By Brett Blake In a little more than one week’s time, the Summer Movie Season will kick-off (officially, that is; just because FURIOUS 7 came out in April and made a ton of money does not mean that the summer started with it) with AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON. For movie buffs, this is a fun time of year, full of optimism and hope that the many blockbusters heading our way will live up to the hype and actually be good movies… if not outright instant classics. Each year, some of these hopes are dashed, while others are met; in the case of 2015’s summer crop, I’ve got a wonderful feeling that there’s a terrific summer in store for us, and I can’t remember a season with quite as many films that I’m either dying to see or at least very curious about discovering. Not all of them will be good, of course, but the potential is there for some genuinely great entertainment to emerge. I’m excited! To that end, I’ve compiled an exhaustively comprehensive list of this summer’s most notable releases, even some that may not particularly interest me, but may interest YOU! I’ve presented them in a “Pro/Con” format, allowing me to talk about their potential good qualities, as well as their potential problems. Strap in. Here we go! MAY Avengers: Age of Ultron - May 1st Trailer! Pro - It’s the much-anticipated sequel to one of the highest-grossing films of all time, which itself was a massively entertaining movie that thrilled and satisfied audiences three years ago. Since then, Marvel Studios has cranked out hit after hit and, more importantly, they’ve been good movies, too. There’s every reason to believe this will be one of the biggest movies of the year (both in terms of spectacle and box office), and a legion of fans are waiting to see the Avengers take on one of their most formidable (and, yes, weird) villains from the comic books… the sinister robot, Ultron. Con - Are expectations too high? Can anything really recapture the magic, so-to-speak, of the first film? And if it’s a somewhat darker film (as has been reported), will it send audiences out of the theater on the same kind of ecstatic high note as the previous AVENGERS film did? Maggie - May 8th Trailer! Pro - The first of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s two summer releases, this film finds him entering the horror genre (rare for him) as a father dealing with his daughter’s slow transformation into a zombie. Zombies are about as popular as they’ve ever been, and the emphasis on drama in the film’s trailer (instead of mindless action or violence) foretells a movie that is interested in doing something different with the concept of the living dead. Con - Frankly, does Arnold have the acting chops to pull off what could be an emotionally-devastating and fascinating story? Also, is the scale of the film perhaps too intimate, and will it be able to satisfy those who can watch gory zombie antics weekly on television’s THE WALKING DEAD? Mad Max: Fury Road - May 15th Trailer! Pro - Director George Miller revives the series he created back in 1979, and based on the trailers, he’s brought some flat-out incredible action with him. The sheer amount of vehicular chaos should satisfy even the most picky of action buffs, and Tom Hardy as the stoic hero at the center of the tale guarantees the acting is going to be on point, too. Con - Boy, does this movie look like it could potentially be VERY strange. It’s probably a given that the action is going to be fantastic, but this will be a story populated by bizarre characters, and it remains to be seen if there will be anything approaching an emotional or intellectual hook. Pitch Perfect 2 - May 15th Trailer! Pro - The first PITCH PERFECT was a sleeper hit and a crowd-pleaser. Anna Kendrick is a very winning personality, able to handle both comedy and drama, and rather than spin-off the concept with some lesser-known (read: less expensive) actors, the studio has brought everyone back, so the chemistry that won over so many people the first time around should be here in full force. Con - What is the special hook of this one? What will separate it from the original and allow it to stand on its own? More often than not, comedy sequels (and I’d classify this series as such) end up being retreads of the best moments from their predecessors, so the challenge here will be to allow PITCH PERFECT 2 to do its own, unique thing. Tomorrowland - May 22nd Trailer! Pro - Despite borrowing its title from a land in Disney’s theme parks, this is an original science fiction tale, and one that appears to be speaking to universal themes of pursuing excellence and finding one’s place in the world. It’s directed by Brad Bird, one of the most inventive filmmakers working today, and there looks to be a healthy dose of gee-whiz, ‘60s-era optimism about exploration and science. The presence of George Clooney as the star gives an extra element of interest, as he’s been fairly picky in recent years about the roles he takes on. Con - What’s the story really about? The marketing thus far has been holding a lot back, so all we really have to go on are the track records of the filmmakers involved and cool sci-fi imagery in the trailer. Will the meat of the story be just as compelling as the visuals? If not, it could be a fairly empty experience. Poltergeist - May 22nd Trailer! Pro - It has a fine, somewhat eclectic cast, a Pulitzer Prize winner behind the script, and Sam Raimi orchestrating things from behind the scenes. Director Gil Kenan’s film MONSTER HOUSE is a delightful ode to 1980s genre films (of which the original POLTERGEIST certainly qualifies), and it's clear his heart is in the right place. The trailer shows off some cool riffs on elements from the original, but (thankfully) it doesn’t appear to be a pointless shot-for-shot remake of the kind we had to suffer through with PSYCHO and THE OMEN. Con - The original film is beloved. Steven Spielberg’s dark take on suburbia (in contrast to E.T., which is the lighter flipside) is one of the classic haunted-house-as-roller-coaster-ride movies, and a remake is, frankly, never going to approach the heights of the superb original. So, is this new POLTERGEIST a simple cash-grab, or will it bring something new to the table that justifies its existence? Aloha - May 29th Trailer! Pro - That cast! Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin, and the man himself, Bill Murray. That’s a formidable roster of talent, all of whom have strong comedic chops. Writer/director Cameron Crowe has perfected a kind of formula for charming romantic comedies, and this looks to be right in his wheelhouse. Knowing him, it’s probably going to have a killer soundtrack, too. Con - Have we not seen this story countless times before? It seems to be a play on your standard “cold, corporate guy reconnects with his humanity and finds love” tale, and it remains to be seen if Crowe is going to do anything special with that, or provide material worthy of perhaps the finest ensemble he’s ever had at his disposal. San Andreas - May 29th Trailer! Pro - Massive destruction is always fun! The movie looks to be a very loose remake of 1974’s disaster classic, EARTHQUAKE, which is a decent template to utilize for the mayhem. Dwayne Johnson is a rock-solid (pardon the pun) action lead, and he seems perfectly tuned in to the kind of tone the filmmakers appear to be shooting for. Ditto for Paul Giamatti as Dr. Exposition. Con - How many times can we watch cities crumble before it loses its impact? There’s nothing in the trailer that in any way sets SAN ANDREAS apart from the likes of THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, 2012, or even MAN OF STEEL (which featured the wholesale destruction of a city on a massive scale), and it seems almost gleefully silly, to boot. JUNE Insidious: Chapter 3 - June 5th Trailer! Pro - The first two films were very successful (from a financial standpoint, at least), and making this installment a prequel opens up a door to do some new things with the supernatural goings-on. Con - CHAPTER 2 was nowhere near universally loved, and it remains to be seen how much of a fresh spin can be put on a concept that has been pretty thoroughly explored in the previous two movies. Spy - June 5th Trailer! Pro - Melissa McCarthy is a certifiable comedic force, and the spy genre remains ripe for spoofing. Con - Is Melissa McCarthy playing a fresh character, or will she be portraying just another version of the bumbling buffoon? Also, is there going to be anything approaching a real plot, here, or will the movie just be a series of sketches stitched together? The Nightmare - June 5th Trailer Not Available! Pro - This documentary, which examines and dramatizes the bizarre experiences some have had with sleep paralysis, is helmed by the director of the superb ROOM 237, which examined (in detail) the myriad theories surrounding Stanley Kubrick’s classic film, THE SHINING. That kind of angle applied to this subject matter should yield fascinating results. Con - Documentaries are often hit-or-miss; if the subject is presented in a dry or un-engaging way, it could be a slog. Also, if it gets too “out there” with the dramatizations of sleep paralysis, its value as a serious documentary could be called into question. Jurassic World - June 12th Trailer! Pro - The long-awaited return of the JURASSIC PARK franchise to the screen (after a 14-year hiatus), WORLD promises to fully exploit the wonderful possibilities inherent to the idea of dinosaurs getting loose in an operational, busy theme park full of tourists. Per the director, the movie will also be a return to Michael Crichton’s original themes of man playing God and corporate disregard for anything but the bottom line. Con - Just how silly is it going to be, really? There’s a fine line to be walked between fun and ridiculous, and if the movie can’t walk that line well, it could fall into camp of the highest order. The over-reliance on digital effects (in contrast to the quite perfect balance of CGI and animatronics found in the previous films) also gives one pause, even if only somewhat. Inside Out - June 19th Trailer! Pro - Pixar Animation’s first film in two years offers a unique concept, seemingly vivid characters, and another superb balance of humor and heart. Early word from advance screenings is that this might be Pixar’s most emotional movie yet, which - given that the first 10 minutes of UP made just about everybody cry - is really saying something. Con - But the emotion is a double-edged sword, too. Too much emphasis on it could potentially undermine both the comedy and the plot, even