God, I love going to the movies. I really do. Ever since I was a little kid I have loved the feeling of being in that giant, cavernous room, of having the lights go down, and then getting ready to see something amazing. (First movie I ever saw in the theater – Star Wars. So that might help explain a lot.) As you are reading this, I am probably in the theater, either seeing Now You See Me, or Much Ado About Nothing. Or maybe both. (I’m an adult. Why not?)
If you’re like me, and you dig a good trip to the cinema (read that bit in a snooty accent, would you?), here are ten things I’m looking forward to this summer. NOTE: I have no idea if these movies are going to be any good or not. In fact, this column could easily be titled, “At Least Five Things That Are Going to Disappoint Me This Summer”.
This is the End (Wednesday, June 12) – Probably the movie I have most been looking forward to this summer, after Star Trek Into Darkness and Iron Man 3. Seth Rogan, James Franco, and a ton of other funny/famous/funny and famous people playing themselves as the apocalypse breaks out. Good times! Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen have rarely let me down (okay, Green Hornet), so I’m really hoping this one will deliver.
Man of Steel (Friday, June 14) – Oh boy. Not sure about this one. Zack Snyder is batting .500 with me. I thought Dawn of the Dead was superb, and I really have fun with 300. But I hated Watchmen, and the less said about Sucker Punch, the better. (And no, I haven’t seen the movie about the magical owls.) So whether or not he will be able to make a Superman movie with the heart of the original Christopher Reeve Superman, and not rely on two hours of special effects and sudden slow-motion action shots, I’m not sure. And count me among the vocal minority who feel like the way to do Superman right is NOT to do him “dark and edgy”, nor to make a movie that has him punching things for two hours. Superman is about helping people, not hurting them. And I’m not sure if Zack Snyder has THAT movie in him. But, Zod help me, I’ll be lining up to find out.
The Bling Ring (Friday, June 14) – This should be fun. It’s the true story of a group of rich kids who go on a crime spree, robbing the Hollywood homes of celebrities. Sofia Coppola knows a thing or two about fame and celebrity culture, and has yet to direct a movie I didn’t at least find interesting. And I am excited to see Emma Watson continue to do movies where she’s not waving a wand. I think she’s the bee’s knees.
World War Z (Friday, June 21) – I read the book. I loved the book. I am well aware that this will in no way, shape, or form resemble the book. But the visual daring effect of waves of infected washing over everything in their path like human sludge is such a unique and visually inventive take on zombies that I will be giving this a shot.
The Heat (Friday, June 28) – Okay, make fun of me if you want, but I really love Miss Congeniality, and I will watch it every time it’s on TV. This looks like that kind of Sandra Bullock movie, so color me excited. Plus, it has Melissa McCarthy as the foul-mouthed cop to Bullock’s straight-laced FBI agent. And Meliss McCarthy can make me laugh doing just about anything. So yes, it looks like a typical buddy-cop movie, but I’m still going to go see it, and I’m still expecting some laughs.
A Band Called Death (Friday, June 28) – I’ve heard nothing but good things about Jeff Howlett’s documentary on Death, the greatest band you’ve probably never heard of. Can’t wait to see it.
Detention of the Dead (Friday, June 28) – Okay, this is either going to be awesome, or it’s going to suck. But I like the idea of Breakfast Club as a zombie movie. (Spoiler alert: Zombies are a metaphor for high school students! OMG!)
Despicable Me 2 (Wednesday, July 3) – If you didn’t like the first Despicable Me, you have no soul, and we aren’t friends anymore. Steve Carell returns as the arch-villain Gru, now reformed (mostly) and living with his three adopted daughters, when he is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a new super criminal. I expect lots of cuteness, and lots of the minions getting blown up and making funny noises.
The Way, Way Back (Friday, July 5) – This looks to me like Adventureland minus Kristen Stewart. I am a fan of things that don’t have Kristen Stewart. So sign me up. A 14-year-old spending summer vacation with his mother and her boyfriend (Steve Carell, playing against type as an alpha male dick), finds a friend in the manager of a water park. At this point, I will literally pay money to watch Sam Rockwell watch paint dry, so I am all over this. I anticipate it will make me feel all the feelings.
Pacific Rim (Friday, July 12) – Holy shit, this looks awesome. It’s Guillermo del Toro making a movie about giant robots fighting giant monsters, which is apparently the exact movie I have wanted to see since I was 11, and I just didn’t know it. This movie can be absolutely horrible, and as long as there are giant robots punching giant monsters, I am going to have a nerd-boner of epic proportions. You’ve been warned, people sitting near me in the theater.
Next week I’ll be back with ten more reasons to go the movies this summer. Until then, follow me on twitter @travisholyfield and you can get my quick 140 character reviews of everything I see this summer. Tell me what flicks YOU’RE excited for, and hip me to whatever’s POPing in your Nation.
Now, pass the popcorn.
Travis M. Holyfield
travis@comicimpact.com