Classes are over and the summer is almost here. Along with the summer comes the big summer movie hits. This year there’s a very good selection of films hitting theaters that you might want to check out.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” April 30
This reboot of the classic 80’s horror film as Jackie Earle Hayley stepping into the role of Freddy Krueger as made famous by Robert Englund.
If you didn’t know, Freddy Krueger is a serial killer who stalks a group of young people in their dreams, forcing them to remain awake as the only alternative to death.
“Iron Man 2” May 7
The sequel to 2008’s summer hit “Iron Man” will return us to the world of Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric billionaire Tony Stark.
Taking place six months after the original, Stark meets new foes in Justin Hammer, a businessman making his own armored army, and Whiplash, a villain who has a dark history with Stark’s family. But Iron Man won’t be fighting alone this summer as his pal Rhodey (Don Cheadle) dons the War Machine armor and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) lends assistance from SHIELD.
“Robin Hood” May 14
Ridley Scott teams up with his “Gladiator” actor again, Russell Crowe, to bring to theaters a dark and gritty version of the tale of Robin Hood.
Upon returning home to Nottingham, an archer of Richard Coeur de Lion who fought against the Norman invaders finds himself assembling a gang of mercenaries against the despotic sheriff and becoming the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.
“Shrek Forever After” May 21
Longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre,” Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking deal-maker Rumpelstiltskin and finds himself in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away.
In this alternate world, Shrek finds out that ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is king and worst of all - Fiona doesn’t know him. Now, it’s up to Shrek to undo all he’s done in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love.
This will be the first “Shrek” film in 3D and is also claiming to be the final film in the “Shrek” franchise (except for that “Puss-in-Boots” spin-off that’s in the works).
“Sex and the City 2” May 27
For all the ladies out there, the sequel to 2008’s “Sex and the City” continues where that film left off with Carrie and Mr. Big happily married. But when Samantha takes a trip to Morocco, the rest of the ladies join in.
While the film doesn’t take place entirely in the city anymore (should it be called “Sex and the Desert”?), familiar faces return as Aidan and Jared Smith are also in Morocco, causing relationship complications and more.
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” May 28
Based on the popular video game, the film follows an adventurous prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) who teams up with a princess (Gemma Arterton) in an effort to prevent a dark force from obtaining an ancient dagger that allows its handler to control time and unleash a sandstorm that could destroy the world.
With Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer behind this (the same team behind the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise), this film will hopefully break the video game movie curse by actually being good. So far it looks like it has tons of action and adventure with great special effects – so keep yours fingers crossed.
I hope these films are enough to whet your appetite for the start of summer. In my next few posts I’ll go over some of the bigger films that will be hitting theaters in June and July including: “Get Him to the Greek,” “The A-Team,” “The Karate Kid,” “Toy Story 3,””The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “The Last Airbender,” “Predators,” “Inception” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
