Fanboyz Summer Movie Preview: Your Guide to Summer 2009

Summer is here and what better way to kick of the best movie season of all then with a guide for the next four months! The summer movie season kicked off last week with the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Many of you were disappointed with that film so we compiled a list of movies for this summer with the details of what you can expect. We have the stars, the plots, the release dates, and for fun we gave you our rating of anticipation. On a scale of 1-10 we listed what we thought, as well as fans, would be anticipating this summer. Check out the list, share with us what you are looking forward to, and we will see you at the movies this summer!

May

Star Trek

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana

What to expect: Star Trek is a reboot of the original movie franchise with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. This movie explores the early lives and training of James Kirk and Spock, as well as the rest of the crew. This film franchise has many loyal followers and is expected to have a huge opening weekend. However, J.J. Abrams (who’s directing) has a very tall order to fill. He has to ensure that this reboot lives up to the standard that so many fans hold for the original movies, while at the same time, making sure that the movie will be mainstream enough for non-trekkies.

Anticipation Scale: 9 – J.J Abrams’ film has had good reviews and the buzz for this movie is huge!

Release Date: May 8, 2009

Angels & Demons

Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan Mcgregor, and Rachel Weisz

What to expect: Angels & Demons sets Robert Langdon back at the center of a deadly puzzle involving the Vatican and their old time nemesis, the Illuminati. Howard describes the movie as a ticking time-bomb flick, as Langdon must race to prevent a destructive force from killing countless lives. Fans of the series will no doubt be excited to see it adapted, but some might be skeptical after the let-down Da Vinci Code was. Fans of the book will make this a big opening.

Anticipation: 7 – Following the disappointing Da Vinci Code adaptation, the much stronger story of Angels & Demons may set director Ron Howard and Tom Hanks back on track.

Release Date: May 15th

Watch the trailer for Angeles & Demons

Terminator Salvation

Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington and Bryce Dallas Howard

What to Expect: Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind. After three films that take place in the “past” we finally get to see some of the war that Sarah Conner warned her son about.

Anticipation: 9 – Even with a PG-13 rating, McG’s sci-fi action flick should revive this franchise.

Release Date: May 21, 2009

Watch the trailer for Terminator Salvation

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Jonah Hill, and Steve Coogan

What to Expect: This film is the sequel to the blockbuster hit Night at the Museum (2006). This time all the main characters from the first film end up in the famous Smithsonian, located in Washington D.C. In addition to the original cast, Amy Adams (Amelia Earhart) and Jonah Hill join the cast of characters in order to make a better movie than before. This film is sure to be a great family film and is expected to do just as well as the first.

Anticipation: 7 – Stiller is a box office draw and his second go-around should be just as huge as the first.

Release Date: May 22, 2009

Watch the trailer for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Up

What to expect: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Stars: Voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, and Delroy Lindo.

Anticipation: 9 – The movie is opening up the Cannes Film Festival next week. Oh and It’s Pixar so it has to be awesome!

Release Date: May 29th

Watch the trailer for Up

June

Land of the Lost

Starring: Will Ferrel, Danny McBride, and Anna Friel

What to expect: On his latest expedition, Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked into a space-time vortex alongside his research assistant (Friel) and a redneck survivalist (McBride). In this alternate universe, the trio make friends with a primate named Chaka, their only ally in a world full of dinosaurs and other fantastic creatures. Can they all make it back to our world alive, and if so: Will Dr. Marshall can go from zero to hero with his discoveries?

Anticipation: 5 – Ferrell is hit or miss both critically and commercially. It is too early to tell where this movie will fall in that mix.

Release Date: June 5, 2009

Watch the trailer for Land of the Lost

The Hangover

What to expect: The ultimate bachelor party in Vegas. When three guys hit sin city they lose their groom to be.  They must re-trace their steps from a night they can’t remember so they can find their soon to be married friend. The trailer for this movie is hilarious. Advanced screenings are generating buzz for this comedy which is shaping up to be the sleeper hit of the summer.

Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis

Anticipation: 7 – The trailer is funny, Bradley Cooper is a rising star, Todd Phillips (Old School) is directing, and Mike Tyson has a hilarious cameo!

