Examiner With the uber successful “The Avengers” from Marvel Studios, the 2012 summer movie blockbuster season not only comes out of the gate swinging, but also makes up for past summer movie seasons. With so many films slated for release and many more awaiting post-production, here’s a list of the best summer films for family, friends and cinephiles alike.
Charlize Theron is the Queen in the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman
If you haven’t seen the film, what rock have you been hiding under? Doing nearly $60 million in its third week and adding to a domestic box office total of $457 million, “The Avengers” has presented itself as both a gift and a curse. While the film is no doubt making everyone involved at Marvel Studios extremely happy, its causing a bit of a problem for current films in theaters as well as movies slated for future release. With its immense box office appeal, any film headed to theaters in its aftermath may be considered dismal by its standards.
Set nearly ten years after the last “Men In Black” sequel, this one finds Agent J (Will Smith) traveling back in time in order save Agent K’s (Tommy Lee Jones) life along with that of the planet before being trapped in 1969. While not going for its usual July 4th weekend opening, “Men In Black 3″ is the one film on the list that may have the most to prove. Will Smith movies usually dominate the box office on that special weekend but this latest 3D installment of the franchise opens much earlier on May 25th. Expect the comedic chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones on the fringes of all the special effects wizardry that made the franchise so special. Throw Josh Brolin into the mix as a young Tommy Lee Jones and this one raises the entertainment factor even higher.
A group of vacationers take an “extreme tour” into the heart of where the infamous Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster took place. Logic and reason are tossed aside in favor of curiosity and thrills. Soon car trouble ensues and darkness falls. Friends grow anxious and begin to be attacked by unseen things lurking in the night. While the usual setup is quite common, the fact that the story takes place at the site of a real event evokes much curiosity. Add in the fact that this newest horror flick is being produced by Oren Peli, who brought audiences the popular “Paranormal Activity” franchise and box office tickets are just destined to go through the roof.
“Snow White and the Huntsman”
Potentially the darkhorse of the summer season, “Snow White and the Huntsman” stars the ever-tempting Charlize Theron as the infamous Wicked Queen whose quest to rule all of the kingdoms during the Middle Ages comes with a bit of a wrinkle. Soon realizing that her stepdaughter Snow White (Kristen Stewart-”Twilight” series) is destined to not only be the “Fairest of them All” but to also ascend to the throne, the queen plots to have the Huntsman Eric (Chris Hemsworth-’Thor’ from “The Avengers”) kill her. Instead what awaits is an epic battle of revenge bringing these timeless characters from childhood pages to the big screen. With the 2012 lineup being quite possibly the best in a long while, this one along with “The Dark Knight Rises” are definite ones to watch. “Snow White and the Huntsman” opens in theaters on June 1st.
“The Amazing Spider-Man”
Opting for a complete reboot of the franchise instead of going for another sequel, Marvel Studios attempts to channel their inner Christopher Nolan, (“The Dark Knight Rises”) bringing a different and possibly darker version of the web slinging hero to the big screen. This new origin story will focus on Peter Parker developing his abilities in high school while also struggling to discover the truth about his parents. Set to hit theaters on July 3rd, Marvel Studios has set the bar pretty high for superhero movies and will no doubt pull out all the stops to replicate the success of “The Avengers”.
“The Dark Knight Rises”
Revenge. Retribution. Justice. A dark hero’s journey. These themes and more await moviegoers heading to the theaters on July 20th for the third and climactic installment of the “Dark Knight” franchise. Set eight years after the events of “The Dark Knight”, Batman is still on in hiding after being held responsible for the crimes of District Attorney Harvey Dent. Accepting responsibility for Dent’s murders in order to protect his image, Batman is forced to venture back into Gotham to face the likes of the mysterious Selina Kyle (Catwoman) and the dangerous criminal known as Bane. If ever there was a clear cut, potential contender to “The Avengers’” box office throne, it has to be “The Dark Knight Rises”. When “The Dark Knight” hit the theaters in 2008, it became a worldwide phenomenon, shattering box office records. Helmed by masterful direction/writing by Christopher Nolan and an Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker by the late Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” completely redefined what a superhero film could be. Offering a more darker story, complex characters an brilliant action sequences, this one is guaranteed box office gold. Besides, it’s being directed by the guy who made films like “Memento”, “Batman Begins” and “Inception”. Enough said.
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