Must-watch Summer movies! Here’s my list, what’s on yours?

April 26 2009.

Hey everyone!

So… I love movies. And, I watch the most movies during the summertime because, well, more free time = more movies I’m able to fit into my weekly schedule! Today I was reading the Edmonton Sun’s Sunday entertainment pullout and it had a four-page preview of summer movies!! I took a look through them all and selected the ones that piqued my interest, did a little bit more online research about the movies myself, and have come up with the following list:

(Yes this list starts with movies with April release dates because these ones came out this month and I still want/need to watch them!)

Release Date: April 17 2009

Movie: State of Play.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
A thinky thriller involving an old-school styled Washington journalist trying to solve a murder entangled in political connections.
Why I want to see it: I love movies about journalists and journalism! Also, the cast alone guarantees a great film. Plus, you gotta love those thinky movies.
Official Site: www.stateofplaymovie.net | Trailer: State of Play Trailer

Movie: 17 Again.
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew Perry.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
A man gets to be 17 again. In the form of Zac Efron. There’s dancing and life lessons and starting over and all that fun stuff.
Why I want to see it: I love Chandler. I love cutesy comedy movies like this. I loved Freaky Friday so the whole body switching thing is always a good topic for me, lol. Also, Zac Efron is pretty…
Official Site: www.17againmovie.com | Trailer: 17 Again Trailer

Release Date: April 24 2009

Movie: The Soloist.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
The story of how an LA Times columnist met a musician with schizophrenia, the friendship that grew & how music helped them both. TRUE STORY!
Why I want to see it: Because I loved the book. Because it’s based on two very real people and very real situations. Because Robert Downey Jr. is the man. And like State of Play, because I love movies about journalists and journalism!
Official Site: www.soloistmovie.com | Trailer: The Soloist Trailer

Release Date: May 1 2009

Movie: X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Taylor Kitsch, Ryan Reynolds.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
The story of how Wolverine came to be, his revenge on the man (Sabertooth) who killed his girlfriend, and other superhuman stuff.
Why I want to see it: I am a movies-based-on-comic-books nut. I love them! And I love movies where people have powers. Plus, I loved all of the X-Men movies and I loved Wolverine in them, so watching this is just a natural action. Plus Hugh Jackman is talented and yummy.
www.x-menorigins.com | Trailer: X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer

Release Date: May 8 2009

Movie: Star Trek.
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
The early days of Kirk and his crew. Kirk deciding his life route and what not. *does Star Trek hand symbol*
Why I want to see it: I’m a dork, remember? But also, finding out that Zachary Quinto and Simon Pegg would be in the Star Trek remake months ago instantly made me add this to the list of Must Watch as they exude awesome. Plus the trailer movie looks epic and awesome.
Official Site: www.startrekmovie.com | Trailer: Star Trek Trailer

Release Date: May 15 2009

Movie: Angels & Demons.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
A mystery thriller based on the popular book about a symbologist’s unraveling of an ancient society called the Illuminati and their secrets.
Why I want to see it: The book was amazing. I loved the Angels & Demons book way more than I loved The Da Vinci Code book (even though I did love that book. Movie, not so much). Tom Hank’s hair is horrifying to look at, but I like seeing my books translated on screen so I can’t miss this.
Official Site: www.angelsanddemons.com | Trailer: Angels & Demons Trailer

Release Date: May 21 2009

Movie: Terminator Salvation
Starring: Christian Bale.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
Set in 2018, John Connor is leading the resistance against Skynet when he discovers the secret behind the potential extermination of humans.
Why I want to see it: I love action movies. I loved the couple of episodes I watched of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. (I really should watch that entire show as I hear it is really, really amazing). But mostly my brother is in love with the Terminator story so its rubbed off on me as well. It really is fascinating and this should be a great movie. Plus I was never really a fan of Arnold in the other Terminators so I think Bale being the star of this one is a great change!
Official Site: www.terminatorsalvation.warnerbros.com | Trailer: Terminator Salvation Trailer

Release Date: May 22 2009

Movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
Museum models Jedediah and Octavius are accidentally shipped to the Smithsonian Institute so security guard Stiller breaks in to rescue them.
Why I want to see it: I thought the first Night at the Museum was GREAT! A pleasant, funny surprise. Sequels tend to suck though, so hopefully this one doesn’t.
Official Site: www.nightatthemuseummovie.com | Trailer: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Trailer

