What Else Is There? Your Guide to the Rest of Summer 2010!
For several years now, the film studios have been pushing the summer movie season further and further into spring. The unofficial start of summer blockbusters is now the first weekend of May. This has caused something of quandary around the Geekscape Secret Headquarters as we have all been left scratching our heads asking, “What else is there?” With the official start of the summer season still three weeks away, we feel as though we’ve already milked Hollywood for the blockbusters we’re going to get. But have hope dear ‘Scapists, Geekscape has you covered for what’s still to come in movies this summer season.
SPLICE
This thriller hits screens Friday and has the potential to be the sleeper hit of the summer. Two scientists (Sarah Polley and Adrian Brody) defy ethical and moral boundaries when conducting a cloning experiment using human and animal dna. The creature, named Dren, grows to resemble a chimera and when threatened turns on her creators.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
Did you watch the above trailer? The creature effects look gorgeous. Plus, Sarah Polley showed us all she’s got mad skills in genre movies, making the unbelievable seem palatable and real. Adrian Brody is no slouch. While he may not have been great in King Kong, he has one of those, what do you call them? Oh Yeah, Oscars. It will be interesting to see him in a sci-fi movie now so we can get a bit of a preview of what to expect in Predators. (See: Related item in this article.)
THE A-TEAM
Bringing back the band of misfits for hire we all know and love The A-Team release June 11th. Resetting the mercenary teams origin in Iraq; Face, B.A., Murdock, and Hannibal must clear their names of a crime they didn’t commit. All of this while being chased by a federal agent who has a history with Face.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
The A-Teams exploits were directed by Joe Carnahan. If you haven’t seen Smokin’ Aces, do so immediately. His style is quick, a little sloppy, and visceral; which is why he was the perfect choice to direct The A-Team. The cast isn’t too shabby either. Liam Neeson as Hannibal, Bradley Cooper as “Faceman” Peck, and Sharlto Copley as Murdock all have me excited. Jessica Biel as the agent tasked with tracking them ups the sexy quotient and choosing a new comer as B.A. Barracus gives us all a chance to see the character through a fresh perspective.
TOY STORY 3
The continued adventures of Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang release on June 18th. This time around the toys are dropped at a day care center when their owner, Andy, goes off to college. New additions include a Ken doll, a stretchy octopus, and a porcupine doll called Mr. Pricklepants.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
The back and forth between Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks as Woody is going to be worth the ticket price. The addition of Michael Keaton as a Ken Doll and Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants (I love that name) should get us all an extra laugh or two. It is going to be in 3D, and while I agree it’s a gimmick for the most part, Pixar did a lovely job with the 3D aspects of Up. Pixar doesn’t make bad movies, but here’s to hoping Disney forcing them to go back to the well doesn’t come back to bite us all in the ass.
JONAH HEX
Also coming out on the 18th is everyone’s favorite scar-faced-mystically-rejuvenated-confederate-soldier-cowboy-bounty-hunter Jonah Hex. Starring Josh Brolin, in a role that almost every middle aged actor in Hollywood tried to be attached to at some point, Jonah Hex follows the story of the gunslinger’s family being murdered and then Jonah seeking revenge on the man who has done the murdering.
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T SEE IT:
That’s an excellent question. Let’s be frank, this looks like the western version of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen adaptation. From the Gatling guns to the garb this movie looks more Wild Wild West than I would have hoped. And to add insult to injury you have Megan Fox as the female lead. At least she’s playing a role I buy her in, the stereotyped tough western brothel whore. Honestly, maybe we should all give this one a pass.
KNIGHT AND DAY
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are paired off as a spy and the witness he has sworn to keep alive.Hitting screens on June 25th, the action-comedy traverses the globe as the two try to stay alive in a game of cat and mouse with the CIA.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
Tom Cruise is at his best when he gets to play mildly unhinged characters (re: Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, Tropic Thunder, etc.) and based on the trailer it looks like he gets to have a really good time in this role. The trailer just screams fun, and that is what works for both Cruise and Cameron Diaz.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
The battle between the werewolves and the vampires is boiling to a fever pitch. The further adventures of Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and the boy who doesn’t own a shirt, return on June 30th. The 3rd film in the franchise focuses on a gang of vampires approaching forks to seek revenge for the death of the lead vampiress’ mate.
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T SEE IT:
It’s Twilight. Stop encouraging them. Even with the addition of Bryce Howard this movie is still a continuation of the worst “vampire” series ever made. If you want to argue it, there is a comment section below.
