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| EW thinks MoS is the superest movie of the summer. What do you think? |
It may not exactly feel like it today on the East Coast, but it is springtime. Of course this means that these long months braving the winter indoors should be rewarded with... well, more time indoors. But indoors inside a movie theater for thrilling blockbuster movies! Yup, it is that time again for super heroes, monsters, demons, zombies and massive production budgets.
Now while the Summer Movie Season doesn't really kick off until May 3 when Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3, we here at Paranormal Pop Culture kind of think the season already began. G.I. Joe kickstarted things on March 28, and last week -- two decades after it initially stomped into our hearts -- Jurassic Park was re-released on 3D. It also managed to open in the fourth spot at the box office. Meanwhile the top spot belongs to Evil Dead, Fede Alvarez' franchise reboot of the Sam Raimi classic. But as scary as Evil Dead might be, you needn't be afraid of a dearth of entertainment for the coming five months.
Read ahead, ye film fanboys and fangirls, for a preview of what's to come...
APRIL
Scary Movie 5
April 12 (PG-13)
Starring: Ashley Tisdale, Heather Locklear, Jerry O’Connell. Director: Malcolm D. Lee
This fifth installment in the comedy franchise mainly focuses on spoofing the Paranormal Activity films, but also throws in some Black Swan, Sinister and Inception silliness. The trailer has some laughs, especially when Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan appear as themselves.
Oblivion
April 19 (PG-13)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo. Director: Joseph Kosinski
Based on the graphic novel of the same name from Radical Comics, Universal Studio’s Oblivion takes place 60 years after the Earth was invaded by aliens. Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a security and drone maintenance worker stationed on Earth who has to extract vital resources, protect us from terrifying Scavs, and save our humanity. No big deal, right?
The Lords of Salem
April 19 (R)
Starring: Sheri Moon Zombie, Meg Foster, Bruce Davison. Director: Rob Zombie
A coven of witches from days of yore come back to Salem, Mass., to exact revenge and win a war that’s being played out in Heaven. They choose to pay a visit to dread-locked Salem DJ, Heidi, to have her help them carry out their mission. Rotten Tomatoes didn’t find this film very fresh so maybe watch the trailer and then decide if you want to get on your broomstick and head to theaters.
MAY
Iron Man 3
May 3 (PG-13)
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau. Director: Shane Black
Walt Disney and Marvel Studios’ Phase Two of its cinematic universe has “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” Tony Stark on a personal quest to find and conquer the enemy who has destroyed his world. This villain, Mandarin (Kingsley), is a formidable enemy for Stark, who is capable of conjuring up the kind of chaos that will no doubt satisfy fans. Oh, and there are some really cool new armor.
Star Trek Into Darkness
May 17 (not yet rated)
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Alice Eve, Benedict Cumberbatch. Director: J.J. Abrams
Paramount pictures brings back Captain James T. Kirk (Pine), Spock (Quinto), and the crew of the USS Enterprise in a quest for peace on Earth after it’s been left in disarray by an evil force. Their goal to capture the perpetrator leads them on a deadly quest for justice.
EPIC
May 24 (not yet rated)
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz. Director: Chris Wedge
In this 3D CGI comedy adventure from Blue Sky Studios EPIC tells that age old tale of the battle between good versus evil and the characters who fight it. A teen named Mary Katherine (Seyfried), magically enters a secret universe and teams with a band of warriors to not only save their world, but also, ours.
JUNE
After Earth
June 7 (not yet rated)
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith. Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Kitai (Jaden S.) and his father, Cypher Raige (Will S. have crashed on a humanity-free Earth, 1,000 years after the cataclysmic events that destroyed it. Young Kitai is left to try to get help for his injured father in this sci-fi adventure from Columbia pictures.
Man of Steel
June 14 (PG13)
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Russell Crowe. Director: Zack Snyder
Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures brings us the tale of Superman’s origins. From a child ejected from his ravaged planet into small-town Kansas where he is adopted and raised with a very specific set of morals, to a young journalist who struggles to find his place in this world as he comes to grips with his super powers. This much anticipated and secretive film boasts an all-star cast, but, the real question now is, will Lex Luthor appear? Bonus, it will be available in regular and IMAX 3D.
This is the End
June 14 (R)
Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill. Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Some of Hollywood’s hottest young(ish) actors play themselves in this post-apocalyptic film based around that Mayan Calendar-thingy everyone was talking about last year. Is this what happens when James Franco throws a party? A series of destructive events have been ravaging LA and this forces the six bros to come to terms with what their friendships really mean.
World War Z
June 21 (not yet rated)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale. Director: Marc Foster
We’ve already written a thing or two or three about World War Z but it’s only because we’re super excited to see this $170 million adaptation of Max Brooks’ novel. An intensely destructive zombie outbreak is decimating the world’s population, and it’s up to United Nations employee, Gerry Lane (Pitt) to hunt the world for information on how to stop it. Check out the newest intense trailer in one of our recent news caps.
