This summer may prove to be best spent at the movies. Summer movies come in what seems to be a flood of different genres, actors and plots. It becomes difficult to decide what to buy a ticket for when every movie looks as interesting as the last, but here are five of this summer’s most anticipated movies.
“The Avengers,” May 4
The Marvel superheroes come together in one film to fight a force that is trying to destroy the world. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) are brought together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to fight off what is trying to demolish everything in its path, and Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) may be behind all of the destruction. Scarlett Johansson plays the Black Widow and Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye.
The superhero lineup remains the same for every character but The Hulk. Since the role was formerly played by Edward Norton, Ruffalo has big shoes to fill. Ruffalo usually portrays a more reserved character, so playing a superhero as angry and big as The Hulk will be a big change for him.
“Captain America,” the last Marvel superhero film before “The Avengers,” had a little too much story and not enough action that is craved in superhero films. Hopefully, the lack of action will not prove to be a prequel of what to expect from “The Avengers.”
“The Avengers” is not yet rated.
“Dark Shadows,” May 11
Following the premier of the summer’s first and most anticipated big superhero film of the summer, “Dark Shadows” is a change of pace from action packed to the dark, odd humor of Tim Burton.
“Dark Shadows” follows Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a vampire who is set free after years of imprisonment. Barnabas returns to his home to find his relatives in need of his immortal help.
Burton’s two go-to actors, Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, are accompanied by big names like Eva Green and Michelle Pfeiffer. These actors are capable of portraying that certain feel of oddball creepiness and hilarity that Burton movies always have.
Even though there have just been a few trailers for the film, Burton has a cult following that are anticipating this film like Marvel fans are anticipating “The Avengers.”
“Dark Shadows” is not yet rated.
“Moonrise Kingdom,” May 25
Wes Anderson’s latest star-studded film follows two twelve-year-olds who fall in love and runaway together in the summer of 1965, putting their hometown into a frenzy.
A cast including actors like Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis and Jason Schwartzman is enough to make the film worth watching, but it is the unique, indie feel to Anderson movies that will make the film stick out from other summer releases.
Anderson movies always have an awkwardness about them that is entirely unique to Anderson’s work, and “Moonrise Kingdom” looks like it will be no exception.
“Moonrise Kingdom” is rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” June 22
The film is based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s book of the same name. In it, the 16th president of the United States vows to wipe out the entire vampire population when he discovers their plot to take over the United States.
With a title like “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” many people are not taking this film seriously. When the fact that Abraham Lincoln is massacring vampires is looked past, the film looks to be incredibly action packed with beautiful cinematography that says this film certainly means business.
Benjamin Walker is cast as Lincoln, and the role seems to be fitting. Judging by the trailers, his look is fitting for the part and his acting appears solid. Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is not yet rated.
“The Dark Knight Rises,” July 20
“The Dark Knight Rises” is the final film in the Batman series that picks up eight years after the death of Two Face. Batman took the blame for the villain’s death, but a new villain causes Batman to protect Gotham City once more.
The cast is filled with some of the biggest names in the industry. Christian Bale returns as Batman and Tom Hardy is cast as the new villain, Bane. Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Liam Neeson also add to the star appeal of the movie.
The film’s trailers make it out to be not just a movie, but a cinematic bang to end one of the biggest superhero series remakes.
“The Dark Knight Rises” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.