Release Date: June 5th

Watch the trailer for The Hangover

Year One

Starring: Jack Black and Michael Cera

What to expect: Year One is about two friends how are banished from their village and then end up exploring the ancient, biblical world. They encounter such biblical characters such as Cain, Abel, Adam, Eve, Abraham, and much more. Year One probably won’t be a huge block buster, but it’s sure to enjoy some modest success. And it probably will be a decent comedy considering the cast involved.

Anticipation: 5 – the trailer for this hasn’t received any attention from moviegoers. However, with writer –director Harold Ramis helming the project anything is possible.

Release Date: June 19, 2009

Watch the trailer for Year One

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Optimus Prime,

What to expect: Lots. First, the story line of Sam and Mikaela will be much more grown up as they’re both out of high school. Secondly, Megatron’s return signals this vendetta against the Autobots and Sam is far from over. Lastly, with upwards of 30 robots in the film, and select scenes shot with IMAX cameras, there will be a lot of robots slugging it out this summer!

Anticipation: 10 – Transformers got a lot of people into the franchise, and Transformers 2 looks to add to the fan base by giving us more robots, more action, and a much darker story line. Considering the looks of the newly released trailer, director Michael Bay is fulfilling that promise.

Release date: June 24th

Watch the trailer for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

July

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Starring: Voices of Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott

What to expect: This is the third installment of the family film franchise following the exploits of Manny, Sid, and Diego. This time the gang stumbles upon an unknown world of dinosaurs that seems to have been unharmed by the ice age and meltdown. The Ice Age franchise has done well at the box office and has been a great family film. This movie should enjoy a good level of success like the first two of the trilogy.

Anticipation: 6 – The first two movies were blockbuster hits. The third movie will be in 3D. Can they make the third time around just as big?

Release Date: July 1st

Public Enemies

Starring: Johnny Depp , Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup

What to expect: The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s. The trailer is hot. Mann always utilizes excellent music in his trailers and this is no exception. It’s nice to see Depp playing a role that doesn’t involve mass amounts of make-up and Tim Burton.

Anticipation: 7 – Mann is a brilliant director (see Heat), and this is his forte’

Release Date: July 1st

Watch the trailer for Public Enemies

Bruno

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen

What to expect: Considering the movie had to be cut down to get an R rating, Cohen is going to push the boundaries farther then his previous films. Many people were unknowingly the targets of Bruno, including former Presidential candidate Ron Paul, who did not know he was a part of the project until seeing the trailer! Many people left Borat wondering how someone could top all the craziness of the movie, and by all accounts Cohen will leave audiences stunned and laughing.

Anticipation: 8 – Cohen is a rising comedic star in America and his uncomfortable raunchy comedy seems geared toward American audiences. Though this film follows the formula of his last comedic hit Borat, expect a lot of talk about this movie.

Release date: July 10th

Harry Potter and the Half – Blood Prince

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Alan Rickman

What to expect: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

Anticipation: 10 – Go watch the trailer, no need to explain!

Release Date: July 15th

Watch the trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Funny People

Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann

What to expect: When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.

Anticipation: 8 – There is a redeeming quality in this trailer which happens to be the third film from director Judd Apatow. The movie blends comedy and drama in a way that only Apatow can do. The team of Sandler and Rogen is inspired and there is already Oscar talk for this movie.

Release Date: July 31st

Watch the trailer for Funny People

August

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller

What to expect: over the top action and cheesy dialogue. But that might be exactly what some fans want. G.I. Joe has not ever been grounded in reality, and frankly sometimes all we want is a ridiculous action flick. Either way, don’t expect too much from Stephen Summer, who directed the first two Mummy movies and Deep Rising.

Anticipation: 5: the first footage of the live action adaptation appeared during the Superbowl, and it was awful. Recently a full length trailer debuted, but has not sold fans to the potential the movie has.

Release date: August 7th

Watch the trail for G.I Joe: Rise of Cobra

Inglourious Basterds

Starring: Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger

What to expect: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.

Anticipation: 10 -  Expect this film to be what everyone is talking about this summer.

Release Date: August 21st

Watch the trailer for Inglourious Basterds