will either be AMAZING or really, really bad.  I don't see much middle ground for this film.  I'll definitely see it though.

Million Dollar Arm

Maybe on redbox.

may

23rd

X-Men: Days of Future Past



Although I recognize that I probably shouldn't... I have high hopes for this film.  Especially since it seems to be ignoring much of X-Men 3 and Wolverine: Origins, which were terrible.  X-Men: First Class and The Wolverine, the two films that preceed this one were much better than expected.  Hopefully this film can finally reach the heights of X-Men and X-Men 2, or even eclipse them as so many other recent comic book films have done.

Blended

Speaking of Adam Sandler movies... Here, he and Drew Barrymore try once again to recapture the magic of The Wedding SingerI'm not holding my breath.

may

30th

Maleficent



A take on the Sleeping Beauty tale through the eyes of the villain.  Consider me intrigued.

A Million Ways to Die in the West

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Seth MacFarlane.  If you are, you'll probably love this.


Until Next Time, the Summer season gets off to a bit of a slow start as Spidey, the X-Men, and Godzilla are the only huge draws.  Will things get a little more interesting in June?  You'll have to come find out if a Tom Cruise time-bending thriller, quite a few sequels, and a Clint Eastwood directed musical that I really wish had been directed by Martin Scorsese instead will really get our summer going.  See you soon for more details.