It’s summer time, folks! The sun is hot and the movies are even hotter.
This is the time of the year that studios look to make the most money so that they can later release all those wonderful award-nominated movies that give them so much credit. However, that doesn’t mean summer movies lack in entertainment quality. On the contrary. Summer movies are meant to provide you with tons of visual stimulation. The summer movie season is meant to get butts in the seats with all sorts of bombastic offerings. This year, we’ve already been spoiled. We’ve been handed a couple of big movies that would’ve fit quite well in the summer schedule (“Winter Soldier”, anyone?!) It makes sense, though. the summer months get so packed to the brim with movies, that other movies need to be placed elsewhere in order to compete. Besides, who’s gonna complain about getting to see movies earlier?
In this summer preview, you will see the fifteen movies that were lucky enough to take over prime summer blockbuster slots.
Jump to the next page to start the list!
1. Jersey Boys
What? If you travel to New York, I doubt you could take too many steps in any direction in the city without seeing at least one poster for “Jersey Boys”. The Broadway musical is beloved by theater patrons and critics alike, so much so that it has not only won a Grammy for Best Musical Album, but it also won a Tony for Best Musical in 2006. And the musical is still performing admirably! There’s no doubt that this is a theater juggernaut, and it was only a matter of time before it got turned into a movie.
“Jersey Boys” is a dramatized look at the rise and fall of the original members of The Four Seasons, a band that reach mega stardom in the 60s and to this day Frankie Valli continues to lead the band to sold out shows.
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Who? The film jumped from the capable hands of Jon Favreau to the capable hands of Clint Eastwood. Eastwood has found his niche these days directing stories based on true events, so it’s only natural that he would jump on “Jersey Boys”, though, genre-wise it’s something we, to the best of my knowledge, haven’t seen from Eastwood before. In a smart move, Eastwood hired John Lloyd Young to reprise his Tony Award-winning role as Frankie Valli in the movie, and proceeded to round off the cast with the likes of Vincent Piazza (of “Boardwalk Empire”), Steve Schirripa, and, most notably, Christopher Walken.
When and Where? The film will be ready to serenade audiences on June 20th in wide release.
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2. Transformers: Age of Extinction
What? Just when you thought the infamous franchise was put to rest, Hollywood executives had other plans. Though the story follows “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”, it is essentially a reboot of the franchise. The story takes place four years after the previous film, and sees a mechanic and his daughter find a deactivated Optimus Prime. Transformers have not been seen or heard from in those four years, but some businessmen and scientists are taking no precautions. They want to use past knowledge of Transformers to push technology to new heights. Any guess on whether they go too far?
Who? Michael Bay is back as director. Ehren Kruger is back as writer. However, the cast is all new. Mark Wahlberg leads the new star stable, and also along for the ride are Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, and comedian TJ Miller. The voice cast for the bots (including DINOBOTS!!) see the likes of Peter Cullen, John Goodman, John DiMaggio, and Ken Watanabe.
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When and Where? “Transformers: Age of Extinction” will roll out nationwide on June 27th.
3. Earth to Echo
What? Everyone loves E.T. It’s hard not to. It’s a touching tale of an alien that just wants to return home and the kids that wish to help him get there. “Earth to Echo” is much like a modern retelling of the classic tale. A few kids start receiving weird messages that lead them to find a contraption of sorts housing an alien. They soon find that the alien is in trouble and needs their help.
Who? The film was developed and shot under the Disney umbrella, but release strategy issues caused them to sell the distribution rights to Relativity Media. So, though the trailer may not look like much, remember that this has Disney’s fingerprints all over it and that may count for something. First time director Dave Green helms the project that is full of relatively unknown talent. Will we see the next Drew Barrymore break out in this film?
When and Where? “Earth to Echo” will be hitting theaters in a wide release on July 2nd.
4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
What? The highly lauded 2011 hit “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” gets a sequel this year. And with the sequel comes a whole new cast and whole lot more talking apes. Time has passed since “Rise” and the freed apes are evolving to be much like Caesar. They are taking over their own territory and soon find themselves threatened by a band of human survivors after the ravaging they took from a deadly virus a decade ago. Though, they reach peace, bonds are broken and an intense war breaks out between humans and apes.
Who? The film is directed by Matt Reeves (last seen directing the “Let The Right One In” remake, “Let Me In”.) Andy Serkis (Caesar) seems to be the only cast members returning for this one. Though, James Franco can be seen in archive footage in the trailer. Replacing James Franco as the big namr star is Gary Oldman. Supplementing the human side will see a cast consisting of Jason Clarke, Kerri Russell, and Kodi Smit-McPhee, while on the ape side Judy Greer and Toby Kebbell join the cast.
When and Where? “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” will be going ape in theaters nationwide on July 11th.
