Summer comes early for college students and movies alike. Forget the solstice — the beginning of May means summer at the box office. With the season just around the corner, The Oklahoma Daily’s Dusty Somers scans the summer film landscape and finds something for just about everyone.
Release dates are subject to change.
For THE BLOCKBUSTER MAVEN
Summer is all about the big-budget movies — recession be damned! If your idea of a good time at the cineplex necessitates ’splosions and a healthy dose of CGI, you’ve got a lot to choose from. No Michael Bay films this year though. Sorry.
“Iron Man 2”
May 7
Director: Jon Favreau
2008’s “Iron Man” flexed its brains as well as its brawn, and its sequel ought to provide more of the same balanced entertainment.
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”
May 28
Director: Mike Newell
“Prince of Persia” looks dumb even by video game-adaptation standards, but might versatile director Newell (who’s done excellent work with “Enchanted April” and “Donnie Brasco”) have a few tricks up his sleeve?
“The Expendables”
Aug. 13
Director: Sylvester Stallone
It’s the perfect storm of an action movie — Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and the incomparable Dolph Lundgren. Jean-Claude Van Damme is going to be bummed out he didn’t catch this ride.
For THE FORGETFUL
Ever get the feeling you’ve seen that movie you’re in the middle of before? With the usual rash of remakes appearing this summer, you might enjoy yourself more if your memory isn’t so sharp.
“Robin Hood”
May 14
Director: Ridley Scott
While not a direct remake per se, Scott’s attempt to take on the familiar tale looks to be mired in the same loose historicity and pervading dullness of his other epics.
“The Karate Kid”
June 11
Director: Harald Zwart
I’m not so worried about the desecration of a (very) minor classic as I am that the impossibly obnoxious Jaden Smith looks to be well on his way to an acting career.
“The A-Team”
June 11
Director: Joe Carnahan
The ’80s TV series-to-film adaptation has been a long time coming, but it appears the camp factor has been jettisoned almost entirely. Mr. T reportedly turned down a cameo appearance — I think that tells us all we need to know.
For THE INDEPENDENT
Summer isn’t the most fruitful time of year to travel off the cinematic beaten path, but those looking to stray a little from the mainstream should find a few morsels to tide them over. But good luck finding them in Oklahoma.
“Micmacs”
May 28 (limited)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
“Amelie” director Jeunet returns with his first film in more than five years, employing more whimsy alongside a little violence.
“Cyrus”
July 9 (limited)
Directors: Jay and Mark Duplass
Mumblecore vets the Duplass Brothers land their highest profile project yet, with this Sundance hit about a battle between a mama’s boy (Jonah Hill) and the guy who likes his mom (John C. Reilly).
“I Love You Phillip Morris”
July 30 (Limited)
Directors: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
“Phillip Morris” has been languishing without distribution for a while, a fate that can even happen to a Jim Carrey film when Carrey plays a gay conman.
For THE 3-D ADDICT
Just think: If you had born just a few decades earlier, you’d be forced to watch movies that were flat. Gross. Good thing Hollywood has wised up. In the down time while its retrofitting “Casablanca” and “The Third Man” for 3-D, feast your eyes on these.
“Shrek Forever After”
May 21
Director: Mike Mitchell
We’re told this is “The Final Chapter.” I’ll believe it when I see it. Or don’t, in this case.
“Step Up 3-D”
Aug. 6
Director: Jon Chu
Dancing in 3-D just might provide a decent exploitation of the medium, but don’t expect it to expand the series’ wafer-thin plot any.
“Piranha 3-D”
Aug. 27
Director: Alexandre Aja
Richard Dreyfuss must still be pretty peeved 25 years later that he wasn’t in “Jaws 3-D.” Consider this a small first step at atoning for that error.
For THE MASOCHIST
Got a thing for terrible movies? Meet summer, your cinematic soulmate.
“Sex and the City 2”
May 27
Director: Michael Patrick King
Fans and haters alike: Can we at least all agree that Miley Cyrus’ role in the film and her revelation that she wants to be like Samantha is utterly terrifying?
“Grown Ups”
June 25
Director: Dennis Dugan
Who doesn’t love the previous collaborations between Dugan and Adam Sandler? And “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” didn’t even have David Spade.
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”
June 30
Director: David Slade
Will three films be enough to convince anyone how utterly misogynistic this series is?
For THE FILM FAN
You know your taste in movies is unimpeachable, but good luck convincing your non-cinephile friends to watch anything by Bergman, Ozu or Godard. Here are a few selections everyone might just agree on.
“Toy Story 3”
June 18
Director: Lee Unkrich
Pixar is better off blazing new trails than revisiting its old ones, but the “Toy Story” films remain some of the studio’s greatest achievements, and you don’t need to be a kid to be excited about seeing the gang again.
“Inception”
July 16
Director: Christopher Nolan
Nolan is too much of a gimmicky director to be considered a truly great filmmaker, but he’s got plenty of strengths, which one can only guess will be displayed in this still hazily defined thriller.
“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”
Aug. 13
Director: Edgar Wright
The man behind two of the best comedies of the past decade adapts the popular graphic novel, and it looks like it has attitude and charm to spare. The reuniting of erstwhile “Arrested Development” couple George-Michael (Michael Cera) and Egg, er, Ann (Mae Whitman), however briefly, is enough to sell me.