Meant to do this last week, folks. But life got in the way.
Having said that, let me re-use the same intro from my 2008 Summer Movie Preview:
Here’s the list of movies I want to catch this summer. In my younger days, I would have gone ahead and watched all these movies in the theater, and on opening night more often than not too.
Those days are long gone, unfortunately, and I’ll be lucky if I see a third to a half of the movies on this list. For the purpose of this post, I’ll list the movies by release date, and give them a number ranking after each one. These number rankings mean:
1 – Not missing watching this in the theater, come hell or high water. And If I could help it, on opening night also.
2 – Will try to watch this in the theater, but not necessarily on opening night though. I might just as easily end up watching it on DVD when it is released then.
3 – It won’t kill me if I end up not watching this in the theater, but will try to eventually watch it on DVD.
So here we go:
May 1st
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – 2: So-so reviews (especially from some friends) has me leaning towards waiting for the DVD. Too bad – I like Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, especially since he seems to respect the character.
May 7th
Star Trek – 1: The reviews have been phenomenal. And while I am not as big a Trek fan as some of my friends (Mots and DJ Rob Nonstop come screaming into mind), I’m still enough of a fan to enjoy it immensely.
May 15th
Big Man Japan – 2: Any description I type can’t do the movie justice. Just click on the link and check it out for yourself.
May 21st
Terminator: Salvation – 2: Okay, as far as I’m concerned, there are two things going against this: First, McG is directing it. Second, there is the rumored ending which was leaked many months ago which would just destroy the franchise, I think. There’s nothing we can do about the first point, but new rumors have it that the ending was re-shot due to the uproar which ensued from the leak so maybe there is hope. One thing going for it though – Christian Bale. And Sam Worthington should be good too.
May 29th
Drag Me To Hell – 1 or 2, I’m not sure yet: Sam Raimi returns to his horror roots, and that’s good enough for me.
Up – 1: Because anything by Pixar, I will watch; and gladly watch in theaters.
June 5th
Away We Go – 2 or 3: I have a feeling this one will be one of those hidden gems of a movie.
The Hangover – 1 or 2: Sounds like Very Bad Things, no?
Land of the Lost – 3: Will Ferrell is in it so it will make bank. Is it enough to make me watch it at the theater?
June 12th:
Moon – 2: Great actors and what sounds like a mind trip of a plot.
June 19th:
Dead Snow – 3: It’s about — wait for it — Nazi Zombies in the snow capped mountains. Yes, I know.
Whatever Works – 3: Larry David playing the Woody Allen role in a Woody Allen written and directed movie. Now that sounds good.
Year One – 2 or 3: This has the potential to be very funny or very stupid, But then again, I said the same thing about Tropic Thunder last year and that was probably the funniest movie I saw in 2008.
June 24th:
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 1: More giant robots doing slow motion stunts via Michael Bay. And oh yeah, more Megan Fox as well. Old faves Soundwave and Shockwave are joining the battle, so can’t wait for that!
July 1st:
Public Enemies – 1: Michael Mann directing Christian Bale (playing Melvin Purvis) and Johnny Depp (as John Dillinger). I got the book this was based on a few years ago (written by Bryan Burrough, who co-wrote Barbarians At The Gate) and it was pretty good. This is as much about the rise of the FBI (an agency thisclose to getting decommissioned) as it is about the bank robbery epidemic which ended up making the FBI into the very powerful agency which we all know today.
July 10th:
Bruno – 1: Sacha Cohen’s follow up to Borat.
July 31st:
Funny People – 1: More Apatow, with Seth Rogan, Johan Hill, Eric Bana, Leslie Mann and Adam Sandler.
August 7th:
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – 1: I have a really bad feeling about this… but how could I not watch a G.I. Joe movie in the theater??? This could make the animated G.I. Joe The Movie from the 80’s a veritable masterpiece.
Paper Heart – 2: This has the potential of being one of those home videos you watch years later and think “How awkward…”
August 14th:
I Sell The Dead – 3: I need more word of mouth on this one…
Ponyo – 1: Miyazaki’s latest hits Stateside. Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke… Miyazaki’s resume is as amazing as it is long and this should not be missed.
And last but not least, August 21st:
Inglorious Basterds – 1: Quentin Tarantino’s latest.
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