Greetings Point of Geekers! The summer movie season is coming up quickly and we didn’t want you to be unprepared. We will be previewing movies each month that we think you might want to geek out to! Here are some movies to look out for in the month of May. Lets see what’s in store!!!
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Opening May 2nd, the sequel to the rebooted The Amazing Spider-Man 2 find Peter Parker in the midst of his romance with Gwen Stacy when he faces multiple new threats. The sequel stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and Dane Dehaan.
Braxter’s P.O.G.: Well the early reviews have been mixed. However Spidey has always been one of my favorite characters, so I’m more than willing to give it a chance. Regardless of the finished project, you can really feel the passion of the creators of the film. Sure Sony is out to make a buck, especially with multiple Spider-man universe films coming down the pipeline. But you know that the filmmakers and actors really respect the character and canon so if an ounce of that translates to the screen, hopefully we are in for a good time. With that said… I can’t wait to see it and let all you POGers know if it is worth the hype.
Kurt’s P.O.G.: I really really really hate to say this, but, based on early reviews and my lukewarn reception of the first film in the newest Spidey series, I’m going to have to give this a great big “meh.” I’m a huge Spidey fan, too, (I haven’t read the new Marvel NOW! #1 of the our friendliest, neighboriest superhero, but I can’t wait!) and I confess my disappointment at seeing such a crowded roster of villains. The last time we saw three villains in a Spidey movie… I don’t think I need to remind you all. I hope to be proven wrong!
Neighbors
Seth Rogen vs Zac Efron and McLovin. Family vs Frat. Comedy and hijinx ensues. Really what else do ya need to know? Coming to theaters May 9th.
Braxter’s P.O.G: I can’t believe I actually want to go to a movie with Zac Efron in it. And no not because of him… Rogen scored with the hilarious This Is the End last year, so I’m eager to see what he cooked up next. It’s been a while since their was an Animal House style movie. Probably Old School was the last good one, so hopefully we get a bunch of belly laughs out of this one. Plus they are having a Robert Deniro party in the movie, how can this possibly go wrong?
Kurt’s P.O.G.: Looks like pretty standard comedy fair with a Beauty and Beast main pairing in Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. I was happy with Dave Franco playing the lead jerk in 21 Jump Street, so he’ll probably hold his own in this. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another Superbad, but I probably shouldn’t place any bets…
Godzilla
Hitting theaters May 16th, Godzilla comes back to the big screen after 16 year hibernation. This rebooted version stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche and Ken Watanabe.
Braxter’s P.O.G.: Wow… I’m really excited for this one and it really wasn’t on my radar until I saw the first trailer. The tone and realistic take on this unnatural disaster feels contemporary and engaging. They are also intertwining history into their story which has been a fun trend recently. Apparently in their time line, nuclear “testing” in 1954 was to destroy the creature the first time. That’s awesome. My imagination is spinning. No doubt I will be catching this in IMAX so I can see Godzilla’s foot life-sized!
Kurt’s P.O.G.: Godzilla is easily my most anticipated film of the summer. The trailers have been thrilling, and the possibility of monsters in addition to Godzilla battling it out amidst a well-acted character drama sets my heart aflutter. Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe, even in the trailers, bring much-needed weight to a premise that took to the screen just after World War II. Simply put, I can’t wait for this one!
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: Days of Future Past is an adaptation of the classic comic book story line. It finds Wolverine travelling from an apocalyptic future to the 1970’s, in an effort to change history, by warning a young Magneto and Professor X of the impending doom. It is set to release May 23rd.
(Mild Spoilers)
Braxter’s P.O.G.: I have waited a long time to see this story on the big screen. It seems like they made some crucial changes, like giving Xavier the ability to walk and Beast now being able to channel his inner Bruce Banner. If it reinforces the core theme of coming to terms with your destiny…I’m down. If it’s a cheap gimmick…I will burn the castle down! As long as they keep the tension high this will, hopefully, be a good time. I have a whole bunch of concerns. Most importantly, that by the end of the film, the roster and look of X-Men are closer to the one that we have all loved. (Yes that means I’m going to be on the edge of my seat in anticipation… of McAvoy going bald in the movie.) A huge cast of talented actors and the most epic scale of any of the films in the franchise, set this up to be one of the best in the series.
Kurt’s P.O.G.: While I’m not a fan of Singer and co. smashing Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch into the movie simply because Whedon is using the same pair in Age of Ultron, I’m jazzed to see a pretty impressive trailer (those Sentinels!), and an incredibly solid cast for this sequel/reboot. I, too, have plenty of concerns about the plot—time-travel is always, ALWAYS ridiculously tricky—but I’m keeping my hopes up for this movie, at least a little. Here’s to hoping Cyclops makes a triumphant return to the X-Men movie-verse!
Maleficent
Angelina Jolie portrays the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent. This is a reimagining and origin story, recounting how the witch became so bad. It also promises to tell the Sleeping Beauty tale through Maleficent’s perspective.
Braxter’s P.O.G.: Yea, I might catch it at the drive in. We are living in the cool post-modern era where all the classic tales and fables are turned upside down and modernized. This looks to be fun, maybe I’m holding the mediocre Snow White and the Huntsman against this… but I haven’t seen anything truly compelling or epic. But hey, I have been fooled before by an evil witch! (It’s a long story…)
Kurt’s P.O.G.: As Kingdom Hearts taught us, Maleficent is not to be trifled with. And this reimagining seems like it’ll draw the wicked witch more clearly than ever before. I’m happy the film drives to portray a more sympathetic view of the character, as that fits the excellent current trend of movie villains whose motivations have to be more nuanced than simply evil-doing in order to be memorable. Maybe this movie will inform the filmmakers attached to the Sinister Six picture on how to cast a sympathetic-but-still-nasty villain? Here’s to hoping!
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Seth McFarlane is disastisfied with being a cartoonist, director, Academy Award host, voice over artist and producer. He wants to be a movie star too. In his first starring role, he plays a simple farmer who falls for a beautiful woman. His world gets turned upside down when her former flame comes back to town. It opens May 30th.
Braxter’s P.O.G.: I’m always willing to check out a ‘R’ rated comedy. Between Ted, hosting the Oscars and Cosmos, I never know what to expect next from McFarlane. Wait a second… Yes I do. I’m kind of expecting a live-action version of Family Guy in the wild west. And I’m pretty sure that is what we are gonna get. If that’s the case, it should be good for some good laughs, that we forget about shortly after seeing the movie. McFarlane has assembled an impressive cast featuring Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman and Neil Patrick Harris among others. Yee-haw!!!
Kurt’s P.O.G.: All-star cast? check. Grotesque violence? Check. Predictable plot? I’m gonna guess check. One or two good laughs? Probably. I don’t expect this movie to break any ground (or records, for that matter) as that isn’t Seth McFarlane’s bag, but I do expect to giggle a little at a fart joke. Because farts are hilarious, and Seth loves to remind us of that.
Sources: Legendary, WB, Marvel, Sony, Entertainment Weekly, Media Right Capital, Disney, 20th Century Fox