Summer 2015
The summer movies season is underway, and it's undeniably my favorite time of the year, as it's always usually filled with the movies I'm most excited for. And there's TONS to look forward to this summer, so here's the 10 I'm most excited for.
Honorable Mentions (in no order)
Aloha
Minions
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Pitch Perfect 2 (I don't care)
Trainwreck
Spy
Slow West
Entourage
#10-San Andreas
Here's a rare disaster genre movie that I'm surprisingly quite excited for. The disaster genre is a hit and miss one for sure, in fact a lot of times they tend to kind of suck, but San Andreas is a promising one. Dwayne Johnson is perhaps the best action star we have working today, so whenever his name is attached to a project like this, I'm always intrigued, and there's a solid supporting cast here to go along with that name. But, what has actually impressed me with the trailers for this so far, is not only the insane looking action, but also the global feel that they've shown, like this actually looks like a realistic way how something like this would go down in the real world something a lot of these movies lack, and I think this is just going to be one of the more entertaining and hopefully surprising movies of the summer.
#9-Fantastic Four
A reboot I'm actually quite looking forward to. A lot of drama has definitely surrounded this new film, I won't lie thanks to the rumored production issues, I definitely have my concerns for this new FF, but I also can't lie that besides those rumors, I'm really liking everything I've seen from this project. Unlike a lot of people, I actually really like the cast of these classic characters consisting of Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell, I was a big fan of Josh Trank's debut film Chronicle from 2012, and the trailers so far have been fantastic (pun intended). I think the costumes look, the effects mostly looks great, and after the disaster of the last two Fantastic Four movies that we got back in the 2000s, I am all in for the darker and more serious tone the trailers have definitely be showing. And FOX, like Marvel Studios, have been on quite a roll as of late. Regardless, whatever we get, HAS to be better than the previous two FF films.
#8-Ant-Man
A lot of drama has been surrounding this new original Marvel project that has been in development for like a good 10 years now. I was definitely among the many who was completely upset when it was announced that director Edgar Wright, was leaving the project due to creative differences with Marvel, not even a full year ago. But, slowly after that announcement, particularly after Comic Con last year, I've definitely gotten confidence back into this film, and Marvel proved last year after what they did with Guardians of the Galaxy, they always deserve a benefit of the doubt. I was a little disappointed with the first trailer that debut back in January, but I dug the trailer they released a few weeks ago, as it seems like this movie will have a great balance of both humor and action which Marvel has always handled so well. On top of that you're given a terrific cast, Paul Rudd seems perfectly cast in this lead role, and can't really go with Michael Douglass, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Cory Stroll and others as supporting players. My concerns are still there, but so is my faith.
A lot of drama has been surrounding this new original Marvel project that has been in development for like a good 10 years now. I was definitely among the many who was completely upset when it was announced that director Edgar Wright, was leaving the project due to creative differences with Marvel, not even a full year ago. But, slowly after that announcement, particularly after Comic Con last year, I've definitely gotten confidence back into this film, and Marvel proved last year after what they did with Guardians of the Galaxy, they always deserve a benefit of the doubt. I was a little disappointed with the first trailer that debut back in January, but I dug the trailer they released a few weeks ago, as it seems like this movie will have a great balance of both humor and action which Marvel has always handled so well. On top of that you're given a terrific cast, Paul Rudd seems perfectly cast in this lead role, and can't really go with Michael Douglass, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Cory Stroll and others as supporting players. My concerns are still there, but so is my faith.
My most anticipated non blockbuster of the summer. Bio pics of musicians are definitely a tough subject to bring to the big screen, and sometimes they can be very hit or miss, but Straight Outta Compton is shaping up to be one of the best ones in a while. I've been a big fan of NWA, as well as Ice Cube and Dr. Dre themselves, for a very long time, and I think this will definitely hit home for any fans, but looks to still be a fascinating film on its own. I'm glad that Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are playing a huge part in the making of this film, and everyone in the cast seem like they'll perfectly capture the real person they're portraying.
