Summer Movie Preview

BY GABI TABIB

The Avengers

What It’s About

Nick Fury is the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency, consisting of Marvel Super Heroes: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When Loki, Thor’s evil brother, threatens global security, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.

What To Expect

The movie includes appearances from the former cast members from Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and The Incredible Hulk, and is sure to bring a lot of action and praiseworthy effects. With such a dynamic cast, however, we can only hope that no one actor outdoes the rest. Nobody wants to see any one actor take over the movie, as the Avenger Initiative is a team effort. The Avengers opens May 4, 2012.

The Amazing Spider-man

What It’s About

Like most teenagers, Peter Parker is trying to figure out who he is, but unlike most teenagers, he has spider powers. Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father and begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance -leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

What To Expect

Tobey Maguire has been replaced with Social Network’s Andrew Garfield in this reboot of the popular franchise. This may be risky, but with a supporting cast full of Hollywood veterans (Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary), Garfield has a lot of talent to lean on. The Amazing Spider-Man will also be returning to the character’s comic book roots. Spiderman will be using web-shooters and Peter Parker’s first love interest, Gwen Stacey will be more involved in the movie. The biggest problem is the absence of The Bugle, the newspaper Peter Parker works for. With this aspect of Parker’s life gone, the movie will lose the real-world feel that Spiderman (2002) had. The Amazing Spider-Man will opens July 3, 2012.

Dark Shadows

What It’s About

This movie season is all about “revamps” and Dark Shadows is no exception. Based on the television series of the same name, Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp and Eva Green, tells the story of Barnabas Collins (Depp). After breaking the heart of an evil witch Angelique Bouchard (Green), Collins is doomed to live the eternal life of a vampire. After two centuries of being buried, Barnabas is set free from his tomb and returns to his family’s estate to find it in ruins. It is now up to Barnabas to return his family to their former glory while overcoming the evil Bouchard.

What To Expect

The tone of the film has director Tim Burton’s signature style; dark but with comparably dark humor that could keep the film afloat. The greatest letdown, however, is the costume design. I expected more Burton flare. It looks as though the stylists designed the cloths blindfolded. Dark Shadows opens May 11, 2012.

Battleship

What It’s About

Based on the Hasbro game of the same name, Battleship tells the tale of a fleet of American ships that come across an alien armada during a naval exercise. An enthralling battle ensues in the air, on land, and in the sea to determine who claims the world as their own.

What To Expect

To be honest, you should not much to expect from Battleship, unless you’re going to the movie for quick explosions and nice effects. Even the director, Peter Berg is more practiced at directing pilot episodes for television series like Friday Night Lights (a show about the “trials and tribulations” of high school teens who play football) than big action movies. Battleship opens May 18, 2012.

Men in Black III

What It’s About

Men in Black Ш begins a new chapter in the Men in Black trilogy. An alien criminal kills Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) in the year 1969, altering the timeline. Agent J (Will Smith) now has to go back in time to save Agent K and restore the future…or the present.

What To Expect

Barry Sonnonfeld, director of the first two MIB movies returns for the third. Sonnonfeld will likely uphold the previous movie’s humor. Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex, True Grit) will be portraying Young Agent K, and he seems to fit the role well. Men in Black III opens May 25, 2012.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

What It’s About

Our favorite zoo animals are back. Alex, Marti, Gloria, and Melman are still trying to get home to New York City. But before they can go, they have to find the four mischievous penguins, who are rumored to be staying in Monte Carlo. This time they find themselves aboard a travelling circus, not to mention evading Animal Control in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.

What To Expect

The original cast will be returning to voice their animal counterparts. However, two crowd favorites will probably be hogging the “camera” more than others. Marty the zebra (voiced by Chris Rock) seems to be dishing more comedy than in the first two films. There is also a curious relationship with the narcissistic lemur King Julien XIII (voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen) and a mute circus bear. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted opens June 8, 2012.

Prometheus

What It’s About

A team of explorers discover what seem to be an invitation from aliens and go on a deep space expedition on the starship “Prometheus” to investigate alien life forms. However after becoming stranded on the alien planet, they realize they have initiated an attack on Earth that could threaten all of mankind.

What To Expect

The effects are definitely praiseworthy, especially the alien spaceship and the human’s ship, Prometheus. Although we all know what the aliens look like, Ridley Scott has decided to show less of the alien to create a more foreboding effect when the aliens are near, a trick also used in Jaws; although you didn’t see the shark, that didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Instead it was cued by the iconic “Duuu-dum…duuu-dum…”, so  expect an exceptional soundtrack. Prometheus opens June 8, 2012.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

What It’s About

Based off the book of the same name, Abraham Lincoln—the United States’ 16th president—has discovered that vampires are attempting to take over the United States of America and vows to slay every last one of them. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has an interesting plot idea, even if it’s just one of the many spoofs-turned-blockbuster hopefuls that are coming out this summer.

What To Expect

Timur Bekmambetov, best known for the Angelina Jolie vehicle Wanted is directing along with Tim Burton producing. The combined efforts of Burton and Bekmambetov will work well together. Burton will help set the gothic tone and Bekmambetov will bring the kinetic energy he brought to Wanted and the Nightwatch series. The two will create an immersive movie that will give us all a different idea about Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens June 22, 2012.

Brave

What It’s About

Set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time, Brave features Merida, an aspiring archer and impetuous daughter of royalty. Merida makes a reckless choice that unleashes unintended peril and forces her to spring into action to set things right.

What To Expect

The animation looks lovely, but my concern lies with the plot. I hope that director Mark Andrews has found a way to portray the movie’s mundane message of “Be careful what you wish for,” with depth and insight. After the critical disappointment of Cars 2, Pixar needs to bounce back to the creative heights of Up and Wall-E.  Brave opens June 22, 2012.

The Dark Knight Rises

What It’s About

In the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise, Batman is confronted by three of his greatest foes: Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) , Ra’s Al Ghul (Leam Neeson), and Bane (Tom Hardy). Eight years after Batman took the blame for Two Face’s/Harvey Dent’s crimes, Bane takes over Gotham and Bruce Wayne is convinced that it is now that Gotham needs Batman more than ever, even if it’s citizens don’t think so.

What To Expect

After the back-to-back blockbusters The Dark Knight and Inception from director Nolan, expectations are through the roof for The Dark Knight Rises. Hathaway and Hardy have their work cut out for them if they hope to match Heath Ledgers iconic, Academy Award winning performance as The Joker in the last film. The trailer looks good, but let’s hope the story wraps up in a satisfying way. The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20, 2012.