Written By: Dan Geer
Well, the summer movie season is just around the corner, and I’m feeling like another Top 10 List is in order. Read on to check out the Top 10 Movies to See this Summer – 2010 Edition!
10. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Release Date: July 16, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the “National Treasure” franchise, present “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” — an innovative and epic romantic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.
I have been enjoying Walt Disney Studios’ live-action outings as of late. I’m actually one of those guys that enjoyed all of the Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure movies thus far (although they all had their weak areas). Producer Jerry Bruckheimer brings the world a lot of great TV and film entertainment, and so I have no reason to believe that The Sorcerer’s Apprentice won’t be at least a fun ride at the movies…
…and I love that flying giant metal eagle in the trailer (or whatever that was).
9. Splice – Release Date: June 4, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Clive and Elsa are superstars of the genetic engineering world. They specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create fantastical new hybrids. The charismatic couple wants to use human DNA in a new hybrid – something that could yield astronomical medical benefits. The pharmaceutical company that funds their research, however, is more interested in exploiting their earlier triumphs for easier, short-term profit. Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiment. The result is Dren: an amazing creature who exhibits an array of unexpected developments, both physical and intellectual. Dren exceeds their wildest dreams… and, ultimately, their most terrifying nightmare.
Just watch the trailer. This could be this year’s District 9, in terms of lower budget and quality storytelling, although I can’t know that for sure until I see the movie. I’ll say no more.
8. George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead – Release Date: May 28, 2010 (limited)
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Like its predecessors, “George A. Romero Survival of the Dead” takes place in a desperate, nightmarish world where the dead walk the earth, relentlessly attacking the living. It is the story of Plum Island – a beautiful refuge whose isolation allows two powerful families to maintain a semblance of order in the wake of the zombie holocaust. But as the inhabitants slowly die off, the two clans become sharply divided: the O’Flynns believe that the undead must be destroyed without exception, while the Muldoons insist that afflicted loved ones be kept “alive” until a cure is found. The result is an escalating showdown with echoes of a classic Western stand-off that erupts in brutality and violence.
I am a sucker for Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series. Probably nothing will top his first two movies, but from what I reviews I have read, Survival of the Dead sounds like it is better than his last outing with zombies (Diary of the Dead).
I just wish Romero would stop going “independent,” since, like Diary of the Dead, this film will probably not get a theatrical release in my area, and I actually thought that Land of the Dead, where he had a bigger budget and wider theatrical release, was his best since Dawn of the Dead. Seriously.
7. Jonah Hex – Release Date: June 18, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a tough and stoic gunslinger who can track down anyone… and anything. Having survived death, Jonah’s violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the “other side.” His only human connection is with Leila (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own. But Jonah’s past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can’t refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). But Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah’s oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead. Based on the legendary graphic novel, “Jonah Hex” is an epic adventure thriller about one man’s personal quest for redemption against the vast canvas of the battle between good and evil.
I don’t know why I have such an interest in this movie. I haven’t seen a trailer and know next to nothing about the graphic novel it is based on. I guess it is the concept of a “western” graphic novel, with the character of Jonah Hex having “one foot in the natural world and one on the ‘other side'” that has me intrigued (even though I don’t know exactly what that means). Probably some good ol’ fashioned gun-slingin’ will be afoot as well, so I’m in.
6. The Last Airbender – Release Date: July 2, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Air, Water, Earth, Fire. Four nations tied by destiny when the Fire Nation launches a brutal war against the others. A century has passed with no hope in sight to change the path of this destruction. Caught between combat and courage, Aang (Noah Ringer) discovers he is the lone Avatar with the power to manipulate all four elements. Aang teams with Katara (Nicola Peltz), a Waterbender, and her brother, Sokka (Jackson Rathbone), to restore balance to their war-torn world.
Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film “The Last Airbender” is the opening chapter in Aang’s struggle to survive.
