My Summer Flick Picks - 2014

I love the summer movie season, but since I rarely have the cash (and I'm hard at work with my writing, working in the garden, the day job), I have to prioritize my picks. Fortunately, this year only has a few gems this summer vying for my attention. And has anyone noticed that more releases seem to happen near the end of summer?

A Hollywood plot? You make the call.

Anyway, I'll be lucky to see two of the top five. Maybe even all five when they hit the dollar theaters. Depending on what the kids force into the list.

Here's my most anticipated summer movies.

#1 - Guardians of the Galaxy

Release Date: Aug 1

Watch the Trailer on YouTube

Comments:
This one excites me because it's the latest release from Marvel Studios and could rival The Avengers. The trailer hooked me in with comedy and sci-fi. Since my birthday falls on July 24th, I think this will make an excellent party.

#2 - The Maze Runner

Release Date: Sept 19

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
I really enjoy the Young Adult series written by James Dashner. It had the perfect mix of confusion and danger to really draw me in. Thanks to an amazing setting, this flick promises to live up to its literary roots.

#3 - The Fault in Our Stars

Release Date: June 5

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
While I haven't read this Young Adult book yet, my daughters loved it. They've reread it and dragged their friends--kicking and screaming--into reading it. And you know what? They liked it too. It's funny how YA books make such awesome movies.

#4 - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Release Date: July 11

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
I'll admit it. I'm a Planet of the Apes nut. More the originals of course, but the modern renditions have been renewing the franchise in interesting directions. The last film was decently done, so I'm excited to try this one.

#5 - Lucy

Release Date: Aug 8

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
Scarlett Johansson superhero movie. Yeah. After her kick-ass rendition of Black Widow in Iron Man 3 and The Avengers, you better believe this movie is gonna get my attention. Not only that, but it's sci-fi pitch is just too much to resist.

#6 - Blended

Release Date: May 23

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
After loving Sandler and Barrymore in The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, I was a sucker for this movie. Throw in Brady Bunch kid action and all you have to do is pass the popcorn.

#7 - Jupiter Ascending

Release Date: July 18

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
This one has a lot of potential, and the biggest chance of a flop. Created from the makers of The Matrix, it has a catchy log line that promises action and moral dilemmas. It's modern earth mixed with sci-fi, so I'm very interested.

#8 - The Giver

Release Date: Aug 15

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
Another film based on a book, this film has the potential for greatness... If it survives the film adaptation. A story of a Utopia that is really a distopia--depending on your point of view. After all, why would you want your humanity?

#9 - The Box Trolls

Release Date: Sept 26

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
I love stop-action animation (Wallace & Gromit), so naturally the trailer caught my eye. It looks pretty cute and is about a group of garbage dwelling creatures who raise an orphan. Feels like the Smurfs, but with more grime and better animation.

#10 - Edge of Tomorrow

Release Date: Sept 19

Watch the Trailer on YouTube 

Comments:
I like Tom Cruise in spy thrillers. But for some reason I've never liked him as an action hero, even more so, a sci-fi action hero. He almost seems type-cast for action roles that require a bit of emotional output. Either way, I'll be watching.

Your Turn!
That's it for my summer flick picks. Which films are you most anticipating? Anything I missed or that you'd recommend?

My 2013 Summer Flick Picks

As the summer rapidly approaches, the cinematic options are looking extremely choice this year. A lot of these films look awesome, but I worry whether the script will live up to the hype. A bad story so often tanks a great concept. But if these films are well written, it's going to be a great sci-fi summer! And the way the flicks are lining up, I could even see a movie every week.

That said, I'll be lucky to see two on this list. But here are the movies I'm looking forward to the most.

Click on any of the links below to watch the trailer on YouTube.

1 - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Begins May 17, 2013
2 - Iron Man 3 - May 3, 2013
3 - Elysium - Begins August 9, 2013
4 - Despicable Me 2 - Begins July 3, 2013
5 - Pacific Rim - Begins July 12, 2013
6 - Red 2 - Begins July 19, 2013
7 - World War Z - Begins June 21, 2013
8 - Much Ado About Nothing - Begins June 7, 2013
9 - After Earth - Begins June 7, 2013
10 - Man Of Steel - Begins June 14, 2013

These last five are additional movies I'm interested in this summer. But, like I said, I'll probobly only see two movies total this summer, so these flicks are dark horses.

11 - Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - Begins August 2, 2013
12 - Oblivion - Now Showing
13 - The Wolverine - Begins July 26, 2013
14 - Riddick - Begins September 6, 2013
15 - Austinland - Begins August 16, 2013

Sound Off
What movies are you looking forward to this summer? Do you find yourself drifting towards a particular genre? If you could only pick one or two, which ones would they be and why?

My Summer Blockbuster Picks

When it comes to movies, I really don't make it to very many of them in the theater. Why?

Tickets           $8.50
                             X 6
                        $51.00
Munchies    $30.00
Argument over which movie we're seeing -- Priceless

(Anyone notice the munchies are almost as much as the movie?)

So here's my pics for movies I'm willing to fight over this summer. But bare in mind, the top five are probably the only real contenders for being seen outside of a Redbox.

Oh... and number ten. Definitely.

1 - The Avengers

Come on. Does anyone not want to see this one?

Click to Watch Trailer

2 - Prometheus

Alien was the first movie that scared the crap out of me and this prequel looks just as hot as the first two Alien movies.

Click to Watch Trailer

3 - Brave

Pixar is always good (I haven't seen Cars 2) and this one looks as sweet as pie with a strong female protagonist.

Click to Watch Trailer

4 - The Dark Knight Rises
I'm a little concerned over how they'll portray Bane, but the other movies in the franchise have been so much fun, I'm not terribly worried.

 Click to Watch Trailer

5 - The Amazing Spider-Man

I've been a Spidey fan since way back. I think it all stems from a geek being the hero.

Click to Watch Trailer

6 - Snow White and the Huntsman

I'll admit it. I like the fairy tale films like Red Riding Hood. And besides, I'd be Charlize Theron's mirror-mirror any day.

Click to Watch Trailer

7 - Battleship

I'm hoping this one has a good storyline, but really, I want to see this one because seeing conquering aliens getting their butt kicked is my idea of a good time.

Click to Watch Trailer

8 - Dark Shadows

I'm not a huge Tim Burton fan, but this vamp tale looks pretty funny.

Click to Watch Trailer

9 - Chernobyl Diaries

Radioactive zombies. Yum.

Click to Watch Trailer

 



10 - Not too much else I wanna see this summer especially since The Raven is already out. Umm... I'll save my money for The Hobbit in December.

Click to Watch Trailer