Already Seen at the Midnight Showing
- Furious 7 (April 3)
Why? Technically, this wasn't in the summer movie preview, but I feel it embodies everything that summer movies should be. Tons of explosions, ridiculous stunt pieces, sincere goofiness, and found family. Also, btw, DIVERSITY. I will have a post about the Fast/Furious franchise sometime in the future.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1)
Why? While I'm more enthusiastic about some aspects of the Marvel Cinematic Universe than others, I think we can safely assume I'm all in at this point. Plus, this is Joss Whedon's last ride for a while, and though he's not quite as awesome as the hype often suggests, he's still got a better touch for banter than most everybody else out there. And Natasha! And Scarlet Witch, WORLD BREAKER.
Yuuuuuuuuuuup.
- Tomorrowland (May 22)
Why? Disney's 1 for 3 on movies based on theme park rides (for the record, Pirates is the one success even though it. Won't. Die), and I really didn't pay all that much attention to murmurings about this movie. And then. And then. The preview. THE PREVIEW. This movie looks kind of amazing.
- Jurassic World (June 12)
Why? So I have, for some reason, never seen the very first Jurassic Park all the way through in order. I'm pretty sure I've seen all of it, just not chronologically. Anyway, while I am desperately afraid of face-eating (c/f category below), I make exceptions for dinosaurs. Plus Chris Pratt and Judy Greer? This will probably be hilarious.
- Inside Out (June 19)
Why? Pixar's yearly bid to make me cry at a children's movie. And it is about feelings! And the protagonist is a young lady! Let's all encourage this, folks. Let's all see this twice.
- Ant-Man (July 17)
Why? We've already talked about going all-in with the MCU. I'm less excited about Ant-Man than Black Panther or Captain Marvel, but more excited about it than Doctor Strange. So. Paul Rudd is quippy. Evangeline Lilly's bangs freak me out. I'll deal.
- Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (July 31)
Why? I've long known that I find every Tom Cruise project intriguing, and I have enjoyed the hell out of every single one of his action movies. So, yeah. I am in. I mean, Cruise's Mission Impossible series is kind of like if the Fast/Furious movies were cast with mostly white people, and then talked about loyalty instead of family a lot. But I dig it anyway.
- Fantastic Four (August 7)
Why? Okay, confession: while I hold Ioan Gruffudd and Jessica Alba in deep affection, I never watched their FF movies. I never really held much interest in the team overall, especially given that Reed Richards will go fascist evil scientist in every alternate universe ever. That said, Michael B. Jordan is in this, and I want to support the idea that hey, families can be multi-ethnic, and the MCU can use some diversity.
Maybe, if the stars align.
- Pitch Perfect 2 (May 15)
Why? The first movie was scads of fun, and while I would sacrifice many, many things to rid the world of Fat Amy jokes, I do love me some a capella hijinks.
- San Andreas (May 29)
Why? Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. And it's not just a disaster movie, but a disaster movie about THE BIG ONE. I grew up in Southern California, y'all. We did elaborate earthquake drills every year, sometimes with role-playing. I AM READY.
- Spy (June 5)
Why? Action movie! Starring Melissa McCarthy, who I love. (Though, as above with the Fat Amy jokes, I wish her movies didn't so often stoop, sigh.) There is a better than even chance we're going to get to see Melissa McCarthy punch Jason Statham in the face, y'all. THIS WILL BE WONDERFUL.
- Magic Mike XXL (July 1)
Why? Look, Channing Tatum is hilarious, okay? I sort of hated the WOOOO-ness of the audiences at the first one (listen, ladies, you don't need dollar bills in hand, it's A MOVIE), but the acting was impressive. I mean, yeah. I guess the dudes are attractive, too. But seriously, the trailer? It's perfect. PERFECT. I commend whoever stitched that trailer together, and defy any who oppose me.
- Mr. Holmes (July 17)
Why? I enjoy all Sherlockian interpretations, and this one stars Ian McKellan. Though, if Sherlock is British, shouldn't the "Mr." be "Mr"?
DO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR?
AKA as Racebending, UGH. Previously awarded to Johnny Depp's Lone Ranger and M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Pan (July 24, or possibly October 9, huh)
Why? Look, I love me some Hugh Jackman, and I am remarkably tolerant of Peter Pan, in that everything else in Wonderland intrigues me. (I would watch an entire movie about the mermaids, y'all.) That said: Rooney Mara? As Tiger Lily? And, while the EW article nods to whitewashing the (albeit way stereotypical) Native American role, director Joe Wright replied, "The natives, as we imagine them, are constructed from parts of all kinds of indigenous cultures. They're the natives of Neverland, not Earth." Uh, so instead of making a hack job of one particular tribe, you appropriated the intriguing parts from MANY MORE cultures, and then cast a white woman anyway? MAYBE YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE PROBLEM. UGH. UGHHHHH.
And yes, I know that I was talking above about multi-ethnic families in Fantastic Four, but there's a difference between deliberately increasing representation and whitewashing/appropriating cultural markers for convenience. A huge, huge difference.
Special Category: Movies I would love if not for my debilitating fear of zombies and/or stabbiness
- Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15)
Why? Though I have never watched the original movies, the aesthetic of the franchise is apparently so pervasive that I knew what the movie was two seconds after the trailer started. I LOVE DYSTOPIAS, y'all, and especially ones set in the desert, for some reason. But I take a firm stand on stabbiness and face-eating. Will. Not.
I probably missed some, but I think this list will keep me pretty busy over the summer.
1 comment:
what what what there is more Sherlock, in movie form, and nobody told me?
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