Summer Movie Preview, Pt. 1


Sure, it feels like Spring just began, but in terms of the movies — Summer is just around the corner. The summer movie season officially begins with the first Friday in May, which is coincidentally on May 1 this year. Today I look at the first two months of the summer movie season — May and June — and I'll highlight five movies in those two months I can't wait to see. Check back tomorrow for a preview of July and August.

May Releases:
The Avengers: Age of Ultron (Friday, May 1)
The first "Avengers" film was great. Joss Whedon, long an incredible filmmaker with a unique voice, did a great job bringing this superhero team to life. It also broke Box Office records. I expect more of the same with this follow up, which expands the world, ups the stakes, and expands the scope of the Marvel universe. All of it with Whedon's unique style and voice. This is the perfect way to kick off the summer.

Pitch Perfect 2 (Friday, May 15)
The first "Pitch Perfect" was a surprise gem that became an instant classic. The comedy, the singing — the whole thing worked. I am on record as being skeptical about that film getting a sequel. It didn't seem to lend itself to follow ups or to a franchise. But it made money, and the band's back together, so it's only natural the studio would want to visit the "Pitch Perfect" world again. And the trailer looks outstanding, so I'm getting excited to return to the world of the Barden Bellas again.

Tomorrowland (Friday, May 22)
The history of films based on theme park rides is spotty. Sure, "The Pirates of the Caribbean" was surprisingly great, but it's the outlier. And you could even argue the bloated franchise "Pirates" has become has diminished our memory of the first film. That being said, I'm excited for this. First, the power of George Clooney and Hugh Laurie in the primary cast had me sold. Second, director Brad Bird did incredible things with the last "Mission Impossible" film, and I can't wait to see what he does with this story. This feels like the kind of film that was made for summer.

Aloha (Friday, May 29)
Summer is typically a time for outlandish comedies and big budget action films. "Aloha" is neither, and that's part of its appeal. Director Cameron Crowe has a certain style of film, and summer doesn't normally feel like the ideal time for one of his films to be released. But I like the counter-programming appeal here, the cast is great, and the trailer is wildly entertaining. This could be a hidden gem for those of us with superhero fatigue.

Other May Release: "Far From The Maddening Crowd" (May 1), "Hot Pursuit" (May 8), "Before I Wake" (May 8), "Mad Max: Fury Road" (May 15), "The Vatican Tapes" (May 22), "Spy" (May 22), "San Andreas" (May 29)

June Releases:
Jurassic World (June 11)
Twenty-two years to the day from the original release, "Jurassic World" becomes the fourth entry in the "Jurassic Park" franchise. But it's the first film since the original that looks to keep the ideas and spirit of Michael Crichton's original novel. As a big fan of the first film, and the book, I'm excited to see an interesting return to this world. With a cast led by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, I could see this being one of the biggest releases of the summer. And I can't wait.

Other June Releases: "Insidious, Chapter 3" (June 5); "Entourage" (June 5); "Inside Out" (June 19); "Dope" (June 19); "Ted 2" (June 26)

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