Apocalyptic horror, action, adventure and animation – it’s all happening this summer! Audiences will be entertained with explosions, epic fights and the typical tussles of minds and morality that occur when good meets evil and heroes smash villains into oblivion (on most occasions, anyway).
The great thing about upcoming movies is that none have disappointed you yet. Sure, they might get a bit of criticism in the run-up to their release, but until you’ve seen them you can’t say for certain that they’re going to be abominably bad – like Fast 6, for example.
The summer’s hottest cinema releases are just around the corner, so here’s a look at what’s on offer and what movie-goers can expect from the most anticipated films of the sunny season.
Monsters University
Release: 21st June
It comes as no surprise that one of the highest grossing films of the last decade would eventually make a return. Monsters University is the prequel to Monsters Inc. and tells the story of how Mike and Sully met while studying at college for their majors in scaring.
The 12-year absence of a new Monsters flick has been long enough for fans of the first film to pine for a return. Due to the overwhelming success of Monsters Inc. and Pixar’s reputation for churning out one excellent animation after another – not to mention its worldwide appeal – it’s difficult to imagine that this second instalment will be anything other than a huge success.
The Lone Ranger
Release: 3rd July
It seems Johnny Depp doesn’t accept roles these days unless they involve dressing up in eccentric clothes and wearing lots and lots of make-up. In The Lone Ranger he plays Tonto, a native American warrior who has to work with the law abiding John Reid (Armie Hammer) to fight greed and corruption. Yeah – that old chestnut.
Production of the film was delayed by two years due to budget concerns, but finally in March 2012 director Gore Verbinski could start directing and producer Jerry Bruckheimer could start producing. Described as “a thrilling adventure infused with action and humour”, it promises thrills and spills to reignite the Western genre.
Kick Ass 2
Release: 16th August
Essentially this looks like Kick Ass all over again, but with a bigger budget, more vigilantes and more baddies. As most sequels will prove, bigger isn’t always better. Instead of cherishing the original concept of the first film, Kick Ass 2 looks to be destroying it by offering nothing more than extra wannabe superheroes and worn-out comic book storylines. Oh – and Jim Carrey.
Still, it’s probably enough to entice fans of the original film to return to the cinema this summer to see how angry Red Mist has become, and whether Hit Girl will come out of retirement to join Kick Ass and Carrey to beat crime and save the world.
The Wolverine
Release: 26th July
There are no mutants to be seen here as Wolverine pops up in modern day Japan. Feeling a little out of his depth and “vulnerable for the first time”, as the official movie synopsis puts it, he fights an array of deadly opponents – that may or may not include ninjas – as he struggles to come to terms with his own immortality. Expect to hear lots of clunking and clinking of swords. Expect to see slashes, swipes and a mostly topless Hugh Jackman.
This latest episode is a sort of spin-off sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand and is sure to perform well at the box office with its established band of loyal followers.
World War Z
Release: 21st June
There’s a world pandemic that’s defeating armies and collapsing governments. It may be something to do with zombies. Who you gonna call? Brad Pitt, obviously.
Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment company secured the screen rights to the novel of the same name six years ago and has been busy working on the film since. Our age-defying hero plays Gerry Lane, a United Nations employee who scours the earth in the hope of finding information that will save the human race.
If you’re looking for a bit of post-apocalyptic horror escapism to fill your void, then this might do the trick.
