Check out Part 1 and Part 3 of the Summer Movie Preview.
Welcome back, movie-goers! I hope you enjoyed the first part of my 2011 Summer Movie Preview and were able to gain a little more insight on the films headed our way. This edition is going to run a little short, as I decided to do June and July separate at the last minute. So, I’ll be taking a look at June’s offerings, and by the looks of things this is going to be an epic month! The summer box office heats up as we finally get to see four highly-anticipated films hit the big screen. So, go ahead and grab a drink, grab some snacks, and get comfortable. Click the jump to read the whole preview!
X-Men: First Class – June 3
First up this month is the highly-anticipated reboot to the mutant movie franchise as X-Men: First Class takes us back to the beginning for Professor Xavier and his school for gifted youngsters. For those of you unfamiliar, bear in mind that this isn’t a prequel connected to the first three films, or Wolverine for that matter, but a whole new direction for the characters. Heading up the new franchise are James McAvoy (Wanted), Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds), and, as if we needed any more ways to connect him to everything in Hollywood, Kevin Bacon. First Class focuses on Professor Charles Xavier as he founds Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in 1963, catering to students with special abilities. Check out the trailer below.
Super 8 – June 10
J.J. Abrams, the man behind Lost and Fringe, and Steven Spielberg have collaborated to bring us Super 8. ..and that’s about all that anyone seems to know about this film. Seriously, its plot details have been kept tightly under wraps in a super-secret vault three miles below the surface of the earth and guarded by a legion of flesh-eating super-bears. The only thing we do know is that it may possibly be about a group of six kids who, in 1979, set out to film a zombie movie on their super-8 camera, only to record the collision of a pick-up truck and train and said train’s subsequent derailment. They also capture footage of something mysterious that emerges from the wreckage, but, again, we have no idea what it could be, only that it’s pretty freaking powerful. Oh, and it’s not a prequel to Cloverfield either. If this isn’t vague enough for you, check out the ambiguous trailer below.
Green Lantern – June 17
DC Comics’ Emerald Warrior finally comes to the big screen in Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, and Mark Strong as Sinestro. Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royal) and with cinematography by Academy Award-winner Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha), it promises to be a cosmic adventure on an epic scale. The movie also features familiar faces in supporting roles as well, such as Angela Bassett, Peter Sarsgaard, and Tim Robbins. Geoff Johns, who has written the Green Lantern comic series since 2004, was a creative consultant during filming, and has promised fans of the franchise that the finished product will not disappoint. As a HUGE Green Lantern fan myself, you can look forward to my review of the film on June 18, and I promise that I will pull no punches if it doesn’t live up to the hype! Until then, check out the trailer below.
Cars 2 – June 24
Following up its 2006 hit, Disney and Pixar bring us Cars 2. Reuniting the original voice cast (with the exception of the late Paul Newman), our four-wheeled friends head overseas on the international racing circuit, only to get caught up in a top-secret adventure. Featuring additional voices by and all-star cast including Michael Caine, Jason Issacs, Joe Mantegna, and Bruce Campbell, Cars 2 looks to be a great sequel. Check out the trailer below for a quick glimpse. Also, Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation, the first short for the franchise, is set to appear before the feature, so be sure to keep your eyes open for that as well.
Other Films Opening in June
Beginners – June 3
Bad Teacher – June 24
Well folks, that’s it for now. Next week I’ll deliver on July’s previews, where I’ll be taking a look at four major films that should make it the hottest month of the summer. Until then, may your popcorn be plentiful and your soda never-ending.