THE LAST AIRBENDER
M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon releases July 2nd. Featuring a number of actors currently below Hollywood’s radar, The Last Airbender follows Aang as he attempts to grow into a hero and unite the Air, Water, and Earth kingdoms against the fire kingdom.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
While seemingly excluding all the humor from the trailer, Shyamalan’s film looks to stay fairly true to the source material. This movie is all about the fight scenes and the glimpses we’ve gotten in the trailers make them look sweet. Hopefully the actors will be able to capture the personalities that made ‘Avatar’ such a rewarding watch on Nickelodeon. Do us all a favor though and do your part in the great 3D boycott and watch this in 2D.
PREDATORS
The worst killers on Earth wake up on another planet. They soon realize they aren’t alone and are in fact the prey on a giant alien game reserve. Adrien Brody, Lawrence Fishburne and Danny Trejo are just a few of the psychos who square off against a cabal of predators when it hits theater on July 7th.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
Predators finally returns to the idea that made the Predator series great to begin with, human being hunting season. While this iteration of the Predator franchise doesn’t feature as many bulked out pro wrestlers as we’d have liked, the assembled cast looks pretty bad ass. After watching the trailer, you’ll even believe, albeit briefly, that Adrien Brody could actually take someone in a fight.
THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE
July 14th Jay Baruchel becomes the apprentice to Nicolas Cage’s sorcerer. The two are caught up in a struggle to protect New York City from an evil wizard.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT:
Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel reprise their roles from the short in 1940’s Fantasia. Okay that’s not true at all, but it’s Jay Baruchel acting against Nicolas Cage. If that is an equation for idiosyncratic genius, I don’t want to be right. The movie also looks like a feast for the eyes and it will be fun to see Nicolas Cage cut loose in such a surreal world.
INCEPTION
Leonardo DiCaprio teams with director Christopher Nolan to bring a surreal dreamscape to life on July 16th. In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a single idea within one’s mind can be the most dangerous weapon or the most valuable asset.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT:
Christopher Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio. The two of them working together is goosebump inducing. The amazingly surreal imagery in the trailer is enough to make one want to go jump in line for tickets now. Throw in Ellen Page and some amazing fight scenes and you’ve got the recipe for an amazing movie.
SALT
Angelina Jolie returns to screens July 23rd as Evelyn Salt, a CIA operative who is accused of treason and must go on the run to clear her name.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT:
Looking like a female Jason Bourne it’s Jolie in the type of film where she thrives, as a butt kicking take no prisoners spy. With a supporting turn from Geekscape favorite Chiwetel Ejiofor and Liev Schreiber the cast has the chops to deliver a well rounded and intelligent action thriller.
THE OTHER GUYS
Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell team to play mis-matched partners of the NYPD. Always being shown up by action hero detectives played by Sam Jackson and Dwayne Johnson, Ferrell and Wahlberg jump at the opportunity to finally prove they have what it takes.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT:
Judging by the trailer, The Other Guys has the potential to be the buddy cop parody/movie that so many others have tried to be and failed. We’re looking at you, Cop Out.
THE EXPENDABLES
A team of mercenaries, led by Sylvester Stallone, head to South America to overthrow a dictator on August 13th. The greatest action film stars of all time unite under one banner to kill everyone.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT:
The cast is comprised of every major film badass from the 1980’s to today. Shwarzenegger, Willis, Lundgren, Rourke, Crews, Li, Statham, and Stallone all in the same film, how freakin’ cool is that?! This movie could be them playing volleyball and I’d still probably pay to see it. Stallone wrote the movie as a love letter to the big action movies of the ‘80s and isn’t that just a love letter to Geekscape?
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
Also on August 13th, Scott Pilgrim hits the silver screen. Based on the graphic novel series by Brian Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is the adventure of a slacker, played by Michael Cera, that meets and falls for Romana, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. In order for them to be together Scott must defeat Romona’s seven evil exes.
WHY YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SEE IT:
This movie was made for you. If you’re on Geekscape reading something, this movie was made with your tastes in mind. It’s a movie based on a comic book inspired by video games. There wil never be another movie that caters to us anymore than this one. The cast is amazing, the director is superb and the first looks from the trailer fill our heart with joy. Don’t ask questions, just go.
PIRANHA 3D
After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the area’s new razor-toothed residents. The film releases August 27th.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE THIS & WHY YOU SHOULDN’T SEE THIS:
It’s classic B movie amazingness, but it’s also the most gimmicky of all the 3D craze movies. If you love a good bad movie, go. But again, boycott the 3D version when you can.
