Oh, rejoice! It’s here! The summer movie season has arrived! That’s right, folks. May is here and along with it comes a whole host of eagerly anticipated films, including Robin Hood, Prince of Persia, and the guaranteed blockbuster Iron Man 2. So buckle your seat belts and hold on. It will undoubtedly be quite a ride.
Iron Man 2 (May 7)
Oh yes…Comic book nerds and casual moviegoers alike will both be excited for this one, the sequel to 2008’s megahit Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. returns as the billionaire inventor Tony Stark, and this time he’s taking on Mickey Rourke as the villain Ivan Vanko. Backing them up are too many A-list actors to name, but here’s a partial list just to whet your appetite: Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, and Paul Bettany.
Underrated director Jon Favreau also returns, much to the delight of many fans. You know what they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence and some language.
Robin Hood (May 14)
19 years after Hollywood last tackled the Robin Hood legend with 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Ridley Scott brings us his take on the story. Russell Crowe stars as the bow-and-arrow marksman who rises up out of obscurity to lead a band of marauders in rebellion against the corrupt English crown.
The trailers suggest a decidedly more action-oriented and sober take on the tale than was the Kevin Costner film. Crowe looks deadly serious as he launches those arrows and rants and raves about fighting against tyranny. Let’s just hope that this Robin Hood can speak with an English accent.
Rated PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content.
MacGruber (May 21)
Will Forte brings Saturday Night Live’s MacGruber to the big screen in…yeah, MacGruber. He’s a supersoldier with a penchant for being utterly clueless, and that’s supposed to translate into big laughs; whether or not the film will actually deliver remains to be seen.
However, with Val Kilmer as bad guy Dieter Von Cunth stealing a nuclear warhead and threatening the world’s safety it just might be worth a look, especially for fans of stupid comedies. So if you’re looking for lots of obvious, over-the-top jokes as opposed to, say, the thoughtful humor of Woody Allen, then this might be for you. Ryan Phillipe co-stars so it’s got something for the ladies, too.
Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, violence, language and some nudity.
Shrek Forever After (May 21)
Some may say that the Shrek series should’ve stopped at three, but one more go around might be worth it before putting the cap on this thing. This time Shrek is bored and not feeling very ogre-like. To get his mojo back he strikes a deal with Rumplestiltskin and in the process ends up in a version of Far Far Away in which everything is as if he had never existed. Donkey’s put to work pulling a cart and Puss is a fat housecat. Most importantly, however, Shrek is without his beloved Fiona.
The gang’s all here for this one: Myers, Diaz, Murphy, and Banderas have all returned to reprise their roles. Will the fourth chapter be one too many or a fitting ending for the series? We’ll find out on the 21st.
Rated PG for mild action, some rude humor and brief language.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (May 28)
Jake Gyllenhaal is going all “warrior” on us in this film based on the popular Prince of Persia video game series. He plays the rogue Prince Dastan and must team up with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of reversing time and allowing its possessor to rule the world.
Far from being a typical video game based movie, the trailer for this one actually looks incredible, with excellent special effects and great performances. Oscar winner Ben Kingsley co-stars. This should appeal to all fans of fantasy and adventure films, especially the Mummy series and its spinoffs.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.