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Sixteen of the hottest summer movie blockbusters
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By: Constance Droganes, CTV.ca
Date: Sat. Apr. 25 2009 7:30 AM ET
Wolverine, Captain Kirk, John Connor...It'll be fine times at the movies this summer thanks to these big boys and other badass heroes. Their mission? Crush Iron Man, Bond and Batman - 2008's he-men of big box office hauls.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1)
Hugh Jackman is back, with his talons and Wolverine do spiked for action in this prequel to "X-Men" (2000) - the first flick in this golden superhero franchise.
Producers, among them Jackman himself, were caught off guard on March 31, 2009 when an unfinished version of the full-length film was leaked online. Don't sweat it Hugh. There's still plenty going for "X-Men Origins" to pack 'em in.
Set 17 years before "X-Men," the truth behind Logan's long lost life finally emerges. Logan's relationships with his half-brother Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) and William Stryker (Danny Huston) spawn some cool, CGI scenes. Then there's the real dirt on Wolverine's deadly talons and "Weapon X," the government program turning mutants into weapons. It all makes Wolverine and his beefy metal bones look mighty fine.
Star Trek (May 8)
Diehard Trekkies, and I mean those of you who are still peeved that William Shatner isn't in this movie, should get over it. This prequel and all the young blood in it cruises and bruises Klingons, Romulans and other intergalactic scum in fine order - and that's with or without the dilithium crystal power.
Set before the first TV series, a fracas-finding James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) hooks up with his would-be crew members. Spock (Zachary Quinto), Dr. Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban), Scotty (Simon Pegg)...they're all as fresh and feisty as a Vulcan sunrise.
Supernova explosions. Snarly Romulan bad guys. A smoking hot Captain Kirk. It's fine times again in the final frontier and, possibly, the birth of a new star in Hollywood: Chris Pine. Hayden Christensen watch out!
Angels & Demons (May 15)
Remember that blurp in time known as "Da Vinci Code" mania? Even if Ron Howard's 2006 movie didn't live up to Dan Brown's bestseller this A-list director is back again with another murderous adventure through Vatican City.
In this sequel, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) investigates the murder of a physicist branded with the Illuminati ambigram - a graphical figure that spells out a word not only in its form as it's presented but also in another direction. The symbol helps Langdon uncover the secret society's scheme to murder four cardinals and destroy St. Peter's Basilica during a papal conclave using antimatter. Sounds like Armageddon to me!
Critics might still hate this one, but we bet "Angels & Demons" brings home plenty of box office pancetta.
Terminator Salvation (May 21)
If you're expecting Arnold Schwarzenegger to show up in this blockbuster, don't. He's too busy running California.
With Christian Bale on hand to reinvigorate this killer robot franchise (which, according to boxofficemojo.com, boasts a total lifetime gross of US $393,585,657), this saga set in 2018 finds grown-up John Connor (Bale) leading the anti-Skynet forces.
Fated to bring down the enemy or die trying, Connor and time-travelling stranger Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) embark on a perilous odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet's operations. There they discover a terrible secret that could destroy mankind for good. Did we expect anything less?
Big, bad robots, badass Bale and a US$200-million budget could muscle "Terminator Salvation" into 2009's number one summer blockbuster.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (May 22)
It's magical. It's got Ben Stiller racing about the Smithsonian. But can "Night at the Museum 2" surpass its 2006 predecessor, which raked in US$574,480,450 worldwide?
With Stiller back as museum security guard Larry Daley, this flick's got a shot.
In this new caper Larry infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. His mission? Rescue Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan), both of whom have been shipped to the museum by mistake.
Their bumbling antics quickly bring the Smithsonian to life. From Amelia Earhart to Archie Bunker, Larry and company give this venerable hall of history a new blast from the past and a fun ride for the whole family.
Up (May 29)
Can "Up" wipe 2008's "WALL-E" from our memory? This opening gala film at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival might succeed.
Featuring the voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai and John Ratzenberger, the US$175-million adventure revolves around cranky curmudgeon Carl Fredricksen (Asner).
Eager to live out his dead wife's dream to see the mountains, the feisty 78-year-old attaches helium balloons to his house and sets off. But he soon discovers an eight-year-old stowaway on his front porch.
Carl sees the pesky little wilderness explorer (Nagai) as a pain. The Boy Scout sees Carl as his ticket to an "assisting the elderly" badge: the only prize that has eluded him. Pixar take us away!
Land of the Lost (June 5)
Will Will Ferrell hit or miss in this summer flick? Starring as a has-been scientist who travels through time to find an ancient race of alien creatures it's hard to tell who'll have the last laugh: Ferrell or the marauding dinosaurs.
Directed by Brad Silberling, this movie version of the hit TV series boasts incredible CGI effect and all the bells and whistles US$100 million dollars can buy.
Dr. Rick Marshal (Ferrell) arrives in his prehistoric destination with no weapons and barely enough smarts to put on his pants. But with the help of his brainy research assistant (Anna Friel) and a redneck survival expert (Danny McBride), the trio navigate their way back home.
Dinosaurs, fantastic creatures, Ferrell's goofy face...The winning combo will amuse kids and grown-ups.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (June 12)
The remakes of film classics just keep coming in 2009! While many would argue that the 1970s' original starring Walter Matthau still stands up, director Tony Scott saw things a little differently.
With Denzel Washington, John Travolta and James Gandolfini to round out this cat-and-mouse thriller, this tale about a New York City subway hijacking gives the Matthau flick a run for the money.