When this was first announced, I really had zero interest in the film since it is based off of a Nickelodeon animated series that I have never seen before (titled Avatar: The Last Airbender). However, when director M. Night Shyamalan was attatched to direct, that changed everything for me. Sure, he’s had a couple of dud films lately, but those were his own stories. After The Happening failed in pretty much every way, I started to think that perhaps Shyamalan is simply running out of original ideas, and should maybe direct something that is not his own original story. The Last Airbender is the perfect opportunity for him to do just that. Couple that with the amazing trailers for the film, and all of a sudden it has become Shyamalan’s potential “comeback” film. Hopefully it is.
5. The Expendables – Release Date: August 13, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Expendable: capable of being sacrificed in order to accomplish a military objective.
“The Expendables” is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge – one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.
Sylvester Stallone. Jason Statham. Mickey Rourke. Dolph Lundgren. Steve Austin. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bruce Willis. And, just for the heck of it, throw in Jet Li for good measure and you have the potential to create the greatest action film of this decade.
Okay, it probably won’t turn out to be quite that good – although one can hope. But to see all these classic action stars together in one film is sure to put butts in the seats – especially to see Schwarzenegger grace the silver screen for the first time since he became the Governator (even if it is just for a small cameo). Any fan of great classic action movies like Predator, Commando, Total Recall, The Running Man, the Rambo films, etc., is sure to love this.
4. Robin Hood – Release Date: May 14, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Oscar winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as “Robin Hood,” whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.
I am actually a fan of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Sure, Kevin Costner maybe wasn’t the best choice for the lead role, but that film still had a great cast otherwise – Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alan Rickman among others – and was an entertaining movie overall.
However, it is time for an update, and Ridley Scott + Russel Crowe + Robin Hood = Epic. Not much more needs to be said then that. I cannot wait to see this!
3. Iron Man 2 – Release Date: May 7, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero “Iron Man,” reuniting director Jon Favreau and Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr. In “Iron Man 2,” the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.
The first Iron Man film by Jon Favreau proved to be the biggest surprise of 2008 for me. Even after the trailer, I only thought that it might be a decent comic book movie, but ultimately forgettable. However, after seeing the film, I was blown away. Sure, the story was better than I expected, but I really think I was surprised the most by Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark. He was pure entertainment in my opinion. It was the most fun I had watching a comic book movie since Spider-Man 2, and it far surpassed that film in my mind.
I’m not sure I like Mickey Rourke’s costume for his character “Whiplash” though. I’ve seen better designs in the comics. But I have every reason to believe he’ll breathe life into that character, so I think I’ll probably get used to it and forget that I even had an opinion on the costume in the first place.
2. Predators – Release Date: July 9, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): A bold new chapter in the Predator universe, “Predators” was shot on location under Rodriguez’s creative auspices at the filmmaker’s Austin-based Troublemaker Studios, and is directed by Nimród Antal. The film stars Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary who reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they’ve been brought together on an alien planet… as prey. With the exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers – mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members – human “predators” that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators.
The original Predator film is one of my all-time favorites. So, after a so-so sequel and two “meh” Alien vs. Predator movies, it warms my heart to know that Robert Rodriguez is producing what he hopes to finally be a worthy sequel to the original film. So far, I’d say he and director Nimród Antal are on the right track. This really looks like it will be the sequel we’ve all been hoping for.
I. Can’t. Wait.
1. Inception – Release Date: July 16, 2010
Plot Summary (ComingSoon.net): “Inception” is a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind.
How can one not be extremely excited about director Christopher Nolan’s first film since 2008’s mega-hit The Dark Knight? Sure, this is not Batman 3, and I know how much we are all looking forward that. But judging from the trailer for Inception, I’d say this should hold us over until the Dark Knight returns. I truly believe Christopher Nolan is one of the greatest directors of our time. He has never made a bad film, and I think he’ll prove it once again with this one. Please, check out this trailer!
Click here to check out last year’s Top 10!
Notable Mentions:
The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Toy Story 3
MacGruber
Shrek Forever After
The A-Team
The Karate Kid
Not worth seeing at all:
Step Up 3D (Come on, really?)