if the early word says that isn’t the case. Ted 2 - June 26th Trailer! Pro - The first TED was a huge hit, and Ted himself proved to be a memorable character that audiences enjoyed. The studio is therefore banking on people wanting more. Con - And more is what we’re getting. Based on the trailers, the storyline looks to be paper-thin, merely an excuse for more shenanigans. Hopefully the best bits have been saved for the movie, because the ads have been chronically unfunny. Max - June 26th Trailer! Pro - Everybody loves a heartwarming story involving a dog, and when you add that to the element involving families of deployed troops, it could result in a very potent mixture. The studio must think so, anyway, as they moved the film from a fall release right into the heart of the summer, which signals they think they have a winner on their hands. Con - This could EASILY be way too saccharine and schmaltzy, and it feels like “dogs” and “honoring our troops” are easy idea buttons to push to draw out emotion that is unearned on either narrative or thematic levels. JULY Terminator: Genysis - July 1st Trailer! Pro - He said he’d be back! Arnold finally returns to the franchise that made him a megastar. The storyline appears to present some intriguing ideas about alternate timelines and the side effects of time travel (it appears characters will actually be going back into moments from previous TERMINATOR films, sort of like BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II), and the action - though potentially a little goofy - looks like fun. Con - Will those alternate timelines make things too convoluted or confusing for audience members? And given that this has been announced as the start of a new trilogy of films, will this movie have a contained story that is satisfactorily resolved, or will we be faced with another open-ended conclusion (which has become of staple of the series)? Minions - July 10th Trailer! Pro - The Minions stole the show in the DESPICABLE ME films, and now we’re getting a movie where they’re front-and-center. Kids are sure to eat it up, and if the filmmakers have played their cards right, there’s the potential to imbue the Minions with even more quirks and personality. Con - What’s the story? The Minions are best when used as zany punctuation for a human-centric plotline, so what kind of narrative could there be which positions these supporting characters as the leads? The Gallows - July 10th Trailer! Pro - Blumhouse, the production company behind the movie, has a decent track record with crafting solid, low budget chillers, and based on nothing other than the trailer, it looks like there’s definitely going to be some chilling stuff going on here. That a major studio, Warner Bros., is releasing the movie implies there might be a (slightly!) higher standard of quality than if the movie were going directly to a VOD release, or something along those lines. Con - We’ve all seen this sort of thing before, so what’s the unique hook here? The movie will need to differentiate itself, either through an interesting plot, or cool visuals, or exciting and memorable kills. Mr. Holmes - July 17th Trailer! Pro - Ian McKellen, one of the finest actors alive, portrays an aging Sherlock Holmes. ‘Nuff said! Con - The trailer looks to be more in the vein of a character study than a classic mystery, but for the movie to really succeed, there needs to be a balance. If the mystery elements are just going to be background noise to a look at what old Holmes’ personal life is like, it could make for an unsatisfying experience. Ant-Man - July 17th Trailer! Pro - Marvel’s second big film of the summer, ANT-MAN looks like a fine palette cleanser after the gargantuan scale of AGE OF ULTRON. Based on the trailers, it seems like it would have a great mixture of inventive action and humor, a mix which payed-off in huge fashion last summer with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, which - like ANT-MAN - was based on source material some might deem on the silly side. Con - There was some behind-the-scenes turmoil on this movie as it began production (its longtime director, Edgar Wright, left the project only a couple months before shooting), which is never a good sign, and it remains to be seen if an audience will buy into such a weird (albeit important to the overall Marvel Universe) character. Trainwreck - July 17th Trailer! Pro - Director Judd Apatow has yet to helm a completely bad film, and this one looks to add Amy Schumer’s distinctive comedic voice to the mix, which will probably result in this feeling the most un-Apatow-y of all his films, something that might give it a very fresh flavor. The supporting cast is packed with interesting and unconventional choices, too. Con - Coming only three weeks after TED 2, will audiences be ready for another raunchy comedy, even one that has a more unique female voice at its center? Pixels - July 24th Trailer! Pro - The concept is absolutely killer, the always-great Peter Dinklage is playing a key role, and it’s directed by Chris Columbus (he of HOME ALONE, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, and HARRY POTTER fame), so it should be a solidly-constructed picture, and one that (theoretically) does not indulge the off-base impulses of its star. Who is that star? Con - Adam