With graduation just around the corner, I’m spending a lot of time looking ahead to the future. For my last article I thought that I’d do something similar in terms of film and preview the most anticipated movies of the summer. Summer, particularly July, is always the time for blockbusters and you’ll soon see that there are plenty of them set for 2011.
June 3, 2011: “X-Men: First Class” — Matthew Vaughn reboots the comic book series. The film takes place in 1963 when Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) begins a school for mutants. Much of the conflict concerns Xavier’s relationship to Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender), otherwise known as Magneto. Here’s to hoping it’s better than “X-Men: The Last Stand.”
July 1, 2011: “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” — Michael Bay’s awful franchise continues with this third installment. I include this on the list only because it takes place in my hometown of Chicago, and it’s always fun to see places you know well get destroyed. Shia LaBeouf is back to stand around while transformers beat the hell out of each other.
July 1, 2011: “Larry Crowne” — While not quite a blockbuster, this film looks like it could be a summer hit. Tom Hanks directs and stars as Larry Crowne, a recently-fired middle-aged man who goes back to college in an attempt to restart his life. While there, he falls in love with his professor, played by Julia Roberts. “Crowne” allows for Hanks to show off more of his comedic side, which he hasn’t done recently.
July 8, 2011: “Horrible Bosses” — Quite possibly my most anticipated comedy of the summer. The film stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as three men who conspire to kill their respective bosses (Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Spacey). The movie looks like a lot of fun, and I’ll see anything with Day, of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” fame. The trailer is yet to drop, but it’s gotten great press thus far.
July 15, 2011: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” — If you didn’t read the “Harry Potter” series, then I feel sorry for you. The films, of course, have never quite lived up to the reputation of the novels, but as a fan, how can you pass up seeing them? The final installment is a must-see, especially after “Part 1,” which in my opinion was the best in the film series. I’m eager to see how Harry’s story finishes on the big screen. Hopefully they make an artistic decision to cut the awful prologue.
July 22, 2011: “Captain America: The First Avenger” — The last Marvel superhero film leading up to “The Avengers.” The trailers show a lot of promise for this historically based superhero film directed by Joe Johnston. Chris Evans stars as Steve Rogers, a sickly man who is unable to enlist in the army in 1942. As a result, he takes part in an experiment that transforms him into Captain America. In the film he battles Red Skull, Hitler’s superhero creation. Sounds like a lot of fun.
July 29, 2011: “Cowboys & Aliens” — I’ve probably been excited for this film for the longest time. The title tells you pretty much all you need to know. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford battle aliens in the year 1873. Craig holds the power to defeating them on his wrist, although he has no recollection of how he obtained it. This film is the definition of a summer blockbuster.