Subway dispatcher Walter Garber (Washington) sees an ordinary day on the job thrown into chaos after a train is highjacked. Lead by a criminal mastermind (Travolta), the armed gang threatens to execute every passenger unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. A tense, speedy ride from start to finish.
Year One (June 19)
"Superbad" producer Judd Apatow is back, delivering what could be his biggest comedy cash cow with "Year One."
Starring Jack Black and Michael Cera as lazy cave men with clubs bigger than their brains, "Year One" makes mincemeat out of traditional historical timelines. From Adam and Even to the Sacrifice of Isaac this flick jumps around faster than Black can down a Brontosaurus burger.
But life for this easy-going duo changes once Cera's character "Oh" tries to find a mate.
Directed by "Ghostbusters'" Harold Ramis and featuring Paul Rudd as Abel and Hank Azaria as the Biblical patriarch Abraham, "Year One" is Monty Python meets Moses. Loads of laughs. Lots of cave man hair. A likely winner, yet again, for Apatow.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 24)
Oh Megan Fox! What would the Transformers be without your pole dancer-worthy charms?
Not surprisingly, Fox, Shia LaBeouf, and director Michael Bay return for this sequel to 2007's box office hit.
The action begins once Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) discovers a secret about the Transformers' origins and their history on earth. The evil Decepticons track him down for the valuable info, leading to be big showdown by Egypt's Giza Pyramid.
More action. More shape-shifting robots. More Megan Fox in clingy costumes. Yup, fine times all around for hormonally raging teen boys and 20-something dudes looking for summer's hottest piece of heavy metal.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (July 1)
Playing fast and loose the dinosaur science, this third "Ice Age" instalment sees the welcome return of Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo), Diego (Denis Leary) and Ellie (Queen Latifah).
After meeting new pals that survived extinction, Manny and Ellie make ready for the arrival of their first baby. Diego gets fed up with being treated like a pesky housecat. And eager to have a family of his own, Sid steals some precious dinosaur eggs and gets everyone into trouble.
Funny and charming, this blockbuster pick will entertain families and infuriate even more fact-loving paleontologists.
Public Enemies (July 1)
Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in the same movie? Is Santa bringing Christmas early?
Starring in this gritty gangster epic from "Miami Vice" creator Michael Mann, Bale and Depp make some mighty fine Hollywood hay in this flick about the FBI's search for the Great Depression's slickest bank robbers: John Dillinger (Depp), "Baby Face" Nelson (Stephen Graham), and "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Channing Tatum).
"Public Enemies" features actual locations known to Dillinger such as the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, where Dillinger had his famous 1934 gunfight with the FBI.
Toss in Marion Cotillard as Dillinger's sexy girlfriend Billie Frechette and Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, America's first FBI director, and "Public Enemies" comes fully loaded for action in today's tough times.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)
Disgruntled Potter fans won't have to gnash their teeth practising Patronus spells any longer, not with the sixth entry of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard saga finally headed for theatres.
Bumped from its November 2008 release date, the dark, more mature Harry revealed in this flick is a far cry from the cute little spell-tosser we loved in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
Voldemort is back, tightening his grip on Hogwarts and the Muggle/wizard war that rages outside its safety. Certain that evil forces lie within the school's walls Harry is prepped for the biggest battle of his life by his mentor, Professor Dumbledore.
Deadly secrets. Budding romances. Tragedies that can't be avoided. Jump onto your Nimbus 2000 brooms and see what happens next - as if you didn't already know!
Funny People (July 31)
At the very least the title of this Judd Apatow comedy describes the cast of "Funny People."
Written and directed by Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up") Adam Sandler stars as a successful comic who is given less than one year to live after he learns that he has an inoperable disease.
One evening the boorish man spots a struggling stand-up comedian bombing on stage.
Friendless and frustrated, the dying man and the up-and-coming comic/deli worker strike up an unlikely friendship. Life. Love. Great one-liners. They're bond blooms until this dying dude learns he's going to live and an old flame ("17 Again's" Leslie Mann) crashes back into his life. Judd Apatow you're on fire!
G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (August 7)
Poised to become the huge winner at the summer box office, this action adventure from "The Mummy" director Stephen Sommers features all the brawn and battles sequences it takes to keep G.I. Joe fans amused.
Serving up a modern take on the characters Hasbro created 25 years ago, this live action tale is set 10 years in the future and shows the rise of the Cobra Organization. But its focus remains on Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) as they get indoctrinated into the G.I. Joe Team.
Toss in Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Christopher Eccleston and locations from the Sahara to the Arctic and you've got all the necessary ammo for a kick-ass adventure.
Inglourious Basterds (August 21)
Don't you just love it when those Nazi scumbags get their comeuppance?
In this wild ride from "Grindhouse" director Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt, Mike Myers and Eli Roth comprise a team of Jewish-American special forces operating behind German lines. With all the verve of those do-or-die guys in "The Dirty Dozen," these ruthless, elite freedom fighters pop off Nazis faster than Hansel and Gretel can gobble up gingerbread.
Tarantino's eclectic casting (Myers appears as an American general) could be a hit or miss. But it should make "Inglourious Basterds" one of 2009's most unusual movie outings.
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I think he was pushed to take matters into his own hands. I have a teenage son and if he was involved with a drug dealer I would be furious and try anything to save him like this father did for his daughter. Why do police often say they can't do anything until it's too late? Whether it be a drug dealer or an abusive spouse, the police can't seem to do anything until something really bad happens. In this case they could have raided the drug dealers home and arrested him. The whole town knew what was going on in that house but yet the police chose to do nothing. Release this man and give him a medal for doing the right thing by his daughter. I can't wait to see the episode on W5, I will certainly be watching this one.