5. Jupiter Ascending
What? “Jupiter Ascending” is being described as a “science fiction space opera.” In a universe where the Earth is unaware of the fact that outer space families have taken ownership of planets for business purposes, Jupiter Jones is a lowly home caretaker on Earth. A genetically engineered interplanetary warrior named Caine soon makes her acquaintance revealing that her genetic signature makes her royalty and heir to Earth. A bounty is put on her head, and it is Caine’s job to protect her in order to reach the throne.
Who? This is the latest offering from The Wachowski siblings (their follow up to “Cloud Atlas”) and a return to original scriptwriting for the brother and sister duo; something we haven’t seen since the Matrix trilogy. Once again, they’ve been able to acquire high caliber talent such Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, James D’Arcy, and even Terry Gilliam in a small part.
When and Where? “Jupiter Ascending” descends onto theaters nationwide on July 18th.
6. Hercules
What? Who knew 2014 would be the year of Hercules? After the Kellan Lutz led “Legend of Hercules” flopped back in January, Paramount and MGM Pictures are going to try to their hand in getting a Hercules franchise to happen. This one is based on the graphic novel, “Herecules: The Thracian Wars” in which Hercules has finished his twelve labors and is now put to the test when the King of Thrace seeks his help in defeating a tyrannical warlord.
Who? Hollywood’s butt of many jokes Brett Ratner is directing this epic, but the interest comes in the star power involved. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gets to realize his dream of playing Hercules, and he’ll be surrounded by Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, and Irina Shayk.
When and Where? The film will muscle its way into theaters nationwide on July 25th.
7. Lucy
What? “Lucy” is a sci-fi thriller that looks to be packed with lots of action. Perfect for the summer. In it, the title character finds herself forced to be a mule for a Taiwanese mob. However, the drug that was sewed into her stomach begins to leak, and it begins to give Lucy superhuman abilities beyond logical reason.
Who? Famed action movie writer/director Luc Besson is behind this vehicle for Scarlett Johansson. Morgan Freeman and Mason Lee (Hangover II) are also an integral part of the film.
When and Where? The movie joins “Hercules” in fighting its way through theaters across the nation on July 25th.
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
What? Possibly my most anticipated film of the summer. It is the tenth installation into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the final stop on the train to “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. “Guardians” may be the most “out there” film in the Marvel series, and is quite a departure from what we’ve been used to in their series of movies. Set in outer space, an American pilot named Peter Quill (or Star Lord as he likes to be referred) steals an orb coveted by the nefarious Ronan the Accuser. Quill finds himself needing to team up with a group of misfits (that include a talking raccoon and a sentient tree) in order to not only survive the manhunt placed on him by Ronan, but to save the fate of the universe as they know it.
Who? The film was placed in the hands of James Gunn (“Super”, “Slither”) who will bring his unique brand of crazy to the MCU. It’s also packed with a great amount of talent. Chris Pratt leads the cast along with Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Benicio Del Toro, Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as Rocket Raccoon and Groot respectively.
When and Where? “Guardians of the Galaxy” blasts its way to the theaters throughout the nation on August 1st.
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
What? This entry is more morbid curiosity than anything. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the Ninja Turtles. Despite the bad mojo surrounding the picture, I am quite excited to see a new film in the franchise. In “Ninja Turtles” New York City is in deep trouble. Shredder and his Evil Foot clan are terrorizing the city with their deep stranglehold over all authorities from the police to politicians. Intrepid reporter, April O’Neil, seeks to expose their wicked ways, but she’ll need a lot of help. Enter four outcast brothers that rise from the sewers to be an unlikely foe for Shredder, and to discover their destiny as protectors of the city.
Who? Despite what many may think, Michael Bay is not directing this film, but he is producer so his fingerprints will be all over the film. Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle: LA”, “Wrath of the Titans”) is actually helming the project. As far as the cast is concerned, there were some casting changes during post-production of the film. While Megan Fox, Will Arnett, and William Fichtner will be playing the humans, the turtles will be played by relative unknowns: Alan Ritchson (“Catching Fire”), Jeremy Howard, and Noel Fisher all provide motion capture and their voices to the turtles. Pete Ploszek did motion capture work for the fourth turtle, Leonardo, but Johnny Knoxville was cast to provide his voice. Tony Shalhoub was cast to do voice work for Master Splinter, whereas Danny Woodburn did the motion capture.
When and Where? “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” will rise from the sewers into theaters nationwide on August 8th.
10. Let’s Be Cops
What? You can’t have a summer movie season without a raucous comedy, and 2014’s offering is “Let’s Be Cops”. When best friends Ryan and Justin get invited to what they think is a typical “costume party” they decide to dress as cops. Upon leaving the party, they find that with the costume so comes the illusion of authority. Thus, they pretend to be cops and this does not end well. They find themselves entangled in a fight for their lives between mobsters and dirty detectives.
Who? Luke Greenfield (the criminally underrated “Role Models”) directs this film that reunites “New Girl” cast members Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. as the lead characters. Rounding out the cast are Andy Garcia, Rob Riggle, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Lajoie, and James D’Arcy.
When and Where? “Let’s Be Cops” stumbles into theaters nationwide on August 13th.
