As the oldie-but-goodie saying goes, "summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the streets heading to your local cineplex to beat the heat." With the debut of THE AVENGERS – who've now grossed over a billion dollars worldwide – we can finally say the summer has officially started! And the studios have carefully planned and strategized this summer brilliantly. It will be interesting to see if their tentpole pics hold up to pre-release fan scrutiny.
All this week, we here at VeryAware are going to help you trim down the hundreds of films released this season by giving you the ten movies we're most excited for. As these things often go, release dates are subject to change. The dates shown here are based off of Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview issue.
So without further ado, and counting down to my most anticipated release, here are this year's summer movies I'm most excited to see.
10. RUBY SPARKS – July 25
Starring: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Alia Shawkat, and Elliot Gould
Why I'm Interested: Sure, many writers have fictional muses. But not all writers have fictional muses who magically become living, breathing humans – let alone their girlfriends! The totally whimsical and sure-to-be-enchanting flick written by the titular Ruby (Zoe Kazan), reunites Paul Dano with his LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE directors, Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton. Similar vibe to STRANGER THAN FICTION and 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, RUBY SPARKS looks like a summer sleeper/ art house crowd-pleaser.
9. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN – June 1
Starring: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth
Why I'm Excited: After the family friendly MIRROR MIRROR, I'm looking forward to a non-fluffy fairy tale filled with dark, gritty action. Theron playing another unrepentant bad-girl of sorts as Queen Ravenna sounds like music to my ears. And Stewart's Snow looks like she's given much more strength and depth here than in any other Snow White incarnations. Stylistically speaking, this film looks ravishing. Given that Hossein Ameni (DRIVE) is one of the writers (and from what I've heard from rumblings around town), there will be a great story to lay the foundation on so that it won't be "all style and no substance."
8. KATY PERRY: PART OF ME 3D – July 5
Starring: Katy Perry
Why I'm Excited: Summertime is made for concert going. But for those who don't want to deal with the crowds, a trip to the local cineplex to see an almost live show is totally do-able. Especially when it's to see someone whose punchy pop sensibilities makes all of us feel like teenage dreams. Ms. Perry, you're a firework! C'mon show us how you work! And that she will in this behind-the-scenes look into her hectic tour/ lifestyle.
7. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION – June 29
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis
Why I'm Excited: Government conspiracies, wicked fights, and amazing explosions: this is how a film based on Hasbro toy series should be. From the script by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (ZOMBIELAND), to the direction by John M. Chu (STEP UP 3D), this sequel will do what it's original predecessor couldn't – blend a smart story with some kick ass action successfully. The perfect summer popcorn flick!
6. PARANORMAN – August 17
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick
Why I'm Excited: From the animation studio that brought us the utterly fantastic and perfect in every way CORALINE, comes PARANORMAN. This story is about a pre-teen, Norman, who deals with all the things normal pre-teens do – bullying, fitting in, and zombies. Wait, zombies?! As if growing up isn't hard enough to do already, Norman is called upon to be the unlikely hero of his town. Take a look at the charming trailer below to see why I'm smitten.
5. THE EXPENDABLES 2 – August 17
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jean Claude Van-Damme
Why I'm Excited: This looks like a ridiculous amount of fun and something I would have given my left arm to have seen when I was growing up in the eighties. Summertime is meant for big-budget action films whose only requirement is that you check your brain at the door and go along for the ride. I challenge you not to laugh and cheer at Statham saying, "I now pronounce you man and knife," before he stabs someone.
4. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER – June 22
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Why I'm Excited: Who wouldn't want to see one of this country's forefathers kicking some vampire ass? Historians best look elsewhere as (hopefully) camp and tongue-and-cheek humor will prevail. Plus, he has his own version of a Boomstick. C'mon!
3. MAGIC MIKE – June 29
Starring: Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer
Why I'm Excited: Duh – Hot dudes disrobe! I am a red blooded women. Seriously though, I'm very curious to see how director Steven Soderbergh (HAYWIRE) approaches what's essentially a male version of SHOWGIRLS. Will his art-house aesthetic make a stripper's struggle more legit or just boring? I'm also pleased to see Tatum embrace his "controversial" past instead of covering it up. In the end, it would seem his experience was not for nothing.
2. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES – July 20
Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Why I'm Excited: Even though I consider myself more of a Marvel girl than DC, I'd be lying (and not a good cinephile) if I said I have no interest in the third chapter of this Batman series. Sure, I'm not totally on board with Bane's voice (I refuse to believe that's the finalized product). Yes, Hathaway as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman doesn't really do anything for me either since Michelle Pfeiffer was already damn perfect in the role in BATMAN RETURNS. But what really draws me in is director Christopher Nolan. His films are a master class in filmmaking and this looks to be no different. Astounding, gripping, and gorgeous!
1. PROMETHEUS – June 8
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender
Why I'm Excited: If Ridley Scott has circled back to one of the biggest and best sci-fi franchises, then you can pretty much assume it's gonna be great. I know, I know. Scott's acted coy about whether or not this is actually a prequel. However, judging from what we've all seen so far, the spectacular epic simply has to be. Intense, thrilling, and beautifully serene, this will have fans squealing both in horror and delight.