Sandler is the star. And Kevin James is the second male lead. When these two guys get together, bad things tend to happen, cinematically-speaking. If they’re just going to be getting up to some more GROWN UPS-style juvenile antics, it could totally torpedo the very strong premise. Southpaw - July 31st Trailer! Pro - Jake Gyllenhaal underwent a striking physical transformation in order to portray a boxer, and it looks like an absolutely ferocious piece of work from him, both emotionally and physically. Con - Based on the trailer, the story seems to be fairly standard, very much the sort of thing we’ve seen in countless sports movies that have come before, and there’s little doubt how the movie is going to conclude. The Gift - July 31st Trailer! Pro - Joel Edgerton (a strong actor in his own right) makes his directorial debut with this thriller, one which looks like it has the potential to be ultra-unsettling if handled properly. Con - Much like SOUTHPAW, haven’t we seen this movie before? There need to be a few genuine surprises and twists in store for audiences, lest THE GIFT have a huge “been there, done that” feeling. Vacation - July 31st Trailer Not Available! Pro - The script for this NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION sequel/reboot has been said to be extremely funny, and the premise (an adult Rusty Griswold wants to take his family on a cross country road trip back to Walley World) implies there’ll be both loving references to the classic original film as well as the opportunity for new material. Con - Will the references and homages to the original overtake the new material? And while this is technically a sequel, are the filmmakers treating it more as a remake, which might give the movie a kind of redundant feeling? Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - July 31st Trailer! Pro - The previous film, GHOST PROTOCOL, was loved by just about everyone, and this new installment looks to be a blast, filled with insane, done-for-real stunts (that’s Cruise really hanging off a plane in midair!), and a team-on-a-mission vibe that should offer great moments for Rhames, Renner, Pegg, and Cruise to bounce off each other. Con - What are the stakes? Who’s the villain? What is the threat to our heroes and/or the world? These are questions the movie needs to answer in a satisfying way if it’s going to be anything other than a superficial, lightweight affair. AUGUST Fantastic Four - August 7th Trailer! Pro - Let’s be honest: it can only be better than the previous cinematic incarnation of these characters was, and director Josh Trank displayed a very strong sense of vision and style with his previous movie, CHRONICLE. The central cast is great, too. Also, the idea of grounding the FF in weird and scary science fiction could be a great angle. Con - Can a property as strange and goofy as the FANTASTIC FOUR comics truly work in a more grounded and realistic setting? These are bright and fun characters, and the trailer makes the movie look anything but bright and fun. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - August 14th Trailer! Pro - The movie looks like a lot of sixties-ish fun, and it’s seemingly riffing not only on the original TV show, but also the aesthetics of both classic caper films and espionage films. Director Guy Ritchie has a good handle on how to shoot action, too, so this has all the makings of great romp. Con - Arriving only two weeks after the latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (and with SPY earlier in the summer, as well), will audiences be spied-out for a while? And will the chemistry between Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer be as strong as the trailer makes it seem? Sinister 2 - August 21st Trailer! Pro - This sequel to the legitimately frightening sleeper hit from a couple years ago looks to be expanding on the mythology of the central boogeyman, and it appears to promise even more sequences of people watching horrific home movies. Con - Are the filmmakers just basically remaking the first movie with a new set of characters, or are they going to bring something new to the table? Horror sequels have a tendency to just retread what came before, and SINISTER 2 will need to avoid this if it has any chance of being memorable. Regression - August 28th Trailer! Pro - Stories about cults (which this appears to be, based on the trailer) are an under-appreciated subgenre of horror, and given that Emma Watson - who has been quite selective about what roles she takes - is in it, we can assume that the screenplay is strong stuff, and not just a standard, quickie horror flick. Con - That said, is this going to be too far in the other direction, to the extent that it eschews all genre trappings in favor of a more straightforward drama? The trailer doesn’t make it seem so, but also appears to be holding a lot back; is that because there’s nothing eerie left to show, or because the filmmakers are trying to build a sense of mystery? So there we are! In the coming days, be on the lookout for an episode of The Cinematic Confab Podcast, wherein Brenton Thom, Breanne Brennan, and I will talk at length about our expectations for the Summer Movie Season! What movies are you most excited about for this summer?
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