11. The Giver
What? No, your eyes do not deceive you. Everyone’s favorite book from middle school has finally been adapted into a movie. In the film, the world is without flaw. There is no war, there is no racism, there is no pain, and there is no suffering. Every person has a job chosen for them and they live in utopia. Young Jonas is given the job of “Receiver of Memories”. He is then sent to train with an old man named “The Giver”. The old man provides him with all the memories of the past, when the world was anything but perfect. And soon Jonas begins to unravel the truth of his perfect community.
Who? Phillip Noyce (“Salt”) has been chosen to the direct the hotly-anticipated adaption. Brendon Thwaites (you can catch him in “Maleficent” out this weekend) plays Jonas, while Jeff Bridges has been tapped to play “The Giver”. Joining them in the film is Alexander Skarsgard, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, and Taylor Swift.
When and Where? “The Giver” unravels in theaters nationwide on August 15th.
12. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
What? Speaking of hotly-anticipated films, it’s been almost a decade since “Sin City” hit theaters, and, thus, it’s been almost a decade since everyone started waiting for the sequel. Well, good news! It’s finally happening. After years of speculation as to whether or not it would ever get filmed, “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” is finally arriving in theaters.
Once again the film houses intertwining stories with an ensemble cast. It looks like it will tell four stories:
A. The story of Dwight McCarthy as a he tries to deal with his inner demons until his former lover, Ava, returns wanting him to take action against her abusive husband.
B. The story of Marv when he regains consciousness one night on a highway overpass and finds himself surrounded by dead men, and no knowledge of how it all happened.
C. The story of Johnny, a cocky gambler, who sets out to defeat the biggest villain in Sin City at his own game. However he defeats the wrong person, and things take a turn for the worse.
D. And the story of Nancy Callahan as she tries to shake off the suicide of John Hartigan while plotting to kill Senator Roark.
Who? Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller once again take control of the film. The ensemble cast includes many familiar faces and a couple of new ones: Jessica Alba, Powers Boothe, Josh Brolin, Jamie Chung, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, Dennis Haysbert (replacing the deceased Michael Clarke Duncan), Jaime King, Lady Gaga, Ray Liotta, Christopher Meloni, Jeremy Piven, Mickey Rourke, Juno Temple, and Bruce Willis.
When and Where? “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” finally creeps into theaters around the nation on August 22nd.
13. November Man
What? Based on the novel “There Are No Spies”, “November Man” sees an ex-CIA operative named Peter Devereaux brought back in on a very personal mission and finds himself pitted against his former protege in a deadly game involving high level US Government officials and the Russian president-elect.
Who? The film is directed by Roger Donaldson (the also criminally underrated “The Bank Job”.) Perhaps more importantly, Donaldson is given the task of directing Pierce Brosnan as he, seemingly, puts his James Bond shoes back on. And funnily enough, he will be co-starring with former “Bond Girl” Olga Kurylenko.
When and Where? The movie explodes onto screens nationwide on August 27th.
Trailer: No trailer has been released yet. Stay tuned to The Young Folks to see when it finally drops!
14. Life of Crime
What? It’s hard to argue that Elmore Leonard isn’t a great writer. He certainly knew what he was doing until he sadly passed away last year. From “Get Shorty” to “Jackie Brown” to “Out of Sight” to “Justified”, it’s clear that Elmore Leonard has a body of work that just fits well when it comes to adapting his work to film and/or television. (If you’re not watching “Justified”, you’re missing out on excellent television.) “Life of Crime” looks to be no different.
Based on his novel “The Switch”, “Life of Crime” simply asks what if the wife of a wealthy man gets kidnapped, and he doesn’t want her back? Hilarity ensues. That’s what.
Who? Daniel Schechter, a man that’s still attempt to cut his teeth in the business, has been tapped to direct this adaption, and, luckily, has been able to find a strong stable of talent to present his vision. The film stars Tim Robbins, Jennifer Aniston, Will Forte, John Hawkes, Isla Fisher, Yasiin Bey, and Mark Boone Junior.
When and Where? “Life of Crime” will be stealing the spotlight in theaters nationwide on August 29th.
15. The Drop
What? Speaking of excellent writers, here’s Denis Lehane. The man behind incredible works such as “Mystic River”, “Gone Baby Gone”, and “Shutter Island” cuts the middle man and writes this original screenplay without the novel. In “The Drop”, Bob Saginowski is a bartender that works in a bar running a covert scheme of funneling money to local mobsters, i.e. “money drops”, in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. His employer, his cousin Marv, pressures him to keep quiet and soon Bob finds himself in the middle of a robbery gone awry. During the investigation, secrets of the town from the past are dug up.
Who? Michael R. Roskam, coming off his indy hit “Bullhead”, helms one of James Gandolfini’s final projects before his unfortunate death last year. Apart from Gandolfini, the film stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and John Ortiz.
When and Where? The film drops in theaters in a wide release on September 12th.
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