Monsters University
June 21 (not yet rated)
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi. Director: Dan Scanlon
Disney Pixar can’t let a summer movie season pass by without releasing something cool for the kiddies. In Monsters University, Mike (Crystal) and Sulley (Goodman) weren’t always best buds and did you know...they went to college? Yep, and they majored in “scaring.” This fun, animated film takes a look at their tumultuous relationship when it was in its early stages (about 10 years before Monsters, Inc. takes place).
JULY
Despicable Me 2
July 3 (PG)
Starring: Steve Carell, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig. Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Another kiddie film hits theaters this summer and this sequel from Universal Studios unleashes the minions just in time for Independence Day. Al Pacino plays a villain named “Eduardo” who needs conquering. Of course, the Anti-Villain League recruits Gru (Carell) to handle this mission.
Pacific Rim
July 12 (not yet rated)
Starring: Idris Alba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi. Director: Guillermo del Toro
A quote from an interview with director del Toro best sums up this sci-fi flick, “Pacific Rim is a very, very beautiful poem to giant monsters.” Giant monsters risen from the Pacific battle human-controlled giant robots. Enough said? Watch the trailer and decide if its worth it.
V/H/S/2
July 12 (not yet rated) (limited release)
Starring: Kelsy Abbott, Hannah Al Rashid, Devon Brookshire. Directors: (various chapters) Simon Barrett, Jason Eisener, Gareth Evans, Gregg Hale, Eduardo Sanchez, Timo Tjahjanto, Adam Wingard
On the heels of the “found footage” success of its predecessor comes a sequel that will probably not disappoint. In a FEARnet review of this horror anthology about the search for a missing student, V/H/S/2 was described as “quicker, slicker, and perhaps even sicker than the first entry, but it's also another shining example of how well horror cinema can work in bite-sized portions.”
The Conjuring
July 19 (R)
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston. Director: James Wan
This is a film we’re pretty excited about since it’s based on "true" paranormal events that Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated. The fact that the MPAA just deemed the film “too scary” for a PG-13 rating and gave it an R intrigues us even more. Over at io9, it was speculated that this “looks like the scariest horror movie of the year!” Question, are ALL New England farm houses haunted? The one in this movie certainly is.
The Wolverine
July 26 (not yet rated)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Famke Janssen. Director: James Mangold
Logan heads to Japan where his future is compromised when he encounters an enemy from his past in this non-sequel. A trailer has finally been released and shows the X-Man in a vulnerable position but engaging in some kick ass action. Like the trailer says, he’s more dangerous when he’s vulnerable. Judge for yourself:
AUGUST
Elysium
Aug. 9 (not yet rated)
Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley. Director: Neill Blomkamp
In the year 2159, there are two classes: those that live all high and mighty in a man-made space station called Elysium; and, the rest, who live on this destroyed planet called Earth. Leave it to Matt Damon to want to bridge the gap between the two classes and bring equality to the two worlds.
Kick Ass 2
Aug. 16 (R)
Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jim Carrey. Director: Jeff Wadlow
Based on the recently released (and delightfully raunchy) trailer (http://www.kickass-themovie.com), the sequel to the successful 2010 superhero comedy looks well, kick ass. Kick-Ass (Taylor-Johnson) has inspired a few more heroes to appear and together, they form a team. But Hit-Girl (Moretz) plans on an early retirement. Yeah, that’ll last. Red Mist (Mintz-Plasse) has a new, colorful name, (The Mother F**ker) and he wants revenge on Kick-Ass for what he did to his dad. Oh, and a barely recognizable Jim Carrey is featured as the hero, Colonel Stars and Stripes.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Aug. 16 (not yet rated)
Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson. Director: Thor Freudenthal
From the popular young adult book series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians comes a film from Twentieth Century Fox based on the second book. Percy Jackson has a human mom and is the son of Poseidon (a Half-Blood) and ends up going on some amazing adventures. His task is to head to the Sea of Monsters with his friends and locate the Golden Fleece. Why? It has the power to save their home and training ground.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Aug. 23 (not yet rated)
Starring: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan. Director: Harald Zwart
This film is based on City of Bones, the first book in the New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. In the film version Lily Collins plays Clary Fray, who learns that she is descended from Shadowhunters. These half-angel warriors have the daunting task of protecting us from demons. Of course we’re looking forward to seeing a film that’s rife with vampires, warlocks and werewolves. Are you?
You’re Next
Aug. 23 (not yet rated)
Starring: Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, Nick Tucci. Director: Adam Wingard
See, this film is a good example of why family reunions should be avoided at all costs. Murderers wearing creepy animal masks may show up and kill you. This film actually debuted at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011 and was well-received by critics. Lionsgate is now doing some heavy promotion of their horror flick by releasing teaser posters and now, a trailer. You must watch the trailer if only for the awesome Lou Reed song, “Perfect Day” playing throughout.