Up until about a week ago, I'd say I was definitely very intrigued, and somewhat excited for Disney's Tomorrowland, but when that new trailer hit about a week ago, was when I realized how excited I was for this. Usually the summer season is filled with non-stop sequels, reboots or remakes whatever, but something that makes me excited for this film, is that it's one of the more big original films that we'll be seeing this summer. It's got a great concept that if executed well could make for some amazing storytelling, a rock solid cast, and I think the trailers have done a nice job of not really giving a whole lot of the story away. But, Brad Bird's name being attached as the director is probably the biggest reason why I'm really looking forward to this one, I've been a fan of his for a very long time, and he hasn't directed a film yet that I didn't like.
#5-Jurassic World
I feel like I'm in the minority, but I'm actually really anticipating this new Jurassic Park sequel. The original Jurassic Park is amongst one of my favorite films of all-time, and I really hope and think this new installment can bring excitement back into a franchise that needs it after some disappointing sequels. I've actually really liked mostly all of the footage we've seen from this movie (although the first clip wasn't great), the action and dinosaur sequences themselves look insane and a ton of fun, and they certainly have gotten the right cast to go along with this new movie, I've grown to be a big fan of Chris Pratt over the last few years. I really liked Collin Trevorrow's first feature film, and even though, the story here may not seem like anything new, I do like the direction they seem to be taking this franchise. This won't be the Citizen Kane of dinosaur movies, but I think it'll be one of the more entertaining movies of the summer.
Similar to the Fast & Furious franchise, the Mission Impossible movies have basically only gotten better as it continues. Ghost Protocol was my favorite one of the series yet, and while I was disappointed that Brad Bird who helmed Protocol wasn't returning for this one, Rogue Nation looks to continue the over the top action and the team dynamic that made that film so much fun. I liked director's Christopher McQuarrie previous work on Jack Reacher, it wasn't the best movie, but I thought he handle the action sequences well, so I'm interested to see what he brings to the tables with this new installment.
Pixar Studios for a long time, was widely considered to be perhaps the best movie studio working today, but in the last 4 years or so, they've been in a little bit of a downslide. I did enjoy Monsters University, their last flick from 2013, but Inside Out looks like it'll be their true return to glory. It's the studio going back to creating an unique and original premise, which they've proven time and time again to be able to execute to perfection, and the wonderful trailers have done a fabulous job not giving a whole lot of the story away. On top of the original premise they're tackling with this, dealing with the different emotions that go around in our head, they've got a pitch perfect voice cast to go along, with the likes of Amy Poehler, and Lewis Black.
This looks like it'll be one INSANE ride and one of the most entertaining movies of the year. I actually haven't seen any of the original Mad Max films with Mel Gibson, but this looks fantastic and I've loved all of the footage I've seen. Tom Hardy, is quickly becoming one of my favorite character actors working today, and this seems look like the perfect role for him, as I'm still waiting for him to explode into stardom status. The action sequences look amazing and CRAZY, the cinematography actually looks beautiful, and the cast all around is impressive with a still looking smoking hot as a bald Charlize Theron starring alongside Hardy.
My most anticipated movie of the summer is my #2 most anticipated movie of all 2015. Marvel has been on a roll as of late, and Age of Ultron looks like it could be one of their best flicks yet. The first Avengers, which was an event film, is not only one of my favorite comic book movies of all-time, but it's in my personal Top 100 as well (went back and saw it four times in just two weekends), and Ultron looks like it will be not only upping the antes, but also darker, and really sets up the stages for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I've loved all of the trailers they've released, and from what I'm hearing, this is a much different film than the first which actually makes me even more excited. I'm excited to see the gang all back together, as well as the new additions, but easily what I'm most excited for is the addition of the incredible James Spader voicing the role of the main villain himself, Ultron. Marvel has been very hit and miss with their villains, but Ultron looks like one of their best if not their best yet and most menacing.