Release Date: June 24 2009

Movie: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
The Decepticons return to exact revenge upon Sam Witwicky and Optimus Prime, given the beatdown they got in the first movie.
Why I want to see it: Because the first one was freaking awesome. And as I said, I like action movies. I also love Shia LaBeouf (and to this day still can’t pronounce his last name or spell it properly on first try). But yeah, perhaps this word is overused but I feel this movie will be epic. Or can be epic.
Official Site: www.transformersmovie.com | Trailer: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer

Release Date: July 1 2009

Movie: Public Enemies.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
Depp plays a notorious bankrobber during the the crime wave of the ’30s. Bale is part of FBI trying to take Depp and his gangsters down.
Why I want to see it: JOHNNY DEPP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Being badass and fabulous. Should be enough said.
Official Site: www.publicenemies.net | Trailer: Public Enemies

Release Date: July 15 2009

Movie: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
Harry and Dumbledore go on a dark and dangerous journey to try and ensure He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is weakened enough to be defeated.
Why I want to see it: Um. Because the Harry Potter book series is easily one my most favourite and the most amazing set of books that have ever been bestowed upon the world. Granted, the movies are always a thousand notches less unimpressive than the books but as I wrote way above, I LOVE seeing my books translated on the big screen and seeing HP on screen is like Christmas. I hope Luna Lovegood has a lot of scenes because the girl who plays her does such a brilliant job!
Official Site: www.harrypotter.warnerbros.com | Trailer: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Release Date: July 17 2009

Movie: 500 Days of Summer.
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
After being dumped by his girlfriend Summer, Tom, a hopeless romantic, reflects on his 500 days with her to see what went wrong.
Why I want to see it: HOW CUTE DOES THIS MOVIE LOOK? [go watch the trailer]. Now every single movie listed so far I knew about it before reading the Sun’s summer movie preview section, except THIS! My eyes would have just skimmed right over it if it hadn’t been for “Joseph Gordon-Levitt.” I love him! And here he is playing what I love about him most — an adorable dork. Anyway this will be REALLY cute. Fact.
Official Site: www.foxsearchlight.com | Trailer: 500 Days of Summer Trailer

Release Date: August 7 2009

Movie: When in Rome
Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Jon Heder
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
Unlucky-in-love Beth flies to Rome for her sister’s wedding, steals some coins from a fountain of love, & gets chased by unimpressive men.
Why I want to see it: For the single fact alone… I am a HUGE fan of Kristin Bell. Ever since Veronica Mars I’ve been following her work. She’s a GREAT actress (even if some of her flick choices don’t really showcase her talents). If I had just read the synopsis for this alone without the knowledge that she was starring in it, I probably would have skipped right on over it but since she’s in it, I must support and see it!
Official Site: N/A. Check IMDB Profile instead | Featurette because trailer doesn’t exist yet?: When in Rome Featurette

Release Date: August 14 2009

Movie: The Time Traveler’s Wife
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana.
What it’s about in 140 chars. or less (like a tweet :D):
A love story about a man who has a genetic disorder causing him to travel through time unexpectedly, and his wife who must deal with it.
Why I want to see it: Damn. If I had read the book for this then I could have written the ‘seeing my book translated onto the big screen’ reasoning but as I haven’t read this book yet (though I will for sure before it comes out), I can’t use that. BUT. I am SO in love with movies involving time travel!!! And I love Rachel McAdams and I think this will be a really cute movie and one of those book-to-movie ones that actually work.
Official Site: N/A. Check IMDB Profile instead | Fan-made Trailer because real trailer doesn’t exist yet?: The Time Traveler’s Wife Fan-Made Trailer

Other Movies I’ll Likely Watch:

• Up! ( Trailer ) May 29 2009.
  Will be visually awesome and cute and colourful.
• Year One ( Trailer ) June 19 2009.
  Michael Cera is adorable and this should get some chuckles out of me.
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs ( Trailer ) July 1 2009.
  Ice Age films are always fun to watch.
• G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra ( Trailer ) August 7 2009.
  Yum, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, need I say more? Plus action and what not.
• Inglorious Basterds ( Trailer ) August 21 2009.
  I tend to radiate towards movies about Nazi-era Germany.

I was also TOTALLY disappointed that 2012, originally set to release this summer, has been pushed to November. Lame.

Anyway there are the movies that I’m excited to watch this summer!

I also plan on re-watching old favourite movies, and old movies that I’ve still yet to see as well!

So what about you? What movie(s) are you most excited to see this summer?

Also, side note: Imagine how awesome it would be to be paid to look up movies and movie trailers to put together a summer preview list! It would be AWESOME!! Kevin Williamson from the Sun definitely has a sweet job. He also got to interview Steve Lopez (author of The Soloist) last week when he wrote about The Soloist movie!! Suhweet.

Linda