MAY
Nicole’s Pick
“The Great Gatsby”
Release Date: May 10
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire,
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a self-made millionaire who uses his vast fortune to buy his way into the blue blood society of Long Island. Gatsby seeks to win back the love of socialite Daisy Buchanan, who is now married to “old money.” As Carraway observes this passing parade, he soon sees through the cracks of Gatsby’s nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
Brian’s Pick
“Star Trek Into Darkness”
Release Date: May 17
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto,Benedict Cummerbatch
Director: JJ Abrams
Genre: Science Fiction, Action/Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Captain Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew are back in JJ Abrams’ long-awaited sequel to his stellar Star Trek reboot. This time the Enterprise is facing catastrophic consequences when a Starfleet insider begins to bring down the entire organization.
This new enemy is hunted by Kirk with great vigor, almost to the point where the young captain is pushed to the breaking point. Not much else is known of this film’s plot which makes it all the more enticing.
JUNE
Brian’s Pick
“Monsters University”
Release Date: June 21
Cast: Voice talents of John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi
Genre: Family, Comedy
Rating: This film was not rated at the time of print (I’d assume G or a light PG)
Synopsis: In a growing line of Pixar sequels – Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Cars 2 – now we can add a prequel to the bunch.
Pixar’s latest charmer is the story of how Monsters Inc. co-workers James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski came to be friends. This movie looks like it’s packed with all the humor that made the real first “Monsters” movie a hit. It looks as if though Pixar just wants to keep reminding us that they are the best at animation and family entertainment in general.
Nicole’s Pick
“Man of Steel”
Release Date: June 14
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe
Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
This version places special emphasis on the Man of Tomorrow’s backstory and his feelings of displacement among the human world that he dutifully protects despite their own moral shortcomings.
JULY
Nicole’s Pick
“Pacific Rim”
Release Date: July 12
Cast:Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Giant monsters identified as “Kaiju” arise from a crevice in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a war that takes millions of lives and consumes humanity’s resources. To combat this new threat, a special type of weapon is used: massive robots, known as Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. On its last stand and on the verge of defeat two unlikely heroes are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger, standing as the human race’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
Brian’s Pick
“The Lone Ranger”
Release Date: July 3
Cast: Armie Hammer, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter
Director: Gore Verbinski
Genre: Western/Action
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: The classic 1930s radio sensation that later moved to television is getting a major motion picture update from director Gore Verbinski (the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies). The story follows lawman John Reid who decides to take on the mantle of the masked vigilante of the Old West, known only as the Lone Ranger. This is, of course, with the help of his Native American sidekick and warrior in his own right, Tonto.
Verbinski won an Oscar for Rango, so my hopes for a live action Western are high.
AUGUST
Brian’s Pick
“Elysium”
Release Date: August 9
Cast: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: Not yet rated
Synopsis: If you think class warfare now is bad, writer/director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) has a vision of the future where the poor live on hell on Earth, or rather hell is Earth, and the rich live on Elysium – a space station in the sky with great health care and the most advanced science. But, Matt Damon plays a man damned to live on Earth who uses powerful cyborg technology to defy convention and tries to make it to Elysium. With his previous film, Blomkamp delivered a smart, artistic take on South African apartheid; I can’t wait to see his take on American class warfare.
Nicole’s Pick
“Kick-Ass 2”
Release Date: August 16
Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Genre: Comedy/Action
Rating:R
Synopsis: With graduation looming and uncertain what to do, Dave (Kick-Ass) decides to start the world’s first superhero team with Mindy (Hit Girl). Unfortunately, when Mindy is busted for sneaking out as Hit Girl, she’s forced to retire, leaving her to navigate the terrifying world of high-school’s mean girls on her own. With no one left to turn to, Dave joins forces with Justice Forever.
As they start to make a real difference on the streets, the world’s first super villain, The Mother F****r, assembles his own evil league But, if you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.
We found this Summer to be particularly packed with movies we’d like to see. This is our list of the… Honorable Mentions:
MAY 3rd:
“Iron Man 3”
MAY 24th:
“The Hangover: Part III”
MAY 31st:
“After Earth”
“Now You See Me”
JUNE 7th:
“Passion”
JUNE 12:
“This is the End”
JUNE 21st:
“World War Z”
JUNE 28th:
“The Heat”
JULY 3rd:
“Despicable Me 2”
JULY 17th:
“Turbo”
JULY 19th:
“Girl Most Likely”
“The Conjuring”
JULY 26th:
“The Wolverine”
AUGUST 2nd:
“2 Guns”
“300: Rise of an Empire”
AUGUST 9th:
“Lovelace”
AUGUST 16th:
“Paranoia”
We’d like to wish you all a very happy and safe summer. Until next year, see you at the movies…
Sincerely,
Nicole Callsen, Webmaster
Brian Laughran, Viewpoints Correspondent