Listomania Sundays: Summer 2011 Edition

I recently got my favorite issue of Entertainment Weekly the Summer Movie Preview Issue. I like to go through and read about what movies are coming over the summer and pick 5 that I consider “opening day” movies. These are movies that are must see and I feel the need to be one of the first people to see it before other people start talking about it.  Over the past few years I have not made it many of my “opening day” movies but for some reason I still get excited for summer movies.  As with most summers the majority of movies are sequels and comic book movies.  Some of the biggest sequels coming out this summer are Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2, Transformers 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, The Hangover Part II, Kung-Fu Panda 2, and Cars 2. And as for comic book movies Marvel is releasing 3 movies this summer, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and X-Men: First Class and D.C. Comics is releasing The Green Lantern.

Trying to compete with all those big budget studio movies are a bunch of movies that premiered at Sundance.  Movies like Another Earth, Salvation Boulevard, Circumstance, The Guard, The Ledge, and The Art of Getting By.  Also trying to repeat the success of March of the Penguins are a number of documentaries coming out over the summer including Buck, Page One: Inside the New York Times, Project Nim, and Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.

Well here is my list of “opening day” movies. For some reason I always get suckered in by the hype of big blockbuster action spectacles. And most of the movies on my list end up being sequels.  Not sure how many I will actually get to see as it will be a busy summer but these are the movies I am most excited for.

May 20th- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-When was the last time the 4th movie was anywhere near as good as the original? After 2 so-so sequels Jonny Depp is back in the 4th.  This one seems like it could be good. Getting rid of the crazy story lines that made the 2nd and 3rd movies long and complicated a straight forward story could actually breathe new life into the series.

May 26th-The Hangover Part II.-While sequels rarely capture the magic of the original and comedy sequels have an even worse record. I am excited for this one. I hope they can keep it fresh and as funny as the original.

June 10th-Super 8-One of the few non-sequel non-superhero movie coming out this summer. It looks like the perfect summer movie about a bunch of kids who witness a train derailment that sends aliens into their town.  Looks like a little bit of the Goonies mixed with Jaws. With Steven Spielberg producing this one I have high expectations.

July 1st-Transformers:Dark of the Moon- The second one was weak on plot and strong on annoying robots. But for some reason I am looking forward to this movie.  Something about robots fighting robots that I love.

July 29th-Cowboys and Aliens-the title says it all. And with Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig maybe it should be called Indiana Jones and James Bond vs. Aliens.  It is the third movie on my list with aliens and the second non sequel. Not sure what that says about my movie taste.

Even though it is the action movies that make up my list of “opening day” movies it is usually comedies that end up being some of my favorite movies of the summer. This summer there are three comedies that seem like they have potential.

July 1st-Larry Crowne- Written, directed, and starring Tom Hanks this has the potential to be a great movie. Add Julia Roberts and you got a hit on your hands.

July 8th-Horrible Bosses- A comedy about 3 guys who hate their bosses and try to kill them. The plot sounds like fun and with Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston playing the bosses the movie has a lot of potential. Hoping it is as good as it sounds.


July 29th -Crazy, Stupid Love-with Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Julianne Moore. The movie is about a guy Steve Carell whose wife leaves him and he gets dating tips from a suave guy played by Ryan Gosling.   Sounds like comedic goldmine.